Only a third of the country has received average rainfall so far this season, with north Indian states getting excessive rain while southern and eastern states being dry.
The price of Indian rice exports has jumped 9% to a five-year high, following a hike of 7% last month in the price the government pays farmers for new-season common rice.
Wheat procurement jumped to 19.5 million tonnes as of 26 April, exceeding 18.8 million tonnes procured last year. India plans to buy 34.15 million tonnes of new-season wheat from farmers.
A dedicated fund for start-ups in rural India is a much-needed thrust but Budget 2023 has unexpectedly slashed allocation to the agriculture ministry and reduced funds for MGNREGA by 33%.
While admitting the application seeking release of GM mustard, the Supreme Court asked farmers' union Shetkari Sanghatana, 'Where were you all these years?'
Indian farmers have planted wheat on 4.5 million hectares since 1 October, when the current sowing season began, up 9.7% from a year ago, showed the latest farm ministry data.
Until now, units operating even in recognised industrial areas needed a separate factory licence. The move is expected to especially give a boost to small and medium enterprises.
As Narendra Modi becomes India’s second-longest consecutively serving Prime Minister, we look at how he compares with Indira Gandhi across four key dimensions.
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