The latest agriculture updates in India:
- The area under paddy cultivation has increased by 4.4% this kharif season, as compared to the same period last year.
- The government has imposed stock limits on tur and urad dal to curb hoarding.
- Rice Millers have advocated for the inclusion of parboiled rice in the rabi season to benefit farmers.
- Odisha has launched a bold initiative of providing three years of free crop insurance to farmers.
- Over 250 lakh metric tonnes of wheat has been procured so far, benefiting over 20 lakh farmers.
- India's agrochemical industry is expected to grow over 9% this year.
- A 72-year-old farmer from Assam has generated huge profits and higher yields with the help of PepsiCo.
- A 37-year-old farmer from Bihar has raised funds for her son's higher education with the help of PepsiCo India.
In addition to these, here are some of the current issues in agriculture in India:
- Lack of infrastructure, such as irrigation, market, and transport, add huge costs to farmers' operations.
- Low productivity due to outdated farming practices.
- Inadequate access to credit and insurance.
- Impact of climate change, such as erratic rainfall and droughts.
- Low prices for agricultural produce.
The government is taking a number of steps to address these issues, such as providing subsidies for inputs, improving irrigation facilities, and promoting crop diversification. However, more needs to be done to make Indian agriculture more sustainable and profitable.