Lower rice sowing due to deficient rains, coupled with increasing global prices, may end up pushing up inflation, economists said. Rice accounts for 4.4% of the Consumer Price Index basket, whereas the main staple, arhar or tur, which has also witnessed a reduction in acreage, has a 0.8% weight in retail inflation. Their combined share … Read more
Scanty rainfall has delayed sowing of kharif crops such as paddy, maize and tur in many parts of the country, with 14 key agricultural states still ‘deficient’ in rainfall and two figuring in the ‘large deficient’ category, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). This could hit output of kharif crops as well as force … Read more
The sowing of summer crops is marginally down at 69.20 lakh hectares this year against 70.30 lakh hectares a year ago, according to the latest data released by the agriculture ministry. The sowing area under pulses and coarse cereals is higher year-on-year, while the acreage of rice and oilseeds is lower. About 19.61 lakh ha … Read more