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Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has received approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its new Drone Pilot Training Centre at the Agri Business Incubator in Vellanikkara. This Remote Pilot Training Organisation (RPTO) aims to integrate drone technology into agricultural practices, enhancing precision farming by optimising spray volume, application timing, and nutrient management. Funded by NABARD, the initiative is expected to reduce production costs and create skilled job opportunities, addressing labour shortages in the sector. KAU Vice-Chancellor B Ashok highlighted the potential for increased efficiency and profitability through the combination of standardised farm technologies and drone delivery systems. This marks KAU's first authorised Remote Pilot Training Course, encouraging young entrepreneurs and start-ups to adopt modern farming techniques. Established in collaboration with Modha Aero Academy Pvt Ltd, the centre aims to empower a new generation of tech-savvy farmers and agripreneurs. 
Published: Oct 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThe Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has opted to maintain the policy repo rate at 5.5% during its recent meeting from September 29 to October 1, 2025, despite unanimous agreement among members that there is potential for further cuts. The committee's neutral stance was debated, with two external members advocating for a shift to an accommodative position. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra emphasized the need to allow previous fiscal and monetary measures to take effect before considering additional rate cuts, citing ongoing global uncertainties and the evolving impact of recent government initiatives. Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta echoed this sentiment, warning that premature cuts could undermine policy credibility. Economists noted that while inflation has moderated, trade uncertainties pose risks to growth, suggesting a cautious approach to any future monetary easing. The MPC's next meeting in December may provide further clarity on potential policy adjustments.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inAir India is in advanced discussions with Airbus and Boeing to significantly expand its fleet, potentially adding up to 300 aircraft, including 80 to 100 wide-body jets, as part of its turnaround strategy under the Tata Group. This follows earlier negotiations for 200 narrow-body jets and 25-30 wide-body aircraft. While Airbus has refrained from commenting on the negotiations, Air India and Boeing have not responded to inquiries. The latest plans aim to modernize the airline's operations and enhance its international network, particularly in the wake of a tragic Boeing 787 crash in June that resulted in 260 fatalities. The final distribution of the aircraft order between Airbus and Boeing remains undecided, with some orders possibly being options rather than firm commitments. This expansion reflects Air India's ambition to rebrand itself as a competitive global carrier.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Indian Commerce Ministry has established a commodity-specific fund to promote buffalo meat exports, requiring exporters to pay ₹250 per tonne to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) for health certificates, effective October 29. This initiative is expected to generate over ₹30 crore annually, with 30% of the funds allocated for administrative costs and the remaining 70% dedicated to meat promotion. The Directorate-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has mandated proof of payment to the Meat Export Development Fund (MEDF) for exporting chilled or frozen meat. Despite a decrease in shipment volume, buffalo meat exports rose 8.6% to $4.06 billion in 2024-25. The MEDF aims to enhance India's presence at international food events and facilitate trade delegation visits, addressing non-tariff barriers and promoting research in meat quality preservation. This follows the establishment of a similar fund for non-basmati rice exports.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inaugurated the Farmers’ Training and Common Facility Centre for Agro Processing (FT-CFC) in Methagal village, Koppal district, on Wednesday, marking a significant step towards enhancing agricultural productivity in the Kalyana Karnataka region. Funded through the Minister’s MPLAD scheme in collaboration with the Government of India and NABARD, the centre aims to promote value addition, reduce post-harvest losses, and empower farmers as agripreneurs. Sitharaman highlighted Koppal's agricultural potential, contributing 10% to Karnataka's output, and emphasized the importance of skill-building and market linkages. The facility, managed by Gavisiddeshwara Farmer Producer Company, will process various fruits and is expected to generate ₹12.58 crore annually. Training programs in post-harvest management and digital marketing will cultivate a new generation of skilled farmers, while quality assurance will be maintained through accredited labs, ensuring products meet market standards.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inOverall capacity on India-West Asia routes has increased by 1.3% year-on-year, with Etihad Airways targeting growth in the corporate and premium leisure segments in India, according to CEO Antonoaldo Neves. The airline, which operates 183 weekly flights to 11 Indian cities, is set to enhance its offerings by introducing its new Airbus A321LR aircraft featuring private suites and lie-flat business class seats, starting with the Kolkata route. Neves noted that around 60% of seats on India-UAE routes are sold outside India, and the airline's premium cabin load factors have risen by 25% compared to last year. While competition has intensified, with rivals increasing flights between India and Abu Dhabi, Neves expressed optimism about the Indian market's potential, citing GDP growth and a thriving diaspora. He also highlighted the need for additional capacity to meet rising demand, as UAE carriers have fully utilized their air services agreement with India.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inUnion Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, unveiled a commemorative coin and launched eight significant projects during the golden jubilee celebration of New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) in New Delhi. Emphasizing the government's commitment to modernizing Indian ports, Sonowal highlighted the maritime sector's growth over the past 11 years, projecting an investment of approximately ₹80 lakh crore by 2047. He noted that New Mangalore Port is set to construct an additional deep-draft general cargo berth and is a pioneer in sustainability, being fully powered by solar energy. AV Ramana, Chairman of NMPA, expressed pride in the port's evolution from a single berth to a leading facility, underscoring the importance of the newly launched projects in preparing NMPA for future challenges. The event also featured the release of a commemorative postal stamp alongside the coin to celebrate the port's milestone.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia, the world's seventh-largest coffee producer, is facing an unusual situation as carry-forward stocks for the 2025-26 season are expected to exceed normal levels, with growers holding back over 30% of last year's crop due to high prices and volatile market conditions. Currently, India exports more than two-thirds of its annual output, approximately 3.6 lakh tonnes, but export permits issued this year are down by 10% compared to last year. Stakeholders, including Ramesh Rajah of the Coffee Exporters Association, indicate that many growers are waiting for prices to rise before selling, while A Arvind Rao from the Karnataka Planters Association notes that some growers are left with unsold stocks after buyers backed out. The decline in robusta cherry exports, attributed to high price differentials with competitors like Vietnam and Brazil, further complicates the market dynamics, leading to expectations of significant carryover into the next season.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inHeritage Foods Limited has reported a net profit of ₹51 crore for the second quarter ending September 30, marking a 5% increase from the same period last year. The company achieved a revenue of ₹1,112.50 crore, reflecting a 9% year-on-year growth. Executive Director Brahmani Nara noted that this is the second consecutive quarter the company has surpassed the ₹1,100-crore revenue mark, despite challenges such as adverse weather and rising procurement costs. To mitigate inflationary pressures, Heritage Foods implemented strategic price adjustments and is optimistic about a stronger second half, driven by improved milk availability and festive demand. The company also reported an 86% reduction in low-margin business-to-business fat sales, while the business-to-consumer segment grew by 35%, enhancing its sales mix. Nara emphasized that the upcoming festive season and GST benefits position Heritage for significant growth in value-added products like curd and paneer.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's edible oil imports surged by 51% in September 2025, reaching 16.04 lakh tonnes, up from 10.64 lakh tonnes in September 2024, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). This increase was driven primarily by a rise in crude palm oil (CPO), soybean oil, and sunflower oil imports, with CPO alone accounting for 8.24 lakh tonnes, compared to 4.32 lakh tonnes the previous year. However, imports of refined palm oil ceased due to a significant increase in the duty differential, which made it economically unviable. SEA Executive Director BV Mehta praised the government's decision to raise the duty difference as a strategic move to bolster domestic refining and align with the 'Make in India' initiative. Despite the monthly increase, overall edible oil imports for the first 11 months of the 2024-25 oil year fell by 3.8%, with a notable shift towards soft oils, which now comprise 50% of total imports.
Published: Oct 15 2025, 6 pm
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