 "Sanjeeb Mukherjee")
Sanjeeb Mukherjee
Sanjeeb Mukherjee
Sanjeeb Mukherjee is currently the Agriculture Editor at Business Standard. He has been a journalist for over 20 years, mainly covering the agriculture, commodities, rural, and food policy space. His work has taken him to some of the most remote areas of the country, giving him invaluable insights into the dynamics of rural agriculture markets. He has honed his skills in analysing and providing commentary on India's farm sector policies, focusing on their impact on different stakeholders and their implications for climate change. His previous stints include United News of India (UNI), Dow Jones Newswires, and the Financial Express newspaper.
Sanjeeb Mukherjee is currently the Agriculture Editor at Business Standard. He has been a journalist for over 20 years, mainly covering the agriculture, commodities, rural, and food policy space. His work has taken him to some of the most remote areas of the country, giving him invaluable insights into the dynamics of rural agriculture markets. He has honed his skills in analysing and providing commentary on India's farm sector policies, focusing on their impact on different stakeholders and their implications for climate change. His previous stints include United News of India (UNI), Dow Jones Newswires, and the Financial Express newspaper.
Page 2 - Sanjeeb Mukherjee
El Nino's local impact may outweigh overall monsoon deficit, warn experts
Experts say the spatial distribution of rainfall and longer monsoon breaks could have a greater impact on farmers and rural livelihoods than the overall seasonal rainfall deficit
 "El Nino's local impact may outweigh overall monsoon deficit, warn experts")
Sugar industry seeks Centre of Excellence for advanced sugarcane breeding
ISMA and NFCSF have proposed a ₹87.94-crore Centre of Excellence at ICAR-SBI, Coimbatore, to accelerate development of climate-resilient and disease-resistant sugarcane varieties
 "Sugar industry seeks Centre of Excellence for advanced sugarcane breeding")
West Asia war: Centre working on extending new investment policy for urea
The move is projected to save the exchequer more than ₹10,500 crore annually in subsidies, based on conservative estimates and assuming an average imported urea price of $345 per tonne
 "West Asia war: Centre working on extending new investment policy for urea")
Monsoon set to arrive in Kerala within the next 2-3 days, says IMD
Centre forms crop weather watch and crisis management groups, circulates contingency plan to states as IMD forecasts below-normal monsoon and rainfall risks
 "Monsoon set to arrive in Kerala within the next 2-3 days, says IMD")
India scales down kharif 2026 fertiliser requirement to 38.39 mn tonnes
India currently has around 19.98 million tonnes of fertilisers in stock, which means it has almost 52 per cent of the total reassessed requirement in stock as of today
 "India scales down kharif 2026 fertiliser requirement to 38.39 mn tonnes")
Govt exempts import duty on cotton for five months till October 30
The Centre has exempted cotton imports from customs duty and AIDC till October 31, aiming to improve domestic availability and lower raw material costs for textile manufacturers
 "Govt exempts import duty on cotton for five months till October 30")
Farmer groups welcome Centre's pullback of changes to Sugarcane Control law
Farmer organisations and political leaders have welcomed the Centre's decision to withdraw proposed amendments to the Sugarcane Control Order, saying it would protect growers and small processors
 "Farmer groups welcome Centre's pullback of changes to Sugarcane Control law")
Centre plans farmer outreach campaign from June on soil over El Nino worry
Centre will begin a month-long 'Save the Fields' campaign from June 1, offering crop-specific advisories and climate-resilient farming guidance as IMD lowers its monsoon forecast
 "Centre plans farmer outreach campaign from June on soil over El Nino worry")
Centre withdraws draft amendments to Sugarcane Control Order of 1966
The amendments were floated last month and were open for public comments till May 20
IMD further lowers 2026 monsoon forecast as El Nino set to develop
Chouhan asks states to be 'prepared'; Centre prepares war chest of extra seeds to meet any eventuality
 "IMD further lowers 2026 monsoon forecast as El Nino set to develop")
Urea sales jump 10%, DAP 39% amid panic buying after West Asia war
Consumers bought around 5.05 million tonnes of urea between March 1 and May 25, 2026, as against 4.60 million tonnes during the same period last year
 "Urea sales jump 10%, DAP 39% amid panic buying after West Asia war")
India's 1st rainfall derivatives contract starts on May 29: What to expect
A look at the challenges and benefits
 "India's 1st rainfall derivatives contract starts on May 29: What to expect")
Plans afoot to counter El Niño threat to kharif crops, says Chouhan
The ministry is in the process of identifying districts for alternative crops and ensuring seed availability in the event of an El Nino impact, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said
 "Plans afoot to counter El Niño threat to kharif crops, says Chouhan")
Cabinet extends SARTHAK-PDS scheme for 5 yrs with ₹25,530-crore outlay
The Union Cabinet has approved the continuation of the SARTHAK-PDS scheme till March 2031 to strengthen foodgrain distribution and modernise the public distribution system
 "Cabinet extends SARTHAK-PDS scheme for 5 yrs with ₹25,530-crore outlay")
India's wheat production pegged at record in 2025-26 despite uneven weather
Kharif 2026 conference today amid El Nino shadow on monsoon
 "India's wheat production pegged at record in 2025-26 despite uneven weather")
Govt raps industrial users buying cheaper retail fuel amid crisis
The Centre has flagged rising diversion of discounted retail fuel by industrial users even as public-sector oil firms absorb heavy losses to shield consumers
 "Govt raps industrial users buying cheaper retail fuel amid crisis")
India's FY27 fertiliser subsidy may top ₹3 trn if West Asia crisis persists
Krishna Kant Pathak, joint secretary in the Department of Fertilisers said that to solve the problem, India should now start looking at solutions
 "India's FY27 fertiliser subsidy may top ₹3 trn if West Asia crisis persists")
VB-G RAM G draft rules: Normative funding to be also based on FC's formula
A part of the normative allocation can also be based on fixed 'performance criteria'
 "VB-G RAM G draft rules: Normative funding to be also based on FC's formula")
Ahead of nationwide rollout, Centre releases draft rules on VB-G RAM G Act
Provides labour budget for 45 crore persondays of work in June 2026 ahead of rollout
 "Ahead of nationwide rollout, Centre releases draft rules on VB-G RAM G Act")
Path being cleared for temporary removal of cotton import duty curbs
Government may temporarily scrap cotton import duty from July to October as textile mills seek relief amid soaring prices and supply concerns
 "Path being cleared for temporary removal of cotton import duty curbs")