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Saturday, January 3, 2026
TopicIndian agriculture

Topic: Indian agriculture

Charan Singh exposed failures of Soviet collective farming. And saved Indian agriculture

In his book, ‘Joint Farming X-rayed’, Chaudhary Charan Singh marshalled facts from the FAO, USDA, and independent newspapers to show that collective farming had failed everywhere.

UP, MP emerge as new stubble burning hotspots, beating usual suspects Punjab & Haryana. Here’s why

Satellite data shows that between 1 and 14 October, 158 fires were reported in UP, and 70 in MP. Punjab and Haryana recorded only 39 and 9 fires respectively.

Modi’s ready to risk it all for farmers. Farm reform can answer Trump with new Green Revolution

Standing up to America is usually not a personal risk for a leader in India. Any suggestions of foreign pressure unites India behind who they see as leading them in that fight.

Indian scientists are arming plants through gene editing. And climate-proofing them

‘We have pampered our plants so much that they have lost their ability to fight against what’s trying to kill them,' said Shivaprasad, associate dean of research, NCBS, Bengaluru.

MSP under Shastri began as a crisis response. Now India must ask what role it should play today

A quiet transformation took place in India’s rural economy within five years of MSP’s introduction. All doubts about India's ability to feed itself were laid to rest.

India’s agriculture education stuck in Green Revolution mindset

Indian agriculture education is stuck in the Green Revolution era. ICAR reforms aim to modernise curricula with skills in AI, climate tech, and global markets.

India’s edible oil market is facing reduced demand. Increased import duty not a fix

Improving oilseed crop yields is critical. India ranks fourth globally in soybean acreage but is only fifth in productivity.

India’s top private lenders see farm loan defaults rising amid weak rural economy

IndusInd Bank CEO Sumant Kathpalia said microfinance loan disbursal slowed in April-June due to LS polls and heatwaves, adding that rural areas were recovering from pandemic impact.

Marginal farmers find it difficult to access govt schemes as their number grows, income shrinks

The 'State of Marginal Farmers of India 2024' report released by FEED is as worthy of a parliamentary discussion as NEET irregularities or Delhi airport's collapsed roof.

China approves 81 GM seeds to boost maize & soybean as Indian biotech is blocked & crop yields languish

Since October, China has approved 64 varieties of GM maize & 17 varieties of GM soybean. India’s Bt brinjal & GM mustard remain delayed by activist hurdles, litigation & Luddite fears.

On Camera

India’s most consequential decade & chronicling it as part of the dream team of journalism

You’d think the decade of 1985-95 is long over. Not really. The issues that erupted in that decade are still shaping Indian conversations.

India’s urban co-op banks are turning the page—crisis to cautious revival, one metric at a time

With bad loans shrinking & capital buffers stronger, urban co-op banks’ new umbrella body NUCFDC is now prioritising rollout of digital transformation.

Greece looking at TATA’s WhAP infantry combat vehicle for army procurement

If deal goes through, Greece will be 2nd foreign country to procure vehicle. Morocco was first; TATA Group has set up manufacturing unit there with minimum 30 percent indigenous content.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.