Page 4 - Agriculture

Punjab DSR area rises 36% to over 400K acres in Kharif 2026: State agri min

Punjab's area under direct-seeded rice rose 36% to over 4 lakh acres in Kharif 2026, aided by incentives and efforts to conserve groundwater

Sugar industry says recent price spike not supported by fundamentals

ISMA and NFCSF said India has adequate sugar stocks to meet domestic demand and urged traders and buyers to avoid speculative purchases and hoarding

Chouhan asks ICAR scientists to explore non-GMO ways to raise pulses yield

Shivraj Singh Chouhan urges ICAR to find non-GMO solutions to boost pulses and oilseed yields as the council unveils its agriculture roadmap for 2047

India must cut pulse, oilseed imports through higher yield: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh urged ICAR scientists to improve productivity in pulses and oilseeds to reduce import dependence, while also calling for greater self-sufficiency in fertilisers

Cabinet clears new urea policy to add 10 mt domestic production capacity

The Cabinet has approved NIPU-2026 to add 10 million tonnes of domestic urea capacity through 8-9 new plants, aiming to curb imports and boost self-reliance

Kharif acreage gap can be bridged as sowing continues till Aug 15: Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Kharif sowing could recover by August 15 if rainfall improves, despite a 16% drop in crop acreage so far

Odisha clears new farm market law to widen buyer access for farmers

Odisha has approved a new farm marketing law to create a unified statewide market, expand buyer access, promote digital trading and improve price realisation for farmers

Cabinet okays national investment policy for 10 MT fresh urea capacity

The Cabinet has approved the National Investment Policy 2026 to add 10 million tonnes of urea capacity and reduce India's dependence on fertiliser imports

Cabinet may clear new urea investment policy on Wednesday to curb imports

The guaranteed buyback under the new policy, according to sources, will be available to the units for a period of eight years from the date of commencement of production

Centre bans paraquat dichloride herbicide over human health concerns

The plant protection chemical has already been banned in more than 70 countries for various reasons, the most prevalent of which is its adverse impact on human and animal health

Govt issues draft rules to ban paraquat dichloride over health concerns

The weed-killing herbicide is among the world's most controversial, having been banned in about 70 countries because of its toxic qualities

Kharif sowing picks up pace but acreage gap still remains big enough

Kharif sowing gathers pace as monsoon improves, but acreage remains below last year amid weak rainfall concerns

Rajasthan's kharif sowing slows amid erratic rains, revival expected

Erratic monsoon rains have slowed kharif sowing in Rajasthan, leaving key crops below target and raising the risk of delayed planting and resowing

Afghan agri min holds talks with Indian counterpart to boost cooperation

Food security, seed systems and enhancement of crop productivity featured prominently in the discussions

Chouhan calls for a mass tree planting movement for greener future

The minister also unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to transform environmental protection into a structured mass campaign, drawing upon suggestions from Vriksh Mitras during the interaction

Weak monsoon may lift soluble fertiliser demand, price remains a risk: SFAI

The industry body said input costs have surged due to China's export curbs and West Asia disruptions, while warning that sharply higher prices could discourage farmers from using soluble fertilisers

UP assures farm security with over 3.10 mn tonnes fertiliser stock

The state government said it has more than 3.10 million tonnes of fertiliser in stock and is coordinating with the Centre to ensure uninterrupted supplies during the ongoing kharif sowing season

Vegetables, pulses, cereals: How a weak monsoon could hit your food bill

Rain can send vegetable prices soaring within days, while the impact on pulses and cereals may take months to emerge. Milk, edible oils and sugar follow very different inflation paths

Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu: Two success stories in India's agriculture

Among hilly regions and Northeast India, Assam, Manipur and Tripura recorded the highest CAGR during the same period, though from a smaller base

Plant protection industry objects to film over 'pesticide poisoning' claims

Agro Chem Federation of India has asked the CBFC to scrutinise The India Story - Slow Poison in Progress, alleging its claims on pesticides, cancer and food safety lack scientific backing