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Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL) has successfully completed its merger with Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (MCFL), effective October 16, 2025, positioning itself as one of the largest private sector fertiliser producers in India. The integration of MCFL into PPL's operations boosts the company's total fertiliser production capacity by over 23%, increasing it from 3 million to 3.7 million tonnes per annum. This merger enhances PPL's presence across southern India while reinforcing its established markets in the north, west, central, and eastern regions, thereby expanding its national footprint. The combined entity will benefit from a broader product portfolio and a more efficient supply chain, allowing for improved inventory planning and distribution. Suresh Krishnan, Managing Director & CEO of PPL, emphasized that this merger marks a significant milestone in the company's growth, enabling it to better serve farmers and deliver lasting value to stakeholders. 
Published: Oct 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA) has urged the Government to robustly defend the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for mandated crops, emphasizing the need for effective policy measures to ensure market prices remain above MSP levels. In a recent letter, SEA President Sanjeev Asthana praised the Government's decision to increase MSP for rabi crops, particularly rapeseed, but stressed that timely procurement is essential for farmers to benefit fully from these price hikes. Additionally, Asthana welcomed the lifting of the export ban on de-oiled rice bran, which is expected to enhance export opportunities and support the rice bran oil sector. He also highlighted the SEA delegation's recent visit to Russia, aimed at strengthening trade relations and exploring new markets for rapeseed meal exports to China. Furthermore, Asthana called for policy reforms to address challenges in the edible oil sector, including the impact of refined oil imports and the suspension of futures trading in key commodities.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inAn international team of researchers has revealed that the wild ancestors of modern crops are crucial for preserving soil biodiversity, according to a landmark study published in ISME Communications. The study, involving 25 research groups from 11 countries, examined 125 populations of 10 crop wild progenitors from diverse ecosystems, including deserts and tropical forests. It found a shared 'core' soil community among these wild relatives, highlighting their evolutionary link to soil microbiomes. Notably, tropical regions were dominated by acid-loving bacteria, while desert soils supported decomposer fungi. Each wild crop species cultivated its own unique microhabitat, emphasizing its role in maintaining underground biodiversity. The findings underscore the importance of conserving crop wild relatives, not only for genetic resources in plant breeding but also as vital reservoirs of microbial diversity essential for healthy soils, thereby linking plant evolution, soil ecology, and environmental adaptation.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 9 pmeznews.inDuring the India-Brazil Business Dialogue in New Delhi, Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin announced plans to expand the preferential trade agreement (PTA) with India, highlighting a significant increase in bilateral trade, with Indian exports to Brazil rising over 30% this year. Alckmin emphasized that both nations complement each other economically and expressed optimism about surpassing a foreign trade target of $20 billion by 2030. He underscored Brazil's commitment to enhancing cooperation in civil and defense sectors, while Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal outlined India's ambition to become the world's third-largest economy by 2047, supported by government measures to boost investor confidence and reduce the tax burden on the middle class. Both officials noted the potential for increased collaboration in areas such as food security and energy, with plans to relaunch the Business Council to foster a more purposeful agenda for trade between the two countries.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThis year's paddy harvest in Punjab and Haryana is facing delays due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding in September. While stubble burning incidents have significantly decreased—an 88% drop in Punjab and a 96% decline in Haryana—air quality in the Delhi region remains a concern, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) worsening to 245. The Commission for Air Quality Management has implemented Stage I of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP) to combat pollution, which includes restrictions on certain fuels and stricter vehicle emissions enforcement. However, the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing the sale of 'green' firecrackers during Diwali may counteract these efforts. Experts warn that as paddy harvesting resumes post-Diwali, farmers may face a reduced window for wheat sowing, potentially leading to an increase in stubble burning. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh has reported a 39% rise in stubble burning incidents, while Uttar Pradesh remains the highest contributor despite a 49% decrease.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a 27% surplus in post-monsoon rainfall from October 1 to 16, contributing to a significant increase in reservoir levels across the country. Data from the Central Water Commission (CWC) revealed that 60% of India's 161 major reservoirs are over 90% full, with overall storage at 90.6% of their total capacity, surpassing last year's levels by over 4 percentage points. Notably, 44 reservoirs are brimming, with Maharashtra leading with 19 full dams. While the southern peninsula experienced a 14% rainfall deficit, the north-west saw a remarkable 215% surplus. The current reservoir levels are expected to benefit the upcoming rabi crop, as the South-West monsoon has withdrawn and the North-East monsoon has commenced in the southern regions.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's exports to the United States have plummeted by nearly 37.5% between May and September 2025, resulting in a loss of over $3.3 billion in monthly shipment value. In September alone, exports fell by 20.3% month-on-month to $5.5 billion, marking the sharpest decline of the year and the fourth consecutive monthly drop. This downturn coincides with the implementation of a 50% tariff on Indian goods, which began impacting exports in May. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative, noted that sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, engineering goods, and chemicals have been particularly hard hit. Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal acknowledged ongoing discussions regarding stalled trade negotiations, emphasizing the need for a "win-win solution" to address tariff issues, despite the current challenges posed by a US government shutdown affecting negotiations.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 8 pmeznews.inIndia's cotton carry-forward stocks for the 2025-26 season are projected to reach 60.59 lakh bales, a significant increase from 39.19 lakh bales last year, attributed to higher imports. Despite a reduction in planting area to 110 lakh hectares, cotton production is estimated between 312 and 335 lakh bales, with Gujarat and Maharashtra expected to yield higher outputs. Daily arrivals of the new crop have surpassed 1 lakh bales, although prices remain below the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹8,100, ranging from ₹6,500 to ₹7,300 per quintal due to weak demand. The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has maintained its pressing estimates for the previous season at 312.40 lakh bales, with total supply until September at 392.59 lakh bales. The CAI plans to announce official crop estimates in late October, as procurement activities by the Cotton Corporation of India are anticipated to commence post-Deepavali.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inIndia's oilmeal exports surged to 2.99 lakh tonnes in September 2025, a significant increase of 40% from 2.13 lakh tonnes in the same month last year, according to the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA). However, overall exports for the first half of the fiscal year remained relatively stable, totaling 20.93 lakh tonnes, a slight rise of 0.50% compared to 20.82 lakh tonnes in the previous year. The growth in September was driven by increased shipments of soybean, rapeseed, groundnut, and castorseed meals. Despite this, soybean meal exports fell to 8.39 lakh tonnes in the first half due to declining global demand and competition from American producers. Notably, groundnut meal exports rose sharply from 5,090 tonnes to 15,967 tonnes, attributed to higher production. The recent lifting of the ban on de-oiled rice bran exports is expected to benefit the rice milling industry and enhance farmers' earnings.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 6 pmeznews.inThe Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of India, during its recent meeting from September 29 to October 1, unanimously decided to maintain the policy repo rate at 5.50%. MPC member Ram Singh emphasized that concerns over potential negative impacts on bank deposits and household savings should not deter further rate cuts. He noted that while aggregate savings rates have declined from 34.6% of GDP in 2011-12 to 30.7% in FY24, interest rates are not the primary factor influencing these rates. Instead, demographic changes and variations in returns on capital play significant roles. Singh highlighted a shift in household savings away from bank term deposits towards higher-yielding investments like mutual funds and equities. He argued that the focus should be on total savings and the flow of funds to the real sector, rather than solely on bank credit, as non-bank sources have increasingly supported commercial sector financing.
Published: Oct 16 2025, 5 pm
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