Agriculture

India releases 691 crop varieties in 2024, including cereals, pulses, and horticulture crops. Focus: climate adaptation, nutrition, and stress tolerance to strengthen agriculture.

Innovative MP government pilot empowers rural farmers with subsidized Murrah buffaloes, boosting dairy income for SC/ST and marginal communities through strategic livestock support.

Madhya Pradesh farmers encountered a distressing anomaly during the rabi season's wheat planting, discovering that the seeds provided by the agricultural department were infested with insects, exacerbating their existing challenges.

Himachal's apple production declined in 2024 due to adverse weather and new packaging norms. Increased competition from imports and rising costs further strained farmers, affecting the ₹5,000 crore apple economy and local market prices

Kharif 2024-25 foodgrain production is set to reach a record 164.7 MT, with rice, maize, and jowar leading the growth. However, pulses production drops to a 9-year low. The government used digital crop surveys for more accurate data

Cultivation of Niger seed, if promoted, could reduce India's olive oil imports. India imported olive oil worth $8.37 million in 2022, making it the 14th largest importer of olive oil in the world.

Around 30% of households reported experiencing crop failure at least once during the reference period, primarily due to irregular rainfall, seasonal extremes like cyclones or drought, and pest infestations.

The Union Cabinet consolidates centrally sponsored agriculture schemes into PM-RKVY and Krishonnati Yojana, allocating ₹1.01 lakh crore to promote sustainable farming, food security, and climate resilience.

Wildfire smoke reduces sunlight for trees, lowering energy reserves and nut yields by up to 50%. UC Davis study highlights threats to agriculture and ecosystems.

The Indian government is set to introduce stricter regulations on seed and pesticide quality, potentially increasing farmers' incomes by 10-20%, as discussed by Agriculture Minister Chouhan.