Agriculture

Centre clears IFFCO's nano NPK fertilisers under FCO amid West Asia war

Approval of nano NPK products aims to cut reliance on conventional fertilisers and ease supply pressures amid gas shortages linked to West Asia conflict

India plans ₹600 crore war chest to boost LNG supply for fertiliser units

With the West Asia war showing no sign of an early end, the government has started working on alternative plans to keep fertiliser units running once they resume operations

Govt hikes arthiyas commission by 10% for Punjab, Haryana wheat procurement

An official statement today announced that the increased rates will apply starting with the forthcoming Rabi marketing season of 2026-27

ICAR to build national gender platform to boost women's role in farming

Agricultural research body ICAR on Sunday said it is developing a national gender platform connecting more than 900 institutions to strengthen women's role in farming, as an international conference adopted a declaration for a global alliance to boost their leadership across agri-food systems. Addressing the closing session of the Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems (GCWAS-2026) on Saturday, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director General ML Jat said the platform would link ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and agricultural universities to strengthen research, extension and capacity-building initiatives focused on women in agriculture. The three-day conference here, attended by delegates from 18 countries, concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration, which calls for establishing a Global Alliance on Women in Agri-Food Systems, an official statement said. The declaration commits stakeholders to champion gender-responsive policies, ensure ...

Fuel shortages caused by Iran war begin to threaten global food supply

Farmers worldwide face fuel shortages that threaten diesel-powered planting, irrigation and fishing, as energy supply shocks from the Iran war risk pushing up food costs and global inflation

Use West Asia crisis to push fertiliser reforms in India: ICRIER paper

With over 68.6% of India's fertiliser value chain dependent on imports, geopolitical tensions pose rising risks to supply security, underscoring the need for urgent sector reforms, ICRIER paper said

Asia-Africa Agri Alliance launched to boost trade, investment, tech ties

Asia and Africa together account for over 40 per cent of global agricultural production and bilateral agri-trade already exceeds $90 billion annually

SC ruling on Vinp Distilleries restores parity in ethanol procurement: ISMA

The dispute arose after Vinp approached the High Court seeking higher allocation under its long-term offtake agreement (LTOA) in the OMC tender for the 2025-26 ethanol supply year

Women should get greater role in agri-food sector, says President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday said women engaged in agriculture and agri-food sectors should get a greater role in policy formation, decision-making and leadership positions, and called for collective action to close gender gaps across the value chain. Addressing the three-day Global Conference on Women in Agri-Food Systems, the President said success case studies on women in agriculture should be published widely to ensure more people were aware of their contributions. Emphasising India's strategic choice of women-led development, Murmu said women in the agriculture sector must be given a greater role in policy formulation, decision-making, and leadership positions. "Larger participation of women at all levels in the sector will promote gender-inclusive agricultural growth," she said. She called for targeted support for women farmers on issues of land titles, access to technical knowledge, and institutional finance. On the role of technology, Murmu highlighted 'Sarlaben' -

Centre to leverage digital infra to optimise food, fertiliser subsidies

Government plans to use AgriStack and CBDC-based pilots to better target fertiliser and food subsidies, reduce leakages, and improve transparency in welfare delivery systems

New seed tech, biologicals can be 'game changers' for Indian agriculture

Experts say Direct Seeded Rice and next-generation seed technologies could transform Indian agriculture by cutting water use, lowering costs and improving sustainability in rice cultivation

India's wheat output pegged at record 120.21 mt in 2025-26, up 2%: Govt

Wheat, a major rabi (winter) crop, is beginning to be harvested and is expected to pick up pace in key growing states in the coming weeks

India wheat output seen increasing 2% to record 120.21 MT 2025-26

India's wheat production is estimated at a record 120.21 million tonnes in the 2025-26 crop year, up 2 per cent from 117.94 million tonnes in the previous year, government data showed on Tuesday. Wheat, a major rabi (summer) crop, is beginning to be harvested and is expected to pick up pace in key growing states in the coming weeks. Total rabi crop production is estimated to rise 3.16 per cent to 174.51 million tonnes in 2025-26 from 169.16 million tonnes a year earlier, the agriculture ministry said in its second advance estimate. Pulses output is projected to grow 7 per cent to 16.24 million tonnes in the rabi season of 2025-26 from 15.23 million tonnes a year ago, as the country looks to narrow a demand-supply gap that has left the country dependent on imports. Gram production was pegged slightly higher at 11.79 million tonnes against 11.11 million tonnes, while lentil output was estimated at 1.73 million tonnes versus 1.65 million tonnes. However, urad output is seen lower at

Global fertiliser prices may strain India's subsidy maths for next year

The subsidy burden might rise as retail rates of major fertiliser such as urea and DAP has to kept fixed to support farmers while import cost and cost of domestic production will go up

Paddy payments jump nearly 11% to ₹14,900 crore in Uttar Pradesh

Last year, the state's institutional paddy payments stood at about ₹13,370 crore

West Asia crisis: Centre working for smooth gas supply to fertiliser plants

Amid Middle East tensions, the Government of India assures fertiliser makers it is working to ease LNG shortages and safeguard urea output despite supply disruptions from Qatar

Sugar shares rally on hopes of higher ethanol blend amid West Asia crisis

Sugar stocks surged on expectations that rising crude oil prices amid the West Asia crisis may prompt the Centre to raise ethanol prices and increase the blending mandate from 20 per cent

Farm sector underperforms in FY26 under new series; share rises to 18%

Nominal GVA growth maintains downward trajectory for agriculture and allied in FY26

India braces for unusually hot March this year, risking crop yields

The IMD is expected to release its forecast for March temperatures later this week. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the March temperature outlook

Traders fear wheat prices may fall below MSP in 2026-27 on surplus stocks

Market participants warn that surplus stocks and OMSS sales could push wheat prices Rs 300-400 per quintal below MSP in 2026-27, denting farm incomes and distorting trade signals