Agriculture

AgriStack DPI to plug gaps in data collection system, says government

To overhaul the system, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare approved the DAM for the creation of a DPI to enable a robust digital agriculture ecosystem in the country.

Kharif sowing gap narrows; UBS discounts sharp decline in rural demand

Jain said overall, the group expects rural demand to remain more resilient than in previous episodes of monsoon-related stress, even as growth moderates from current levels

Kharif sowing gains momentum in Rajasthan as monsoon rainfall revives

Data showed that by July 9, sowing had reached 61 per cent of the target for coarse cereals, 58 per cent for pulses, 60 per cent for oilseeds and 56 per cent for other crops

Odisha to launch 5 food parks, target ₹10,000 cr investment at Delhi summit

The state will unveil five new food parks at the Odisha Food Pro 2026 summit in New Delhi as it seeks Rs 10,000 crore in investments and over 20,000 jobs

TN introduces carbon trading for farmers, launches ₹600 cr soil mission

Facing severe climate uncertainties, including the anticipated Super El Nino phenomenon, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday rolled out a series of climate-resilient initiatives in its Agriculture budget 2026-27, featuring a carbon trading scheme for farmers and a multi-year soil restoration drive. Presenting the budget, Tamil Nadu Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare R Vinoth allocated Rs 60 lakh to launch demonstration projects across 2,000 acres and develop monitoring and verification protocols for carbon trading. Under the scheme, farmers will be enabled to earn supplementary income through carbon credits by adopting existing sustainable cultivation methods, specifically emission-reducing practices such as Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation techniques. These established cultivation practices are estimated to cut greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 50 per cent while promoting carbon sequestration in agricultural soils, the .

Govt links nearly 102.8 mn Farmer IDs to PM-KISAN, procurement platforms

In a written reply in Parliament, MoS for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said the integration is meant to ensure effective service delivery to farmers, particularly small and marginal farmers

Pilot fertiliser distribution platform rolled out in 56 districts: Govt

A new digital platform to ensure more transparent and farmer-centric fertiliser distribution has been implemented on a pilot basis in 56 districts across 23 states so far, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. The new platform 'Framework for Fertilizer Sale' has been jointly developed by Fertiliser and Agriculture Ministries with consent from the state governments. It is implemented in a "staggered pilot manner, with the objective of making the fertiliser distribution system more transparent, organised, farmer-centric, land and crop data integrated and demand driven", Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. Under the proposed arrangement, farmers or their authorised representatives will register through a mobile application and enter land and crop-related details for advance booking (pre-booking) of fertiliser requirements. Upon successful booking of fertilisers, a QR code-based token shall be generated. This QR code

New urea policy revives self-reliance push, but demand keeps racing ahead

The Centre's new investment policy could attract up to Rs 1 trillion into urea production, but rising demand, subsidy distortions and weak private participation may keep India reliant on imports

Best of BS Opinion: States must reduce debt in face of redemption pressures

From mounting state debt and agricultural research to public asset monetisation, China-linked investment and Tim Berners-Lee's vision for reclaiming the open web

Agricultural research needs greater funding to sustain long-term growth

Agricultural extension, which carries innovations from laboratories to farmers' fields, yields ₹7.40 for every rupee invested

Kharif sowing gap with last year narrows further during week ended July 24

Gaps in the area under all crops - oilseeds, pulses, soybean, groundnut, urad, moong and maize - narrowed compared to the previous week

No proposal for one-time waiver of loans of small, marginal farmers: Govt

The government has no proposal for a one-time waiver of loans of small and marginal farmers, Parliament was informed on Monday. To provide relief to borrowers in distress, the Reserve Bank of India has issued Master Direction on Resolution of Stressed Assets, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (updated as on July 1, 2026) which provides lenders the discretion to undertake financial restructuring of borrowers under stress, based on their Board approved policies and regulatory guidelines, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. "No proposal for one-time waiver of loans of small and marginal farmers is currently under consideration with the Union government," he said in reply to a question whether the government proposes to consider a one-time waiver or restructuring of loans to small and marginal farmers. Replying to another question, Chaudhary said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had sent a proposal to the government in terms of Section 25 o

Maharashtra to receive second RKVY instalment of ₹335 crore from Centre

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the Maharashtra government will get the second instalment of Rs 335 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). According to an official statement, the minister chaired a virtual review meeting to assess the utilisation of funds released under the RKVY and to consider the issuance of the Second Installment (Second Mother Sanction) to the Government of Maharashtra. The meeting was attended by Dattatray Bharane, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, Government of India, and officers of the Government of Maharashtra. During the review, Chouhan said the Centre had earlier released Rs 335 crore as the first installment under RKVY to Maharashtra. The state has utilised about Rs 260 crore, exceeding the prescribed 75 per cent utilisation benchmark, thereby becoming eligible for the second installment. He said the process for release of the second ...

Odisha turns to complex fertilisers as DAP, urea supplies come under strain

State asks districts to promote complex fertilisers and ammonium sulphate as alternatives to DAP and urea to ensure uninterrupted crop production during the kharif season

Urea, DAP sales show marginal dip in June 2026 despite patchy monsoon

India's fertiliser sales dipped only marginally in June despite a weak monsoon, while easing global prices offered relief even as FY27 subsidy estimates remained elevated

Centre bans widely used herbicide: What it means for India's farmers

India may soon ban one of its most widely used weed killers. The Centre has proposed a ban on paraquat dichloride, citing serious health risks,

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

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to intensify efforts to raise productivity in pulses and oilseeds, sectors where India continues to rely heavily on imports. "If countries without access to GM seeds can get better yields in pulses, why can't India?" Chouhan said, addressing scientists at the 98th ICAR Foundation Day. Chouhan pointed out that farmers with access to irrigation tend to shift toward rice and wheat cultivation -- a pattern he said has played out across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and other parts of eastern India as irrigation coverage expanded, pushing the country to depend on pulse imports to meet demand. Citing yield comparisons, the minister noted that an acre under maize can produce over 100 quintals, against roughly 30-35 quintals for rice and just about 5 quintals for pulses such as gram or moong. He called the gap "a direct challenge" for ICAR scientists to close. Chouhan also flagg

Agri stocks: Analysts stay selective as rain deficit widens; top picks here

Analysts said concerns over agri stocks are justified due to the rainfall deficit, but suggested investors to stay selective rather than avoid the sector altogether.

Farmers take out motorcycle marches against India-US trade deal in Punjab

Punjab farmers protest against the proposed India-US trade deal, warning that lower import duties could hurt agriculture, dairy and rural livelihoods

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