Food Grain Production

Global food prices fell for a third straight month in November, driven by declines in sugar, dairy and oil - though cereals bucked the trend with a modest rise

Food grain production in the kharif season is estimated to have increased by 7.9 per cent relative to the previous year, while estimated rabi production is set to increase by 6 per cent

Warehousing capacity and foodgrains production also show a 'weak correlation'

India is poised to achieve new heights in foodgrain production in 2025, driven by favourable monsoon, though significant challenges persist in pulses and oilseeds production as the country's agricultural sector shows signs of robust recovery. The Agriculture Ministry's initial projections paint an optimistic picture, with kharif (summer) foodgrain production estimated at a record 164.7 million tonnes for the 2024-25 crop year ending June 2025. Winter crop planting has maintained steady progress, with wheat sown across 29.31 million hectares as of mid-December 2024, while total rabi (winter) crops cover 55.88 million hectares. "We had a good kharif crop because of normal rainfall," Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi told PTI. "Overall, the crop prospect for the whole year looks promising," he added, though cautioning against potential heat waves in February-March that could affect the winter wheat harvest. The agricultural sector is projected to bounce back strongly, with grow

With the aim of easing the price rise challenge, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and National Co-operative Consumers' Federation of India Ltd (NCCF) have started distribution of essential food grains in Bengaluru at an affordable price. In a press statement issued by NCCF on Friday, it was mentioned that these products are made available in Phase 2 of Bharath products. Under the initiative, high quality essential grains are made available at an affordable rate for Bengaluru residents. Bharath rice is being sold at Rs 34, while the Bharath wheat flour Rs 30, Bharath Chana Dal Rs 70 and Bharath Moong Dal is being sold at just Rs 107. The market rate for the same products are rice Rs 55-60, atta Rs 45-50, dal Rs 90-100 and moong dal Rs 120-130. This scheme was launched in Bengaluru on October 30, as per the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Umion Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi, Union Ministers Nimuben

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, is proposing to member countries to impose tariffs on grain imports from Russia and Belarus, commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday. Speaking at the end of the opening day of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, Von der Leyen said the move would prevent Russia from destabilizing the EU market with its imports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products. It will stop Russia from using the revenues from the export of these goods to the European Union, and it will ensure that illegal Russian exports of stolen Ukrainian grain do not enter the EU market, she said. Von der Leyen did not give any details about the value of the proposed tariffs. Russia was one of the main trade partners of the European Union before it invaded Ukraine. In support to Ukraine in the war against Russia, the EU has imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia. The measures have targeted the energy sector, banks, the world's bigges

Before the extension, the free food grain program was estimated to cost the government around 2 trillion rupees ($24.04 billion) this year

Rabi crops, also known as winter crops, are grown in October and November, and harvested in spring. Major rabi crops in India include wheat, barley, mustard, maize, sesame and peas

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday claimed that the Centre spends Rs 8,400 crore for distribution of the food grain among poor people in Odisha while the state government's expenditure in this regard is only Rs 185 crore per annum. Pradhan, the Union Education minister who hails from Odisha, told reporters that the Centre will spend Rs 700 crore per month which amounts to Rs 8,400 crore annually to provide free rice for 3.25 crore people of Odisha under the food security scheme. He, however, urged the state government to ensure that the poor beneficiaries get the "Modi rice" without any hurdles. According to a decision taken by the Union Cabinet last month, the Narendra Modi government would provide free food grain to the people for one year under Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Kalyan Yojana (PMGKAY). "Odisha's 3.25 crore people will be covered under the PMGKY and will get free of cost rice for one year," Pradhan said. The Union minister said of the 4.5 crore Odisha's ...

Food subsidies are a major portion of subsidies provided by states

"The food subsidy burden is already crossing Rs 3 trillion and we are hopeful that it will be brought down below that mark," said a senior government official

Wheat inventories at government-run granaries stood at 22.7 million tonnes on Oct 1

Product launched in Bengal, Delhi and Mumbai across general trade; will be available pan-India in phases, and across modern trade and major e-commerce platforms as well

The idea in itself is not new and previously several attempts have been made to involve private players in official procurement, most recently in oilseeds

Commodities such as wheat, rice, soya meal, raw cotton, fresh vegetable, and processed vegetables etc. have registered most positive growths, the presentation data showed

India, which historically kept its huge wheat harvests at home - thanks to a government-set price - is jumping into the export market, hawking record amounts across Asia

Farmers typically start planting summer-sown crops on June 1, when monsoon rains usually reach India. Planting then continues until early August.

FCI has been asked to install a vehicle tracking system in all its 20 regional offices to track the trucks moving subsidised foodgrains

The country's rabi foodgrains production including wheat in the ongoing 2020-21 crop year is expected to be better than the previous year's record of 153.27 million tonne

The stock burden along with inadequate Budget allocations for the food subsidy and the Centre's zeal to check the fiscal deficit has worsened FCI's financial position