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The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) has mandated 100% verification of Indian farmers involved in organic crop cultivation across all growers' groups. This verification is essential for registering new organic farmers, renewing scope certificates, and issuing no-objection certificates for switching certification organizations. Trade analyst S Chandrasekaran described this move as a significant overhaul in India's organic farming sector. Certification agencies have warned that failure to complete the verification within three months could result in penalties and delays in certification processes. Farmers must provide access to necessary documentation and appoint a manager familiar with organic farming regulations. While the initiative has been welcomed, concerns have been raised about the financial burden on farmer groups, which may incur costs of up to ₹2 lakh. The number of certified organic growers has reportedly declined from 25 lakh in July 2022 to 4,712 active groups covering 1.9 million farmers, attributed to various challenges, including the pandemic. 
Published: Dec 03 2025, 9 ameznews.inTamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in Coimbatore has secured a patent for an innovative chelated zinc fertiliser, Zn-EPS, which significantly enhances plant growth and yield compared to traditional zinc sulphate. The patent, awarded by the Controller of Patents in India under Number 574341, recognizes the work of a research team led by G Yazhini. This eco-friendly fertiliser utilizes exopolysaccharide (EPS) derived from the bacterial cell wall of *Bacillus paralicheniformis*, found in rice rhizosphere in sodic soils. Zn-EPS, containing 16.8% zinc, offers improved bioavailability and is more readily absorbed by plants, addressing zinc deficiency effectively. Its natural chelating properties provide a sustainable alternative to synthetic chelators, enhancing nutrient management in agriculture. The patent process was facilitated by TNAU’s Patent Cell, coordinated by D Suresh Kumar with consultant N Natarajan.
Published: Dec 03 2025, 8 ameznews.inCorteva Agriscience, a leading US agritech firm, is investing in hybrid wheat varieties tailored for Indian agriculture, with commercial seeds anticipated in 10-15 years. Brook Cunningham, President of Corteva's Asia Pacific operations, emphasized the potential of this technology to enhance wheat yields and free up farmland for other crops, such as corn and mustard. During her visit to India, Cunningham highlighted the country's critical role in global food security, especially with an expected population increase of 2 billion over the next 25 years. Corteva, which has been active in India since 1972, is committed to supporting the nation’s 150 million small farmers, aiming for yield increases of 15-20% on average. The company is also exploring opportunities in corn and rice, leveraging advanced technologies, including AI, to drive innovation. Corteva's global R&D investment stands at approximately USD 1.4 billion annually, reflecting its commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.
Published: Dec 03 2025, 9 ameznews.inS&P Global Ratings has upgraded India's insolvency regime from Group C to Group B, reflecting improvements in the insolvency resolution process, although concerns persist. The average recovery rate for creditors has risen to over 30%, up from 15-20% under the previous system, and the time taken to resolve bad loans has decreased to approximately two years, down from six to eight years. However, India's recovery rates remain low compared to more established jurisdictions, and the potential for secured creditors to be undermined by unsecured debt remains a concern. Legal challenges can cause delays in resolution processes, despite recent Supreme Court rulings bolstering creditor rights. The upgrade indicates a shift towards a more creditor-friendly framework under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), which has improved recovery rates and timeliness, ultimately affecting how ratings are assigned to sub-investment grade issuers.
Published: Dec 03 2025, 9 ameznews.inThe Adani Group is set to invest $15 billion over the next five years to enhance passenger capacity at its airports to 200 million annually, as India’s aviation sector experiences significant growth. This ambitious plan includes the addition of terminals, taxiways, and a new runway at the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport, scheduled to open on December 25. Capacity upgrades will also be implemented at airports in Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, and Guwahati. Approximately 70% of the funding will be sourced from debt, with the remainder from equity. This expansion aims to accommodate a projected doubling of air traffic in India, with passenger numbers expected to reach 300 million by 2030. The upgrades, which will increase total capacity by over 60%, are part of a broader strategy to strengthen Adani's position ahead of a planned initial public offering for its airport unit.
Published: Dec 03 2025, 8 ameznews.inIn November 2025, Russia's share of India's crude oil imports fell to approximately 36.3%, marking what analysts suggest could be the last month it accounted for over 35% of total imports. During this period, India imported around 1.83 million barrels per day (mb/d) from Russia, a 13% increase month-on-month, while overall imports reached just over 5 mb/d, with the Middle East supplying 42.43% of the total. However, the imposition of US sanctions on November 21 is expected to reduce Russian shipments by about one-third in December, with further European Union sanctions anticipated in January 2026. As a result, Indian refiners are likely to diversify their sources, increasing imports from regions such as North America and Africa to compensate for the expected decline in Russian oil. Kpler's analysts predict that Russian arrivals could stabilize around 800,000 b/d in the near term, contingent on the absence of additional sanctions.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inDuring Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming two-day visit to India, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized the need for discussions on a framework to protect India-Russia trade from external pressures. Acknowledging India's concerns over a significant trade deficit, which reached approximately $59 billion in FY25, Peskov stated that Russia is committed to addressing this imbalance by increasing imports from India. He noted that while Indian purchases of Russian crude oil may temporarily decline due to Western sanctions, Russia is confident in mitigating the impact of these restrictions. Peskov also highlighted the importance of local currency trade to safeguard the sovereignty of both nations. On defense matters, he mentioned that discussions regarding Su-57 fighter jets would take place, although no immediate outcomes are expected. Overall, Peskov reiterated the mutual benefits of strengthening bilateral trade relations free from third-party influence.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIndia's e-commerce sector continues to outpace global markets, with a notable performance in the September quarter, according to Elara Capital. While US online sales grew by approximately 5-6% year-on-year, India's e-commerce maintained a robust double-digit growth, driven by the quick commerce channel that enhances user expansion and regional penetration. Karan Taurani, Executive Vice-President at Elara, highlighted the shift towards digital advertising as brands seek high-ROI performance channels, benefiting ad-tech firms like Affle. Despite this momentum, he noted that India's category penetration remains significantly lower than that of the US, indicating substantial long-term growth potential across various sectors, including apparel and electronics. Taurani emphasized that India's e-commerce maturity lags behind the US and China by 10-12 years, suggesting a promising trajectory as these mature markets begin to plateau. Global e-commerce remained steady, with US penetration at around 16-17%.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn the 2025-26 rice procurement season, states such as Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have offset declines in rice purchases from Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, enabling the Centre to acquire 194.14 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice in the first two months, a 12.7% increase from 172.24 lt last year. The procurement period varies by state, with Punjab, traditionally the largest contributor, purchasing 104.80 lt—4% lower than last year—while Haryana saw a 30.4% increase to 35.96 lt. Notably, Tamil Nadu's purchases surged by 188% to 9.86 lt, and Telangana's rose by 52.2% to 17.05 lt. However, Uttar Pradesh's procurement fell by 18.8% to 6.05 lt. The government aims to procure 463.49 lt of rice this season, with total production expected to reach a record 124.50 million tonnes, according to the agriculture ministry.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIn a recent interview, Anant Goenka, the young president of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Vice-Chairman of the RPG Group, emphasized India's commitment to strategic autonomy and self-reliance, or '_Atmanirbharta_'. He urged the industry to rise to global challenges without relying on government support, highlighting the positive impact of recent GST cuts and income tax exemptions on private consumption and capital expenditure. Goenka outlined FICCI's priorities, including enhancing manufacturing's GDP contribution from 15% to 25%, fostering industry-academia partnerships, and improving trade and supply chains. He defended the new labour laws as beneficial for both workers and businesses, while also addressing geopolitical uncertainties, particularly in relations with the US and Russia. As the Budget approaches, he called for increased support for export promotion, R&D investment, and a higher capex outlay for defence, underscoring the need for innovation and global market engagement.
Published: Dec 02 2025, 8 pm
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