Agriculture Sector

Weak monsoon raises rural credit risks; cash flow stress likely: ICRA

AM Karthik of ICRA Ltd said that NBFCs slow down disbursements, tighten their credit norms and prioritise collections and loan quality over loan growth when macroeconomic headwinds intensify.

Coimbatore's Deccan Pumps in talks with US agtech major for stake sale

The proposed minority stake sale could pave the way for the US firm's entry into India's water-tech sector and strengthen innovation in precision irrigation and agtech

El Niño set to further disrupt India's $300 bn agricultural supply chain

A prolonged delay in monsoon rainfall is disrupting kharif crop planting and raising concerns over agricultural output amid the emergence of El Niño conditions

India must move surplus labour out of agriculture, says NITI's Ashok Lahiri

Country must create efficient farm markets and replace subsidies with direct income transfers, the NITI Aayog vice chairman said

Coromandel, Samunnati partner to improve agri-input access for FPOs

The collaboration will leverage Samunnati's FPO network and Coromandel's agri expertise to improve access to farm inputs, financing and technology adoption

Centre plans farmer outreach campaign from June on soil over El Nino worry

Centre will begin a month-long 'Save the Fields' campaign from June 1, offering crop-specific advisories and climate-resilient farming guidance as IMD lowers its monsoon forecast

India's fertiliser sector reforms: Time for action on import dependence

West Asia tensions expose India's fertiliser vulnerabilities, reviving calls for subsidy reform, nutrient balance and a shift towards green ammonia

India's fertiliser imports from China jump 173% in FY26, shows data

Russia retained its position as the top source of India's fertiliser imports. It accounted for 6.8 million tonnes of imports, as against 4.9 million tonnes in FY25

IFAD looking to make 3-4 direct investments in India in next one year: AVP

IFAD's AVP Donal Brown said that the funding agency is now increasingly looking to fund 3-4 direct investments in the private sector over the next year

Govt raises paddy MSP by ₹72 to ₹2,441/quintal for 2026-27 Kharif season

The government on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by Rs 72 to Rs 2,441 per quintal for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season. A decision in this regard was taken in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The support price for common and A-grade varieties has been increased by Rs 72 per quintal to Rs 2,441 and Rs 2,461 per quintal, respectively, for the 2026-27 kharif marketing season (September-October). Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the MSP is 50 per cent more than the cost of production. "Estimated payout to farmers would be Rs 2.60 lakh crore and annual procurement estimated at 824.41 lakh tonne," he added.

Rajasthan govt says enough fertiliser stock for Kharif 2026 amid Oppn flak

Rajasthan assures adequate fertiliser stocks for Kharif, but West Asia tensions and import risks keep concerns over future supply disruptions alive

India's fertiliser production sees weakest growth in 13 years in FY26

India's fertiliser output contracts in FY26, hit by LNG shortages and shutdowns, marking the sector's weakest performance in over a decade

Rising input costs, West Asia war risks weigh on fertiliser sector margins

Rising input costs, supply risks and subsidy pressures amid West Asia tensions could squeeze margins and impact fertiliser output and agricultural demand

AgriTech may unlock $90 billion in Southeast Asia, India offers roadmap

A new report highlights Southeast Asia's vast AgriTech potential, projecting over $90 billion in GDP gains by 2033, with India's governance and venture model seen as a key template

Centre to hold regional meets to boost agriculture policy execution

Centre will organise regional agriculture conferences in April-May to improve policy execution, strengthen Centre-State coordination, and address implementation bottlenecks

UP cabinet clears ₹160 MSP hike for wheat, ₹20 per quintal handling aid

The Uttar Pradesh cabinet on Monday approved a proposal to increase the minimum support price (MSP) of wheat by Rs 160 per quintal for the current procurement season, along with an additional payment of Rs 20 per quintal to farmers towards cleaning, sorting and handling costs. The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. State Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi told reporters after the meeting that the MSP for wheat has been fixed at Rs 2,585 per quintal by the central government for this year, reflecting an increase of Rs 160 per quintal over the previous year. He said wheat procurement in the state will begin after Ram Navami, from March 30, 2026, and continue till June 15, 2026. Procurement will be carried out through eight agencies across 6,500 purchase centres in all 75 districts. These agencies include the Food Corporation of India (FCI), the state Food and Civil Supplies Department, Uttar Pradesh Mandi Parishad, UP PCF, PCU, UP

West Asia war: Are the effects priced in amid rising economic risks?

As the Strait of Hormuz disruption deepens, India faces rising inflation, supply shocks, and fiscal strain, with markets yet to fully price in the risks

Nagauri Pan Methi gets PPVFRA patent under community farmers' variety

The patent registration was published in the Plant Variety Journal, February 2026 issue, conferring statutory ownership, legal rights upon the farming community of Nagaur district, Rajasthan

Soil health, markets key to agricultural growth: Experts at BS Manthan

Experts at BS Manthan say India can become a global food hub, but must fix soil health, reform fertiliser subsidies and ensure farm growth is more balanced across crops and states

Global food systems under strain, AI can transform agriculture: Fadnavis

At the India AI Impact Summit, Fadnavis said agriculture is not just an economic activity but a pillar of livelihood, social stability, and national security for countries of the Global South