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Kissan Card phase-II to commence on May 15: minister

Zahid Baig LAHORE: Minister for Agriculture & Livestock Punjab Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani announced on Wednesday that the second phase of ‘Kissan Card’ will commence from May 15th under which interest-free agricultural loans for the Khareef season will be provided to the growers. A budget of Rs75 billion is being allocated for interest-free loans for […]

Basmati beyond borders: An Indo-Pak story.

In a divided subcontinent, this grain still carries the aroma of a common past and perhaps a solution to a common future. Sridhar Radhakrishnan. IN the Asian subcontinent long haunted by the Partition, there are still boundless life forms that resist division. Basmati rice, with its lingering fragrance and centuries-old legacy, is one such wonder. […]

Geopolitical concerns spark fears of decline in Basmati cultivation in Punjab

Exports may suffer due to two key geopolitical issues: the proposed 26% US tariff on Indian goods, currently on hold, and rising tension between Iran and the US over Iran’s nuclear development program. Harpreet Bajwa CHANDIGARH: There are concerns that the area under Basmati rice cultivation in Punjab the country’s largest producer of the GI-tagged […]

Study links climate change to rising arsenic levels in paddy rice, increasing health risks.

by Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health Climate change may significantly impact arsenic levels in paddy rice, a staple food for millions across Asia, reveals a new study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. The research shows that increased temperatures above 2°C, coupled with rising carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, lead to higher […]

India’s wheat stocks highest in 3 years, rice hits record.

By Rajendra Jadhav and Mayank Bhardwaj MUMBAI, April 16 (Reuters) – India’s wheat stocks in government warehouses surged 57% to a three-year high at the start of the new crop year this month, official data showed, easing supply concerns that drove domestic prices to an all-time peak earlier this year. Higher opening stocks will help […]

Rice exports hit record $ 12 billion 

Agri and processed foods shipments rise 13% to $25 bn in FY25. Written by Sandip Das. India’s exports of agricultural and processed food products rose by 13% year-on-year to $25.14 billion during the 2024-25 compared to the FY24 even as overall exports grew only marginally. The rise in farm-sector shipments were driven primarily by a […]

Telangana looks to explore newer export markets for its rice 

Looks at avenues to liquidate annual rice surplus of 50-60 lakh tonnes. By KV Kurmanath After successfully piloting 12,500 tonnes of rice export to the Philippines last month, the Telangana Government now sees a bigger export opportunity. While expanding its export opportunity to the Philippines to 10 lakh tonnes, the State is exploring markets such […]

Saudi Arabia Looks to Cambodia to Diversify Rice Imports

Story by Bandar al-Mosalam Riyadh: In a strategic move to diversify its food import sources and stabilize domestic markets, Saudi Arabia is encouraging the private sector to begin importing rice from Cambodia. The initiative, Asharq Al-Awsat has learned, is part of broader government efforts to expand the availability of high-quality rice alongside existing imports from […]

Japan turns to US rice amid soaring domestic prices

While Japan’s government maintains high tariffs to protect domestic farmers, the 1,00,000-tonne quota for tariff-free rice imports has already been met for the first time in seven years, with additional taxed imports also climbing. By Reuters When a severe rice shortage sent prices skyrocketing in Japan last year, Tokyo restaurant owner Arata Hirano did what […]

Nigeria, Japan deepen rice production partnership.

By : Joseph Chibueze, Abuja The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing food sovereignty and improving the livelihood of smallholder farmers across the country. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, reiterated this during a high-level meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Nigeria Office Delegation in Abuja yesterday. […]