Agriculture

Centre sets 30.3 million tonnes wheat procurement target for FY27

Government plans to procure 30.3 million tonnes of wheat for the Central Pool in the 2026-27 rabi marketing season beginning April 1

Farmers' earnings may come under pressure if West Asia exports stay stuck

Centre says India is sitting on 36.5 per cent more fertiliser stocks as on March 6, compared to last year; farmers fully insulated from global shocks

Rice exporters seek urgent relief as Iran crisis disrupts exports, shipping

International freight rates have risen by an estimated 15-20 per cent, while war-risk surcharges and insurance premiums for Gulf-bound shipments have increased significantly

Iran war threatens Asia fertiliser supplies ahead of planting season

West Asia conflict disrupts fertiliser production and shipping via the Strait of Hormuz, threatening supplies to major Asian importers including India and China ahead of the planting season

Maharashtra takes private route to revive sick cooperative sugar mills

Policy allows establishment of sugarcane byproduct processing projects through private investors

Sugar shares rally on hopes of higher ethanol blend amid West Asia crisis

Sugar stocks surged on expectations that rising crude oil prices amid the West Asia crisis may prompt the Centre to raise ethanol prices and increase the blending mandate from 20 per cent

India, Canada sign 5-year MoU to boost agri-food research cooperation

The partnership follows the announcement by the Prime Ministers of both countries of a jointly supported Centre of Excellence in Pulse Protein, to be led by NIFTEM-K and USask

West Asia conflict: Iran stepped up basmati imports under war cloud

The rise in shipments to Iran may also be linked to demand during Ramzan, which began in mid-February

West Asia conflict: Edible oil rates firm up on crude price spiral

Brent rally amid Strait of Hormuz tensions may lift edible oil prices in India, even without supply disruptions

Centre to leverage digital infra to optimise food, fertiliser subsidies

Government plans to use AgriStack and CBDC-based pilots to better target fertiliser and food subsidies, reduce leakages, and improve transparency in welfare delivery systems

Civil society groups welcome govt's suspension of rice fortification scheme

Experts said that the reasoning given by the government to stop the scheme, which is loss of nutrients in fortified rice due to prolonged storage, is extremely plausible

Farm sector underperforms in FY26 under new series; share rises to 18%

Nominal GVA growth maintains downward trajectory for agriculture and allied in FY26

Centre discontinues rice fortification over nutrient stability concerns

The process of fortification will remain suspended until a more effective mechanism for delivery of nutrients to beneficiaries is identified, an official statement said

Mahindra group to bring new products for all cropping cycles

It also said that the rotavator remains a big area of focus for the company and the ultimate goal was to increase the market share in this segment

India braces for unusually hot March this year, risking crop yields

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

Traders fear wheat prices may fall below MSP in 2026-27 on surplus stocks

Market participants warn that surplus stocks and OMSS sales could push wheat prices Rs 300-400 per quintal below MSP in 2026-27, denting farm incomes and distorting trade signals

UP targets pulses crop area of 3 mn hectares: State Agriculture Minister

Uttar Pradesh plans to raise pulses crop area by 20% in 2025-26, targeting higher farm incomes and reducing India's dependence on imports

Can't predict impact of US imports on India's livestock feed mkts: Cargill

Company opens largest dairy feed plant in South-Asia in Punjab today with an investment of ₹300 crore

Agriculture Minister renews push for DBT of fertiliser subsidy to farmers

Shivraj Singh Chouhan says it would give them the freedom to choose which fertilisers to buy and in what quantities

Agri Minister Shivraj Chouhan pitches for DBT of fertiliser subsidy

Currently, fertiliser subsidies in India are primarily transferred to companies rather than directly to farmers