INDIA
Policy Hypocrisy: Protecting the sugarcane farmer and consumer, abandoning the sugar industry
The upward revision of the fair and remunerative price (FRP) and state advised price (SAP) remains a favoured governmental strategy despite the additional cost burden for the sugar milling sector. This coupled with export bans and ethanol caps to keep domestic sugar prices low have reduced sugar companies to a losing proposition, forcing them to drop capacity expansion plans
INDIA
The MSP Conundrum: Striking a balance between farmer welfare and economic realities
Despite widespread support for fixing floor prices for all major crops, the current MSP system's effectiveness is limited. MSP for many crops are indicative in nature due to a lack of an effective procurement mechanism. A nuanced strategy, informed by global experiences and focused on efficiency and innovation, is essential for sustainable agricultural growth in India
BUSINESS
Meat Sale Ban: MP needs a more nuanced policy to ensure food hygiene and safety
Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav’s move comes at a bad time for everyone from livestock farmers to the poultry industry, their workers, and food vendors selling these items. Such a demand shock when input costs are rising and there are few jobs for the taking doesn’t make sense
BUSINESS
Why India needs to relax curbs on sugar export
Indian policymakers need to understand that the mere announcement of export curbs signals that there is a serious supply shortage. Further, frequent export curbs create complications for foreign buyers and make India an unreliable supplier
BUSINESS
Satellite data can bridge agricultural data gap, strengthen credit underwriting
The shift towards satellite data is imperative to foster broader financial inclusion and to mitigate the inherent uncertainties that characterise agriculture
BUSINESS
Hard decisions and reforms are needed to improve farm productivity
Low farm productivity makes farmers vulnerable to market fluctuations. Besides, they fail to produce enough to meet steadily growing market demand and end up with lower incomes
BUSINESS
Crop-neutral income support programme can give agriculture a sustainable boost
It will incentivise farmers to cultivate crops based on market demand and local climatic conditions, leading to optimal use of inputs, irrigation water and chemical fertilisers thereby reducing the subsidy burden for the government
BUSINESS
El Nino may complicate India’s inflation management
El Nino is not going to affect only kharif crops but also the next rabi season crops as their health depends on the soil moisture and water availability in the reservoirs. A deficient monsoon results in sub-optimal filling of water reservoirs and inadequate soil moisture impacting yields of rabi crops
BUSINESS
Do the export curbs really help in containing food inflation?
Export curbs work neither in the short run nor in the long run even if one ignores their adverse implications for foreign buyers who depend on India to supply essential food items such as wheat or rice
