Sandip Das, Financial Express Journalist Profile

Articles

Marginal adverse impact on vegetable crop from early monsoon, May rains

5 days ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The early arrival of the southwest monsoon coupled with hugely surplus rains month in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat last month has had a marginal adverse impact on the horticultural crops such as onion and tomato. But overall horticulture production being robust, the agriculture-sector value addition in the year may not be adversely impacted. Then sector roughly accounts for a third of gross value added in the farm sector.
Govt to integrate agri-schemes at Centre, states with Krishi Nivesh portal

6 days ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

In a bid to boost and expedite investments in the agriculture sector, the government is working to integrate schemes from various ministries and state governments under a unified digital platform — the Krishi Nivesh portal.
61 mn farmers now have digital IDs linked to land records

6 days ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The Union agriculture ministry in collaboration with state governments has provided digital IDs to over 61 million farmers across 14 states, according to a senior official. The facility will help develop a database of farmers which is linked to their land records. The ministry is aiming to provide 110 million farmers with these unique IDs, referred to as Kisan Pehchaan Patra, containing the details of the farmers’ land holding, crops grown in the field and other details, by the end of FY27.
Cut in import duty on crude cooking oil to boost local processing: Industry

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The government’s move to cut basic custom duty on crude palm, soybean and sunflower oils to 10% from 20% will restrict import of refined oils and boost domestic processing, industry associations — Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) and Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA) have stated. “This is a win-win situation for veg oil refiners as well as consumers, as local price will go down due to lower duty on crude oils,” BV Mehta, executive director, SEA, said.
Traders oppose ‘early’ stock limits on wheat

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The processors and traders of wheat have flayed the government’s move to impose stock holding limits for the grain despite a robust production and procurement. “We were not expecting stock holding limits so early as this year there is record output and the government’s procurement has been quite significant,” Navneet Chitlangia, president, Roller Flour Millers Federation of India, told FE.
Four years since launch of Nano urea, adoptions amongst farmers slow: IFFCO

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Four years after the launch of nano urea and nano-DAP (diammonium phosphate) subsequently, their adoption among farmers has not been as fast as expected. “Adoption of nano-fertilisers is not as fast as expected,” U S Awasthi, managing director, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) said after the annual general meeting of the company. IFFCO will introduce nano Zinc and copper in liquid soon.
Only 17% paddy farmers benefit from MSP purchase: CACP

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

Despite the government’s effort to boost grain purchase, only 17.3% of the country’s paddy farmers have benefited from procurement operations in the three years through 2023-24, a report by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has said.
India to emerge as world's biggest rice producer - Economy News

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

India’s foodgrain production rose by 6% to a record 353.2 million tonne (MT) in the 2024-25 crop year (July-June) compared to previous year because of a significant rise in rice, wheat, pulses and oilseed output, the agriculture ministry said on Wednesday. The country will also outplace China as the world’s biggest rice producer in the year.
Modest 3% increase in paddy support price

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The Cabinet on Wednesday approved an increase in the range of 1-9% in the minimum support prices (MSP) of major kharif crops for the 2025-26 kharif season (July-June), but raised the support price for paddy, by a modest 3% to Rs 2369/quintal. The hike in paddy support price for the next kharif season for which sowing is about to start, is the lowest in five years.
Above-normal monsoon seen in key rain-fed regions, kharif prospects brighten

1 week ago | financialexpress.com | Sandip Das

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday reiterated its earlier forecast of ‘above normal’ monsoon rainfall during June-September this year, but said June might see “excess” rainfall. There is also 90% chances of the rains being in the “normal-to-excess” range through the four-month (June-September) season, it added.