Agriculture

Govt to prepare state-specific agri roadmaps based on soil, water, climate

Shivraj Singh Chouhan says will use satellite-based remote sensing to provide relief from recent rains

Punjab arthiyas to continue strike till fixed commission demand is met

The arthiyas are demanding a fixed 2.5 per cent commission on their purchases, as was the practice till 2020, when it was changed to up to 2.5 per cent

Rajasthan govt set to achieve record mustard production this year

Rajasthan is set for a record mustard harvest, with output rising despite weather disruptions, supported by higher sowing and favourable crop conditions

Govt seeks 2.5 mn metric tonnes of urea amid West Asia supply disruptions

India, where farming is a mainstay, imports fertilisers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash, as well as liquefied natural gas, a key feedstock for urea production

West Asia conflict: Fear arrives early in fields of Haryana and Punjab

In third part of series on West Asia impact, wholesalers warn of thin stocks as hoarding fears drive early fertiliser buying

Resilient rural demand drove 23% surge in India's FY26 tractor sales

Geopolitical uncertainties and concerns over a below-average monsoon remain overhang for FY27

Agro-chemical sector sees input costs falling 8-9% after customs duty cut

The duty exemption will start from April 2 and continue till June 30, 2026, an official order said

There is adequate supply of seeds, pesticides for kharif 2026 sowing: Govt

Says prices of most essential food items fairly stable despite the war

Centre assures adequate Kharif inputs, urges states to curb hoarding

The Centre on Wednesday asserted that the country has an adequate supply of seeds and agro-chemicals for the upcoming Kharif season, and asked states to check hoarding, black marketing, smuggling and diversion of fertilisers for non-farm usage. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, Maninder Kaur Dwivedi, Additional Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, said, "The most important input is seeds. There is an adequate availability of seeds for the upcoming Kharif (summer-sown) sowing season". She said the total estimated requirement of seeds for the Kharif 2026 is 166.46 lakh quintals, while the availability is 185.74 lakh tonnes. So, there is a surplus of 19.29 lakh tonnes. Dwivedi noted that there is enough supply of seeds for all major crops. She said the total availability of seeds for paddy crop is 80.9 lakh quintals, soyabean 35.7 lakh quintals, groundnut 21.1 lakh quintals, and maize 11.9 lakh quintals. The availability of seeds is ...

MGNREGA work dips to 53.2 million households in FY26, lowest in six years

In FY25, around 57.8 million households got work under the scheme

Haryana begins mustard procurement, wheat procurement to start April 1

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday directed officials to ensure that farmers coming to mandis to sell their crops during the Rabi procurement season 2026-27 do not face any inconvenience. Saini was presiding over a meeting of officials from the Food and Civil Supplies Department and other agencies related to crop procurement here. He also reviewed the arrangements made for the Rabi procurement season. Procurement of wheat will begin from April 1, 2026, and a target of 72 lakh metric tonnes has been set by the Government of India for this Rabi procurement season, an official statement said. Procurement of mustard has commenced from March 28. This year, the state government plans to procure approximately 13 lakh tonnes of mustard. Out of this, 25 per cent will be procured under the Price Support Scheme through central agencies (NAFED and NCCF), while the remaining 75 per cent will be procured by state agencies (HAFED and Haryana State Warehousing Corporation in a 50:

Excessive use of fertilisers, water harms soil fertility: Shivraj Chouhan

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said in the Rajya Sabha that overuse of chemical fertilisers and excessive use of water are adversely impacting soil fertility in some parts of the country. In a reply to supplementary queries during Question Hour, the minister said the central government is promoting crop diversification and has launched many schemes, including the Millets Mission. Through these schemes, Chouhan said the Centre is making efforts to boost production of millets, pulses and oilseeds. "Due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers and higher use of water, the soil fertility is getting affected at many places," he said. Chouhan said the area and production of mills have increased in the last few years and expressed hope that the output and consumption would increase further. He appreciated the farmers of Punjab for helping India achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrains production. "Punjab ko pranam karte hain. Punjab ke kisanon ko pranam karte h

Parliament panel seeks 100% MSP procurement for oilseeds, pulses

Parliament panel seeks safeguard duty on palm oil to protect domestic farmers

PUSA's IARI enters QS university ranking in agriculture, forestry category

For the first time, India's premier agricultural institute IARI features in QS World University Rankings 2026 in agriculture and forestry, joining top global institutions

Rajasthan govt plans irrigation upgrade to reduce monsoon dependence

Currently, micro-irrigation facilities cover 24 per cent of the state's gross sown area (GSA). There are plans to expand coverage to 51 per cent by 2030

World may face food crisis if West Asia war persists: Brazil Potash CEO

Prolonged conflict in West Asia could disrupt fertiliser supply chains and impact global planting cycles, raising risks of a food crisis, says Brazil Potash CEO Matt Simpson

Centre relaxes monthly sugar sales quota for March on subdued demand

The Centre has relaxed sugar dispatch norms for March 2026, allowing mills flexibility amid weak demand without penalties for missing quota targets

Subsidies or science? India's farm future hinges on scaling up R&D

Economist Ashok Gulati of the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (Icrier) said government spending on agriculture R&D is "not even peanuts" by global standards

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

Daily urea production poised to jump 22% by Mar-end as LNG supplies up 23%

The 52 MMSCMD LNG requirement is based on the average natural gas consumption by urea making units in the last six months (September 2025-February 2026)