Agriculture

Fixing Fertiliser: Urea subsidy cannot be allowed to continue unreformed

With fertiliser subsidies set to hit record levels, India faces growing pressure to reform urea pricing and shift support directly to farmers

Farmers procure 3.5 times more organic manure this kharif season

India imports a large quantity of urea and di-ammonium phosphate to meet local demand. Total domestic production of fertilisers, including urea

Agriculture needs dual approach to tackle El Nino, build climate resilience

El Nino is a natural phenomenon in the eastern Pacific Ocean that influences global weather patterns, including India's monsoon

Plans afoot to counter El Niño threat to kharif crops, says Chouhan

The ministry is in the process of identifying districts for alternative crops and ensuring seed availability in the event of an El Nino impact, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said

Organised plywood industry flags diversion of agriculture-grade urea

The organised plywood sector has urged the Centre to curb diversion of subsidised agricultural urea into industrial use amid rising fertiliser subsidy costs and supply pressures

Day after PM's meeting, Chouhan pushes result-oriented governance model

Dedicated teams of at least 10 officers each will review grievances, representations, citizen complaints across ministries on a daily basis

India's fertiliser sector reforms: Time for action on import dependence

West Asia tensions expose India's fertiliser vulnerabilities, reviving calls for subsidy reform, nutrient balance and a shift towards green ammonia

Rajasthan's 260K farmers to get subsidised seeds for pulse and oilseed crop

Rajasthan to provide subsidised pulse and oilseed seeds to 2.6 lakh farmers under ₹135-crore central mission scheme

CACP warns fertiliser DBT may hurt agricultural output, reduce usage

The Commission suggested that digital platforms such as AgriStack should be leveraged to contain imbalanced use of soil nutrients and reduce the subsidy burden without affecting farm production

Rajasthan govt signs ₹1,679 crore agricultural MoUs ahead of GRAM-2026

Rajasthan has secured ₹1,679 crore in agri-sector investment proposals ahead of the Global Rajasthan Agri-tech Meet-2026 in Jaipur

Conflict in the backyard: Wild animal attacks are pushing farmers into debt

Rising attacks by wild animals are inflicting massive crop losses across India, deepening rural distress and testing the balance between conservation and livelihoods

IBA calls for 10% manure blending with fertilisers to save $2 bn imports

The Indian Biogas Association (IBA) has called for 10 per cent mandatory blending of fermented organic manure with chemical fertilisers by 2030 saying it can save USD 2 billion in imports annually. The IBA recently presented a white paper: FOM Feeds Soil, Soil Feeds Sustainability. The white paper was released by Union New & Renewable Energy Secretary Santosh Kumar Sarangi during BBB Summit 2026 held from May 7 to 9, an IBA statement said. The white paper proposes a phased mandate to achieve 10 per cent blending of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) with chemical fertilizers by 2030, positioning it as a critical intervention to restore India's declining soil health and accelerate the transition to sustainable agriculture. It outlined a comprehensive policy framework, the recommendation calls for integrating FOM into existing flagship government schemes such as the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) framework, Soil Health Card (SHC) scheme, and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). The ..

FMC Corp to sell India crop protection business to Crystal for $252 mn

FMC Corporation on Thursday said it would sell its India commercial business to Crystal Crop Protection Ltd for US 252 million, as the US agricultural sciences company looks to reduce debt and refocus resources on higher-growth markets. The deal, under which FMC has signed a definitive agreement, is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, including adjustments for cash, debt and working capital. FMC said it would direct all proceeds toward debt reduction. FMC had expressed intention to exit its India crop protection commercial operations in July 2025, saying the move would allow it to re-enter the Indian market through a new go-to-market strategy while redeploying capital elsewhere. Under the terms of the transaction, Crystal Crop will acquire FMC India's commercial operations in the crop protection segment, including a licence to use FMC's brands sold in the country, FMC said in a statement. Crystal will also receive a preferred supply agreement for certai

Two Bandra Girls: Farm life memoir blends dreams with reality of rural life

Two women leave their Bandra lives to start an organic farm in Raigad, resulting in a book packed with action, drama and occasional plot twists

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

Factories in Tanzania offer new avenues for Haryana farmers, entrepreneurs

Farming and doing business in Tanzania have become lucrative avenues for the people in Harayana, with the state government, along with the Centre, expanding trade ties with the East African nation. Farmers and entrepreneurs have started exploring the Tanzanian markets after Haryana began a push for investment opportunities in that country. To enable farmers to pursue agricultural ventures, the Haryana government, with the support of the Centre, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for one lakh acres of farm land in Tanzania, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said. Saini said that trade cooperation with African countries is being continuously expanded, with key sectors such as mining, plywood, agriculture, and IT being prominently included, according to an official statement. Somveer Ghasola from Dadri near Bhiwani is among those who have bought land in Tanzania. Ghasola, 58, has also set up a mining business near Tanzania's capital, Dodoma. According to him, the African .

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

Best of BS Opinion: Hopes fade for early resolution of West Asia crisis

From rising West Asia tensions and oil shocks to heat stress on food systems and women farmers' role in India, here are the key insights from Business Standard's Opinion page today