India’s Seeds at Risk: Concerns Over the UN Seed Treaty and Biopiracy
India’s rich agricultural heritage, built over centuries by farmers, is facing new challenges. A global agreement, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (often called the Seed Treaty), is raising concerns about the potential biopiracy of the country’s indigenous seeds. While the treaty aims to conserve and share plant genetic resources…
Farmers in Motha(Chikhaldara) Face Total Crop Failure With LOK-1 Wheat; Urea Shortage Intensifies in Paratwada-Dhamangaon Region
A twin agriculture crisis has erupted in the region: in Motha village, around 30 farmers who sowed the popular wheat variety LOK‑1 (cultivar “LOK-1”) report that their crop did not germinate at all, while in the neighbouring Paratwada-Dhamangaon region urea supply is in disarray, as dealers charge as much as ₹350, and farmers facing shortages…
Rallis India Partners with Paryan for New Herbicide-Tolerant Rice Technology
Rallis India, a prominent company in the agri-inputs sector and part of the Tata enterprise, has announced a significant partnership with Paryan Alliance Pvt Ltd. This collaboration makes Paryan the licensed technology partner for their FullPage Herbicide Tolerance Rice Technology in India. This new technology, called FullPage, is set to revolutionise rice farming in India….
Bayer Launches Alivio: Digital Crop Insurance for Indian Farmers
Bayer has partnered with United India Insurance to introduce Alivio, a new digital crop insurance service. This innovative solution uses satellite technology and advanced computer models to protect crops like corn and potatoes. Unlike older insurance plans, Alivio offers protection based on specific field conditions and crop growth stages. Alivio, meaning “relief” in Spanish, is…
India Pushes Nano-Fertilisers Amidst Conventional Supply Concerns
The Indian government is actively promoting the use of nano-fertilisers during the current Rabi sowing season. This push is driven by worries about the supply of traditional granular fertilisers. Demand for conventional fertilisers has increased significantly, alongside a rise in the area of land being cultivated this year. Official figures show a substantial jump in…
Wild Animal Attacks and Crop Flooding Now Covered Under PMFBY
Farmers in India will receive better protection for their crops starting from the 2026 Kharif season. The Union Agriculture Ministry has updated the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) to include crop losses caused by wild animal attacks and paddy inundation. This change addresses long-standing demands from farmer groups who have suffered significant losses from…
Concerns Rise as 2.7 Million Workers Removed from MGNREGA Database
A recent report highlights a significant number of workers, approximately 2.7 million, have been removed from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) database between October 10 and November 14 this year. This figure is substantially higher than the 1.05 million new names added during the same period. The substantial increase in removals…
India Revises Plant Variety Law to Strengthen Farmer Rights
India is updating its laws on plant varieties and farmers’ rights. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, created in 2001 to meet World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, is undergoing changes. The law first came into effect in 2005 and was partially updated in 2006. It was last amended in 2021. The…
India and US Finalise Key Trade Deal: Duty-Free Imports for Key Agri Products
India-US trade offs ?
