Agricultural protectionism pushes up India’s import tariff
India’s import tariffs are five times that of the U.S. and the highest among BRICS nations Tariffs levied on imports into India are five times higher than what the United States levies on its imports. The average duty levied by India was 17% in 2023, compared to 3.3% levied by the U.S. Also, the average…
Farm exports to hit most if US decides on reciprocal tariffs
Indian farm exports will be hit the most if the US decides on uniform reciprocal tariffs with shrimp, dairy and processed foods facing import duties of up to 38.2 per cent, per an analysis by research body Global Trade and Research Initiative (GTRI). In the industrial goods sector, pharmaceuticals diamonds & jewellery, and electronics may…
Can Sahyadri Farms do an Amul?
The success of Sahyadri farms presents a blue print for the fruits and vegetables sector. India’s fruits and vegetables (F&V) sector is growing faster than cereals, contributing roughly 30% to the value of crop agriculture. It is also more nutritious. Yet, it receives far less policy focus and institutional support compared to cereals. Without organised…
DAHD Schemes around Dairy Value Chain in India
Animal Husbandry is an important sub-sector of Indian agricultural economy and plays a multifaceted role in providing nutrition and livelihood support to the rural population. Milk plays an important role in nutritional security as it is important source of animal protein. Milk is a near complete food and has high nutritive value. It contains body…
Impact of climate change on smallholder dairy farmers in India
A considerable number of agricultural households in India engage in livestock rearing and milk production to supplement their income and improve household nutrition. This article examines how global warming impacts smallholder dairy farmers, particularly through a decline in milk yields. It finds a significant negative impact of higher maximum or minimum temperatures on milk yield,…
Agriculture is fiscally neglected in the Budget
Schemes and programmes are starved of resources, and the real issues that confront the farmers and the sector remain sidelined A Budget is the response of a government to the challenges in the economy. The effort in the Economic Survey 2024-25 was to spin a positive narrative on the state of Indian agriculture. It claimed…
Boosting India’s Dairy Sector: Rashtriya Gokul Mission
The Rashtriya Gokul Mission is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing milk production and the productivity of bovines in India. Launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, this scheme has made remarkable strides in the dairy sector over the past decade. From 2014-15 to 2023-24, milk production in India surged from 146.31 million…
India’s 21st Livestock Census will count 16 species
Vijender and Narendar, both in their 60s, both neighbours at Kanware village on the outskirts of Faridabad in Haryana, had high hopes when a team of officials visited their village as part of the ongoing 21st livestock Census. They believe that once counted, the number of milking animals in their locality will force the government…
Budget 2025-26: Highlights and major announcements
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-26, outlining what she called a roadmap for economic growth, social welfare, and technological advancement. With a strong push for agriculture, infrastructure, tax relief, and digital transformation, the budget also stressed on defence modernisation, cybersecurity, and space exploration. Highlights include higher credit for farmers, tax cuts for…
Bridge the milk divide for a nutritionally secure India
For a long time, India has told the incredible supply side story of its milk revolution. The White Revolution that was initiated by Verghese Kurien propelled India to become the world’s largest milk producer. It is now time to bring focus to demand and ensure that milk reaches the most vulnerable. Milk, a vital source…