Initiatives to Strengthen Seed Sector

Government boosts seed sector with 3,236 new varieties, SATHI portal, and global partnerships, enhancing climate resilience and agricultural productivity.

India's cotton farms need better soil, not just new GM seeds, Pg13

Expert warns India's cotton productivity collapse stems from degraded soils, urging focus on regenerative agriculture and varietal development over new GM seeds.

Policy is undoing what science built. That's a challenge for Cotton Productivity Mission, Pg11

Policy failures, including seed price controls, crippled India's cotton productivity and biotech innovation, jeopardizing the new Rs 5,659 crore Cotton Productivity Mission's 2031 targets.

Govt. hikes sugarcane FRP by ₹10 per quintal, Pg14

Sugarcane FRP hiked to ₹365/quintal for 2026-27 season; ₹5,659 crore "Mission for Cotton Productivity" approved to boost cotton sector.

Do plants listen to music? How do they respond?, Pg12

Research reveals plants' ability to detect vibrations, altering behavior and growth based on sound frequencies; phyto-acoustics crucial for sustainable agriculture.

MGNREGA is synonymous with corruption: Chouhan, Pg11

Union Minister defends 'Viksit Bharat Guarantee' bill, slams MGNREGA for corruption, and unveils 184 climate-resilient seed varieties.

Chouhan: India has surpassed China, is now world's largest rice producer, Pg7

India overtakes China as world's largest rice producer with 150.18 million tonnes output in 2024-25, says Agriculture Minister.

Why does India need climate- resilient agriculture?, Pg10

India prioritizes climate-resilient agriculture amidst climate change, integrating biotechnology, AI, and sustainable practices for enhanced productivity and environmental protection.

GM crops to genome editing: India's journey, Pg16

India advances genome editing in agriculture with rice and mustard trials, bypassing stringent GM regulations for enhanced crop yields.

Govt pulls nod for 11 biostimulants, Pg1.

Government revokes approval for 11 protein hydrolysate biostimulants due to ethical concerns and regulatory compliance issues.

Cabinet hikes MSP for six Rabi crops, wheat sees ₹160 increase, Pg7.

Government raises MSP for six Rabi crops, wheat gets ₹160 hike; ₹11,440 crore pulses mission approved for self-sufficiency.

Cotton import duty cuts: The farms versus firms debate, Pg9

Cotton import duty removal sparks farmer protests amid concerns over declining price parity and global competition affecting domestic supply chains.

Fiscal first-half end nears, 6 agri schemes announced in Budget yet to hit ground, Pg 5.

Budgeted agricultural schemes worth ₹2,200 crore delayed, raising concerns over fund utilization and impacting 1.7 crore farmers.

The story of how asafoetida came to be successfully cultivated in India, Pg7

Genome-edited seeds to mark beginning of second Green Revolution: Chouhan, Pg14