agriculture | DD News

June 23, 2026 3:51 PM

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi: How India’s largest direct benefit transfer scheme is reshaping rural prosperity

In a major boost to India's agricultural sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released the 23rd installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on June 20, transferring more than ₹18,880 crore directly into the bank accounts of 9.44 crore farmers across the country. The event, held at Tarakeswar in Hooghly district of West Bengal, marked another milestone for one of the world's largest Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programmes. Among the beneficiaries were more than 2.18...

June 19, 2026 12:12 PM

Centre approves large-scale MSP procurement of pulses and oilseeds in four states; Uttar Pradesh gets biggest share

The Centre has approved large-scale procurement of pulses and oilseeds under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) in four states - Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Haryana - to ensure farmers receive remunerative prices for their produce and are protected from distress sales. The approvals were granted by Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a video conference review meeting on Thursday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Utta...

June 16, 2026 5:33 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews Kharif 2026 preparations, orders weekly El Nino monitoring

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to assess overall preparations for the Kharif 2026 season and the broader agriculture scenario, with special focus on possible El Nino conditions. Chouhan directed that weekly review meetings be held to closely monitor the evolving situation. He stressed the need to identify districts likely to face low or uneven rainfall in advance and prepa...

June 5, 2026 3:21 PM

How India’s farm sector has evolved over the past decade

India's agricultural sector has undergone a significant transformation over the past decade, driven by higher public investment, record crop production, expanded farmer support programmes, greater access to institutional credit and the growing adoption of technology. The changes have coincided with efforts to improve productivity, strengthen rural incomes, expand irrigation coverage and diversify sources of farm income. How important is agriculture to the economy? Agriculture and allied sector...

June 3, 2026 10:07 AM

No shortage of funds, full support for agriculture and rural development in Assam: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday assured Assam of continued financial and policy support for agriculture and rural development, stating that there would be no shortage of funds for the state under various central schemes. The assurance came during a high-level meeting at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi between Chouhan and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The meeting reviewed the implementation of key central schemes and discussed a range of ...

June 3, 2026 10:07 AM

Centre on alert over possible El Nino impact; farmers’ interests will be protected: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday assured farmers that there is no need to panic over the possibility of El Nino conditions affecting the upcoming southwest monsoon, stating that the Centre has initiated comprehensive preparations to safeguard agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods. Chairing a high-level review meeting at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi, Chouhan assessed the country's preparedness for the 2026 southwest monsoon, including po...

May 29, 2026 5:07 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for farmer-friendly reforms at Kharif Campaign 2026 strategy meet

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday called for simplifying agricultural governance and removing unnecessary procedural hurdles while chairing the National Agriculture Conference - Kharif Campaign 2026 at Pusa in New Delhi. Addressing agriculture ministers, senior officials, scientists and progressive farmers from across the country, Chouhan said rules and procedures should work in the interest of farmers rather than becoming a burden on them. “Farme...

May 13, 2026 3:58 PM

Cabinet approves higher MSP for 14 Kharif crops for 2026-27 marketing season

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2026-27 marketing season, aiming to ensure remunerative returns to farmers. The highest absolute increase in MSP has been announced for sunflower seed, which saw a hike of ₹622 per quintal, followed by cotton at ₹557 per quintal, nigerseed at ₹515 per quintal, and sesamum at ₹500 per quintal. Among m...

April 24, 2026 5:26 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan calls for region-specific farm strategy with focus on pulses, oilseeds and small farmers

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday outlined a comprehensive roadmap to make Indian agriculture more region-specific, profitable, and sustainable, with a strong focus on pulses, oilseeds, diversification, and the income of small farmers. Addressing a press conference in Lucknow during the Northern Regional Agriculture Conference, Chouhan said future agricultural planning would move away from a “one-size-fits-all” approach and instead be tailored...

April 21, 2026 11:00 AM

Government approves additional 25 LMT wheat exports to support farmers, stabilise prices

The Centre has approved the export of an additional 25 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of wheat, aiming to support farmers’ incomes while maintaining stability in domestic markets. The decision, taken after a comprehensive review of production, stock availability, and price trends, is expected to improve market liquidity and ensure efficient stock management during the peak arrival season. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution said the move would help prevent distress sale...