Agriculture Ministry

38% of wheat area harvested so far in India, says Agri minister Chouhan

The country has harvested 38 per cent of the total wheat area of an estimated 32 million hectare so far in the ongoing 2025-26 marketing season, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Sunday. In view of the possibility of good yield of various rabi crops, Chouhan directed the officials to make better procurement arrangements for farmers. Wheat "harvesting conditions are better" in key growing states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Bihar, the minister said in a statement. The government has set a wheat procurement target of 31 million tonnes for the 2025-26 marketing season (April-March). As per the official data, farmers have completed harvesting in 91 per cent of the total rabi pulse areas, 87 per cent of oilseeds area, 70 per cent of Shree Anna and coarse cereals area and 33 per cent of rice area as on April 4. About 59 per cent of the total rabi crops area has been harvested as on April 4 across the country. Besides rabi crops like

States can choose to include tenant farmers in farmer registry: MoS

State governments can decide on whether to include tenant and lessee farmers in their farmer registry, Minister of State for Agriculture Ramnath Thakur said in Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The State Farmer Registry under the Digital Agriculture Mission enables farmers to receive a unique farmer ID to access government benefits. In his written reply to the Lower House, Thakur said the State Farmer Registry covers all the landholder farmers, including women farmers. "Farmers Registry application also has the provision to onboard the tenant and lessee farmers. A state can decide to include such farmers in the Farmers Registry as per the state's policy," it said. The minister said although internet penetration has increased in rural areas, additional steps have been taken to ensure digital inclusion of farmers who do not have mobile phones, they can use existing support structures like Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Krishi Sakhis, and Common Service Centres (CSCs), to get them register

Farmers call for protest after Haryana, Punjab evict them, open borders

JCB machines were deployed to remove the concrete blocks and reopen the Shambhu-Ambala road, which had remained closed for over a year due to farmers' protest

Govt to include farmers not part of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi yet: Shivraj

The government is ready to provide Rs 6,000 annual cash benefit under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to all eligible farmers who are not part of it yet, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He asked all state governments to cooperate with the Centre in identifying such farmers and ensuring their inclusion in the scheme. "If anyone is left behind, please help us include all of them under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. We will ensure that such farmers also get the past instalments," Chouhan said during the Question Hour. All eligible beneficiaries must possess at least one piece of land, get eKYC done and register themselves at the PMKISAN portal, the minister said. He added that the fund is directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000. "We will ensure that all of these farmers get their dues without even a single day of delay," he said while asserting that the Narendra Modi government is ..

Wheat production likely to rise 2% to all-time high 115.43 mn trn: Govt

Wheat production is estimated to rise by 2 per cent to record 1,154.30 lakh tonnes in the rabi season of 2024-25 crop year mainly on higher acreage, according to the government estimates released on Monday. Wheat output stood at 1,132.92 lakh tonnes in the preceding year. The Agriculture Ministry on Monday released the Second Advance Estimates of production of major crops (Kharif & Rabi) for 2024-25. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the central government is continuously working towards the development of the agricultural sector. He highlighted that the ministry is providing assistance and encouragement to farmers through various schemes, resulting in a record increase in agricultural crop production. The Second Advance Estimates covers Kharif and Rabi Seasons. The summer season will be incorporated in the Third Advance Estimates. The production of kharif rice in 2024-25 is estimated to rise to record 1,206.79 lakh tonnes from 1,132.59 lakh tonnes in kharif .

Activist alleges Rs 88 cr 'scam' in agriculture dept under Dhananjay Munde

Activist Anjali Damania on Tuesday alleged a Rs 88 crore 'scam' in the agriculture department when NCP leader Dhananjay Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti coalition government in Maharashtra. Despite the Union government's 2016 directive to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agriculture department purchased equipment and fertilisers for distribution to farmers at inflated rates, she claimed. Reaction from Munde's office to the allegations was awaited. The NCP leader, now minister for Food and Civil Supplies, is already under fire over the arrest of his aide Walmik Karad in an extortion case related to the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat told reporters that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will "certainly take notice" of the allegations and order an inquiry. Speaking at a press conference here, Damania presented documents related to the alleged scam. "These

Govt may consider agri subsidies via direct benefit transfer: Shivraj Singh

The government is trying to bring policy-level changes for simplifying agriculture, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said and indicated that providing subsidies on fertiliser, seed and farming equipment through direct benefit transfer could be considered in the future. In an interaction with farmers, who were invited to witness the Republic Day parade as special guests, at his residence here on Monday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister said the government spends up to Rs 2,00,000 crore on fertiliser subsidies. "The fertiliser subsidy that the government gives costs to the tune of Rs 2,00,000 crore. A sack of urea costs Rs 265 to the farmers, but it costs Rs 2,400. The subsidy goes to the company. The fertilizer is also used for other purposes... If there is a reliable system, farmers can be given the subsidy directly in their accounts," Chouhan said. "The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi's cost comes to around Rs 60,000 crore, if the fertilizer subsidy is given throu

How India's Ministry of Cooperation is reshaping the cooperative sector

Despite legal setbacks, the Amit Shah-led ministry has moved rapidly forward and is expected to soon unveil a new set of regulations to further grow the cooperative sector

Strategies and roadmap for making green fertiliser production viable

India's Green Hydrogen Mission targets decarbonising fertiliser production

Chouhan pledges support for farmers, Dallewal calls for kisan mahapanchayat

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said that the Central government will make all possible efforts to empower farmers. Chouhan was addressing a 'Kisan Susamvad programme organised by Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) Krsihi Vijyan Kendra here. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, various schemes are being implemented to empower farmers and make them capable," he said. He said panchanamas of crops will be done using a satellite system at the panchayat and village levels so that the process is accurate and farmers will receive compensation by direct benefit transfer immediately. Chouhan assured that fertilisers are being made available to farmers at reasonable rates, and the government is positive about offering the right price and market for exportable produce. "Nashik district has a large number of grape cultivators. A meeting will be organised to discuss the issue of making foreign grape varieties available to farmers

Parl panel suggests doubling PM Kisan Nidhi, commission for farm labourers

It also recommends implementing a robust and legally binding MSP in the country

Govt okays National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds with Rs 10K cr outlay

The government on Thursday approved National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds with an outlay of Rs 10,103 crore to make India self-sufficient in cooking oils. India imports more than 50 per cent of its annual edible oil requirement. "With an aim to make India self reliant in oilseed production in next 7 years, Cabinet approves National Mission on Edible Oils '? Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds) for 2024-25 to 2030-31 with outlay of Rs 10,103 crore," the government said on social media platform X. The mission aims to increase primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes in 2022-23 to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31, the government said. "It seeks to extend oilseed cultivation by an additional 40 lakh hectares," it added. India imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia while soyabean oil is imported from Brazil and Argentina. Sunflower comes mainly from Russia and Ukraine.

India's foodgrain production hits record 332.22 MT in 2023-24: Govt

India's foodgrain production reached a record 332.22 million tonne in the 2023-24 crop year ended June, driven by bumper wheat and rice output, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday. The final estimate for 2023-24 shows an increase of 2.61 million tonne from the previous year's 329.6 million tonne, the ministry said in a statement. Rice production touched a record 137.82 million tonne, up from 135.75 million tonne in 2022-23. Wheat output also hit a high of 113.29 million tonne as compared to 110.55 million tonne the previous year. However, pulses production declined to 24.24 million tonne from 26.05 million tonne and oilseeds output fell to 39.66 million tonne from 41.35 million tonne. The ministry attributed the decline in pulses, coarse cereals, soybean and cotton production to "drought-like conditions in southern states, including Maharashtra and prolonged dry spell during August especially in Rajasthan". Sugarcane production decreased to 453.15 million tonne from 490.53

Govt launches Rs 750 cr fund AgriSure for support to agriculture startups

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday launched a Rs 750-crore fund 'AgriSure' to provide financial support to agritech startups even as he underlined the need for increasing public as well as private investments in the farm sector. The Union Cabinet on Monday approved seven schemes for the agriculture sector with an outlay of nearly Rs 14,000 crore. The minister was speaking after launching an integrated Agri Investment Portal named KrishiNivesh and 'AgriSure' fund at an event held here. The Rs 750-crore 'AgriSure' (Agri Fund for Startups & Rural Enterprises) will support startups and 'agripreneurs' by providing both equity and debt capital. Chouhan asked startups to utilise this fund and assured that there would be no fund constraints for agritech startups, which he said are playing an important role in the agriculture sector. "There is a need for investment in agriculture, not only from the government side but also private investments," he said, adding that

Centre to invest Rs 18,000 crore to build agri-export clusters: Chouhan

Opposition Congress accuses Centre of misleading Parliament on the MSP issue

India food surplus; working to provide solutions for food security: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India has become a food surplus country and is working to provide solutions for global food and nutritional security. Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), which is being organised in India after 65 years, the Prime Minister also said the Union Budget 2024-25 focuses on sustainable agriculture. Noting that the last time when the conference was hosted here, India had just achieved Independence, and it was a challenging time for the country's agriculture and food security. "Now, India is a food surplus country," he said, adding that the country is the number one producer of milk, pulses and spices in the world. Also, the country has become the second-largest producer of foodgrains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar and tea. "There was a time when India's food security was a concern for the world. Now, India is working to provide solutions for global food security an

Agriculture key focus area of development strategy in India: NITI member

Agriculture has been a key focus area of development strategy in India, and the country has achieved the highest growth rate of 5 per cent in the farm sector during the seven years from 2016-17 to 2022-23, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said on Saturday. Addressing the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), Chand said that according to the World Bank data, India achieved the highest growth rate in GDP agriculture in the world in the last 10 years. "Agriculture has been a key focus area of development strategy in India, and the country has achieved historically the highest growth rate of 5 per cent during the seven-year period from 2016-17 to 2022-23," he noted. The agriculture economist pointed out that the share of agriculture in the world GDP has risen from 3.2 per cent in 2006 to 4.3 per cent in recent years. "Agricultural growth in the last 15 years has saved many countries from economic collapse. Due to the poor effort of industry in pulling the labou

BKS slams ICAR for dubious agreements with multinational companies

The resolution assumes significance as the RSS is also the ideological fountainhead of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

SC gives spilt verdict on pleas challenging release of GM Mustard

The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a split verdict on the validity of the Centre's 2022 decisions on the environmental release of mustard hybrid DMH-11 for seed production and testing. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol heard pleas challenging the October 18, 2022, decision of the GEAC -- the country's regulator for genetically modified organisms -- recommending environment release and the subsequent decision on October 25, approving the environmental release of transgenic mustard hybrid DMH-11. After hearing the pleas, the bench gave a divergent opinion. The bench directed the issue to be placed before the Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud for adjudication by the appropriate bench. However, both the judges were unanimous in directing the Centre to formulate a national policy on Genetically Modified (GM) crops. The bench directed that the environment ministry will undertake a consultation process with all the stakeholders and experts, preferably in four months

Govt asks retailers to cut profit margins on pulses for relief to consumers

The government on Tuesday pointed out that retail prices of tur, urad and chana dals have not declined in proportion to about a 4 per cent fall in major wholesale markets in the past one month and asked retailers to charge reasonable profit margins for providing relief to consumers. The government warned that it would take stern actions against unscrupulous speculation and profiteering by market players. On Tuesday, the Department of Consumer Affairs organised a meeting with the Retailers Association of India (RAI) here to discuss the price scenario in respect of pulses. The meeting, chaired by Nidhi Khare, Secretary, the Department of Consumer Affairs, also reviewed compliance with the stock limits for tur and chana. The meeting was attended by representatives of RAI, Reliance Retail, D-Mart, Tata Stores, Spencer's, RSPG, and V-Mart, among others. RAI has more than 2,300 members, having over 6,00,000 retail outlets in the country. According to an official statement, the secretary