Crops

Rising attacks by wild animals are inflicting massive crop losses across India, deepening rural distress and testing the balance between conservation and livelihoods

States seek higher procurement as unseasonal rains damage crops

The organisation warned that its absence discourages companies from introducing newer and safer crop protection technologies in India

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its forecast today said that rain and hailstorms will continue over North and Central India over the next few days till March 31

The IMD is expected to release its forecast for March temperatures later this week. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the March temperature outlook

India's neglected fruits and vegetables could be the key to nutrition security, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods - if policy and markets revive them

The meeting had entered a crucial phase after the chair of ITPGRFA proposed a compromise document where it wanted expansion of the MLS to include all crops and revision of the transfer agreement

Soil moisture substantially improved owing to vigorous post-monsoon showers across many parts of India, which swayed farmers to plant more area under rabi crops to get the best yields

Agriculture Insurance Company of India plans to scale up weather-linked parametric insurance to livestock and income protection for agricultural workers

Past experience in India shows that production, higher minimum support prices, and procurement alone cannot solve the problem

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday approved procurement of major Kharif pulses and oilseeds from Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat this year. A decision in this regard was taken in a virtual meeting with Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat Agriculture Ministers Surya Pratap Shahi and Raghavji Patel, respectively. In the meeting, the central government agreed to procure in Uttar Pradesh, about 2.27 lakh tonnes of urad (black gram), 1.13 lakh tonnes of tur, 1,983 tonnes of moong (green gram), 30,410 tonnes of sesame and 99,438 tonnes of groundnut, an official statement said. In Gujarat, the Centre agreed to buy 47,780 tonnes of urad, 4,415 tonnes of moong, 1.09 lakh tonnes of soyabean, and 12.62 lakh tonnes of groundnut. "Chouhan stated that the approved quantities may be revised as needed after the release of the first advance estimates for Kharif 2025-26, ensuring maximum benefit to farmers," the statement said. Every eligible farmer will get the right to sell the crop at the ...

An increase in monsoon activity and resultant humidity has seen a significant proliferation of pests and viruses across states and crops, leading to greater application of chemicals

The official said that the CM gave his consent to allot free land for these mandis, sub-mandis and food parks in government as well as local body areas

The Coalition for a GM-Free India has criticised the release of two genome-edited rice varieties, calling the move unscientific, risky, and a threat to seed sovereignty

Kamala - DRR Dhan-100 and Pusa DST Rice 1 use less water and help cut greenhouse gas emissions, says Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Some parts of northern India, including states such as Haryana, saw unseasonal rains and hailstorms in the last few days, damaging the standing crop in some areas

Production of potatoes is projected at 59.57 million tonnes in 2024-25 which is almost 4.4 per cent more than the same period last year

The government has set a conservative wheat procurement target of 30 million tonnes for the 2025-26 rabi marketing season, sources said. The lower procurement target comes despite the Agriculture Ministry aiming for a record wheat production of 115 million tonnes in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June). For the 2025-26 rabi marketing season starting April, the minimum support price for wheat has been fixed at Rs 2,425 per quintal. The procurement target was set following discussions with state food secretaries, the sources added. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state agencies conduct wheat procurement to ensure farmers receive minimum support prices and to meet welfare scheme requirements. In 2024-25, government wheat procurement reached 26.6 million tonnes against a target of 30-32 million tonnes. While this exceeded the 26.2 million tonnes procured in 2023-24, it fell short of that year's 34.15 million tonne target. Wheat procurement in 2022-23 was just 18.8 million tonnes

A final decision will be taken by a group of ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration, which will then ask the Securities and Exchange Board of India to lift the curbs or extend them

With the weather expected to turn cold in north India and a forecast of mild showers, it should augur well for the standing crop