A recent study conducted by the Department of Geography at Vidya Pratishthan’s Arts, Science and Commerce College in Baramati has highlighted the alarming consequences of human-induced drought on agricultural productivity in Maharashtra’s semi-arid region.

A new study warns that a “very likely” rise in human-induced drought will adversely affect agricultural productivity in the semi-arid region of Maharashtra state, India. The study cites declining water tables, rising temperatures, and changing crop patterns as factors affecting productivity. The region has been historically reliant on rainfed agriculture rather than irrigated crops. The study suggests that the use of water-intensive crops such as sugarcane, onion, wheat, and maize has boosted economic conditions in the area, but will have negative implications in the next few decades.

The Times of India – Online

The government has estimated the country’s foodgrain output in 2022-23 crop year to hit a record of over 330 million tonnes (MT), which is 14MT (over 4%) more than the production in the previous corresponding year, despite the unseasonal rains that hit north and west India in March. Such freak weather did not impact wheat crops much and the key cereal of the foodgrain basket reported a record output of 113 MT. The overall estimated output is also 2 MT higher than the target set for the year before beginning of the kharif (summer crops) sowing operations in 2022 that saw good monsoon rains in the country.

Krishi Jagran – Online

Biotechnology plays a significant role in Indian agriculture, offering various benefits and opportunities for farmers, food production, and the overall agricultural sector. Let’s understand the role of biotechnology in Indian agriculture: Biotechnology has enabled the development of genetically modified (GM) crops with desirable traits such as resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Bt cotton, which incorporates a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis for insect resistance, is one notable example that has transformed India’s cotton industry.

Mint– Online

The government late on Wednesday allowed exports of broken rice based on permission given by the government for shipments to other countries for meeting their food security needs, though the export ban on broken rice is in place. “The export policy of broken rice is prohibited; however, export will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

The Financial Express – Online

The agriculture ministry has initiated a series of meetings with the state governments on the preparedness on the availability of seeds, fertilisers, fodder and other inputs required for the forthcoming kharif crops, and activating district-level agricultural contingency plans in case of a possible shortfall in monsoon rains. Officials told FE that state-specific meetings are being held in collaboration with other related ministries including agriculture, food, water resources, home and earth sciences, to ensure better coordination at the ground level.

Krishi Jagat – Online

Five-day training workshop on ‘Crop simulation modeling for managing agriculture under changing climates’ is being organized by ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute in collaboration with Bioversity International-CIART Global Alliance from 22nd May to 26th May 2023. Dr Rajvir Singh, Asst Director General (Agron, Agroforestry and Climate Change) inaugurated the program on 22nd May and he emphasized the importance of capacity building in the science of simulation modeling for managing agricultural risks, particularly in current and future times of increasing climatic risks and associated productivity losses.

Mint – Online

India will despatch around 1.05 million tonnes of food grains to Nepal, Indonesia, Senegal and Gambia as part of its economic diplomacy in the current financial year, waiving curbs on exports. India banned wheat and broken rice exports and imposed a 20% export duty on non-basmati rice varieties last year to keep prices down. In what is likely to add heft to India’s role in providing food security on the global stage, the department of food and public distribution has allowed exports of 300,000 tonnes wheat to Nepal; 200,000 tonnes of broken rice to Indonesia; 500,000 tonnes broken rice to Senegal, and 50,000 tonnes of broken rice to Gambia on a request by external affairs ministry. ...

The Economic Times – Online

India is in advanced talks with Brazil for the import of urad to boost the domestic supply and keep prices under control, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said on Tuesday. The country imports 7-7.5 lakh tonne of urad annually depending on the demand-supply gap, out of which 74 per cent is imported from Myanmar, he said. “The agro-climatic condition in Brazil is suitable for producing urad. We are seriously exploring imports of urad from Brazil. The talks are in an advanced stage,” the Secretary told reporters.

Business Standard – Online

The current financial year (FY24) has begun strongly with most macro-economic high-frequency data showing that April carried over the momentum from the January-March FY23 quarter, the Finance Ministry said in its latest Monthly Economic Review on Monday, adding that there is a strong evidence of private sector investment improving. “A good beginning is a harbinger of positive outcomes… FY24 for the Indian economy opened on the back of strong activity witnessed in the last quarter of the previous fiscal. The first month of the new fiscal has sustained the growth momentum of the previous quarter,” the report stated, noting that indicators such as air passenger traffic had moved beyond pre-pandemic levels and goods and service ...

The Times of India – Online

Following two G2O-related international events, Hyderabad will host a third event in June. The city will host a global agriculture conference of agriculture ministers of G20 countries from June 15 to 17. The city will also host 25 days of the countdown for Yoga Day on May 27. At a press conference, Union tourism minister G Kishan Reddy announced that agriculture ministers from 20 countries, as well as ministers from other countries who have been invited as special invitees, will attend the meeting. “Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has given directions on meeting planning and monitoring; many experts, academics, and successful farmers will also participate in the global event,” he said.

Business Standard – Online

Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Monday called for an action plan to ensure cultivation of millets is taken up in different parts of the state. The Governor made these remarks while presiding over the 55th convocation of Acharya N G Ranga Agicultural University (ANGRAU) at Bapatla. “The Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) of the United Nations has set a target to achieve food security, end hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030,” said the Governor in a press release shared by the Raj Bhavan. In this effort, Nazeer noted that millets should be brought into cultivation in newer areas in collaboration with the Agriculture department.

The Hans India – Online

Hyderabad will host a three-day G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting from June 15-17. Addressing the media here on Sunday, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said apart from Agriculture Ministers from G20 countries, special invites from 9 countries, experts, heads of agriculture departments from various countries, and model farmers will also take part in the global agricultural conference. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar would be overseeing the preparations. Reddy said that 100 out of 250 meetings of G20 have already been successfully completed under India’s G20 presidency.

Krishi Jagran – Online

We’ve all heard about crop diversification, right? Lately, it has been at the forefront of every farming discussion that there is to be had. Every agricultural forum will tell you that monoculture isn’t as great as we think it is- and if we keep continuing, we are going to end up with such barren fields, completely stripped of nutrition, and ruin the soil health of the country. So, what exactly is crop diversification? You might have an idea about it. It’s planting more than one crop at a time. Monoculture is how agriculture typically works- with hectares of land being used for the cultivation of the same crop. Crop diversification brings a little more variety ...

The Economic Times – Online

Rice is in trouble as Earth heats up, threatening the food and livelihood of billions of people. Sometimes there’s not enough rain when seedlings need water, or too much when the plants need to keep their heads above water. As the sea intrudes, salt ruins the crop. As nights warm, yields go down. These hazards are forcing the world to find new ways to grow one of its most important crops. Rice farmers are shifting their planting calendars. Plant breeders are working on seeds to withstand high temperatures or salty soils. Hardy heirloom varieties are being resurrected.

The Indian Express – Online

WITH COTTON prices showing no signs of increasing, farmers across Vidarbha, Marathwada and parts of North Maharashtra are a worried lot. As compared to Rs 12,000 per quintal it fetched last year, cotton prices this year are as low as Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 per quintal. The crisis for cotton cultivators is further compounded as unseasonal rain and hailstorm have damaged 40 per cent of crops in some districts of Vidarbha, Marathwada and north Maharashtra. A farmer leader from Vidarbha region, Vijay Jawandia, said, “There is huge unrest among the cotton farmers. Apart from low prices for the crop, the vagaries of climate change have added to their woes.”

Hindustan Times – Online

We have heard stories of entrepreneurs who overcame challenges, familial resistance and embarked on their journey to establish businesses and startups. However, one young individual, Prafull Gadge, stands out as he left his “permanent” government job in the irrigation department to start his own venture Biome Technologies. Driven by a passion to explore the fertility of soil, he developed a device called the “Soilometer” that can assess soil health within three hours and at a cost of only ₹310.

The Times of India – Online

The Indian agricultural industry is one of the leading players in the global market. It has grown significantly over the period of time and technology has a vital role to play in this rapid development. However, the country is yet to reach its optimal potential and the government, as well as analysts, are optimistic that technology will be a gamechanger for the industry. In India, agriculture is heavily dependent on nature. Unfortunately, conditions like climate and global warming cause disruptions in farming activities. The growing population, the rising demand for food grains, soil degradation and pollution further impact the agri-ecosystem. This puts forth the need to educate farmers about the use of modern ...

Mint – Online

Indian agriculture was lucky to have a good run of monsoons for the last four years. This helped ensure that not only was agriculture the only sector largely unaffected by the pandemic, but it also provided refuge to many who lost their livelihoods during the crisis. It appears that this streak of luck is finally running out, with the likelihood of a deficient monsoon due to El Niño conditions getting stronger. The prediction by India’s official meteorological department has been cautious, but estimates by most private and foreign weather agencies suggest a strong likelihood of rainfall this year being in deficit.

Hindustan Times – Online

The Centre’s purchase of wheat for state-held stocks has touched slightly over 26 million tonnes, but is likely to be below a targeted 34 million tonne – sufficient to cover all food-distribution programmes and still leave a surplus of about 6-7 million tonne, data seen by HT show. Wheat-market trends show this year’s output is unlikely to have been a record 112 million tonnes as expected by the government. Hail and untimely rain in April may have shaved off 3-4 million tonnes of output, analysts said.

The Times of India – Online

This cotton sowing season, farmers in the state of Punjab are being motivated to opt for bed plantation as the method requires less water, besides promising proper germination and keeping weeds at bay. It is expected that a higher number of progressive farmers have switched to the technology this season. Recommended by the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), sowing using bed plantation can be done by tractor drawn bed planters with row-to-row spacing 67.5 cm and plant-to-plant distance 60 cm. In farrows, farmers can give water to crops and also drain out excess water during rainy season through these farrows. Agriculture director Gurvinder Singh said bed plantation of cotton was a better method and ...

The Times of India – Online

Since 1970, there have been only two years when the annual average exceeded 200 for the number of cumulative heatwave days and both have come within the last 15 years. There were 203 heatwave days in the country in 2022 – the figure represents the sum of average heatwave days recorded by the states – while 2010 had seen 256 such days, according to IMD. The decadal average for total heatwave days zoomed to 130 for the 2010s, up by more than 35% over the previous high of 96 in the 1970s. Heatwave days in the first three years of the 2020s have already produced an yearly average of 93, the third highest ...

The New Indian Express – Online

The fall in the price of cotton has left farmers disappointed after the primary harvest season bore fruit. They were able to get an average price of Rs 73 per kg, which has now dropped to Rs 50 due to a lack of demand. Cotton is cultivated on about 5,000 hectares in the district. While the primary season harvest is done during the period of December to March, the secondary harvest is done during the summer season from April to June every year. The produce is then sold through open and regulatory markets in Thirumangalam and Usilampatti. According to the agriculture business department, the average price of cotton was around Rs 53 to ...

Deccan Chronicle – Online

The Agricultural Research Station here organised a meeting of farmers at its adopted Nagula Malliala village in Kothapalli mandal of Karimnagar on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, agriculture scientist (Plant Breeding) Dr. G. Usharani advised farmers to cultivate high-yielding varieties of seeds that are suitable for Kharif season. Coupled with good agricultural practices, farmers will be able to reap higher benefits, she stated. In this context, Usharani advised farmers to attend the Seed Melas being organised at the nearby research stations of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agriculture University on May 24. She said it will be better for farmers to go for the newly released paddy, maize and red-gram crops. Dr. P. Madhukar Rao, who ...

The Week – Online

An international soil carbon marketplace, founded by a Karnataka-born entrepreneur, will deliver USD 200 million in carbon finance to farmers and ranchers in the developing world by 2025 to scale the deployment of climate-smart agriculture. Boomitra founder Aadith Moorthy spoke at the recently concluded Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) Summit in Washington hosted by the United States. The Summit, supported by Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR), aims to bring together partners to increase and accelerate investment in and support for agriculture and food systems innovation for climate action.

Telangana Today – Online

Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar said Telangana was at the forefront in the agriculture sector with increased crop production and yield. In the wake of G20 Summit to be held in Hyderabad from June 15 to 17, he said the Centre and the State governments would work together to showcase India’s importance in the world agriculture sector. Along with Telangana Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, the union Minister reviewed the arrangements for the G20 Summit at HICC next month. He said Hyderabad was chosen to host the G20 Summit keeping in view of its rich culture and progress in the agriculture sector.

The New Indian Express – Online

Stating that the Centre has been supporting the establishment of startups and training centres to strengthen Indian agricultural research, Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar has said that efforts are on to develop master trainers in the sector. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the EEI Golden Jubilee Auditorium at the Extension Education Institute (EEI) here on Monday, he said: “The Union government is focusing on Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and EEIs with an objective to develop master trainers in agriculture.”

Telangana Today – Online

The State government was giving highest priority to education, infrastructure creation, research and expansion related to agriculture sector, said Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar. The Minister inaugurated a newly constructed girls’ hostel building with 55 rooms with two floors and modern facilities built at a cost of Rs.7.35 crore at Agricultural College affiliated to Prof. Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University at Aswaraopet in the district on Monday.

The Times of India – Online

An Agriculture Data Exchange (ADEx) platform using artificial intelligence (AI) processes will be set up by the Telangana government soon. The project in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru, aims to provide quality and transparent agriculture data easily to give an impetus to research and innovation in the sector. “Whenever we tried to come up with new technology solutions for farmers, researchers and technology companies pointed out the limitations of data availability.

The Times of India – Online

The Group of Twenty is a leading avenue for global economic cooperation. It plays a vital role in shaping and strengthening the international structure and the governance of almost all economic activities. India holds the presidency of G-20 wef 01 Dec 2022 to 30 Nov 2023. The G20 came into being in 1999, after the financial crisis in Asia, as a platform for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors to deliberate on global economic and financial issues. The G-20 was upgraded to the Heads of State/Government level in the wake of the global economic and financial crisis of 2007. In 2009, it was assigned as the leading forum for global economic cooperation.

Mint – Online

Food Corp India will miss the wheat procurement target of 34.5 million tonnes during the 2023-24 April-March Rabi marketing season due to stocking by private traders and farmers holding back their produce. “FCI will not be able to procure its estimated set target for wheat as private traders and millers are offering more remunerative prices to purchase farmers’ produce. This will result in about 26 million tonnes wheat procurement this season,” the agency’s chairman and managing director Ashok Meena said.

The Citizen – Online

Faced by the vagaries of climate change and its highly damaging impact on agriculture, we need to look at ways of building resilience into our food systems and ensuring an adequate supply of food grains. Millets can be a big part of the solution. Millets as a food crop were well known in India and widely used. Many kinds of these small, nutritious grains were eaten as rice and some like Ragi (Eleucine Coracana) were made into a flour and then into roti. This changed after the Green Revolution but the change was seen more in North India where millets practically disappeared from daily diets . This did not happen in the South however where ...

The Times of India – Online

The directorate of industries has proposed to set up district level laboratories for certification of agriculture produce to promote exports from those districts. A senior official from the directorate of industries said that the laboratories would certify agriculture produce with respect to standards required from the countries where the exports are intended. “The laboratories are proposed to help farmers get certification of mostly major agriculture produce of the districts based on the parameters of presence of chemicals specified by destination countries. There is no common test for the produce as each country has a different set of parameters set by their governments,” said the officer.

The Financial Express – Online

Exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 9% to $26.3 billion in 2022-23 as compared to FY22, driven by a spike in shipment of rice, fruits and vegetables, livestock and dairy products. The shipment of products under the agricultural and processed food products exports development authority (Apeda) basket surpassed the target of $23.56 billion for FY23. According to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the value of rice exports in FY23 rose by more than 15% year-on-year to a record $11.1 billion from $9.6 billion in the previous fiscal. In terms of volume, rice shipment grew by 5% to 22.34 million tonne (MT) last fiscal year-on-year.

The Financial Express – Online

A majority of farmers in India depend on middlemen to find buyers for their produce who take a major slice of their profits, leaving little room to negotiate prices. Globally, over 99% of agricultural transactions are cash-based, and goods distribution can be inefficient. In fact, 30% of cash crop value is lost through value chain inefficiencies, representing a $4 billion annual post-harvest food loss. The agriculture value chain is highly complex and paper-based; leading to inefficiencies, waste and fraud across the ecosystem of partners. Digital technology can unlock much-needed efficiency and financing for small farmers as well as other stakeholders to make farming commercially sustainable.

The Times of India – Online

India has predominantly been an agrarian economy, and has grown to become a global agricultural powerhouse over the years. Agriculture is a significant contributor to the country’s GDP, accounting for approximately 16 per cent of the GDP and providing employment to 44 per cent of the national workforce. Bringing the golden touch of technology to the agriculture sector of the country, agritech ventures in the country have reimagined the farming and agrifood processing domains. As per a report by Ernst & Young, agritech startups in India offer an opportunity of $24 billion by 2025.

Krishi Jagat – Online

Rather than mere recipients and beneficiaries of agricultural innovation and knowledge “transferred” by scientists, small and marginal Indian farmers, including women, must be perceived and recognized as key actors and partners in research and knowledge creation. Women especially are the backbone of marginal farmer households in India. As we celebrate the International Year of Millets, a new pilot ‘Collective Action’ stresses the role of these small farmers in agriculture, farming, and contribution to strengthened agri-food systems.

Krishi Jagat – Online

The global apiculture market is calculated to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.3% during the period 2020–25. In India, apiculture is a multi-million dollar industry whose market size is likely to reach a value of Rs 33,128 million by 2024 and expand at a CAGR of nearly 12% by 2024. India is the eighth largest honey-producing country and stands ninth in export (Press Information Bureau 2022). The recorded export of natural honey reached 59,536.75 MT for INR 633.82 crore in 2019–20 (Sethi 2021).

India Today – Online

Social media users in urban areas are busy posting about the bonanza of unseasonal rains when Gujarat is preparing for searing heat-an average of 42 degrees Celsius. In the countryside, meanwhile, farmers and fruit growers are staring at crippling losses. According to a Gujarat government estimate, based on a survey done a month ago, 42,210 hectares of farmland have suffered over 33 per cent damage. Though the state government does not confirm the value, farmers claim the losses will run into thousands of crores. Addressing the anxiety of farmers, the Gujarat government, on May 4, announced a relief package reimbursing Rs 23,000 per hectare for every hectare where 33 per cent of crop loss has ...

Mint – Online

The government has set a target of 332 million tonne (MT) for foodgrain production for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June), a 2.6% increase from the previous year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, the goal includes the production of 29.25 MT of pulses, 44 MT of oilseed, and 17 MT of millets, with strategies being developed in anticipation of El Nino’s impact. “The strategy would be to increase area through inter­cropping and crop diversification and productivity enhancement through the introduction of high yielding varieties, and adoption of suitable agronomic practices in low yielding regions,” the ministry said in a statement.

BW BusinessWorld – Online

The preparations for battle ground Karnataka has reached its finale. As the state goes for assembly polls on 10 May, here is a look at the ITR reports submitted by the candidates to know who the top ten candidates with highest income declaration. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s candidate from Hosakote, N Nagaraju features as the number 1 candidate to declare the highest income. His own income is Rs 96 crore, while the total income of self, spouse and dependent is Rs 137 crore. This income is attributed to Agriculture, house property,business and other sources. Congress candidate from Chitradurga, KC Veerendra Puppy has been featured on the ...

Mint – Online

In April, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a normal monsoon for 2023, with rains estimated at 96% of the long-term average. But it added a rider, which many observers were quick to focus on, and quite rightly. The IMD observed that both its models, and those prepared by others, indicated “that El Niño conditions are likely to develop during the monsoon season.” The government is concerned as well. The finance ministry’s latest monthly review of the economy flagged the El Niño risk, pointing out: “It is important…to be vigilant against potential risks such as El Niño conditions creating drought conditions and lowering agricultural output and elevating prices, geopolitical developments and global financial stability.”

The Financial Express – Online

The government on Wednesday set a marginally higher target of 332 million tonne (MT) of foodgrains production for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) against the estimated output of 323.5 MT in the current crop year. The target was set at the national conference on agriculture- kharif campaign-2023 organised by agriculture ministry despite the possibility of a deficient monsoon due to likely El Nino conditions developing at the later part of the monsoon months (June-September).

Hindustan Times – Online

Two failed seasons in 2021 and 2022 have left the cotton growers in a quandary. With inclement weather also playing its part, cotton has been sown in only 8% or around 20,000 hectares of area in south Malwa, where the crop is considered an economic lifeline of the region. As per the advisory of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), cotton sowing should be completed between April 15 and May 15 and with just 12 days left the farmers are racing against time to complete the sowing operations of the key kharif crop.

CNBC TV18 – Online

India is looking to divert arable land from the farming of water-guzzling paddy to the cultivation of maize to boost ethanol production as well as optimise water usage. Emphasising the use of eco-friendly ethanol as a fuel, Union Minister for Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal said that ethanol blending has more than doubled in the past two years and the target of 20 percent ethanol blending has also been advanced from 2030 to 2025.

Krishi Jagran – Online

On Saturday, Ramesh Chand, a Niti Aayog member said that India can emerge as a global power in the selected three or four agricultural yields if the government seeks modernization and motivates corporates to invest in agriculture. While ensuring food security and taking part in the panel session on ‘Can India be the food bowl for the World at the Food Conclave here, he spoke that to become a global leader, India could look at rice, milk, and sugar as commodities.

The Financial Express – Online

To curb spike in prices, the government has decided to sell surplus wheat stocks held with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) under the open market sale scheme (OMSS) on a quarterly basis from July. As per earlier policy, FCI had been selling surplus wheat to bulk buyers such as flour millers and food companies during the lean season (January-March). The government aims at boosting supplies and moderate the prices at regular intervals. Sources told FE that the quantum of wheat offered under OMSS each quarter will be decided depending on market prices of the commodity.

Krishi Jagran – Online

Telangana sees to get a record investment of over 7200 crore investment in the field of agri-food at Food Conclave 2023. The first Food Conclave in the city came to a successful conclusion with Rs. 7217.95 crore in the Agri-food sector. Telangana, according to IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao, was the best place to make investments throughout the nation because the State was ushering in five revolutions at once, including in the agriculture sector, meat, dairy, and fisheries. The conclave, which was joined by business leaders as well as specialists from all over the globe to talk about the most recent developments and innovations in agriculture, was officially opened.

Moneycontrol – Online

India’s fuel sales rose in April as diesel demand grew on the back of a pick up in harvesting of Rabi crops and expansion of economic activity, preliminary industry data showed on Monday. Demand for diesel, the most consumed fuel in the country accounting for about two-fifths of the demand, soared 6.7 per cent to 7.15 million tonnes in April compared to a year ago period. Month-on-month sales rose 4.8 per cent when compared with 6.83 million tonnes of diesel consumed in March which witnessed a seasonal slowdown. Petrol sales rose about 2.5 per cent to 2.64 million tonnes during April when compared with the same period of the last year. Sales, however, fell marginally by ...