Police stations are distributing DAP as rabi season is underway. Retired ICAR scientist warns fertiliser shortage could pose a threat to national food security.
India banned wheat exports in 2022 after output was curtailed due to a heat wave, but overseas sales picked up as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sent global prices to multi-year highs.
MP has transformed into an agricultural powerhouse in the last 2 decades, but there are economic and ecological warning bells. This election season, farmers have a number of grievances.
Speaking on the sidelines of a wheat millers' meeting, Chopra assured that there was no wheat shortage in the country, and the govt had all options open to control prices.
Extreme weather & rising prices in private, international markets led to low procurement last year. This season, state has already contributed over 100 LMT of wheat to central reserves.
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.
The new wheat variety, HD 3385, has been developed by ICAR's Indian Institute of Rice Research to not only make the crop tolerate heat stress, but also to increase its yield.
The reduction in production amid a drop in inventories to the lowest level in 6 years may force India to allow imports after banning exports last year.
After dominating India’s crude imports since 2023, Russian supplies slowed amid US sanctions, but a 30-day ‘waiver’ amid West Asia tensions could now push flows back towards 2 mbpd.
Trump has ushered in the age of humiliation. His method is to push around America’s friends rudely and publicly. He knows none of them can afford to fight back.
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