Page 9 - Agriculture

Budget 2026: Rice exporters seek tax relief, credit and freight support

The Indian Rice Exporter's Federation has urged the Centre to provide a 4% interest subvention on export credit, 3% road and rail freight support, and ensure timely disbursal of duty remission schemes

Kerala govt to hand over paddy procurement to cooperative societies

The new model will be implemented through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies and will come into force from the upcoming season

Bayer, ADM extend Maharashtra soyabean farmer programme to 100K growers

The expanded programme will cover seven districts in Maharashtra, adding Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, and Solapur to the original areas of Latur, Dharashiv, and Beed

India becomes world's largest rice producer, surpasses China: Agri minister

The minister unveiled 184 improved varieties of 25 field crops developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research at an event held in the national capital, according to an official statement

Centre to tackle fertiliser misuse, promote balanced use: JP Nadda

Fertiliser Secretary Rajat Kumar Mishra said the government, PSUs and the private sector have all placed farmers at the centre of deliberations

Centre pushes states to speed up farm scheme spending, flags fund delays

Chouhan said states must ensure funds earmarked for various schemes are spent before March to avoid administrative bottlenecks that delay the effective implementation of programmes

Maharashtra govt waives stamp duty on farm, crop loans up to ₹2 lakh

The revenue and forest department issued a government gazette notification in this regard on January 1. The waiver has come into effect from that date

Centre to procure additional 600,000 mt of rice from Odisha: Minister

Patra said paddy procurement is underway in 18 of 30 districts, and the state has secured 10.50 lakh MT of paddy from around 2.30 lakh farmers during the ongoing kharif season

Wheat sowing almost complete, prospects bright this rabi: Agri Commissioner

More than 73 per cent of the sown area has been planted with climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties that will help counter any weather aberrations

Gross PMFBY premium falls in kharif 2025 as cup and cap model takes root

Lower actuarial bids and Maharashtra dropping add-ons could ease the Centre's subsidy burden in FY26

2025: When rural optimism rose but farm returns stayed under pressure

GST rate cuts and welfare transfers lifted consumption, but falling crop prices clouded farm incomes

Rabi crop area sees marginal rise; wheat sowing remains flat: Govt data

Wheat sowing remained flat at 32.26 million hectares in the ongoing 2024-25 rabi season, while area under pulses and oilseeds rose marginally from a year earlier, agriculture ministry data showed.

Jute industry faced crisis in 2025 amid input shortage, soaring prices

Stakeholders noted that the current crisis was shaped by extreme price swings over the past 15 months

Record agri output in 2025 amid GST cuts, tariffs; new bill eyed for 2026

Above-normal southwest monsoons boosted kharif sowing, with the agriculture ministry's first advance estimate projected kharif foodgrain output at a record 173.33 MT for 2025-26

Year-ender 2025: Rural economy steadies as GST cuts offset weak crop prices

Lower crop prices and weak nominal farm growth weighed on rural incomes in 2025, but GST cuts, welfare support, and rising consumption helped stabilise demand and sentiment

Chemical fertilisers cause diseases, natural farming boosts income: Shah

Shah, who is also Minister of Cooperation, said approximately 40 lakh farmers in the country have adopted natural farming and he has personally practised it on his farms

VB-G RAM G to address labour shortage during peak farm season: Minister

The VB-G RAM G Act, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was passed in Parliament last week

Oilseed extractors plan far-East push as oil meal exports slow down

Indian oilseed extractors are planning a far-East outreach to revive oil meal exports amid weak global demand, rising competition from DDGS, and logistical advantages over US suppliers

India's rice stocks surge to record high as paddy procurement climbs

State reserves of rice, including unmilled paddy, totalled a record 57.57 million metric tons as of December 1, far exceeding the government's target of 7.61 million tons for January 1

Rabi sowing over in 91% normal area, acreage 1.43% higher, shows data

Rabi sowing has covered 91% of the normal area so far, with total acreage 1.4% higher than last year, led by gains in wheat, mustard and pulses, official data shows