Page 2 - Agriculture

Centre floats draft amendments to marquee Sugarcane Control Order, 1966

Draft retains minimum distance criteria between mills at 25 km, mandates khandsari units to pay Centre-fixed Fair and Remunerative Price to cane growers

Fixing fertiliser subsidy: Pricing reform, targeted farmer support needed

Rising fertiliser subsidy exposes distortions in urea pricing, fuelling overuse and fiscal strain, highlighting need for direct farmer support and subsidy reform

Nipha Group to expand agri machinery business across 20 states, 10 nations

Kolkata-based Nipha Group has launched a brand OneHorn, as part of a push to expand its agriculture machinery business in at least 20 states and 10 countries, including the US and European markets, company officials said on Sunday. Its chairman Mahesh Chandra Shah said the Indian agricultural ecosystem was at an inflection point where mechanisation and entrepreneurship must come together. "With our brand, we are building a structured, partner-first platform that enables our channel associates to grow as agripreneurs - stronger, more profitable, and future-ready," he said. The company, which began its agri-business journey in 1988 with spare part supplies before graduating to components and then full machines, claimed that OneHorn is the first brand in eastern India to offer a diversified range of agri equipment with a make-in-India focus. Executive Director Aakash Shah said the brand is designed to give partners "the right products, systems, and support to scale their business with

El Nino impact may be muted, govt ready for kharif sowing: Shivraj Chouhan

The agriculture minister reviewed kharif preparedness amid El Nino concerns, said strong reservoir levels, irrigation and contingency planning will help limit impact on farm output

Datanomics: Met accuracy improves; farm GVA shifts slightly from crops

Improving monsoon forecasts and a gradual shift from crops to livestock are reducing agriculture's direct impact on India's overall economic growth

India's domestic urea production likely to jump over 11% in April

IPL tender receives urea import offers totalling 5.6 million tonnes

Taking a 'rain check' on agri output as past data softens monsoon concerns

IMD's below-normal monsoon forecast raises farm concerns, but past trends show steady foodgrain output supported by irrigation, resilient seeds, and better rainfall distribution

When rains falter: El Nino builds, India braces for water and farm stress

The call is for urgent conservation and replenishment measures, both for now and the future

IMD forecasts 'below-normal' monsoon in 2026 for the first time in 3 years

The forecast, which has a model error of plus or minus 5 per cent, is mainly due to the development of El Niño conditions during the June to September months, the Met department said

Shivraj Singh Chouhan unveils district-wise agri roadmap for 4 MP districts

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan harps on value addition and integrated farming models

India's poverty map bends under climate pressure, finds NISER study

NISER study finds climate shocks like floods, droughts, and rising temperatures are deepening poverty, especially in agriculture-dependent and vulnerable regions

Rajnath Singh calls for more agri reforms, says funds no barrier to growth

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday called for more reforms in the agriculture sector, saying it is the backbone of the Indian economy, and that the shortage of funds would not come in the way of doing more for the farming community and rural India. Addressing the three-day Unnat Krishi Mela here, Singh said the Narendra Modi government has launched several schemes - PM-Kisan, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card and an online network of wholesale mandis - to boost farmers' income and farm productivity. "These efforts have transformed the lives of farmers. But I believe the change is not enough. There is a need to do even more for the agriculture sector and our villages," he said, adding, "We will not be worried about funds. The shortage of funds will not be an obstacle. I want to assure you this." Reflecting on his political journey, Singh said the farmer in him had never left despite holding several ministerial portfolios. "In my political life, I have .

Speciality fertilisers can ease geo-political supply bottlenecks: Experts

In India, speciality fertiliser or non-subsidised fertiliser sales have been growing at the rate of 10-12 per cent per annum

Govt to prepare state-specific agri roadmaps based on soil, water, climate

Shivraj Singh Chouhan says will use satellite-based remote sensing to provide relief from recent rains

Punjab arthiyas to continue strike till fixed commission demand is met

The arthiyas are demanding a fixed 2.5 per cent commission on their purchases, as was the practice till 2020, when it was changed to up to 2.5 per cent

Rajasthan govt set to achieve record mustard production this year

Rajasthan is set for a record mustard harvest, with output rising despite weather disruptions, supported by higher sowing and favourable crop conditions

Govt seeks 2.5 mn metric tonnes of urea amid West Asia supply disruptions

India, where farming is a mainstay, imports fertilisers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash, as well as liquefied natural gas, a key feedstock for urea production

West Asia conflict: Fear arrives early in fields of Haryana and Punjab

In third part of series on West Asia impact, wholesalers warn of thin stocks as hoarding fears drive early fertiliser buying

Resilient rural demand drove 23% surge in India's FY26 tractor sales

Geopolitical uncertainties and concerns over a below-average monsoon remain overhang for FY27

Agro-chemical sector sees input costs falling 8-9% after customs duty cut

The duty exemption will start from April 2 and continue till June 30, 2026, an official order said