Fruit-based farming systems boost climate resilience and farmer income in India's semi-arid regions.
A team of scientists in India has quantified the substantial environmental and economic advantages of integrating fruit trees into agricultural landscapes. The investigation, led by researchers from Banaras Hindu University, Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, and Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, demonstrates that fruit-based agroforestry offers a potent strategy for climate change mitigation and improves livelihood security for farmers in resource-scarce semi-arid regions.
Source: eurekalert.org
Ongoing tensions in West Asia raise concerns regarding food security in India.
The ongoing conflict in West Asia involving Israel, the United States, and Iran is now beginning to manifest its geopolitical and geo-economic ramifications. A critical consequence of the conflict has been the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet strategically pivotal maritime passage along the Iranian coast, which facilitates 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas. Beyond the immediate escalation in global oil and fuel prices, the geopolitical conflict is increasingly affecting the agricultural economy by spiking transportation expenses, supply-chain instability, and rising input costs, thereby amplifying inflationary stress and food insecurity in import-dependent economies.
Source: downtoearth.org.in
'Lucrative kiwi cultivation sweeps India's mid-hills, FPOs build interstate linkages'.
Narendra shares that current production hovers around 16,000-18,000 tonnes from roughly 5,000 hectares, but its potential looks strong as states swap low-return crops for a higher value agri ventures. 'Arunachal Pradesh produces over 50% of the national total, with the fruit thriving in 800-1,500 m elevation and sandy loam soil with a pH of 5-6.5. Hayward dominates cultivation with its large size, green flesh, and strong shelf-life, though Allison, Bruno, and Monty suit fresh and processing needs.'
Source: freshplaza.com
Indian farmer developing mango variety with three harvests per year.
A farmer in India is working on a mango variety that can produce fruit multiple times per year, aiming to extend availability beyond the traditional season. Shree Kishan Suman, based near Kota, initially cultivated wheat and rice but shifted to alternative crops due to unstable returns. He later moved into floriculture, developing a rose plant that produced flowers in seven colours. This led to further experimentation with mango grafting.
Source: freshplaza.com
Govt eyes integrated farming to lift rural incomes: Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The government is working on an integrated farming model including creation of IDs for farmers and the use of advanced technology to steer India's farm economy towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, said Shivraj Singh Chouhan, minister of agriculture and farmers' welfare, on Friday. The minister also assured that the government will ensure availability of fertilisers despite the ongoing disruptions caused by the West Asia crisis. The government is working on diversifying incomes of smallholder farmers by encouraging farmers to take up allied opportunities such as livestock keeping, bee keeping, diversifying towards cash crops, increasing productivity per hectare by using drip irrigation, Chouhan said, adding that this will help steer the country towards its goal of Viksit Bharat.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
India’s 2026 wheat output seen higher, but misses estimates after weather hit.
India's wheat harvest is expected to rise in 2026 from a year earlier but fall short of initial estimates after unseasonal rains and hailstorms hit the maturing crop, trade and industry officials said. India, the world's biggest wheat producer after China, grows a single annual crop, sown in October-November and harvested in March and April. In recent years, late-February and early-March heat has tended to cut yields.
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to visit Canada in May for trade talks.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will visit Canada in May amidst ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries. On March 2, the two countries launched negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).
Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com
The rise of organic coffee plantations and consumer demand shifts.
In the coffee world the word ‘organic’ has started carrying more weight in recent years. We have seen more demand for organic coffee globally. With the growing awareness around health, the word organic is generally associated with better quality beans. For producers, a chemical-free harvest preserves the original taste profile of coffee. For brands, credibility, storytelling around ethical sourcing, and environmental safety measures are no longer optional. Moreover, for the consumers, the perceived health benefits and premiumness of organic coffee drive choice. However, at a time when ‘organic’ translates to quality, the reality of coffee lies far beyond the label.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
Integrating MSMEs into agriculture value chains: Unlocking rural economic growth.
For years, conversations about rural growth in India have centred almost entirely on what happens on the farm. Yields, irrigation, crop diversification. All of these matter. But a quieter shift is taking place outside the farm gate. Increasingly, the real economic opportunity lies in what happens after the harvest.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com
As West Asia makes up 1/5th of India’s agricultural exports, govt monitoring closely, says Jitin Prasada.
Countries in the West Asia region, which are a key market for agricultural products exports from India, contribute nearly one-fifth to the total agricultural exports of India, according to the Government. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, said the West Asia region, particularly the Gulf Cooperation Council countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and countries such as Iran, Iraq and Yemen, are key markets for Indian agricultural products.
Source: thehindubusinessline.com