Page 10 - Agriculture

MGNREGA demand drops 27% in September, third monthly fall in a row

MGNREGA work demand fell 27.1% in September 2025, marking the third straight monthly decline, as kharif sowing, budget curbs and heavy rains reduced rural job uptake

Govt raises wheat MSP by 6.59% to ₹2,585; safflower tops hike list

The government raised wheat MSP to Rs 2,585 per quintal for 2026-27 while safflower saw the highest hike of Rs 600 per quintal, followed by lentil, rapeseed, mustard and gram

Cabinet raises wheat MSP by ₹160 to ₹2,585 per quintal for 2026-27

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi

After ethanol tender pricing setback, sugar industry hopes for review

An industry body for sugar factories has written to the Centre seeking a revision of the tender, which has left procurement prices unchanged from last year, noting that sugarcane prices have gone up

The price trap: Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, Madhya Pradesh's high-wire act

From promised MSPs to manipulated markets, the state's soybean farmers walk a delicate tightrope of risk, loss, and hope

Shifting 16.08 mn hectares paddy land to oil palm can lower India's imports

Edible oil demand-supply gap may widen to 40 mn tonnes by 2047, warns paper

Agri share in GDP must rise to 26% for India to be self-reliant: Gadkari

Gadkari also asked the agro-chemicals industry to focus on introducing affordable bio-pesticides and bio-insecticides products by undertaking intensive research & development (R&D) works

Hold 140% more wheat in buffer at start of season: Flour millers urge govt

Flour millers want wheat buffer stocks raised to 18 million tonnes, urge free exports, GST relief on flour and warn of delayed sowing in Punjab due to floods

Govt will 'positively' consider wheat product export demands: Pralhad Joshi

"Keeping consumer interest and food security in mind, we will positively look into it," Joshi said

India's sugar sector sees sweet days ahead despite some bitter notes

The sugar season for 2025-26 promises to be bountiful, with a projected surplus of almost 12 million tonnes to be produced this season, raising hopes for both exports and ethanol

Centre approves procurement of major kharif pulses, oilseeds in UP, Gujarat

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

La Nina, October rain: What it means for kharif harvest, early rabi sowing

While the monsoons have helped the kharif crop, any extra rains through September and October could adversely impact the standing crop, while a harsh winter due to La Nina could affect perishables

BASAI seeks govt clarification on GST rates for biostimulants products

Addressing a media conference, BASAI President and Chairperson Sandeepa Kanitkar said biostimulants are the need of the hour amid climate change challenges

Kharif foodgrain 2025-26 output likely to cross 171.39 MT target: Govt

Despite lower coverage, the prospects for oilseeds and pulses crops remain positive as productivity is expected to be higher due to good crop conditions, he said

No-poach agreement in the works for India's OSAT and ATMP sector

Queries sent to Archunan and Suchi Semicon Chairman Ashok Mehta did not elicit a response. Kaynes CEO Raghu Panicker and RRP Group of Companies Chairman Rajendra Chodankar also did not respond

GST cut to reduce farmers' solar pump costs by ₹1,750 cr annually: Joshi

Pralhad Joshi said GST rationalisation on renewable energy devices will lower solar pump costs for farmers by Rs 1,750 crore annually under schemes like PM-KUSUM

Border farmers without land rights to get PM-KISAN benefit: Chouhan

Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced PM-KISAN benefits for border farmers without land rights and promised flood relief for J&K along with GST-linked cuts in farm equipment costs

GST rate cut: Agri minister to meet farm equipment industry on Sep 19

The government has reduced GST from 12-18 per cent to 5 per cent on various agricultural machinery and equipment effective September 22

Scientists urge PM Modi to lift stay on GM mustard before 2025 sowing

Senior agricultural scientists write to PM Modi urging coordinated action to lift the stay on GM mustard, stressing biosafety and global adoption ahead of sowing season

Rice stocks climb 14% to hit record, wheat at four-year high, shows data

State reserves of rice, including unmilled paddy, totalled a record 48.2 million metric tons as of September 1, far exceeding the government's target of 13.5 million tons for July 1