Page 5 - Agriculture

Has India's farm output finally become less dependent on the monsoon?

As India faces a below-normal monsoon forecast for 2026, improved irrigation, resilient seeds and policy support have strengthened farm output, though regional risks and inflation concerns persist

Centre approves raising MP wheat procurement quota to 10 million tonnes

Government wheat procurement has declined 11.37% to 14.8 million tonnes in the ongoing rabi season, impacted by delayed crop arrivals across mandis compared to last year

India to buy urea at near double pre-war prices amid supply disruption

Urea from the West Asia, a major supplier to the South Asian nation, was quoted at $490 a ton before the war began, according to Green Markets data

MP raises rural land acquisition payout to four times market rate

The move is expected to directly benefit thousands of farming families whose land is acquired for public infrastructure and industrial projects

MP farmers to get four times compensation for rural land acquisition

Madhya Pradesh will offer up to four times compensation for rural land acquisition, aiming to ensure fair value for farmers and support infrastructure and development projects

Centre floats draft amendments to marquee Sugarcane Control Order, 1966

Draft proposes minimum distance criteria between mills at 25 km, mandates khandsari units to pay Centre-fixed Fair and Remunerative Price to cane growers

India's fertiliser production sees weakest growth in 13 years in FY26

India's fertiliser output contracts in FY26, hit by LNG shortages and shutdowns, marking the sector's weakest performance in over a decade

Centre allows extra 25 lakh tonnes wheat export amid strong harvest outlook

With this, a total of 50 lakh tonne of wheat and 10 lakh tonne of wheat products have now been permitted for exports

El Nino impact may be muted, govt ready for kharif sowing: Shivraj Chouhan

The agriculture minister reviewed kharif preparedness amid El Nino concerns, said strong reservoir levels, irrigation and contingency planning will help limit impact on farm output

Centre okays UP potato procurement at ₹6,500/ton; raises gram limit in AP

In a separate decision, the Union Agriculture Ministry raised the procurement limit for gram in Andhra Pradesh to 1.13 lakh tonnes, up from the existing cap of 94,500 tonnes

Centre relaxes wheat procurement norms for Punjab for 2026-27 season

As per the new parameters, FCI will now accept wheat with 70 per cent lustre loss and 15 per cent shrivelled grains in Punjab, as against the existing quality standard of 6 per cent shrivelled grains

MP farmers allege substandard bitter gourd seeds; FIR filed against Nunhems

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered a ban on Nunhems' 'Robusta' bitter gourd seed brand, as per an official statement

Datanomics: Met accuracy improves; farm GVA shifts slightly from crops

Improving monsoon forecasts and a gradual shift from crops to livestock are reducing agriculture's direct impact on India's overall economic growth

Ahead of farmers' protest, FCI Punjab backs easing wheat procurement norms

Punjab farmers are planning to stage the rail blockade, precisely demanding the same, which is easing of wheat procurement standards in line with neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan

India's domestic urea production likely to jump over 11% in April

IPL tender receives urea import offers totalling 5.6 million tonnes

Wheat procurement falls 69% over quality concerns in Punjab and Haryana

Punjab farmers to block rail tracks tomorrow to demand norm relaxations; Haryana eases quality norms

Taking a 'rain check' on agri output as past data softens monsoon concerns

IMD's below-normal monsoon forecast raises farm concerns, but past trends show steady foodgrain output supported by irrigation, resilient seeds, and better rainfall distribution

When rains falter: El Nino builds, India braces for water and farm stress

The call is for urgent conservation and replenishment measures, both for now and the future

Fertiliser subsidy beats FY26 Revised Estimates, experts seek policy shift

India's fertiliser subsidy has exceeded FY26 Revised Estimates, prompting experts to call for policy reforms, including rational pricing, curbs on overuse, and bringing urea under the NBS regime

NAAS recommends steps to reduce import dependence in horticulture

NAAS has proposed steps to reduce India's rising dependence on imported fruits and spices and boost exports through improved crop varieties, stronger traceability and better market linkages