Centre steps up Kharif preparedness amid El Niño threat; 315 vulnerable districts identified

June 24, 2026 10:57 AM

Centre steps up Kharif preparedness amid El Niño threat; 315 vulnerable districts identified

With concerns mounting over the possible impact of El Niño and a delayed southwest monsoon, the Central Government has intensified preparations for the upcoming Kharif season, unveiling a comprehensive contingency strategy aimed at protecting farmers and ensuring food security. Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level virtual review meeting on Tuesday with state agriculture ministers, district collectors, senior officials, scientists from the In...

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

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...

PM Modi to transfer Rs 18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers under 23rd PM-KISAN instalment on June 20

June 18, 2026 5:42 PM

PM Modi to transfer Rs 18,880 crore to 9.44 crore farmers under 23rd PM-KISAN instalment on June 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 23rd instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme on June 20 from Tarakeswar in West Bengal’s Hooghly District, marking another major milestone in one of the world’s largest direct income support programmes for farmers. Under the latest instalment, more than ₹18,880 crore will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of over 9.44 crore farmers across the country. The disbursement will include benefits for more th...

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

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 ...

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

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...

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

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...

Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces major agriculture reforms to simplify processes for farmers, traders

May 19, 2026 2:09 PM

Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces major agriculture reforms to simplify processes for farmers, traders

Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday announced a series of major reforms aimed at simplifying procedures for farmers, traders, retailers and agri-sector stakeholders under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Reform Express” initiative. The reforms, reviewed during a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, focus on improving transparency, reducing paperwork, promoting digital governance and enhancing ease of doing b...

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

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...

UP poised to emerge as major hub for premium fruit production, exports: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

May 8, 2026 2:36 PM

UP poised to emerge as major hub for premium fruit production, exports: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said Uttar Pradesh is poised to emerge as a major hub for premium fruit production and exports, while stressing the need to shift focus from merely increasing output to improving quality, shelf life and global competitiveness. Addressing the “Fruit Horizon 2026” conference organised at ICAR-Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture in Lucknow, Chouhan said Indian agriculture can no longer remain confined t...

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

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...