eznews.inAs of December 12, nearly 85% of the normal area for rabi crops in India has been sown, reflecting a 4.5% year-on-year increase, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Total acreage reached 536.76 lakh hectares, up from 512.76 lakh hectares last year, with wheat sowing leading the surge at 275.66 lakh hectares, a 6.5% rise. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research noted that post-monsoon moisture has aided sowing, despite some delays in Punjab and Haryana. The Centre's decision to raise the minimum support price for wheat has also contributed positively. While rice sowing increased by 16%, coverage for pulses remains low, with gram (chana) up nearly 4%. Areas for jowar and bajra have decreased, while mustard sowing has risen over 4%. Overall, farmers are on track to complete sowing within the recommended timeframe, with rice expected to accelerate in the coming weeks. 
Published: Dec 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inA shrimp farm in Tangutur, Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, is experiencing a resurgence despite initial concerns over US tariffs on shrimp imports from India. Subba Naidu, who operates a 45-acre tiger prawn farm, noted that while Vannamei prawn farmers faced early fluctuations, many have since transitioned to tiger prawns, which are in high demand internationally. Current prices for tiger prawns are stable, ranging from ₹590 to ₹600 per kilogram. Fellow farmer D. Gopinadh highlighted that US buyers have largely absorbed the tariff costs, allowing Indian shrimp to remain competitive. The industry has diversified its markets, with significant exports to the UK, Russia, and China, compensating for a 15% drop in US sales. The Seafood Exporters Association of India reported an 11.6% increase in seafood export value, rising from $4.2 billion to $4.7 billion between April and October 2025, driven by strong demand in alternative markets.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Nuts & Dry Fruits Council (India) (NDFC) has projected a growth of 10-15% for the dry fruits industry in the upcoming fiscal year, mirroring trends from previous years, while urging government support to boost domestic production, which currently meets only 27% of the 14.3 lakh tonnes annual demand for key dry fruits like walnuts and almonds. With an 80% reliance on imports, the rising import bill is exacerbated by increasing demand and a weakening rupee. NDFC President Gunjan Vijay Jain emphasized the need for broader sourcing of raw materials to enhance competition and create jobs. The council is set to host its third MEWA India exhibition, focusing on global connections and consumer awareness, while advocating for a reduction in GST on dry fruits from 12% to 5% to stimulate consumption. Initiatives like the Cashew and Walnut Plantation Drives aim to support local farmers, with calls for government assistance in the early years of cultivation.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 8 pmeznews.inMatix Fertilisers and Chemicals, located near Panagarh, approximately 150 km from Kolkata, has achieved notable recognition at the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) Annual Seminar. The company, founded by Nishant Kanodia, received two prestigious awards: 'Best Production Performance for a Nitrogenous Fertiliser Plant' and 'Improvement in Overall Performance of a Company' for 2025. The awards were presented by Rajat Kumar Mishra, Secretary of the Department of Chemicals and Fertilisers, to Manoj Mishra, Managing Director, and Giridhar Mishra, Chief Operating Officer of Matix. Kanodia expressed pride in the accolades, highlighting that winning the 'Best Production Performance' award for two consecutive years, just four years into operations, underscores Matix's rapid growth and success. The seminar, held in New Delhi, emphasized the importance of sustainable fertiliser management for empowering farmers and promoting a greener future.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's goods exports rose by 19.4% year-on-year in November, reaching $38.13 billion, following a contraction the previous month. This growth was bolstered by strong performances in engineering goods, gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, petroleum products, and chemicals, aided by a low base effect. The trade deficit also narrowed to $24.53 billion, down from $31.92 billion in November 2024, as imports fell by 1.88% to $62.66 billion, primarily due to decreased shipments of gold and petroleum. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal noted that November's figures marked the highest exports for the month in a decade, helping to offset October's decline. Notably, exports to the US increased by 22.61% despite recent tariffs, while exports to China surged by 90.12%. Experts highlight the importance of market diversification and policy support in sustaining this positive export trend.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 7 pmeznews.inIndia's vegetable oil imports fell by 11% month-on-month and 28% year-on-year in November, driven by a significant drop in shipments of refined, bleached, and deodorised (RBD) palm oil, which plummeted to just 3,500 tonnes, according to the Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA). While imports of crude sunflower and degummed soybean oils also decreased, crude palm oil imports rose. As a result, edible oil stocks as of December 1 stood at 1.62 million tonnes, down from 1.73 million tonnes a month earlier. The composition of these stocks shifted, with the ratio of refined oils dropping sharply to 0.30% from 19%, while crude palm oil's share surged to 99.7%. Major suppliers included Malaysia and Indonesia for palm oils, while Argentina and Brazil were key sources for soybean oil. The reduction in import duties on crude oils has contributed to this trend.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThales has partnered with SFO Technologies to produce complex wired structures for the RBE2 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar used in the Indian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets, marking a significant step in the localisation of advanced defence technologies under India's Make in India initiative. This contract, announced on Monday, is the first under Thales' localisation plan for radar systems in India and aims to enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities for critical Rafale sub-systems. The collaboration comes as India has ordered 26 Rafale aircraft for its Navy. Thales, a key member of the Dassault Aviation Rafale team, is committed to building indigenous capabilities within India's defence ecosystem. Both companies emphasized their dedication to quality and innovation, with SFO Technologies expressing pride in contributing to the Rafale programme and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality equipment.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 6 pmeznews.inAn easterly wave is moving towards Sri Lanka and south Tamil Nadu, bringing the potential for thunderstorms and lightning in isolated areas of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal over the next two days, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Concurrently, gusty winds of 30-40 km/h are expected across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In northern regions, light rain and snowfall are anticipated in Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh due to incoming western disturbances. The core fog season has commenced in North-West India, with visibility dropping to 50 metres in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi. Very dense fog is forecast for Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, while night temperatures in North-West India may decrease by 2°C before rising again with a new disturbance. No significant temperature changes are expected in Gujarat, Maharashtra, or other central and eastern regions in the coming week.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIndia's digital landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with the latest Kantar Media Compass Report revealing that digital-only viewers have surged to 313 million, accounting for 26% of the population aged 15 and above as of Q3 2025. Notably, three-quarters of these viewers are based in rural areas, highlighting a shift in media consumption patterns. In contrast, linear television viewership has declined slightly from 705 million to 689 million during the same period. The report indicates a 30% increase in digital-only audiences since 2024, while the number of viewers engaging with both linear and connected TV has risen to 116 million, a 17% increase. Puneet Avasthi from Kantar emphasized the need for brands to adapt their strategies to effectively reach these evolving demographics, particularly as 43% of Indians now use online platforms for shopping discovery and research, underscoring the growing influence of digital media in shaping consumer preferences.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inIn a recent update, India's stock market saw a slight decline, with the SENSEX closing at 85,213.36, down by 54.30 points, while the NIFTY fell by 19.65 points to 26,027.30. Crude oil prices also dropped by 18.00 to 5,210.00, contrasting with gains in precious metals, as gold rose by 1,699.00 to 135,321.00 and silver increased by 5,685.00 to 198,536.00. Meanwhile, India, the world's largest rice exporter, reported shipments of 20.2 million metric tons for the 2024/25 financial year, including 335,554 tons to the United States, predominantly basmati rice. This comes amid US President Donald Trump's accusations of "dumping" Indian rice in the US market, suggesting potential tariff increases. Indian officials, however, refuted these claims, asserting that their rice exports are premium-grade and do not warrant anti-dumping investigations.
Published: Dec 15 2025, 4 pm
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