Page 2 - Agriculture Economy

Mandi prices of major kharif crops show little improvement between Sept-Oct

Prices of soybean, moong, and groundnut remained below MSPs in late October despite some recovery, prompting government action through import curbs and procurement plans

Industry bats for long-term deals; govt aid for DAP under recoveries

Fertiliser firms expect the Centre's special package to cover under recoveries from rising DAP costs, even as global prices strain margins and import deals shape supply stability

UP govt raises sugarcane SAP by ₹30 per quintal for 2025-26 season

Millers say the hike will raise costs and squeeze margins; opposition calls it inadequate, while the state claims the 8% rise will add Rs 3,000 crore to farmers' income

Agriculture needs more automation to make it a lucrative business

The need now is to promote novel and state-of-the-art technologies, such as geospatial programming and artificial intelligence, to optimise farm productivity

Centre committed to increasing farmers' income, says Shivraj Singh Chouhan

The central government is committed to increasing agriculture production and enhancing farmers' income, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Saturday. He said that four low-production districts of Tamil Nadu viz. Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tuticorin, and Virudhunagar have been included in the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana. Under this, 36 schemes of 11 central ministries were being integrated to deliver comprehensive benefits to farmers. We will work to increase production in these districts and make farmers prosperous, he said at the Chaupal programme at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra here He interacted with farmers and officials of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra and explained about the Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Yojana and the Pulses Mission. The farmers here are very hardworking and are doing excellent work for natural farming, he said lauding the ryots of Tamil Nadu. He assured that concrete steps will be taken to address pest and disease

Govt looks to increase pulses production by 40% till 2030-31 crop year

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said the government has set a target to increase pulses production by 40 per cent to 350 lakh tonne by 2030-31 crop year. Recently, the Union Cabinet approved a six-year central scheme aimed at achieving self-sufficiency in pulses production, with a financial outlay of Rs 11,440 crore. The 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses' will be for the period from 2025-26 to 2030-31. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said the pulses production would be increased over the next six years by increasing the area under coverages as well as raising the crop productivity. He exuded the confidence that the target would be met. He also assured that the government would take appropriate decisions related to import duties of pulses for safeguarding the interests of farmers. Chouhan said the government has identified 100 blocks where the productivity is very low compared with the national average. "We are not self-sufficient

Agri department looks to fast-forward work on 'Rising Rajasthan' MoUs

According to the agriculture department secretary Rajan Vishal, projects to construct five new modern grain storage silos with an investment of ₹253 crore were approved in the meeting

Soybean prices crash 39% below MSP, oilseeds, pulses also decline

As kharif harvest nears, mandi rates of major crops like soybean, arhar, and moong fall sharply below MSP, raising concerns over farmers' income

Inside Bihar's silent agricultural revolution: What has changed, and how

In a state where nearly 75 per cent of the population depends on agriculture, Bihar has been steadily revolutionising its rural economy by improving yields, diversifying crops, and empowering women

Aggressive pricing pulls down crop insurance premiums by over 30% in FY26

Crop insurance premiums dropped over 30% in FY26 till August due to aggressive pricing, state re-tendering and unsustainable loss-sharing models under PMFBY

Coromandel signs pact with Veolia to expand Vizag desalination capacity

Coromandel and Veolia partner to expand Vizag desalination plant from 6 MLD to 9 MLD under BOO model, ensuring long-term water resilience and sustainable operations

La Nina, October rain: What it means for kharif harvest, early rabi sowing

While the monsoons have helped the kharif crop, any extra rains through September and October could adversely impact the standing crop, while a harsh winter due to La Nina could affect perishables

Kharif foodgrain 2025-26 output likely to cross 171.39 MT target: Govt

The county's kharif foodgrain production is likely to surpass the government's target of 171.39 million tonne set for the 2025-26 crop year (July-June) buoyed by higher coverage and favourable monsoon rains, Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh said on Monday. Despite lower coverage, the prospects for oilseeds and pulses crops remain positive as productivity is expected to be higher due to good crop conditions, he said. Speaking to PTI, Singh said damage to crops due to flood and heavy rainfall was minimal compared to the overall sown area in the kharif season. "The crop condition is good and the overall (kharif foodgrain) production will be more than the targets that we have kept for this year," Singh said on the sidelines of a conference organised by the Biological Agri Solutions Association of India (BSAI). Kharif crops coverage has exceeded that of previous years, rising to more than 110 million hectares from the usual 109.5 million hectares in recent years, driven by increased .

India doesn't buy even a small amount of US corn, says Howard Lutnick

India brags about having 1.4 billion people but won't buy even a small amount of American corn, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said, asserting that New Delhi must bring down its tariffs or face a tough time doing business with the US. Lutnick made the comments during an interview on Saturday when he was asked whether the US is mismanaging very valuable relationships with important allies like India, Canada and Brazil with the tariffs imposed on these countries. The relationship is one way, they sell to us and take advantage of us. They block us from their economy, and they sell to us while we are wide open for them to come in (and) take advantage, Lutnick said. The president says, fair and reciprocal trade', he added. India brags that they have 1.4 billion people. Why won't 1.4 billion people buy one bushel of US corn? Doesn't that rub you the wrong way that they sell everything to us and they won't buy our corn. They put tariffs on everything, Lutnick said. He added that ..

Buyers investing in agricultural land must adhere to state-specific rules

Some states allow only agriculturists to buy, while others require outsiders to secure approval prior to purchase

India becomes third-largest agrochemical exporter with $3.3 bn exports

Agrochemical exports surged to $3.3 billion in FY25, making India the world's third-largest exporter as ACFI seeks policy support for growth momentum

Late monsoon rains threaten kharif crop yields despite higher acreage

Normal acreage is the average area covered in the last five years

GST rate cut for dairy, agricultural inputs to benefit 10 crore farmers

The GST rate cuts across dairy products, agricultural inputs, and food processing items will directly benefit over 10 crore dairy farmers and strengthen the cooperative sector, Ministry of Cooperation said on Saturday. The GST restructuring addresses the inverted duty structure in fertiliser manufacturing and is expected to prevent price rise for farmers while ensuring timely availability of inputs during sowing seasons, the ministry said in a statement. For dairy farmers, the exemption on milk and paneer, combined with reduced rates on processing equipment, is likely to improve margins for both individual farmers and dairy cooperatives. Major dairy brands including Amul have welcomed the announcement. The reduction in tractor and component prices will particularly benefit small farmers engaged in mixed farming and animal husbandry, as these tractors are commonly used for fodder cultivation and farm produce transportation. The moves are designed to stimulate demand in semi-urban an

Heavy rainfall hits Kharif crops in Rajasthan in the last fortnight

Major crops such as moong, bajra, maize, soybean, groundnut, and cotton are most impacted

Maharashtra leads in FPO ease of doing business; Madhya Pradesh loses crown

Maharashtra has overtaken Madhya Pradesh as the state with the most supportive ecosystem for Farmer-Producer Organisations, according to the latest SOFPO report