# Tags

Explained: Why farmers prefer growing rice and wheat

The reason isn’t assured MSP procurement alone. It is also because of the two cereal crops receiving priority in public breeding and research support, reflected in steady yield increases over time. Written by Harish Damodaran. Farmers, like all businessmen, are rational and risk-averse. Everything else being the same, they will choose to grow crops that […]

Policy to plate: What genome-edited rice means for India’s food future

The release of genome-edited rice marks a policy and scientific shift, positioning India to lead biotech-driven farming amid climate, resource, and food security challenges. CD Mayee / Bhagirath Choudhary In a landmark scientific breakthrough in agriculture, the Government of India has officially released the world’s first two genome-edited rice varieties developed using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, […]

Rice farmers learn low-carbon solutions

By Leander C. Domingo LOW-CARBON rice farming practices and technologies as well as carbon credit opportunities in agriculture were introduced to more than 100 stakeholders from across the rice value chain in a workshop led by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) on April 23. Arnan Araza of […]

Experts express concern over government plans to reduce paddy area by 5 million hectares

Not only will paddy production suffer but there may also be a major reduction in pulses and oilseeds, they warn. Vivek Mishra Farmers and traders have expressed concern about the Centre’s intention to reduce the area on which paddy, the main Kharif crop, is sown by 5 million hectares (mha). The Centre wants to promote […]

Indonesia’s rice reserves hit new record high in first 4 months

JAKARTA: Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman says that the government increased the national rice reserve to a record multi year-high of 3.5 million tonnes during the first four months of this year. Rice is one of the most carefully monitored and regulated commodities, given that it is the country’s number one staple in terms of consumption, […]

PhilRice to up production of zinc-rich rice

By The Manila Times. THE Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has begun scaling up the production of two zinc-rich rice varieties, with the aim of addressing zinc deficiency among Filipinos. Intended to provide seeds for expanding production across the Visayas, the PhilRice office in Murcia, Negros Occidental, planted NSIC Rc 460 and NSIC Rc 648, […]

Industry, farmers relieved as FTA excludes dairy items, rice

The India-UK FTA is poised to boost Indian exports of tea, spices, food, and marine products through tariff concessions, while sensitive sectors like dairy and rice are protected. Written by Sandip Das The tariff concessions under the India-UK FTA for tea, spices, food items and marine products will help Indian exporters increase market access in […]

Indonesia’s rice stock hits 57-year high without imports

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s national rice stock in May 2025 reached 3,517,294 tons, the highest level recorded in the past 57 years, and was sourced entirely from local farmers, according to Minister of Agriculture Andi Amran Sulaiman. “It should be noted that the current rice stock of around 3.5 million tons constitutes the highest figure […]

The paddy pivot: Rethinking subsidies to drive sustainable farming

Repurposing govt expenditure on paddy production and procurement or creating new incentives for millet production could encourage farmers to switch. By Amit Kapoor, Pradeep Puri and Ananya Khurana Intensive paddy cultivation in India has long supported millions of livelihoods, but today this very lifeline is hindering the nation’s progress towards sustainability. As of 2023-24, paddy […]