Page 4 - Agriculture

ICAR clears release of improved fodder crop by Ranchi agri university

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has recommended the release of an improved variety of fodder crop, Birsa Lathyrus-1, developed by scientists at the Ranchi-based Birsa Agricultural University (BAU). According to a statement from BAU, the new variety was developed under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) on fodder crops. The average green fodder yield (GFY) of this variety, released for the country's north east zone and central zone, is 190 quintals per hectare, which is 6.3 per cent more than that obtained from national check variety Mahateora, the statement said. The variety, moderately resistant to leaf blight in the north east zone, is also suitable for timely-sown, normal fertility and under irrigated conditions of Jharkhand, it said. "This variety carries per cent crude protein which is 4-5 per cent higher than the national check. It gives a seed yield of 8.3 quintal per hectare, which is 15 per cent superior to the check variety Mahateora," i

A below-par monsoon could imperil Bihar's agri sector, Assembly elections

If rainfall is below average this year, too, it would mark it as the fourth consecutive year that the agriculturally important state would get lesser rains from the Southwest monsoon

Shivraj Singh Chouhan visits farms in Brazil; praises mechanised farming techniques | Agriculture

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited tomato farm in Sao Paulo, Brazil and hailed the mechanised farming techniques.

Govt to set fresh target of 30% ethanol blending in petrol by 2030

Target of 20% blending already achieved in March this year

Pulses imports at nine-year high of 6.7 million tonnes in FY25, shows data

The biggest contributor to the surge in pulses imports has been the jump in yellow peas imports

Don't think govt is in a great hurry to sign BTA with US: Ashwani Mahajan

Since the US has announced the imposition of reciprocal tariffs, their markets are down, and there are fears that inflation will increase

Centre hikes non-urea fertiliser subsidies with allocation of Rs 37K cr

Says FY25 subsidy now totals Rs 1.91 trn versus BE of Rs 1.68 trn

Cropin secures Walmart project to boost sourcing in US, South America

The partnership aims to mitigate risks associated with weather, market volatility, and supply chain disruptions, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality perishable goods

Trump tariffs: India needs short- and medium-term agricultural trade plans

From 2022 to 2024, India earned $5.75 bn per year from agri-export to the US, which constituted one-tenth of India's agri exports to the world. In the same period, India imported agricultural product

New wild ginger species discovered in Odisha's Similipal Biosphere Reserve

Researchers from Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University in Odisha's Baripada have claimed to have discovered a new species of wild ginger from Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR) in Mayurbhanj district, officials said. The discovery was made by Dr. Sudam Charan Sahu, assistant professor of Botany, and Sifan Priyadarshini, Ph.D research scholar of Botany, who have been studying and exploring the diversity of the Zingiberaceae family in Odisha for the past three years, the varsity said in a statement on Wednesday. According to researchers, the new species was discovered in August 2024 from the semi-evergreen forest at Kulipala, SBR. "After a detailed observation of its unique morphological characteristics, it was confirmed as a new species," said Sahu, adding that the research paper has been published in the international journal 'Phytotaxa'. They said the new species, 'Zingiber jagannathii Sahu & Priyadarshini,' has been named in honour of 'Lord Jagannath.' This new species ..

Global farm firms come together to train 500,000 rural entrepreneurs

The academy, which has been set up with a starting capital of $3 million, will seek to address critical challenges in smallholder farming

Climate concerns: Changing rainfall patterns threaten agriculture

In 2024, India experienced extreme weather events on 322 days, up from 318 in 2023, affecting around 4.07 million hectares of crop area

Women constitute 64.4% of India's agricultural workforce: Report

Women constitute 64.4 per cent of India's agricultural workforce but only 6-10 per cent are employed in top agri and agri-related companies, according to a new report released on Friday. The report "Women in Agribusiness Opportunities and Challenges" was launched by Godrej Agrovet Ltd in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) and Godrej DEI Lab at its second Women in Agriculture Summit. "At Godrej Agrovet, we believe the future of agribusiness lies in empowering women through education, workplace inclusivity, and leadership development," Godrej Agrovet Managing Director Balram Singh Yadav said in a statement. "Last year, we pledged to support 100,000 women across the agri value chain, and I'm proud to share that we've positively impacted 20,000 women in just one year," he added. The report highlights that women account for 30-40 per cent of the total enrolment in agricultural studies but very few enter formal employment. Vidya Vemireddy, Faculty ..

What makes rural women-led agri growth - the steadiest way to progress

The women-led agricultural growth is a lesson for planners to recognise the economic potential of a women-led growth with decentralised community action

Farmer leaders detained as Centre fixes next round for talks on May 4

It was the seventh round of talks between the two sides since February last year

Farmer leaders detained as Centre fixes next round for talks on May 4

It was the seventh round of talks between the two sides since February last year

Centre with farmers without any discrimination, says Shivraj Chouhan

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the Centre will not discriminate against farmers from any state, be it from Kerala or Karnataka, if a natural disaster strikes. Replying to supplementaries in the Lok Sabha, Chouhan said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government will leave no stone unturned to ensure the welfare of farmers. "A farmer is a farmer, be it from Kerala, Karnataka or any other part of the country. We all are children of Mother India and there is no scope for any discrimination against anyone," Chouhan said in response to a question from Congress member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Vadra had sought an update on the implementation of the Vidarbha package, under which Kerala's Wayanad, Palakkad and Kasargod districts were also included, for farmers. Chouhan said the Centre had stepped in to purchase red chilli for more than Rs 11,000 per quintal when its prices had declined in the wholesale markets. The Centre had approved a ..

Bill Gates, Shivraj Chouhan discuss agri, rural development collaboration

Chouhan told Gates that India's focus is on the development of climate-resistant and bio-fortified varieties to ensure future food security

10,000 FPOs is not too many, but implementation challenges persist

FPOs cannot raise equity to any significant extent because of the limited paying capacity of their members, who are usually smallholders or landless people

India's seaweed industry to hit Rs 3,277 cr in 10 years, needs policy push

Seaweed farming also presents a lucrative opportunity for farmers, with potential earnings of up to Rs 13.28 lakh per hectare annually, a new report has said