Zia Haq reports on public policy, economy and agriculture. Particularly interested in development economics and growth theories.
Articles by Zia Haq
India lifts export ban on onion, imposes MEP
The country’s ban had driven up prices of the vegetable for global buyers, from the Middle East to Bangladesh.
Updated on May 05, 2024 03:08 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Sharp fall in agri exports prompts govt to push perishables
India's agricultural exports fell 9% in 2023-24 due to bans on staples. To offset, officials plan to boost perishables and fruits exports, targeting new markets and sea routes.
Updated on May 04, 2024 04:29 PM IST
Gains in pulses output hit climate-crisis hurdle
The government has imposed caps on the quantity of two widely consumed varieties of pulses, a measure known as stock-holding limits invoked to control inflation
Published on May 03, 2024 12:38 AM IST
India unlikely to lift ban on export of food items
India is unlikely to lift its ban on food exports, including wheat, due to concerns of food inflation and prioritizing domestic consumption.
Updated on May 02, 2024 04:21 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Wheat procurement sufficient for food-security schemes: Govt
Sufficient procurement is critical this year to help India, also the world’s second biggest wheat consumer, replenish depleted stocks, which have hit a 16-year-low
Updated on May 01, 2024 05:30 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt begins work on staving off climate crisis farm impact
The government has constituted two scientific panels to assemble an advanced countrywide agricultural weather information system and introduce tech-enabled assessment of crop yields to ward off the impacts of extreme weather linked to climate change
Updated on Apr 29, 2024 05:42 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Fewer arrivals in markets hit wheat procurement
The government has set a conservative wheat procurement target of 30-31 million tonnes despite record output estimate of 112 million tonne.
Updated on Apr 25, 2024 04:00 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Reservoirs run low after dry winter in most states
Water crisis grips India with 22 states facing low rainfall, major reservoirs at less than a third of capacity. Critical situation as heatwave worsens.
Updated on Apr 23, 2024 04:37 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Biggest ever boost to FCI working capital, to help modernisation
The government has raised the authorized working capital of the FCI to ₹21,000 crore from ₹10,000 crore, the biggest hike ever
Updated on Apr 21, 2024 06:46 AM IST
Govt asks traders to speed up pulses import from Myanmar using forex
Last year, the government found that importers of pigeon pea and black gram were hoarding their purchases in Myanmar by not bringing them to India immediately
Updated on Apr 17, 2024 03:41 AM IST
India inks deals with Brazil, Argentina for pulses import
India’s output of pulses dipped to 23.4 million tonne in 2023-24 from 26.1 million tonne a year ago, the agriculture ministry estimates
Updated on Apr 15, 2024 05:54 AM IST
Centre asks state govts to monitor pulses stocks to check hoarding
The Centre has asked state governments to monitor stocks of pulses held by traders, who will need to declare quantities every week effective April 15
Updated on Apr 13, 2024 07:46 AM IST
Centre to buy 3mn tonne of mustard from farmers
Under the scheme, the government buys oilseeds and pulses when their rates fall below federally fixed floor prices, helping farmers to book a profit
Updated on Apr 10, 2024 07:10 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Early procurement set to boost wheat stocks
Centre has procured a third of all wheat arrivals totalling 600,000 tonnes as of April 3 compared to procurement of just 350,000 tonnes in the year-ago period
Updated on Apr 05, 2024 02:04 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Despite ban, India allows onion export to five nations
India has allowed onion exports to a few countries on priority in response to diplomatic requests, an official said
Updated on Apr 04, 2024 01:36 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt may resume wheat sales to check prices
In 2023-24, the government sold nearly 10 million tonne of wheat through open auctions to cool prices of the grain.
Updated on Apr 02, 2024 05:25 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Farmers opting for flagship farm insurance scheme at record high
According to official data, the number of farmers’ applications grew 33.4% and 41% year-on-year during 2022-23 and 2021-22 respectively
Updated on Apr 01, 2024 05:06 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt will buy 500,000 tonnes of onion to keep prices stable
The Union government will start procuring onions from farmers beginning April 1 at market rates to build an emergency reserve of 500,000 tonne for 2024-25
Updated on Mar 31, 2024 06:20 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Wheat stocks at 7-year low, Centre pins hopes on bumper harvest
The dip in stocks, the lowest since 2017, follows the government’s sale of nearly 10 million tonne since June last year to bulk buyers, such as flour mills, to curb domestic prices.
Updated on Mar 27, 2024 07:28 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Jal Jeevan Mission:145 million or 75% of all rural households now have tap water
A calculation by the Jal Shakti ministry showed that, on average, more than 85000 rural families are covered each day
Updated on Mar 19, 2024 08:25 PM IST
Influencers may soon be booked for gambling ads
The watchdog has mounted a watch and endorsers could face stringent action, including fine and prosecutions, an official said
Updated on Mar 18, 2024 08:06 AM IST
India inches up 1 place on UN HDI, is now placed 134
India improved its global ranking on UN Human Development Index, with progress in life expectancy, education & income, but lags behind South Asian neighbours.
Updated on Mar 15, 2024 01:29 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
India improves ranking in HDI score; placed 134 out of 193 countries
India’s human development index (HDI) value saw an increase from 0.633 to 0.644 in 2022, placing the country in the medium human development category, just as in previous years
Published on Mar 14, 2024 01:08 PM IST
India’s urea import, consumption on decline for first time in decades
Total imports of urea, which are regulated by the government, stood at 6.4 million tonne in the first 10 months of the ongoing fiscal year
Updated on Mar 10, 2024 12:11 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Drop in Indian onion, potato output: official data
Lower output and harvesting of summer-sown onion due to extreme weather prompted the government to ban exports in December
Updated on Mar 07, 2024 04:49 PM IST
Unseasonal rain, hail spark crop damage fears
Amid hopes of a record output, the Union government, on February 29, fixed a wheat procurement target of 30-32 million tonne for 2024-25.
Updated on Mar 07, 2024 04:32 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt plans to procure more maize to ramp up production of ethanol
On June 5, 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the advancing of the target year for 20% ethanol-blending in petrol by to 2025
Updated on Mar 05, 2024 07:30 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Is India overestimating food inflation?
More expenditure on food means more weight assigned to it. However, newly released data shows the weightage assigned to food is inaccurate
Published on Mar 01, 2024 10:13 PM IST
Wheat output to reach 112 mn tonne during 2023-24: Centre
2023-24 winter-sown wheat output to reach record 112 million tonne, summer-sown rice estimated at 111 million tonne, helping curb food prices
Updated on Mar 01, 2024 01:09 AM IST
Amid farm stir, Centre to procure wheat early
Early sowing in many regions and cool conducive weather have prompted the government to estimate a bumper harvest of the grain
Updated on Feb 26, 2024 12:58 AM IST