Page 2 - Agriculture

Kharif sowing gap with last year narrows further during week ended July 24

Gaps in the area under all crops - oilseeds, pulses, soybean, groundnut, urad, moong and maize - narrowed compared to the previous week

No proposal for one-time waiver of loans of small, marginal farmers: Govt

The government has no proposal for a one-time waiver of loans of small and marginal farmers, Parliament was informed on Monday. To provide relief to borrowers in distress, the Reserve Bank of India has issued Master Direction on Resolution of Stressed Assets, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (updated as on July 1, 2026) which provides lenders the discretion to undertake financial restructuring of borrowers under stress, based on their Board approved policies and regulatory guidelines, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. "No proposal for one-time waiver of loans of small and marginal farmers is currently under consideration with the Union government," he said in reply to a question whether the government proposes to consider a one-time waiver or restructuring of loans to small and marginal farmers. Replying to another question, Chaudhary said the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had sent a proposal to the government in terms of Section 25 o

Maharashtra to receive second RKVY instalment of ₹335 crore from Centre

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the Maharashtra government will get the second instalment of Rs 335 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). According to an official statement, the minister chaired a virtual review meeting to assess the utilisation of funds released under the RKVY and to consider the issuance of the Second Installment (Second Mother Sanction) to the Government of Maharashtra. The meeting was attended by Dattatray Bharane, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, senior officials of the Department of Agriculture, Government of India, and officers of the Government of Maharashtra. During the review, Chouhan said the Centre had earlier released Rs 335 crore as the first installment under RKVY to Maharashtra. The state has utilised about Rs 260 crore, exceeding the prescribed 75 per cent utilisation benchmark, thereby becoming eligible for the second installment. He said the process for release of the second ...

Odisha turns to complex fertilisers as DAP, urea supplies come under strain

State asks districts to promote complex fertilisers and ammonium sulphate as alternatives to DAP and urea to ensure uninterrupted crop production during the kharif season

Urea, DAP sales show marginal dip in June 2026 despite patchy monsoon

India's fertiliser sales dipped only marginally in June despite a weak monsoon, while easing global prices offered relief even as FY27 subsidy estimates remained elevated

Centre bans widely used herbicide: What it means for India's farmers

India may soon ban one of its most widely used weed killers. The Centre has proposed a ban on paraquat dichloride, citing serious health risks,

India must cut pulse, oilseed imports through higher yield: Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday asked the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to intensify efforts to raise productivity in pulses and oilseeds, sectors where India continues to rely heavily on imports. "If countries without access to GM seeds can get better yields in pulses, why can't India?" Chouhan said, addressing scientists at the 98th ICAR Foundation Day. Chouhan pointed out that farmers with access to irrigation tend to shift toward rice and wheat cultivation -- a pattern he said has played out across Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and other parts of eastern India as irrigation coverage expanded, pushing the country to depend on pulse imports to meet demand. Citing yield comparisons, the minister noted that an acre under maize can produce over 100 quintals, against roughly 30-35 quintals for rice and just about 5 quintals for pulses such as gram or moong. He called the gap "a direct challenge" for ICAR scientists to close. Chouhan also flagg

Agri stocks: Analysts stay selective as rain deficit widens; top picks here

Analysts said concerns over agri stocks are justified due to the rainfall deficit, but suggested investors to stay selective rather than avoid the sector altogether.

Farmers take out motorcycle marches against India-US trade deal in Punjab

Punjab farmers protest against the proposed India-US trade deal, warning that lower import duties could hurt agriculture, dairy and rural livelihoods

Centre bans paraquat dichloride herbicide over human health concerns

The plant protection chemical has already been banned in more than 70 countries for various reasons, the most prevalent of which is its adverse impact on human and animal health

Govt issues draft rules to ban paraquat dichloride over health concerns

The weed-killing herbicide is among the world's most controversial, having been banned in about 70 countries because of its toxic qualities

Rajasthan's kharif sowing slows amid erratic rains, revival expected

Erratic monsoon rains have slowed kharif sowing in Rajasthan, leaving key crops below target and raising the risk of delayed planting and resowing

Afghan agri min holds talks with Indian counterpart to boost cooperation

Afghanistan's Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, Mawlawi Ataullah Omari, who visited India from July 7-12, held talks with Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and explored new avenues for collaboration, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The Afghan minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, the MEA said in a statement. This was the fourth ministerial-level visit from Afghanistan to India since October 2025, reflecting the "continued momentum" in bilateral engagement, it said. During the visit, the Afghan minister met with Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and Minister of Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan. "The two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues for collaboration in agriculture, irrigation, livestock, agricultural research, education, capacity building and agri-trade," the statement said. Food security, seed systems and enhancement of crop productivity featured prominently in the discussions. "Ind

Agriculture's answer lies beyond the sector, says EAC-PM chairman

Urges faster shift of workers into rural non-farm sectors to improve farm incomes

Monsoon to pick up in July, boost kharif crop sowing: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said stronger July rains are expected to improve kharif sowing after a delayed monsoon affected crop planting

15 fertiliser ships cross Hormuz: Why it matters for India’s farmers | US-Iran war

15 vessels bound for India, carrying fertilisers and key raw materials used in their production, have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since tensions between Iran and the US eased.

Centre revamps natural and organic farming certification framework

Centre restricts regional councils to single-state ops

The Economic DNA of Bharat: Blurred vision document for 'Viksit Bharat'

For people who want to learn about different government schemes and programmes, this book serves as a handy primer

'East UP has unlimited potential for waste to wealth value chain'

UP Pollution Control Board Chairman Dr R P Singh said the state produces a huge amount of biomass, which was earlier dismissed as mere agricultural waste or crop residue

Tripura eyes bigger global pineapple market with ₹236-crore 'Mission Queen'

The Queen variety of pineapple, found in Tripura, is known for its exceptional sweetness, fibreless pulp, aroma, and quality