Agriculture

Mobile app soon to help farmers assess soil health: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The agriculture minister said the technology will help farmers identify nutrient levels in their fields and promote balanced use of fertilisers while reducing dependence on chemicals

El Niño threat: Which crops face the biggest risk from weak monsoon?

If rains are less in the central and western parts of the country, where irrigation coverage is lower than the national average, the impact on oilseeds and pulses could be more

Kharif sowing slumps 23% amid delayed monsoon, paddy acreage falls sharply

Paddy, pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals and cotton have all recorded lower acreage compared with the same period last year due to a delayed monsoon

Uttar Pradesh targets 22.43 mn tonnes paddy output despite El Niño

UP targets an 8% rise in paddy output and 18% higher kharif production despite El Niño risks, backed by contingency plans and stronger farm support

Tripura eyes bigger global pineapple market with ₹236-crore 'Mission Queen'

The Queen variety of pineapple, found in Tripura, is known for its exceptional sweetness, fibreless pulp, aroma, and quality

Seed firms hold 20-30% kharif stock, last-mile delivery key concern: FSII

The seed industry has built up inventories after a strong production season, but ensuring supplies reach rain-deficient regions quickly will be critical as concerns grow over weak and delayed monsoon

Himachal govt to bear 50% interest burden on overdue agricultural loans

An estimated 6,356 farmers across the state are expected to benefit from the scheme, with a financial outlay of ₹50 crore

Barren land to biz model: How Project Chittoor bets on integrated farming

How a CSR initiative in Andhra Pradesh is turning fragmented landholdings into a diversified income machine

Centre working on reducing green-grey ammonia cost gap to boost green urea

Green ammonia, the main input for making green urea, currently costs more to produce than conventional grey ammonia, making green urea production uncompetitive without support

India IT cos generating $10-12 bn in AI revenue, set for growth: Nasscom

Nasscom President Rajesh Nambiar emphasised that as AI moves into production, enterprises will need specialist partners to deploy and scale the technology responsibly

Rajasthan agri dept sets kharif sowing targets, focus on major millets

Rajasthan boosts kharif targets for millets, guar and soybean, with sowing prospects hinging on monsoon progress and rainfall distribution

El Niño set to further disrupt India's $300 bn agricultural supply chain

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

India asks farmers in rain-fed areas to shift to less water-intensive crops

The push by the farm ministry is part of a broader effort to prepare for the 2026 monsoon planting season after rainfall since June 1 has run 42% below normal

Govt makes contingency plans for 315 districts vulnerable to weak monsoon

The monsoon has so far brought rains about 43% below average, and the weather office has forecast weak rains through the week ending July 2

Farm sector growth could drop to 0-1% in FY27 on low monsoon impact: Report

Demand for most food commodities is relatively inelastic, implying that consumption adjusts only marginally to changes in prices

Fertiliser's U-turn: Linking prices, monsoon, subsidies and reforms

Market watchers say the reason for the drop in prices was China's big re-entry into world fertiliser markets

Climate-resistant crop varieties can reduce El Niño impact, say experts

Agricultural experts say resilient traditional rice varieties such as Kala Namak can help farmers withstand delayed monsoons and weather-related stress during the kharif season

Over 1.85 mn Assam farmers get PM-KISAN aid worth ₹8,200 cr: Sonowal

Since the launch of the scheme, farmers in Assam have received cumulative assistance exceeding ₹8,292 crore, Sonowal said

Centre awaits IMD's June-end El Nino projection to shape kharif strategy

While there have been broad forecasts of El Nino setting in around November, IMD is seeking greater certainty before firming up its assessment

Agriculture ministry sounds El Niño alarm; MFIs step up rural credit vigil

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