Agriculture Economy

A prolonged delay in monsoon rainfall is disrupting kharif crop planting and raising concerns over agricultural output amid the emergence of El Niño conditions

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that more than 18.56 lakh farmers in Assam are receiving benefits under the 23rd instalment of PM-KISAN, with tillers in the state having received cumulative assistance exceeding Rs 8,200 crore since the launch of the scheme. He was addressing a gathering at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Kamrup, after virtually attending the PM-KISAN Samman Utsav as Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) in West Bengal, transferring more than Rs 18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country. "Today is not merely the release of another instalment under a government scheme. It is a celebration of the trust between the government and our Annadatas," the Union minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. Highlighting the impact of PM-KISAN in Assam, Sonowal said that more than 18.56 lakh farmers in the state are receiving benefits under

Agriculture Secretary Atish Chandra on Wednesday said the ministry is awaiting the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) forecast by the end of this month to get a clearer picture on the El Nino timeline before deciding on concrete steps to mitigate the likely impact on kharif crops. "The prediction on when El Nino will set in is still to come. By the end of this month, IMD will come out with the forecast, and then the picture will be clearer. We will then be in the thick of the kharif sowing season and will know how it is going to pan out," Chandra told PTI in an interview. While there have been broad forecasts of El Nino setting in around November, IMD is seeking greater certainty before firming up its assessment. A key variable being tracked is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) a climate pattern characterised by irregular sea surface temperature oscillations in the Indian Ocean. After remaining positive in May, the IOD has turned neutral in June. "Whether it will remain neutral

As the Centre warns of a severe El Niño impact in 12 states, microfinance lenders are intensifying vigilance to protect collection gains

The impact of El Nino weather phenomenon, linked with a weaker monsoon in India, is likely to be "relatively severe" in 12 states, including Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, in the Kharif season, according to the agriculture ministry, which on Tuesday directed coordinated action through district-level machinery in the most vulnerable regions. Other states likely to be impacted by El Nino include Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. "In 9-10 states where the impact of El Nino may be relatively higher, coordinated meetings should be organised with District Magistrates, Agriculture Departments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and other extension systems of the identified districts," Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who chaired the weekly review meeting on Kharif 2026 preparations, said. The minister also stressed the need for advance contingency planning in rain-deficient districts, while also pushing f

Soybean prices climbed to ₹7,587 per 100 kg last month, a four-year high and well above the government's support price of ₹5,328

While cotton and yarn prices have eased after the import duty cut, traders caution that global price risks, El Nino concerns and the October import window could limit the benefits

The government on Monday said farmers have bought 11.17 lakh tonnes of organic manure in the ongoing kharif sowing season, a 3.5 times jump from the year-ago period, indicating a gradual shift from chemical fertilisers. The Centre also reiterated that the overall stock position of fertilisers in the country is comfortable and there is no challenge in availability. It is also monitoring the situation on a regular basis to ensure adequate domestic supply. At an inter-ministerial briefing on the recent developments in West Asia, Aparna S Sharma, additional secretary in the Union Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, said, "For kharif 2026, the fertiliser requirement has been reassessed by the Department of Agriculture at 383.9 lakh tonnes and against this, the stock as on today is 197.56 lakh tonnes". The stock is more than 51 per cent of the kharif season demand and this is significantly higher than the usual level of 33 per cent, she added. "The purchase of fertiliser has been abou

El Nino is a natural phenomenon in the eastern Pacific Ocean that influences global weather patterns, including India's monsoon

The organised plywood sector has urged the Centre to curb diversion of subsidised agricultural urea into industrial use amid rising fertiliser subsidy costs and supply pressures

IFAD's AVP Donal Brown said that the funding agency is now increasingly looking to fund 3-4 direct investments in the private sector over the next year

The government on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 72 to Rs 2,441 per quintal for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season. A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The support price for common and A-grade varieties has been increased by Rs 72 per quintal to Rs 2,441 and Rs 2,461 per quintal, respectively, for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season (September-October). Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the MSP is 50 per cent more than the cost of production. "Estimated payout to farmers would be Rs 2.60 lakh crore and annual procurement estimated at 824.41 lakh tonne," he added.

Proposed changes to Sugarcane Control Order, including stricter norms for mills and khandsari units, raise concerns over increased regulatory oversight and potential 'Inspector Raj' in the sector

Former NITI Aayog member and noted agriculture economist Ramesh Chand says India is better prepared to handle rainfall variability than in the past

AWL Agri Business Ltd, formerly Adani Wilmar, on Tuesday posted a 53.70 per cent jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 293.06 crore for the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal on strong sales. The company's net profit stood at Rs 190.66 crore in the year-ago period, according to a regulatory filing. Its total income rose 18 per cent to Rs 21,464.78 crore during the January-March quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal from 18,229.59 crore in the year-ago period. Expenses remained higher at Rs 21,243.21 crore against Rs 18,057.28 crore a year ago. However for the full 2025-26 financial year, the company posted a 14.75 per cent drop in its consolidated net profit to Rs 1,044.89 crore from Rs 1,225.81 crore in the preceding fiscal year despite higher income. The total income rose to Rs 74,730.67 crore in 2025-26 from Rs 63,672.24 crore a year ago. AWL Agri Business Ltd Managing Director and CEO Shrikant Kanhere said: "We have delivered a strong performance in Q4 FY26, supported by improving

IMD flags a 31 per cent probability of "below normal" monsoon and a 35 per cent chance of rainfall below 90 per cent of LPA-risks for agriculture, heatwaves, and demand

IMD's weak monsoon forecast revives a key question why India's push for drip and sprinkler irrigation has not translated into widespread adoption despite years of policy support

India's fertiliser subsidy has exceeded FY26 Revised Estimates, prompting experts to call for policy reforms, including rational pricing, curbs on overuse, and bringing urea under the NBS regime

A new report highlights Southeast Asia's vast AgriTech potential, projecting over $90 billion in GDP gains by 2033, with India's governance and venture model seen as a key template

Warns against needless speculation