Agriculture Sector

Wheat sowing almost complete, prospects bright this rabi: Agri Commissioner

India has nearly completed wheat sowing for the current rabi season, with crop conditions looking promising, Agriculture Commissioner PK Singh said on Thursday. Wheat was sown across 32.26 million hectares as of December 29 in the ongoing 2025-26 rabi (winter) season compared to a total coverage of 32.8 million hectares in the previous year, Singh said. "Barring some parts of Bihar, wheat sowing has been completed across the country. The total acreage may reach last year's level," Singh told PTI. More than 73 per cent of the sown area has been planted with climate-resilient and bio-fortified seed varieties that will help counter any weather aberrations, he noted. "Due to timely and early sowing, the prospects for the wheat crop look bright, and it is in excellent condition as of now. No problems have been reported from wheat-growing areas," the official said. Sowing of pulses and oilseeds has been completed, and rice planting will continue until January-end in southern India, he .

Record agri output in 2025 amid GST cuts, tariffs; new bill eyed for 2026

India's agriculture sector closed 2025 with a projection of record foodgrain output surpassing last year's 357.73 million tonnes (MT) despite US tariffs disrupting farm exports, while landmark GST reforms delivered input cost relief, and stakeholders await passage of key seed and pesticide bills in 2026 to tackle fake inputs. The year showed both resilience and fragility -- GST rate reductions delivered noticeable cost savings, while American tariff wall compelled market diversification, officials said. "We are hopeful of achieving record foodgrain production this year 2025-26 (July-June). Kharif output remained positive and rabi sowing is progressing well," Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi told PTI. Above-normal southwest monsoons boosted kharif sowing, with the agriculture ministry's first advance estimate projected kharif foodgrain output at a record 173.33 MT for 2025-26, up from 169.4 MT in 2024-25. Rice production is predicted to exceed 124.5 MT, with maize at 28.3 MT.

Year-ender 2025: Rural economy steadies as GST cuts offset weak crop prices

Lower crop prices and weak nominal farm growth weighed on rural incomes in 2025, but GST cuts, welfare support, and rising consumption helped stabilise demand and sentiment

Oilseed extractors plan far-East push as oil meal exports slow down

Indian oilseed extractors are planning a far-East outreach to revive oil meal exports amid weak global demand, rising competition from DDGS, and logistical advantages over US suppliers

Uttar Pradesh paddy procurement injects ₹5,000 crore into rural economy

The minimum support price (MSP) for paddy this season is ₹2,369 per quintal for common variety, and ₹2,389 per quintal for Grade A

eNAM 2.0 rollout hits trouble as Rajasthan flags data-migration glitches

Rajasthan has red-flagged major issues in the eNAM 2.0 pilot, with data-migration failures forcing mandis back to manual trading during peak harvest season

Nuvama says 'Buy' again on Coromandel Int'l; 3 drivers behind the call

Analysts at Nuvama expect Coromandel to clock ~15 per cent revenue compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the next five years, with profitability improving as integration benefits materialise.

Gadkari bats for 'farmer producer companies' for agricultural development

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday emphasised the need for "farmer producer companies" for the progress of cultivators. Addressing a workshop on farmer producer organisation, he said all problems of cultivators must be solved at commissionerate level in districts through the farmer producer company. "We need to form a organisation/ apex body of farmer producer company for the progress and development of farmers. With farmer producer company, they can utilise agriculture equipment, tractor, harvester and other things and it will make it easy to pay loans," he said. There is need to reduce cost of production and increase yields, he said. "This would make farmers prosperous," Gadkari said while underlining the need to use technology and AI to improve production. The workshop was organised by Agro Vision, of which Gadkari is chief mentor. The Union minister informed about various initiatives taken by Agro Vision to improve agriculture pattern and crop diversification.

Farm sector can maintain 4% growth for a decade: Niti Aayog's Ramesh Chand

India's agriculture sector can easily maintain a 4 per cent growth rate over the next 10 years, and the country needs to enhance its warehouse infrastructure, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said on Thursday. Addressing an event organised by industry body PHDCCI, Chand said agricultural products' demand will grow at 2.5 per cent. "So, I feel that we can easily assume, easily maintain this 4 per cent growth in the agriculture sector in the next 10 years," he noted. India's agriculture sector recorded a growth rate of 3.7 per cent during the first quarter of 2025-26. "But our agricultural products' demand is not rising at that rate. So, either use these products for industry or tap the export market. I feel tapping the export market is a much better option," Chand added. Warehousing requirements for rice and wheat are not different, but in the case of maize, it is different, he said. Chand noted that regulations are important in influencing investment decisions in warehousing, if th

Growth momentum, lower leverage to drive gains for agrochemical company UPL

Brokerages bullish on stock amid easing leverage situation

Rajasthan govt aims to boost farmers' income through MSP procurement

Rajasthan's MSP drive expands as over 5 lakh farmers benefit from ₹8,191 crore in procurements, ensuring assured income and relief from market volatility.

UP's resilient farming model exemplary for small farmers: World Bank chief

World Bank Group President Ajay Banga has praised Uttar Pradesh's efforts to integrate technology with agriculture, describing the state's "resilient farming model" a global example for small and marginal farmers. Speaking at the AgriConnect Flagship event during the 2025 Annual Meetings of the World Bank, Banga showcased the UP model, having visited the state and seen things for himself in May, said the state's director of information, Vishal Singh. "The World Bank also posted its chief's speech on X, where he described what he witnessed in Uttar Pradesh," he said. The UP government also put out a statement stating how Banga commended the Yogi Adityanath government for developing an agricultural ecosystem that is resilient by design, stressing that climate adaptability was built into the system from the start rather than added later. "The way Uttar Pradesh is addressing climate challenges through its farmers is remarkable," Banga said in his speech that was shared by the UP ...

PM launches ₹35,440 cr agri schemes, inaugurates projects worth ₹5,450 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched two major schemes for the agriculture sector with a combined outlay of Rs 35,440 crore, including a pulses mission aimed at reducing import dependency. The event coincided with the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan. He also inaugurated projects valued at over Rs 5,450 crore in the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors, while laying the foundation stone for additional projects worth around Rs 815 crore. The 'Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses', with an outlay of Rs 11,440 crore, aims at increasing pulses production from the current 252.38 lakh tonne to 350 lakh tonne by the 2030-31 crop year and reducing the country's import dependency. The Rs 24,000-crore 'Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana' aims to transform 100 low-performing agri-districts. The scheme will focus on enhancing productivity, promoting crop diversification, improving irrigation and storage, and ensuring

Russian Deputy PM meets PM Modi, discusses agriculture and food sector ties

PM Modi conveyed his warm greetings to President Vladimir Putin and said that he looked forward to welcoming him to India for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit

Agri share in GDP must rise to 26% for India to be self-reliant: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday stressed on the need to increase the share of agriculture and allied sector in the GDP to at least 26 per cent from the present 18 per cent to make India self-reliant. Addressing an annual general meeting of Crop Care Federation of India, Gadkari, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, emphasised on reducing the cost of production to make agriculture sector economically viable. To cut input costs, he called upon the farm equipment manufacturers to make electric as well as flex-engine tractors. Gadkari also asked the agro-chemicals industry to focus on introducing affordable bio-pesticides and bio-insecticides products by undertaking intensive research & development (R&D) works. He also told the industry to produce basic raw material in India itself and reduce import dependency to ensure the quality of the finished agro-chemicals. Talking about the agriculture sector, Gadkari said the farm sector is the backbone of our ...

GST cut to reduce farmers' solar pump costs by ₹1,750 cr annually: Joshi

Pralhad Joshi said GST rationalisation on renewable energy devices will lower solar pump costs for farmers by Rs 1,750 crore annually under schemes like PM-KUSUM

Farm machinery, tractors, fertilisers now attract 5% GST: Check full list

GST Council meet: GST on farm machinery, tractors, fertilisers and other agri items cut to 5 per cent from higher rates, giving relief to farmers

Karnataka Bank aims ₹85K cr loan book by March 2026 as operations stabilise

After stabilising operations, Karnataka Bank aims to expand its loan book beyond Rs 85,000 crore by March 2026 with growth led by retail, agriculture and MSME lending

Ready to pay heavy price for our farmers, fishermen: Modi on Trump tariffs

This is PM Modi's first response after Trump doubled India's tariff to 50 per cent over Russian oil imports, with the PM stressing India's agri-sector will not be compromised

Paradeep, Punjab Chem at 52-week high; what's driving agri stocks today?

Shares of agriculture-related companies were in demand on Tuesday on hopes that a normal monsoon could drive healthy demand for agro-chemicals.