Agri News India

The jute sector in India experienced a mixed year in 2023, with a bumper cash crop harvest but a mid-season demand slump. However, government intervention revived hopes, with sustained orders and supportive policies from the Centre. The Indian Jute Mills Association (IJMA) chairman Raghav Gupta said that the outlook remains steady, with a strong initial supply followed by sluggish demand between September and November. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/WdZ3hGs

The Indian government has denied plans to impose a minimum export price (MEP) on all agricultural products, stating that it has no intention to review all agri products from an export perspective. An inter-ministerial committee has recently decided on basmati rice, but the committee's wider mandate does not mean it will recommend MEPs for each agri product. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/H3oZ6CJ

India's cotton production for 2023-24 has hit a 15-year low, reaching 294.10 lakh bales, a decline of 8% from the previous year, according to trade body Cotton Association of India. Atul Ganatra, president of the trade body, attributed this drop to outdated BT cotton seeds, unpredictable weather, and pest-related issues. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/qG32VPj

Around 30 companies, including 22 MSMEs, are benefiting from the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for manufacturing millet-based products in India. The scheme encourages the use of millets in Ready to Cook/Ready to Eat (RTC/RTE) products, with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore. The companies aim to promote millet-based products under this initiative. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/fJZzXcD

Despite challenges posed by erratic weather, India's resilient agricultural sector remains optimistic about achieving a plentiful food grain production, crucial as the government aims to curb food inflation ahead of the 2024 general elections. The year saw extreme weather events, leading to fears and preemptive measures, including export curbs. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/jp7bV2P

Leading shipping lines' decision to avoid the Suez Canal route amid Houthi attacks has also impacted sunflower oil imports from Russia and Ukraine. Sunflower oil prices in the local market are likely to go up by 3-4% as international prices have increased by $30 per tonne in the last one week to $940 per tonne, trade insiders said. Basmati exporters said the export market has become sluggish and the shipping cost to places like Jeddah, Yemen, Beirut, and Durban have shot up multiple times in some cases. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/eqDhl3K

Aligning with the national goal of adopting the most organic and sustainable practices by 2030, IPL Biologicals envisions the MOU with the Gujarat government to develop a new facility as a significant contributor to sustainable agriculture. The major focus of the first phase of production will be on biological agriculture products, followed by probiotics and enzyme products. The project shall be on reducing chemical usage in the agribusiness sector and providing safe food production to the world. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/05n1xPD

Agricultural (agri) pump makers will see healthy revenue growth of 7-9% in fiscal 2025, supported by resilient domestic demand for conventional pumps and a surge in offtake of solar pumps, largely under the PM Kusum Scheme, according to CRISIL Ratings. This will follow a likely revenue growth of 8-10% in the current fiscal. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/vDpwx4O

In a move to address the soaring inflation rate of rice, the government has announced its plan to sell rice under the Bharat brand at an affordable price of Rs 25 per kilogram. This decision was confirmed by a senior government official. To implement this initiative, the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed), National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF), and Kendriya Bhandar outlets will be responsible for distributing the rice to consumers. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/yfuDoPx

According to the data compiled by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the retail onion prices during the past three weeks from December 5 to December 26 have declined by 10% to 34% in different states. The retail prices have come down from average Rs 60/kg to Rs 40/kg during this period, the data showed. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/1wXeN5v

There have been limited occurrences of avian influenza or bird flu across the country in the current fiscal. Localised incidences of bird flu were reported in Kerala and Jharkhand in Q4 FY2023 and Q1 FY2024, which did not spread further. Any major local outbreaks may have temporary effects on demand and realisations in the affected and nearby regions. Since winters are prone to disease outbreaks, the upcoming months will remain critical. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/0gfjsbW

"The world population is increasing, and we also have climate change. So it's clear that we won't be able to cover the food demands of the planet with only the already existing agricultural methods," said Eleni Stavrinidou, an associate professor at the Linkoping University in Sweden. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/rZfu3F2

On Monday, Sharad Pawar, founder of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), responded to his nephew Ajit Pawar's recent comments about the 1978 political move led by Sharad Pawar against then Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/QX9sM8A

A senior government official told ET that the preparatory work had started at the level of Niti Aayog as well as the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare, and that the policy interventions may be rolled out after the general elections in 2024. As part of the multi-pronged strategy, the Niti Aayog is working on developing indices across agriculture and rural landscape to track progress of the existing schemes and undertake evaluation of flagship programs to introduce changes, wherever needed, the official said. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/pxNjluU

Emphasizing on the health hazards experienced by people due to the consumption of improper food products, OSD & state Commissioner of Food Safety under Health & Family Welfare Department Tapan Kanti Rudra said, “The industry is ever flourishing and our role is regulatory. We stand as facilitators to the sector. We look after creating logistics, human resource development, and sharing knowledge and information.” from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/j8CLTDl

The Indian government has extended the reduced import duty on refined soybean oil and refined sunflower oil until March 2025, as a measure to control food inflation. The duty reduction, initially set to end in March 2024, aims to bring down domestic prices by lowering the landed cost of these oils. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/lUDEKMw

India has extended the lower import tax rates on edible oils, including crude palm oil, crude sunflower oil, and crude soyoil, until March 2025. The move aims to manage local prices and ensure a steady supply of essential commodities. India is the world's largest importer of vegetable oil, the report said from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/CaPDbqX

Spanning a timeline of three to five years its overarching goal is to elevate farmer incomes and preserve vital natural resources. The primary objectives are to significantly enhance farmer incomes by 15% to 25% and to conserve crucial natural resources, including reducing water usage for irrigation by an impressive 60% to 80%. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/xNMvJgZ

Mandava Prabhakar Rao has been appointed as the President of the Indian Sugar & Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) from Aditya Jhunjhunwala. The association has announced its rebranding to ISMA, aiming to address the growing importance of bio-energy in India's energy transition. The move aims to enhance sugarcane yield and area sustainably, meeting the growing demand for sugar, ethanol, and by-products. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/Q6REXGK

Fowler Westrup India delivers solutions to the agriculture industry in the field of cleaning, grading, storing, milling, sorting & material handling for processing of seed, grains, pulses, spices, millets & other food commodities for over two decades. Fowler Westrup India has also acquired Premium Seed Machines (PSM) in Medemblik in the beginning of this year through its wholly owned subsidiary Fowler Westrup (Netherlands) B.V. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/D4EPO9W

The Indian government is closely monitoring the rice situation in domestic and international markets, considering increasing the percentage share in global rice trade when favorable conditions arise. India, the largest rice exporter from 2018 to 2022, imposed a ban on the export of broken and non-basmati white rice to ensure domestic prices and availability amid geopolitical uncertainties and extreme climatic conditions. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/IYq8Jdo

The all-India production of bulk teas in the first 10 months of CY2023moderated by 22 Mkg (~2%) on a YoY basis and ICRA expects the full-year production to ease by ~1% compared to CY2022. Tea output in Kenya is likely to increase in CY2023 over the previous year, given that their production in 8M CY2023 is already up by ~7% on a YoY basis. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/QaO8jcS

Krishnan emphasized on the transformative potential of technology in the agricultural sector and highlighted the importance of employing technology in an ethical and inclusive manner for the advancement of society. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/IYWjube

Nabard and ADB team up, aided by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to tackle climate challenges in India's agriculture and rural sectors. They establish a Technical Support Unit at Nabard to address climate change threats, emphasizing resilience, as 55% of Indian banking assets face climate risks. Intellecap Advisory Services will manage the unit, leveraging its experience in climate-focused programs. Nabard invites ecosystem partners to join this transformative initiative. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/8kaVXg1

"In growth terms, agriculture and allied sector has registered an average annual growth of 4 per cent during last five years. As far as global experience is concerned, share of agriculture in the world's GDP has also declined over the decades and stands at about 4 per cent in recent years," Agriculture Minister Arjun Munda said. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/mPAHUzW

Driven by falling yields in two key producing states, Maharashtra and Karnataka, the sluggish outlook for the crop year that began in October reinforces expectations India will ban sugar exports in 2024. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/oueh1LQ

The associations have been suggested that where there exists a wide gap between the MRP and actual retail price, the same needs to be brought down to a realistic level in order to safeguard the interest of the consumers. The order comes amid reports of a sharp increase in the margins being availed by wholesalers and retailers. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/LptkqHe

"Maharashtra had the highest share of 24.25 lakh tonnes, followed by Uttar Pradedh, which has produced 22.11 lakh tonnes. Karnataka is at the third place with production of 16.95 lakh tonnes of sugar," said ISMA in a media release. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/RsN9EuP

In a statement, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said that the sugar production till December 15 in the current 2023-24 marketing year reached 74.05 lakh tonnes against 82.95 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period of the previous year. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/F7kyJhd

To support farmers, the government undertakes minimum support price operations through the Cotton Corporation of India. The state-run company begins procurement from the market when prices of fair average quality-grade cotton fall below MSP. But since the quality of cotton has been affected, CCI has not been able to procure it. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/ZmkNcTW

Sarma inaugurated the Assam Mandap, Assam Agriculture University Mandap and the International Pavilion and also visited the stalls by framers from across the State where various produces were kept for display. The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for the project for development of the Darrangiri banana market. This apart, he virtually laid the foundation stones for the office building of Assam Seed Corporation Limited and ceremonially unveiled its logo and the “brand name”. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/qn1ryHV

The Centre mostly procures foodgrains to be sold at subsidised rates and to maintain a buffer. Besides, it procures onions in large quantities and at times tomatoes to keep prices in check and maintain a demand-supply balance. It also sells fresh fruits, vegetables and other perishables through Safal stores under the National Dairy Development Board. Rajeev Rastogi, vice president, machine learning at Amazon, confirmed to ET the meeting held with NITI Aayog officials to get Johari deployed in government-owned centres. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/HVPBCmd

The Indian government is likely to permit the diversion of 1.7 million tonnes of sugar for ethanol production, just days after instructing sugar mills and distilleries to cease using sugarcane juice and syrup for ethanol production in the 2023-24 supply year. The directive aimed to address concerns about lower sugarcane production due to adverse weather conditions and rising sugar prices in the domestic market. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/BpljEUY

FCI Chief Ashok K Meena expressed concern over rice inflation and urged traders to buy rice under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to boost domestic availability and contain price rise. The FCI increased the bid quantity to 2,000 tonnes per bidder from 1,000 tonnes and reduced the minimum bid quantity to 1 tonne from 10 tonnes to encourage more participation. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/04qCWlu

Indian Sugar Mills' Association (ISMA) demanded that the government revise soon the prices of ethanol made from B-heavy and C-heavy mollases, a by-product of sugar, to improve the financial health of the millers. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/6zmIgNZ

The sugar industry has been facing difficulties in making cane payments to farmers due to restrictions on exports and the government's decision to ban ethanol production from cane juice, the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) said in a statement. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/uLTAMSw

Broken rice and maize are the main components of poultry feed. The industry fears that the prices of maize and broken rice would spike in the coming months as the diversion of these two raw materials for ethanol is expected to increase after the ban on use of sugarcane juice for ethanol. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/4T2YaQ3

Wheat prices have declined by 15% in the last four days after the central government tightened the stock holding limit on traders and processors. Likewise, the wholesale prices of onion at the benchmark Lasalgaon APMC in Maharashtra have crashed by 15-20% after the Centre banned onion export on December 8 and the decision to allow duty-free import of yellow peas has led to a fall in prices of all the pulses. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/2dvx6ej

A 37.68% increase in exports to $57.14 million in five years to 2022-23, buckwheat, ragi, jawar, bajra, amaranth and canary seeds have found favour across the world. In the first six months of 2023-24, millet exports touched almost $30 million. In 2021, India was the top millet producer in the world with a 20% share of global production, followed by the US and Nigeria. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/fauX9eT

Last week, the government banned onion exports till March next year after the retail sales price of the kitchen staple crossed Rs 80 per kg in the national capital and the prices in mandis remained around Rs 60 per kg. To a query on when the onion prices are expected to fall below Rs 40 per kg, Singh said, "very soon... January". from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/4Is3prV

CRISIL has expected a 2.5 million-tonne increase in India's sugar production in 2023-24 due to a ban on using sugarcane juice for ethanol. The government's move immediately stops ethanol production from cane juice but permits it from B and C heavy molasses. With sugarcane supply issues, sugar mills face a choice between sugar and ethanol. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/PFV3N1U

The central government banned onion exports from December 8 to control the prices, which started rising after the unseasonal rainfall in the state in November. The highest prices had crossed Rs 45/kg in some markets as robust exports to Bangladesh and Nepal were supporting the domestic prices. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/taQfcbJ

The Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) urges government action following the ban on using sugarcane juice for ethanol production. To offset mill losses and support farmers affected by the ban, ISMA proposes compensatory price increases for ethanol from B and C heavy molasses. This measure aims to ensure cash flow for mills to meet financial commitments to farmers. Additionally, ISMA suggests converting contracted/cancelled juice to B-heavy molasses for ethanol, minimizing disruption to the ethanol blending program and lessening the impact on sugar production. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/KFTpbkH

The Indian government has reduced wheat stock limits for traders, wholesalers, and retailers, halving them to 1,000 tonnes and five tonnes respectively. The new limits will apply until March 31, 2024. The move comes amid rising cereal and pulse prices, with food inflation remaining high. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/h8x6XMY

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd. (RIL), is exploring a fresh avenue in the energy sector by targeting an underexplored resource: sugarcane press mud for compressed biogas (CBG) production. RIL is engaging with sugar mills to procure press mud, signaling a move towards biogas amid the push for green energy. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/P5JdYVO

India is taking steps to avoid disruptions in ethanol supplies for blending with gasoline, despite recent directives against using sugarcane juice or syrup for ethanol production. Oil Secretary Pankaj Jain confirmed that the target of achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol by 2025/26 remains intact. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/FuEr4iH

India has imposed a ban on onion exports until March 31, 2024, following a surge in domestic prices to Rs 40/kg due to crop damage from unseasonal rainfall in Maharashtra. This move is expected to result in a significant drop in onion prices in January. Recent surveys by central government officials assessed the damage caused by the rainfall, and while export demand from Bangladesh had initially supported prices, traders anticipate a decline once kharif onions flood the market in January. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/zNdU96W

India has extended restrictions on onion exports until March 31, 2024, aiming to maintain ample supply and curb escalating prices of this politically significant vegetable. With a minimum export price set at $800 per tonne until December 31, 2023, the government seeks to stabilize domestic onion availability amidst nearly doubled prices within a year. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/vu5kPNK

The Indian government has directed sugar mills and distilleries to refrain from using sugarcane juice or sugar syrup for ethanol production in the ethanol supply year 2023-24. Existing offers received by oil marketing companies (OMCs) for ethanol from B-Heavy molasses will continue. The move is seen as an effort to ensure sufficient sugar supplies in the local market. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/q1ZI8iP

The addition of the trademark GRAMOXONE to Crystal Crop Protection’s portfolio will play a vital role in extending its reach to more farmers across India and is expected to contribute significantly. Crystal Crop Protection's non-selective herbicide portfolio. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/rWX3sGD

Lower diversion for ethanol will help the world's second biggest sugar producer in increasing output of the sweetener, which is expected to fall because of below normal rainfall in key growing states. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/L7fnKM3

In September, RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani had announced plans to set up 100 CBG plants over the next five years. These plants are expected to consume 5.5 million tonnes of agri-residue and organic waste. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/T8IqdWP

Unnati Agri, an agriculture supply chain and financial services startup, achieved break-even status in October 2023, achieving a 2x growth compared to the previous year. The company's financial performance was EBITDA positive, with 1.1% margins. Unnati's exclusive branded product line, including seeds, fertilizers, and crop protection solutions, experienced 8-9x year-on-year growth. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/ot8WeXa

The average productivity of Indian farmers is around 450 kg per hectare, with some states having a productivity of around 750 kg per hectare. However, this is still lower than 1,500-2,200 kg per hectare witnessed in countries like Brazil and Australia. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/YZ5SVJh

The Central government is set to present the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the lower house for consideration. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce both Bills, with the former amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act of 2004, focusing on reservation in jobs and educational institutions for various categories. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/oNTMhUZ

Launch of new products like millet-based pasta, noodles and snacks, inclusion of millets in breakfast cereals, and increased consumption of millets in the traditional form of flour have all bolstered the demand for millets, industry insiders. At the same time, millet-based startups - that have been doubling their year-on-year growth - have been struggling to source enough supplies of good quality millets due to erratic weather conditions in millet-growing areas as well as comparatively low production of millets vis a vis other foodgrains such as wheat and rice. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/aF7UsGZ

Punjab is expecting a bumper output of paddy crop this year, despite floods during the kharif season 2023-24. The state, known as the food bowl of the country, is expecting paddy output to cross 205 lakh metric tonnes, with an average yield going up by more than four quintal per hectare compared to last year. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/no6TBwf

Experts predict a potential surge in inflation to 6% over the next three months due to recent heavy rains and hailstorms in Maharashtra, Gujarat, west Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan. Crop damage, particularly for pulses and onions, may elevate food inflation. The unseasonal weather severely affected crops, causing notable damage to tur and onion yields. This, coupled with low reservoir levels impacting crop outcomes, may persistently affect prices, especially for pulses, amid concerns about delayed sowing and tight supply situations. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/uot3MiI

India's sugar production has decreased by 10.65% to 4.32 million tonnes in the first two months of the 2023-24 season compared to 4.83 million tonnes in the same period last year, according to the National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd (NFCSFL). from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/SmNXxYd

Indian sugar mills have produced 4.32 million metric tons of sugar, down 10.7% YoY, due to delayed operations in Maharashtra and Karnataka due to price disputes with farmers. This could lead to reduced export quotas and support for global prices trading near multi-year highs. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/bOSk9AC

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a Rs 11 per quintal increase in sugarcane prices, making it the highest in the country. The announcement came after farmers held protests demanding an increase from Rs 380 to Rs 450 per quintal. The strike ended after a meeting between farmer leaders and the chief minister. from Agriculture-Economy-News-Economic Times https://ift.tt/M8fxhr7