Zia Haq reports on public policy, economy and agriculture. Particularly interested in development economics and growth theories.
Articles by Zia Haq
Centre to boost carbon credits for biogas sector
In June 2023, the government had launched a unified registration portal for ‘GOBARdhan’, which acts as a one-stop repository to assess investment and streamlining of the process of setting up biogas plants in India
Updated on Jul 19, 2024 07:41 PM IST
Tomato prices surge amid thin supplies, heavy monsoon rains
Tomato prices have touched ₹100 a kg in some urban centres, such as Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati.
Updated on Jul 18, 2024 06:33 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt questions disparity in priceof types of pulses
Data showed that India’s wholesale inflation rose to a 16-month high in June at 3.36% from a year ago, compared to a 2.61% rise in the previous month
Updated on Jul 17, 2024 06:24 AM IST
Kharif sowing expands amid skewed rainfall
Farmers grow a range of summer crops, such as paddy, pulsers, coarse cereals, oilseeds and sugarcane, during the season, which account for slightly more than half of the country’s food supply.
Published on Jul 16, 2024 11:40 AM IST
Retail prices in June soar to 5.08% after cooling to its lowest in a year
Rabi or winter-sown onion output declined by 20% to 19 million tonne this year. Rabi onion usually accounts for nearly 72% of India’s annual supply
Published on Jul 12, 2024 06:34 PM IST
Monsoon makes up for shortfall, but brings deluge of problems
Similar to trends in the past few years, extreme rainfall in July is wreaking havoc over certain parts of the country, but some others, particularly the rice-growing region in eastern India, continue to record deficient rain.
Updated on Jul 10, 2024 06:08 AM IST
Jayashree NandiZia Haq
Centre tweaks FCI funding, helping it to go debt free
FCI has long been resorting to external borrowings to maintain food reserves, fund its purchases of grains from farmers and redistribute them to 800 million beneficiaries free of cost
Updated on Jul 09, 2024 05:56 AM IST
Uptick in monsoon rain boosts kharif sowing
South-west monsoon boost summer crop planting in India, critical for food supply & price control. Sowing up 14% from last year, with pulses area up 50%.
Updated on Jul 09, 2024 05:50 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Tomato rates soar as Centre looks to south for new stock
Last month, a delayed monsoon and blistering temperatures, followed by heavy rains have disrupted supplies
Updated on Jul 07, 2024 04:30 AM IST
Onion, potato prices remain high after low output last year
Expanding summer sowing should have a “salutary effect” on market sentiment, which will bring down prices, one official said.
Updated on Jul 05, 2024 04:45 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Sharp rise in onion, potato, tomato prices
A hot, dry summer since April strained supplies of many commonly consumed vegetables, shifting demand towards potato, onion, and tomato and pushing up prices
Published on Jul 04, 2024 03:50 PM IST
Centre to resume rice sale to states, pvt traders
Apart from selling to states, the government will also resume its open-market sales scheme for private traders and offer rice at a discounted rate.
Updated on Jul 04, 2024 01:08 AM IST
Govt to hold more talks with states on labour codes
Implementing Modi govt's four labour codes is a top priority, but could take months as states lack understanding of reforms. Consultations underway for alignment with federal rules.
Updated on Jun 29, 2024 07:54 AM IST
Hot and dry June pushes back planting across the country
Monsoon showers in July will be crucial to sowing of key summer crops India is counting on to cut inflation, as below-normal rains and hot weather in June pushed back planting in many regions and depleted large water bodies that act as sources of irrigation.
Updated on Jun 28, 2024 08:06 AM IST
Ending pulses import by 2027 a key target of agriculture minister
An El Nino weather pattern last year has stoked prices of pulses despite a 37% jump in overall domestic production since 2015-16.
Updated on Jun 27, 2024 09:04 AM IST
Centre puts caps on wheat stock held by traders, import option open
Food inflation has hovered around 8% from a year ago for eight months after extreme weather trimmed output of key crops, hurting households and keeping retail inflation above the central bank’s target of 4%
Updated on Jun 25, 2024 08:26 AM IST
Centre plans series of interventions to cool prices of food
Central govt plans to regulate markets to control high food prices by increasing procurement of essential commodities like tur, urad, & masur pulses.
Updated on Jun 24, 2024 12:42 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Centre imposes stock limits on pulses as prices rise
The measures, which will be in force till September 30, 2024, come on the back of lower output of pulses, such as tur, due to a patchy monsoon last year and higher prices
Published on Jun 21, 2024 08:16 PM IST
Govt may sell wheat to cool prices, Shah reviews food stocks
Home minister Amit Shah-led panel reviews sufficient wheat inventories in state-owned granaries, considering sales to calm prices amid surplus availability.
Updated on Jun 21, 2024 08:46 AM IST
Centre clears big MSP boost for kharif crops
The revised MSPs, which act as benchmark prices at which government purchases farm produce, especially cereals, come just ahead of the monsoon sowing season
Updated on Jun 20, 2024 01:16 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Govt raises MSPs for kharif season, focus on pulses, oilseeds
Farmers are currently preparing to plant a range of crops, such as rice, soybean, pulses, cotton and sugarcane, which depend on the June-September monsoon system
Published on Jun 19, 2024 10:02 PM IST
PM Modi to address farmers on June 18, disburse PM-Kisan tranche: Agri minister
Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said that nearly 20 million farmers from across the country will join in, physically and virtually, and invitations had been sent out to chief ministers of all states for the event
Published on Jun 15, 2024 06:23 PM IST
Pulses’ prices to ease from July due to higher imports: Official
India also is expecting ample imports of pulses from east African nations in the months of August, September and October that will help to plug a demand-supply gap, softening prices
Updated on Jun 15, 2024 09:36 AM IST
Edible oils, pulses in focus as agriculture minister Chouhan takes charge
Agriculture ministry led by Shivraj Singh Chouhan aims for self-sufficiency in pulses by 2027-28 and plans to boost edible-oil production to reduce imports.
Updated on Jun 13, 2024 08:10 AM IST
LS polls: Rural hardship hurts BJP
While BJP has dominated large swathes of India’s rural heartland in the last 10 years, discontent and anguish among agriculturists is common
Updated on Jun 04, 2024 10:52 PM IST
Ghaziabad’s heritage industrial testing house gives India’s drone manufacturing a leg-up
India's National Test House, a 105-year-old facility, is boosting the country's drone industry with affordable certification services, helping it grow rapidly.
Updated on Jun 03, 2024 05:42 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Surplus monsoon in rain-fed states to drive farm output
June-September monsoon is vita because nearly half of the country’s net-sown area lacks irrigation and millions depend on a farm-based livelihood
Updated on May 30, 2024 04:31 PM IST
Record rice stocks may prompt higher public distribution
India's rice stocks are at a record high, nearly four times the target, prompting government action to reduce inventory amid expectations of a strong crop.
Updated on May 28, 2024 01:24 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Wheat purchases sufficient for food security needs but may miss target: Data
Govt procures enough wheat for food security, but may fall short of target due to farmer stockholding. Surplus stocks help stabilize prices in case of inflation.
Updated on May 26, 2024 06:00 AM IST
Water reservoirs run alarmingly low amid hot weather: Data
Water storage in 150 reservoirs at a 5-year low due to hot weather and poor monsoon, worsening shortages in 16 states, impacting power generation.
Updated on May 20, 2024 12:24 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi