Page 3 - Agriculture Economy

Chhattisgarh to get APEDA regional office in Raipur for agri-exports

The regional office will facilitate direct exports of fruits, vegetables, rice, GI-tagged products, millets, and other agri-commodities to international markets

Cooperative major Iffco appoints KJ Patel as new MD, replaces Awasthi

Cooperative major IFFCO has appointed K J Patel as its new Managing Director (MD) with former chief U S Awasthi's term ending on Thursday. IFFCO Chairman Dileep Sanghani announced Patel as the new MD, the cooperative said in a statement. Patel, who was Director-Technical at IFFCO, holds a mechanical engineering degree from Saurashtra University and has a rich experience of more than 32 years in the maintenance of Nitrogenous & Phosphatic fertiliser plants. He was heading the IFFCO Paradeep Plant, the biggest complex fertiliser plant in India. "Patel brings deep industry knowledge and, proven strategic thinking approach that aligns with the goals of IFFCO," Sanghani said. Further, he said the board is confident that Patel will steer IFFCO into a new era of innovation and value creation. Sanghani also thanked the outgoing MD US Awasthi for his invaluable contribution and dedication to IFFCO as well as farmers across the country. IFFCO posted a 16 per cent increase in net profit to

Govt nod now must for traders buying farm produce from Maharashtra farmers

No private trader can purchase agriculture products from farmers in Maharashtra without the state government's permission, according to a decision taken by the cabinet on Tuesday. The decision taken by the cabinet also stated that taking a licence from the marketing committee or director of the marketing department will be mandatory for buying agriculture products from cultivators. The marketing director has been authorised to issue a Single Unified Licence to traders to trade across the country. In another decision, the cabinet approved a proposal to establish a cadre of marketing committee secretaries under the authority of marketing director. The cabinet also pushed for effective implementation of the e-NAM (National Agriculture Market) scheme in the state so that farmers get reasonable rates for their produce. The central scheme will cover 133 Agriculture Marketing Produce Committees (APMCs) in Maharashtra. National Agriculture Market (eNAM) is a pan-India electronic trading .

India unlikely to allow US imports of GM agri products under trade deal

Under the trade deal negotiations, market access for agricultural products has been one of the key demands from the US

India-UK FTA: Over 95% Indian farm exports to get duty-free market access

India's FTA with the UK boosts agri and food exports with 95% items duty-free, while protecting dairy, oils, and apples. Farmers, seafood, and processed goods sectors set to gain significantly

Govt imports nearly 1 million tonnes of DAP in Apr-Jun, shows Govt data

India has imported 9.74 lakh tonnes of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) during the April-June quarter to meet domestic demand, the government said on Tuesday. In a written reply to Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Anupriya Patel shared the data of DAP imports for the current year, as reported by the companies. As per the data, India imported 2.89 lakh tonnes of DAP in April, 2.36 lakh tonnes in May and 4.49 lakh tonnes in June. Imports of DAP, a key fertiliser, stood at 45.69 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 fiscal, 55.67 lakh tonnes in 2023-24, 65.83 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, 54.62 lakh tonnes in 2021-22, and 48.82 lakh tonnes during 2020-21. "The government is ensuring adequate availability of fertilizers to meet the Kharif 2025 requirement...The requirement for chemical fertilizers during the 2025 Kharif season (is) marginally higher than that of the previous year, owing to expanded sowing coverage and favourable monsoon conditions," Patel said. From April 2010, the

Govt proposes to align avg sale price of rock phosphate with global rates

Facing a DAP shortage, the Centre plans to link rock phosphate prices to global rates to encourage domestic production and reduce dependence on imports from Jordan, Morocco, and others

Google focuses on India's farms and languages in new AI initiatives

Google unveils open-source AI initiatives targeting India's agriculture and linguistic diversity, aiming to enhance farming productivity and cultural representation in AI models, boosting partnerships

Small tea growers ask Centre to set up fair price discovery mechanism

Small tea growers, who contribute more than 50 per cent to the crop production of the country, have urged the Centre to set up a fair and transparent price discovery mechanism so that they can realise a proper value by selling leaves to factories. In a letter to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Associations (CISTA) suggested a price protection scheme modelled on the lines of the minimum support price (MSP). It said the Tea Board should undertake a detailed study to determine an equitable price-sharing ratio between small growers and factories. Small growers are facing the persistent challenge of poor price realisation, which is undermining the sector's sustainability, CISTA president Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty said. Small growers contribute more than 52 per cent to the country's tea production, and a proper price realisation mechanism should be identified so that livelihoods are sustained, he said. Chakraborty said the association has alre

India aims to double maize output to 86 mn tonne by 2047: Shivraj Chouhan

India can more than double its maize production to 86 million tonne by 2047 from the current 42.3 million tonne, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday, calling for development of high-yielding seed varieties with higher starch content. Speaking at the 11th maize summit organised by industry body FICCI, Chouhan said the world's fifth-largest maize producer needs to boost productivity without using genetically modified seeds. "We don't use genetically modified seeds, but we can still raise the productivity levels," Chouhan said. India's average maize productivity stands at 3.7 tonne per hectare, with some states like West Bengal and Bihar performing above the national average, but overall yields need to increase, he said. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed 265 maize varieties, including 77 hybrids and 35 bio-fortified varieties, but more work is needed, according to the minister. "There is a need to increase starch level in maize. We

Waiting for India-US deal: The trade outlook remains uncertain amid delays

Nearly half of India's population depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for livelihood. There are also concerns in India about genetically modified food items that the US wants to push

India-US talks: Chouhan says govt will adjust duties to ban apple imports

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces plans to adjust duties on apple imports to boost domestic production, while addressing concerns from J&K and Himachal Pradesh growers

Early monsoon rains boost hopes of record grain harvest in India

With rains arriving ahead of schedule in many regions, farmers have been able to begin sowing earlier than usual, Farm Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi said

ITAT ruling targets use of farmland deals for laundering 'black' money

New ITAT tax interpretation could tighten scrutiny of undervalued land deals, challenging the alleged use of agricultural land transactions for turning unaccounted cash into legitimate income

India hardens stance on agri issues as US trade talks enter key phase

India has hardened its position on issues related to agriculture as negotiations with the US team in Washington have entered a crucial stage, an official said on Monday. The official also said that the stay of the Indian team, headed by special secretary in the department of commerce Rajesh Agrawal, is expected to be extended further. The team is in Washington for negotiations on an interim trade agreement with the US. Both sides are rushing to close a deal ahead of the July 9 deadline for the full implementation of a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff which has been suspended since April. "If the proposed trade talks fail, the 26 per cent tariffs will come into force again," the official added. The stay of the Indian officials has already been extended for three days until June 30. Initially, the delegation was scheduled to stay for two days with the talks having commenced on June 26. Another official said that the commerce ministry has informed domestic exporters and industry that th

Non-crop sectors gain GVO share as livestock rises, crop dips: Mospi

Livestock, fishing and aquaculture raised their GVO share between FY12 and FY24, while the crop sector's share fell though it remains the largest contributor

Chinese squeeze drives up DAP fertiliser prices, spurs West Asia reliance

It's the second-most-consumed fertiliser in India after urea but a significant portion is imported

Rajasthan govt unveils sowing targets for kharif crops for this year

Due to the promotion of coarse grains by the central government, the sowing target of pearl millet (Bajra) was slightly changed, while the sowing area of Jowar (sorghum) has been doubled.

Govt to undertake crop-wise planning to boost yields starting with soybean

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says crop-wise reviews will begin with soybean in MP as kharif sowing surges 10 per cent above last year's acreage

Kharif sowing up 10% till June 20 as south-west monsoon gathers pace

The rains have now become vigorous over the main pulses and oilseeds growing in the central and western parts of the country which should further assist in their early planting