The CWC’s weekly reservoir data showed that the storage in the 161 reservoirs was 66.821 billion cubic metres (BCM) of the 182.38 BCM capacity. Of these, the level in 78 of them was below 40 per cent, while it was below 50 per cent in 27 others.

The storage in the southern, northern and eastern regions was below 40 per cent, while it was lower than 50 per cent in the western and central regions. The overall storage is, however, higher than last year and the normal (past 10 years).

The true power of AI lies in data analytics, where machine learning models process vast datasets to deliver actionable insights. For example, optimised irrigation schedules are created based on soil moisture and weather forecasts, while early pest and disease detection minimises losses through proactive intervention. AI also generates precise yield predictions and recommends targeted nutrient plans, enhancing productivity and minimizing waste. Farmers receive these tailored recommendations via intuitive apps, offering guidance on irrigation, fertilization, pest management, and ideal harvest timing.

AI-driven systems simplify implementation by automating tasks like irrigation and nutrient application. Smart irrigation systems adjust water delivery in real time, while precision agriculture machinery applies fertilizers and pesticides efficiently. Workers can prioritize efforts based on AI alerts, addressing areas with early signs of stress or threats. Moreover, strategic harvest management ensures fields are harvested at peak sugar content, maximising returns. Continuous monitoring and adaptive management create a feedback loop where AI refines strategies through real-time tracking, anomaly detection, seasonal performance analysis, and dynamic adjustments to evolving conditions.

Yet this transformation must begin by addressing the ground realities.

Across India, farmers face mounting challenges—from erratic weather and soil degradation to pest infestations and volatile input costs. Over half still operate without basic mechanisation, and nearly 75 per cent remain deeply vulnerable to climate disruptions.

“There is a lot of relief now as we are at par with other exporters to the US. Now the shipments that were held back will be processed,” Seafood Exporters Association of India Secretary General K N Raghavan told PTI.

About 2,000 containers of shrimp that had been delayed are now being readied for export following Trump’s April 9 decision to pause the higher tariffs just one week after announcing them on April 2, he said.

The temporary reprieve maintains a 10 per cent blanket tariff on all countries except China, which faces a 145 per cent duty.

Currently, Indian shrimp exports to the US face an effective customs duty of 17.7 per cent, including 5.7 per cent in countervailing duties and 1.8 per cent in anti-dumping duty.

Industry sources explained that Indian exporters typically bear tariff costs under delivery duty-paid arrangements, meaning previously contracted shipments would have faced significant additional expenses under the higher tariff.

“The 90-day pause provides exporters the opportunity to fulfil these orders without the extra cost,” an industry representative said.

The association reported no drop in orders from the United States, which remains India’s largest shrimp market both in volume and value. India exported shrimp worth $2.7 billion to the US in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Raghavan urged the government to focus on securing a “level-playing field” for the country’s seafood exports during upcoming trade talks before the tariff pause expires.

Exports also edged up, reversing the 22 per cent slump seen last year, and total production during the period surpassed the one-million mark.

Domestic tractor sales stood at 939,713 units in FY25, compared with 867,237 units in FY24, according to data from the Tractor & Mechanisation Association (TMA).

Today’s vertical farming gets a boost from machine learning and satellite technology. These tools help farmers make smarter decisions and monitor environmental conditions in real time. This piece examines how Earth observation combined with computing power is creating more sustainable urban agriculture.

UN projections show global population reaching 9.7 billion by 2050, with 68% living in cities. India specifically expects urban residents to reach 50 per cent by 2047. This shift strains land, water, and food systems tremendously.

The impact of these tariffs on Indian agriculture can be viewed from two angles: cost pressures and market opportunities. These tariffs have indirectly raised the cost of imported machinery and agrochemical inputs, adding pressure to production costs for Indian farmers and agri-businesses. Sectors such as seafood and gherkins have expressed concern about reduced competitiveness in the US market.

However, commodities like rice and cashews have gained due to India’s relatively lower tariff rates compared to those of its regional competitors. For instance, a 26 per cent tariff is imposed on Indian goods, whereas much higher tariffs are levied on other Asian countries, including China and Vietnam. This relative position maintains the competitiveness of Indian agricultural exports and even opens up avenues in the US despite tariff wars.

It projects that 165 lakh tonnes of surplus grains could be utilised annually to generate over ₹35,000 crores in direct payment to farmers, reinforcing rural prosperity and urban mitigation.

The report, a strategic roadmap released at a round table event in Delhi this week, highlights the critical role of ethanol in advancing India’s triple mandate of energy security, rural development and climate action, a release said.

Unlocking next level of growth

The report emphasises the environmental and economic advantages of maize—India’s least water-intensive feedstock with strong ethanol conversion efficiency. It reinforces the need for targeted policy support, stakeholder collaboration and investment in technology to unlock the next level of growth in ethanol blending, especially from grain-based sources such as maize and surplus rice.

The report addressed myths around India’s food security, showing it is a grain surplus country which can cater to the needs of food and ethanol production without causing scarcity. From achieving 10 per cent ethanol blending ahead of schedule in 2022 to reaching a remarkable 19.6 per cent blending in January 2025, India has demonstrated its capability to scale clean energy solutions rapidly. The ethanol blending initiative has already saved over ₹1.08 lakh crore in foreign exchange and substituted nearly 185 lakh tonnes of crude oil and reduced 557 lakh tonnes of CO2 emissions, the release said.

However, to maintain this momentum, the grain-based ethanol sector faces critical challenges such as feedstock availability and price pressures, especially with rising maize costs and inter-state competition; ethanol procurement pricing, which has not kept pace with feedstock cost increases and falling by-product margins, such as Distiller’s Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS), impacting distillery viability, it said.

The roundtable and report call for urgent, actionable reforms such as scaling up maize cultivation across the country, introducing dynamic pricing for grain ethanol to address feedstock cost increase and ensuring uninterrupted supply of damaged, broken and surplus FCI rice until maize production ramps up, besides promoting strong domestic market linkages for ethanol by-products like DDGS.

He asked the farmers to focus on cultivating high-curcumin varieties to boost their incomes. “Pesticide residues and heavy metal contamination continue to hinder India’s turmeric exports in global markets. Scientists have to address this challenge and help the farmers overcome this hurdle,” he said.

“We need to promote domestic consumption of turmeric too by launching value-added products. The board is planning to introduce turmeric-added milk, branded as Golden Milk, to be served on Indian Railways and flights.

He was addressing the ‘Turmeric Stakeholders Conclave’ held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research–National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture (NIRCA) in Rajahmundry on Friday.

Stating that the country has a rich diversity in turmeric cultivation, he noted that the crop is grown across the country except in Goa.

Reddy also expressed concerns about the high input costs involved in turmeric farming and asked scientists to develop low-cost technologies to help farmers lower the cost of production.

Maganti Sheshu Madhav, Director of NIRCA, said that the country was home to a wide variety of turmeric species, with six varieties already receiving Geographical Indication tag.

“NIRCA has set a target to increase turmeric exports from 1.6 lakh tonnes to 2.7 lakh tonnes over the next five years,” he said on Friday.

Once touted as a thriving sector, the poultry sector is now under severe stress as producers grapple with a declining market for locally raised birds and growing competition from outside the region.

According to the Kashmir Valley Poultry Farm Association (KVPFA), local poultry production, which once met around 85 per cent of the region’s demand, has now slumped to barely 20 per cent.