The writer is the National Rural Affairs and Agriculture Editor for The Indian Express.
August 14, 2023 05:05 IST
Fortification of urea, DAP and other commodity fertilisers with micronutrients is the way forward for boosting crop yields and maximising the use efficiency of imported nutrients .
Mon, Aug 14, 2023August 13, 2023 04:00 IST
Over the last month, landed prices of imported urea in India have shot up from $318-320 to $395-410 per tonne, after having dropped as low as $285-290 towards the end of June.
Sun, Aug 13, 2023August 10, 2023 03:40 IST
With 10 mills, all in eastern UP, that can together crush 80,000 tonnes of cane daily and five distilleries with combined alcohol production capacity of 1,050 kilo-litres per day (KLPD), the Rs 4,728.65-crore turnover BCML is India's largest integrated sugar-cum-ethanol producer.
Thu, Aug 10, 2023August 07, 2023 07:00 IST
From the farm laws that tried to free agricultural trade, the Modi govt has reverted to controls and curbs. This is pretty much on the lines of an earlier short-lived experiment at decontrol, back in 1947-48 under Nehru.
Wed, Aug 09, 2023August 05, 2023 03:54 IST
The year-on-year increase was even higher, at 24.4 per cent, for Indica Index (the rice varieties that are grown in the subcontinent) that touched 135.4 points in July.
Sat, Aug 05, 2023July 31, 2023 06:30 IST
The July turnaround in rainfall has enabled a smart pick-up in kharif plantings, including of rice. But the threat from a strengthening El Nino, whose impact could extend to the rabi crop, remains.
Tue, Aug 01, 2023July 24, 2023 07:05 IST
Distilleries have diversified from molasses to a range of feedstocks, enabling blending rates with petrol to more than double to 11.75% in past five years. Modi govt’s differential pricing policy for ethanol has helped.
Tue, Jul 25, 2023July 17, 2023 07:15 IST
With stocks of rice and wheat finely balanced with the FCI amid monsoon-linked production uncertainties, the scope for distributing and exporting surplus grains has considerably reduced.
Tue, Jul 18, 2023July 13, 2023 20:42 IST
Ukraine's markets have shifted dramatically from Asia and North Africa before the war to mainly Europe, mostly due to ease of shipment, according to the USDA.
Fri, Jul 14, 2023July 11, 2023 20:08 IST
According to the Union Agriculture Ministry, the total area sown under pulses in the current kharif season from June till July 9, at 46.32 lakh hectares (lh), was 17.9% lower than the 56.43 lh during the corresponding period of last year.
Wed, Jul 12, 2023July 10, 2023 07:06 IST
The HC has merely faulted PepsiCo for wrongly applying for registration of FL 2027 under the category of “new variety” and giving an incorrect date for its first commercialisation. Any protection granted for a plant variety is subject to the applicant making a complete disclosure of his claimed invention/development.
Tue, Jul 11, 2023July 03, 2023 07:00 IST
Sugarcase dues are relatively low; political and economic compulsions may force mills to pay more to farmers. While the BJP government hasn't raised cane prices much, it may have to do so with the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, low sugar stocks and monsoon-linked production uncertainties.
Tue, Jul 04, 2023June 29, 2023 17:55 IST
US apples will continue to attract a 50% import duty, applicable on all imported apples. What the govt has done away with was a retaliatory 20% duty on the American fruit. Here's how it is likely to impact the domestic market.
Sat, Jul 01, 2023June 26, 2023 04:45 IST
Assured irrigation access has made the two states the most reliable producers of rice and wheat, which will matter in a bad monsoon year.
Tue, Jun 27, 2023June 19, 2023 07:00 IST
Direct seeding of rice, instead of transplanting and flooding of fields, cuts down the massive water consumption of paddy. Why is the DSR method still not very popular?
Mon, Jun 19, 2023June 15, 2023 19:16 IST
What explains the significantly increased production of chickpea and green gram, when arhar/tur (pigeon-pea) and urad (black gram) have not gone up as much?
Mon, Jun 19, 2023June 12, 2023 07:00 IST
A brief history of the US role in independent India's agricultural development is useful in the context of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to the US, for strengthening the “global strategic partnership” between the two countries.
Tue, Jun 13, 2023June 05, 2023 07:30 IST
The country has achieved over 90% self-sufficiency in dals, thanks mainly to increased chana production.
Wed, Jun 14, 2023June 03, 2023 00:49 IST
Southern states, particularly AP and Telangana, take the lead in direct benefit transfer schemes
Sat, Jun 03, 2023May 29, 2023 19:41 IST
While there are no shortages for now, a great deal hinges on the monsoon, especially its spatial and temporal distribution. That has implications both for the RBI's monetary policy and the government in a year leading to national elections.
Thu, Jun 01, 2023May 26, 2023 04:20 IST
Stating it has been a norm to let cooperatives thrive without infringing on each other's milk sheds, Stalin said the move by Amul “will create unhealthy competition between cooperatives engaged in procuring and marketing milk and milk products”.
Fri, May 26, 2023May 22, 2023 07:00 IST
Global prices of edible oils, which hit an all-time high after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have crashed. Sunflower has seen the greatest volatility over the last 1 year — and as India’s oil imports seem set for a record high this Nov-Oct year, sunflower, along with palm, has led the surge.
Tue, May 23, 2023May 12, 2023 21:54 IST
Price controls have resulted in companies now only “distributing” and not “marketing” fertilisers, says MD of Yara Fertilisers India Pvt. Ltd.
Sat, May 13, 2023May 10, 2023 04:37 IST
The Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) at Bhavnagar in Gujarat has developed a process to recover both sulphate of potash (SOP) and muriate of potash (MOP) from the spent wash ash generated by sugarcane molasses-based distilleries.
Wed, May 10, 2023May 07, 2023 19:25 IST
India’s farm trade surplus was lower in 2022-23 than in the previous year. Its agri exports are powered by marine products, sugar, and rice; global prices and domestic food inflation could be key factors this fiscal.
Mon, May 08, 2023