Agriculture
Govt levies 10 pc duty on mosur dal; extends duty-free import of yellow peas till May 31
The Indian government has imposed a 10 per cent import duty on lentils, effective from March 8, to boost domestic supply. Additionally, the duty-free import of yellow peas has been extended until May 31. Previously, India allowed duty-free import of lentils and imported 30 lakh tonnes of yellow peas in 2024.
Taxman smells a scam in dubious agricultural income declaration
A nationwide probe by the income tax department is investigating entities declaring agricultural income of ₹50 lakh or more without owning any land. Cases of unrealistic farm income per acre are also being scrutinized for tax evasion, with potential penalties for wrongful claims.
Cabinet okays supply of generic veterinary medicines at affordable rates under Livestock Health program
The Cabinet has approved modifications to the Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme, allocating Rs 75 crore for distributing affordable, high-quality generic veterinary medicines under the new Pashu Aushadhi component. These medicines will be distributed through PM Kisan Samridhi Kendras and cooperatives, aiming to support farmers. Traditional veterinary medicine knowledge will also be documented and revived.
Wheat crop likely to be hit as harsh summer predicted
India's wheat crop is likely to be adversely affected by anticipated above-normal temperatures from March through May 2025, according to the IMD. The upcoming heat waves during a critical grain formation stage could lead to lower yields, impacting inflation and diminishing government wheat stocks, which could exacerbate food inflation concerns.
Above normal temperature forecast may hit India’s wheat crop
India is expected to face negative impacts on wheat production due to anticipated above normal temperatures from March to May 2025. The heat waves forecasted for March will adversely affect grain formation, leading to reduced yields. This follows four years of declining wheat stocks and rising inflation in wheat prices.
Andhra Pradesh's Araku Coffee earns organic certification, secures buyers from Europe, Tata group
GCC has achieved organic certification for Araku coffee, facilitating entry into European markets and collaboration with Tata Consumer Products for marketing and sales. The certification process, ongoing since 2019, now involves 2,600 tribal farmers, ensuring increased and fair pricing for their organic produce.
India, Israel discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in agri sector
Ambassador of Israel to India, Reuven Azar, met Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi to discuss bolstering agricultural cooperation. They focused on Ministerial visits, the impact of Centers of Excellence across states, and the Prime Minister's vision for recycling sewage water for agriculture. Both sides emphasized commitment to strengthening Indo-Israel agricultural innovation, technologies, and the horticulture sector.
Govt says achieved goal of setting up of 10,000 farmer producer organisations
The government announced the achievement of establishing 10,000 farmer producer organisations (FPOs) under a central scheme, aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and income. This milestone involves significant financial and handholding support, positively impacting millions of farmers, including a substantial proportion of women.
Fall in wholesale prices of pulses yet to reach retail
Prices of chana and tur have dropped by about 25% in two months, falling below the minimum support prices due to duty-free imports and increased local crop arrivals. While wholesale prices of pulses have decreased significantly, retail prices have not seen a proportional decline. Retail chana dal prices fell 4.3% and tur dal prices dropped 12%.
Kisan Credit Card: Amount under Operative accounts crosses Rs 10 lakh crore
The finance ministry announced that the amount under operative Kisan Credit Card (KCC) accounts has more than doubled from ₹4.26 lakh crore in March 2014 to ₹10.05 lakh crore in December 2024. This growth reflects increased credit access in agriculture and reduced reliance on non-institutional credit.
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Operative Kisan Credit Card amount crosses Rs 10 lakh crore benefiting 7.72 crore farmers
The finance ministry announced that the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme has provided over Rs 10 lakh crore in affordable loans to 7.72 crore farmers as of December 31, 2024, up from Rs 4.26 lakh crore in 2014. The government also offers interest subventions and plans to increase the loan limit to further benefit farmers.
SOPA urges government to delay soybean sales until July 15 to protect farmers from price drop
SOPA urges Agriculture Minister to delay soybean sale until after July 15 to prevent a further fall in prices, which could discourage farmers from sowing. They argue that good prices encourage farmers to grow more, citing the success with pulses.
PM Modi releases 19th instalment of PM-KISAN scheme in Bihar, transfers Rs 22,000 cr to farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday transferred the 19th tranche of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) into accounts of crores of farmers, from Bihar’s Bhagalpur district. An amount of Rs 22,000 crore was transferred into the accounts of over 9.8 crore farmers including 2.41 crore female farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The fresh instalment of PM-KISAN to farmers reinforces the Centre’s commitment to rural development and agricultural prosperity. The previous 18th instalment of PM-KISAN was disbursed by the Prime Minister from Maharashtra’s Washim in October 2024. This event was also intended to benefit over 9.4 crore farmers across the country receiving direct financial benefits, amounting to more than Rs 20,000 crore.
PM Modi transfers Rs 22,000 cr to bank accounts of 9.8 cr farmers under 19th installment of PM Kisan scheme
Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 19th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme from Bihar’s Bhagalpur, benefiting 9.8 crore farmers with ₹22,700 crore. With Bihar's assembly elections approaching, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviewed preparations and discussed the proposed "Makhana Board."
Govt working out scheme to prevent distress sale of farmers' produce: Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted measures to prevent farmers from selling produce at low prices, emphasizing the importance of transferring new seed varieties and technologies to fields quickly. The Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2025 aims to showcase advancements and support farmers with live demonstrations and agro-advisories.
Unusual temperatures deepen Indian farmers' rabi crop fears; rain patterns complicate matters further
Unseasonal weather patterns, including an alarming 70% rainfall deficit and higher-than-normal temperatures, significantly threaten India's winter wheat crop. Key wheat-producing regions like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh face drastic reductions in yield, potentially impacting farmers' livelihoods and overall crop production.
