Prasanta Kumar Pradhan

New Delhi, Mar 10: India’s agricultural exports are projected to reach $55 billion by 2025, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday, highlighting the growing global demand for Indian farm and food products and the government’s push to make agriculture more export-oriented. Speaking at an industry event, Goyal said the target reflects strong

New Delhi: A prolonged conflict in West Asia could significantly disrupt India’s agricultural and food exports worth about $11.8 billion, according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The think tank warned that escalating tensions in the region are already affecting shipping routes, insurance costs, and logistics, posing risks to one of

Allana Group Commits to Supporting India’s Food Exports to West Asia Amid Uncertainties Amid rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions in shipping routes across West Asia, India’s food exporters are stepping up efforts to maintain stable supplies to the region. The Mumbai-based Allana Group, one of India’s largest food exporters, has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting

Agriculture basket The ongoing conflict in West Asia has begun to disrupt global agricultural trade, placing India’s farm export basket under significant pressure. Experts warn that the crisis could affect billions of dollars worth of agricultural shipments as logistics, shipping routes and payment systems face growing uncertainty. According to trade analysts, India exported agricultural and

New fungicide RevyPro boosts barley yields by 0.56 t/ha A new cereal fungicide, RevyPro, is showing promising results for barley growers after field trials reported a significant yield improvement of 0.56 tonnes per hectare (t/ha) compared with standard fungicide programmes. The fungicide, developed by BASF, is now entering its second year of use on farms

Two key changes in fungicide application strategies could dramatically extend the effective lifespan of SDHI (succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor) fungicides—potentially tripling how long they remain effective in controlling crop diseases, according to recent modelling and agronomy research. SDHI fungicides are widely used to control fungal diseases in crops such as wheat, barley, fruits and vegetables by

Gobbled Up by Agriculture: Grasslands and Wetlands Facing Rapid Conversion A new global study has revealed that agriculture is expanding far beyond forests and is increasingly “gobbling up” grasslands, savannas and wetlands across the world, raising fresh concerns about biodiversity loss and climate change. While agriculture has long been identified as the main driver of

Chandigarh, March 9: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has proposed an outlay of ₹15,377 crore for agriculture and allied sectors in the state Budget for 2026–27, aiming to strengthen crop diversification, sustainability and farmer welfare. Presenting the Budget in the Punjab Assembly, Cheema said the allocation would support targeted interventions in agriculture, including improved

Rooting Agricultural Research Agricultural research institutions and global development organisations marked International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026 by calling for a rights-based approach to agricultural research and development, emphasizing that women farmers must be recognized not only as beneficiaries but as key decision-makers in global food systems. The theme for IWD 2026, “Rights, Justice, Action for

Agriculture still backbone of Punjab economy Chandigarh: Agriculture continues to remain the backbone of Punjab’s economy despite the rapid expansion of the services and industrial sectors, according to the latest Economic Survey presented ahead of the state budget. The survey highlights that agriculture and allied activities still play a crucial role in sustaining rural livelihoods

Global food commodity prices increased in February 2026, marking the first rise in five months, according to the latest report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO Food Price Index averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9% from January’s 124.2 points, ending a five-month period of declining prices. The increase was primarily

The Maharashtra government has presented a ₹7.69 lakh crore budget for the financial year 2026–27, announcing a major farm loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh per farmer as a key relief measure for the agricultural sector. The budget was presented in the state Assembly by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also holding the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a post-Budget webinar on “Agriculture and Rural Transformation” on March 6 via video conferencing, emphasizing the need to accelerate implementation of agricultural reforms and strengthen India’s rural economy following the Union Budget 2026–27. The webinar was part of the government’s annual post-Budget consultation process aimed at engaging stakeholders, experts, farmers

Artificial Intelligence in Indian Agriculture Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly emerging as a transformative force in Indian agriculture, offering solutions to long-standing challenges such as low productivity, climate variability, pest outbreaks and inefficient supply chains. As the country seeks to ensure food security for a population of over 1.4 billion while improving farmer incomes, experts

Narendra Modi has called for transforming India’s agriculture sector into a more export-oriented and globally competitive system, emphasizing the need to increase farmers’ income and strengthen the country’s position in global agricultural markets. Speaking at a post-budget webinar on agriculture and rural transformation, the Prime Minister said that India’s vast agricultural potential should be leveraged

NMPF Applauds House Agriculture Committee The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) has welcomed the decision of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee to advance a new farm bill that includes several provisions aimed at strengthening the dairy sector and supporting farmers across the United States. The committee recently approved the Farm, Food, and National Security Act

rice farming Los Baños, Philippines: The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) recently showcased drone-assisted rice farming technologies to farmers in Laguna province, demonstrating how modern tools can transform traditional rice cultivation and improve productivity. The technology demonstration, held in collaboration with the Field Agricultural Extension Services–Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (FAES-OPA), introduced farmers to drone-based