Page 4 - Agriculture

Sugar industry wary of proposed tighter rules in Sugarcane Control Order

Proposed changes to Sugarcane Control Order, including stricter norms for mills and khandsari units, raise concerns over increased regulatory oversight and potential 'Inspector Raj' in the sector

Millers welcome sugarcane FRP hike; farmers say ₹10 rise too meagre

ISMA said the FRP hike is a progressive, farmer-friendly step reflecting the government's continued commitment to strengthening farmer welfare and boosting rural prosperity

Cabinet approves ₹5,659 crore cotton mission to double yields in 5 years

Cabinet raises sugarcane FRP by ₹10/quintal for 2026-27 season

Rajasthan govt says enough fertiliser stock for Kharif 2026 amid Oppn flak

Rajasthan assures adequate fertiliser stocks for Kharif, but West Asia tensions and import risks keep concerns over future supply disruptions alive

Statsguru: Trouble in India's fertiliser sector amid West Asia crisis

Russia and Saudi Arabia were the largest sources for India's fertiliser imports in FY26

Sub-par monsoon not a crisis; agriculture has shown resilience: Chand

Former NITI Aayog member and noted agriculture economist Ramesh Chand says India is better prepared to handle rainfall variability than in the past

Fertiliser output steady; govt secures 3.7 MT urea imports for kharif

Total domestic fertiliser production (that includes DAP, NPKS and others) stood at 6.23 million tonnes during March-April, while imports were at 1.53 million tonnes

Sugar output rises 7% so far in FY26; ISMA presses for policy relief

Maharashtra, country's largest sugar-producing state, saw production climb to 9.92 million tonne from 8.09 million tonne, while Karnataka's output rose to 4.80 million tonne from 4.04 million tonne

Trade split on cotton duty cut; risks flagged for farmers, CCI

As industry seeks lower cotton import duty amid rising prices, sections of trade warn it could hurt farmers, trigger distress selling, and lead to losses for the Cotton Corporation of India

Fertiliser companies asked to source collectively from global markets

Traders said a beginning in this regards were made last week when IPL issued a tender to import 1.6 million tonnes of DAP and TSP (Triple Super Phosphate) on behalf of the industry

West Asia crisis: India expects FY27 fertiliser subsidy bill to rise 20%

The jump in subsidies is expected as the country plans to import 6.4 million tonnes of urea and 1.9 million tonnes of other fertilisers this kharif season at high prices

West Asia war: Govt expects annual fertiliser subsidy bill to rise by 20%

Rising import costs are likely to increase India's fertiliser subsidies to companies for selling crop nutrients to farmers below market prices

India's FY26 wheat production stable, resilient despite setbacks: Govt

In a statement, the ministry described the current wheat season as "mixed but resilient," shaped by both climatic adversities and strong adaptive measures undertaken by farmers

FM Sitharaman hints at Covid-like fertiliser subsidy for farmers

Finance Minister signals fertiliser prices may not be passed on to farmers despite rising global costs, as subsidy burden mounts amid West Asia tensions

Why monsoon-dependent India still struggles to scale micro irrigation

IMD's weak monsoon forecast revives a key question why India's push for drip and sprinkler irrigation has not translated into widespread adoption despite years of policy support

Centre refutes fertiliser shortage claims; urea stocks steady at mid-April

India has urea stocks of around 6.73 million tonnes, against last year's 6.80 million tonnes

India raises wheat procurement target 15% to support rain-hit farmers

States seek higher procurement as unseasonal rains damage crops

Seed, pesticide laws likely to be tabled in next Parl session: Chouhan

Chouhan said the proposed Seed Act and Pesticide Act have been circulated for feedback and aim to curb the sale of spurious and substandard inputs

How India is emerging as testing ground for agri-based carbon markets

Amazon's $30 million rice carbon credit deal highlights India's role in scaling agriculture-based carbon markets while raising questions on trust, verification, and farmer benefits

India's wheat output likely to fall by 5-10% as rain, hail damage crops

Although lower output could curb purchases, which have missed wheat ‌buying targets for past 4 years, this is unlikely to cause shortages as India holds stocks at roughly 3 times the required level