Sandip Das, Financial Express Journalist Profile

Articles

Govt may amend Seed Act, to ensure traceability

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

To protect farmers against spurious seed and promote quality seed supplies, the government is aiming to amend the Seed Act which would ensure traceability of seeds, agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday. The seeds act, 1967, regulates the quality of seeds available for sale.The legislation has been amended multiple times to improve seed quality and ensure access to high-quality seeds for farmers.
Govt targets fresh record for grains output in 2025-26

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Given the forecast of ‘above normal’ monsoon rainfall, the government has set a record target of 354.64 million tonne (MT) for food grains production in the 2025-26 crop year (July-June). This is an increase of 4% from the target for the current (2024-25) crop year, which itself is an all-time high, a senior agriculture ministry official said on Thursday.
Govt allocates 2.8 MT of rice at subsidised rate for ethanol from surplus stock

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

To reduce stockpile, the food ministry has allocated 2.8 million tonne (MT) from the central pool stock to be supplied to distilleries for ethanol production at subsidised rate of Rs 2250/quintal. Sources told FE that the new allocation is in addition to 2.4 MT of grain currently being supplied to biofuel manufacturers from the surplus rice stocks of Food Corporation of India (FCI).
Industry, farmers relieved as FTA excludes dairy items, rice

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The tariff concessions under the India-UK FTA for tea, spices, food items and marine products will help Indian exporters increase market access in the UK . The local industry and farmers are also relieved that several sensitive sectors such as dairy have been kept out of the purview of the deal.
High shipping charges hit FPOs' sales expansion on ONDC - Economy News

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Despite over 8500 farmer producer organisations (FPOs) being on board of the government’s e-commerce platform ONDC to sell their produce, high shipping charges by private couriers are hindering their business growth. India Post, with its extensive rural network over 1.64 lakh post offices, hasn’t yet joined the pan-India digital platform to facilitate transportation of unique agricultural products, at reasonable costs.
Govt to purchase over 0.5 MT of tur, highest since FY20

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Owing to a robust crop output, the government, after two years, has purchased over 0.47 million tonne (MT) of tur, a premium pulse variety, at a minimum support price (MSP) in 2024-25 kharif season, in key growing states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
India unveils ‘world's first’ genome-edited rice - Economy News

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday unveiled two indigenously developed genome-edited rice varieties which can potentially boost grain yield by 25-30%. The varieties Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1, developed by Indian Institute of Rice Research, Hyderabad and Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Delhi respectively, will be ready for commercial cultivation in the next four to five years.
Large khandsari units brought under Sugar Control Order

2 weeks ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The government has brought units manufacturing khandsari sugar above a threshold size under the Sugar Control Order (SCO), 2025. This variety of the sweetener that is considered a healthier alternative to refined white crystalline sugar. The move would ensure payment of fair and remunerative (FRP) to the cane farmers by khandsari sugar units and ensure robust estimation of production of the variety.
Govt hopeful of meeting wheat procurement target after 3 years

2 weeks ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The government is hopeful of meeting wheat procurement target of 31.2 million tonne (MT) for the ongoing 2025-26 rabi marketing season (April-June) thanks to strong production prospects, food secretary Sanjeev Chopra said on Thursday. Wheat purchases by the Food Corporation of India and state-government agencies has so far crossed 25.63 MT, an increase of 24% compared to previous year.
Govt likely to provide additional wheat under free ration scheme

2 weeks ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

With brisk procurement this season on account of bumper crop prospects, the government is likely to provide additional allocation of wheat to states under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY). The quantum of additional allocation of wheat for the public distribution system is yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile, wheat procurement by the government agencies has crossed 24 million tonne (MT) till Monday in the 2025-26 marketing season (April-June), up 28% on year.