Centres of Excellence
The Indian government, through the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), is establishing Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for fruits and vegetables to enhance horticultural production. These CoEs serve as hubs for training, technology dissemination, and capacity building for farmers and entrepreneurs. A total of 58 CoEs have been approved
Farmers Producer Organizations
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has registered 10,000 Farmers Producer Organizations (FPOs) under a Central Sector Scheme, providing each FPO with financial support, training, and access to digital markets. The initiative aims to enhance agricultural business operations and has resulted in a cumulative turnover of ₹5,035.
India
India is engaged in discussions regarding a Bilateral Trade Agreement with the USA, focusing on expanding trade and investment in the agricultural sector. The agreement aims to enhance market access, reduce trade barriers, and ensure food security and farmer livelihoods. Minister of State for Agriculture, Shri Ramnath Thakur, emphasized the
PMDDKY
The Union Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) for six years starting from 2025-26. The scheme aims to boost agricultural productivity, promote crop diversification, enhance post-harvest storage, improve irrigation, and facilitate credit availability. It will be implemented through the convergence of 36 existing schemes across 11
Soil Health
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been implementing the Soil Health & Fertility Scheme since 2015, issuing 25.17 Crore Soil Health Cards (SHCs) to farmers. These cards provide information on soil nutrient status and recommendations for fertilizer use, promoting the use of organic manures and bio-fertilizers. The
Fertilizers
The Government of India has initiated a campaign to ensure the quality of fertilizers available to farmers. This campaign aims to provide adequate quality inputs and is backed by the Fertilizers Control Order (FCO) of 1985, which prohibits the sale of substandard fertilizers. State governments are responsible for monitoring and
Oil Palm
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has announced an enhancement of financial assistance under the National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) to support oil palm farmers across India, including Odisha. The assistance covers various components such as planting materials, management during the gestation period, intercropping, drip irrigation
Space Technology
The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is leveraging space technology for various agricultural initiatives, including the FASAL project for crop forecasting, drought monitoring through a Geoportal, and support for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The Krishi Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS) has been developed to assist stakeholders with
agriculture
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has outlined provisions under the National Policy for Agriculture Marketing (NPFAM) to support farmers, particularly small and marginal ones. The government fixes the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for 22 agricultural crops annually, ensuring a minimum return of 50% over the average cost of
Food Processing
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has commissioned a study to assess post-harvest losses of agricultural produce in India, focusing on 54 crops. The study revealed significant losses during farm operations and market levels, particularly in Punjab. MoFPI collaborates with various ministries and organizations to enhance the food processing
Nepal
A 16-member delegation from Nepal, led by MP Sanjay Kumar Gautam, met with Indian agriculture officials in New Delhi to discuss India's advancements in agriculture. Key topics included soil health, fertilizer use, precision farming, and farmer welfare initiatives. Indian officials emphasized the importance of nutritional security and pledged
agriculture
During the Question Hour in Lok Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan presented significant data on agricultural development, highlighting a rise in crop production from 246.42 million tonnes to 353.96 million tonnes over the past decade. He emphasized the government's efforts to increase farmers'