Zia Haq reports on public policy, economy and agriculture. Particularly interested in development economics and growth theories.
Articles by Zia Haq
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
As more farm factions back stir, team set up to aid coordination
Farmers' protests intensify at Punjab-Haryana border as factions unite, demanding justice for deceased protester. March to Delhi to resume soon.
Updated on Feb 24, 2024 07:48 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Farmers halt march till Feb 29, demand action
Farmers from Punjab have been stopped since February 13 at barricades put up by the Haryana government to impede their march to the national capital.
Updated on Feb 24, 2024 04:59 AM IST
Zia Haq, Patiala/new Delhi
More unions join stir, up ante over farmer’s death
All eyes are now on whether the unions decide to resume their attempted march to the national capital after a two-day pause.
Updated on Feb 23, 2024 04:17 AM IST
Zia Haq, Patiala/new Delhi
Stir on hold as farmer killed in police action
Farm leaders paused protests for two days after clashes at Punjab-Haryana border led to a protester's death.
Updated on Feb 22, 2024 05:56 AM IST
Sunil RaharZia Haq, Shambhu/rohtak/new Delhi
Farm talks: Govt offers plan to procure 3 crops; farmers march to Delhi on hold
Farmers from Punjab and Haryana have mobilized in thousands, demanding higher prices for their crops
Published on Feb 19, 2024 01:25 PM IST
RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.5%, cites food-inflation risk
The RBI continued with its policy stance of “withdrawal of accommodation” to ensure inflation is in step with its target of 6%(+/-2) while supporting economic expansion
Updated on Feb 08, 2024 12:29 PM IST
Jal Jeevan Mission hits hurdles in Kerala: Govt
Kerela minister says the state government has released all the instalments of its share towards the project as we consider it to be an important one
Updated on Feb 06, 2024 08:48 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Less cash for PM AASHA will not affect procurement: Officials
Launched in 2018, PM-AASHA was seen as a tool to ensure remunerative prices to farmers for crops other than cereals.
Published on Feb 05, 2024 06:05 PM IST
Centre to sell subsidised rice under Bharat brand
The government already sells subsidised Bharat Atta at ₹27.50 per kg and Bharat Dal at ₹60 per kg.
Updated on Feb 03, 2024 01:44 AM IST
Budget 2024: A little more for all labharathis? Focus on ‘core of core’ schemes
Budget 2024: Centrally sponsored schemes are implemented by states but are largely funded by the Union government with a defined share of state governments.
Updated on Feb 02, 2024 05:39 AM IST
Big jump in MNREGS allocation, marginal hike for other welfare plans
₹86000 crore has been allocated for the make-work MNREGS programme for 2023-24, up 43% from budget estimates of ₹60000 (2023-24)
Published on Feb 01, 2024 06:01 PM IST
Mozambique dispute disrupts pulses import, prices rise
A lower pigeon pea crop in 2022-23 is likely to increase India’s import demand and traders are now looking to Myanmar to fill the gap
Published on Jan 26, 2024 05:53 PM IST
Dispute between 2 Mozambican firms disrupts import of pulses to India, prices surge
A lower pigeon pea crop in 2022-23 is likely to increase India’s import demand and traders are now looking to Myanmar to fill the gap.
Published on Jan 26, 2024 03:03 PM IST
Weather forecast for spring to decide on fate of wheat output
Cooler temperatures during February and March are essential for a bumper wheat output. As things stand, the El Nino outlook is not encouraging
Updated on Jan 26, 2024 02:43 PM IST
Red Sea crisis hurts Indian exports as costs soar
Nearly 80% of India’s trade with Europe passes via the Red Sea. But soaring shipping costs and rising oil prices are stoking fears of renewed inflation
Published on Jan 23, 2024 06:14 PM IST
Cooperatives set up in ’23 reap rural gains
Three national cooperatives in India are driving the country's rural economy through exports, seed production, and farm produce procurement.
Updated on Jan 22, 2024 04:37 PM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Wheat output set for a record high, sowing area crosses 34mn hectares
Higher wheat output will help put a lid on prices and could prompt the world’s second-biggest producer of the grain to lift a ban on exports of the staple
Updated on Jan 20, 2024 07:16 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
On Amazon, snacks sold as Ram temple ‘prasad’; govt panel issues notice
Authorities examined samples of such brands and found the label ‘prasad’ (consecrated offering to the deity) from the Ram temple, Ayodhya, to be “misleading”
Updated on Jan 20, 2024 10:00 AM IST
No shortage of fertilisers but Red Sea crisis hampering shipments: Mandaviya
India will have no shortage of fertilisers critical for the country’s food security as there are adequate reserves amid a deepening Red Sea crisis, Union minister for health, fertilisers and chemicals Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday.
Updated on Jan 18, 2024 08:40 AM IST
For energy security, Indian govt looks at maize
The Union government has signed off on a plan to procure maize at federally fixed minimum support prices while increasing output and productivity by expanding the area under cultivation as part of a strategy to meet India’s biofuel needs
Updated on Jan 17, 2024 06:22 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
In 9 years, 248mn pulled out of multidimensional poverty: Niti Aayog paper
India’s so-called multidimensional poverty fell from 29.17% in 2013-14, when the Modi government assumed power, to 11.28% in 2022-23
Updated on Jan 16, 2024 09:29 AM IST
Centre forms panel to monitor Red Sea crisis effect on India
Indian government has set up an interministerial group to monitor the crisis in the Red Sea, which is disrupting global trade, including shipments from India.
Updated on Jan 16, 2024 11:24 AM IST
FCI overhaul a landmark, says food minister on its 60th anniversary
In 2022-23, the FCI bought 76.56 million tonnes of paddy and 26.2 million tonnes of wheat from about 12.3 million cultivators, paying them ₹2.19 lakh crore in all
Published on Jan 14, 2024 03:27 PM IST
FCI uses AI-based equipment to detect frauds, says official
The corporation is mandated to buy “fair and average quality” grains that must confirm to technical specifications related to moisture content
Updated on Jan 14, 2024 12:36 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Not looking to lift curbs on export of food items: Goyal
The government is also constantly watching the crisis in the Red Sea, a major sea route for Indian exports, which is witnessing a violent regional spillover of Israel’s war with Hamas, Goyal said
Updated on Jan 14, 2024 05:38 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi
Retail inflation at 4-month high, industry shows muted growth
Data released by the National Statistics Office on Friday showed the Index of Industrial Production in the world’s fifth-largest economy grew 2.4% in November
Updated on Jan 12, 2024 06:56 PM IST
Farmers switch to heat-tolerant wheat to fight climate crisis impact
Taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change, cultivators in key food-bowl states have switched to heat-tolerant wheat varieties on a large scale this season.
Updated on Jan 10, 2024 07:22 AM IST
‘No 100% selection promise in ads by coaching centres’
experts say the COMPETITION AMONG STUDENTS ALONG WITH exaggerated assurances of success often drive aspirants to suicide
Updated on Jan 10, 2024 05:42 AM IST
Zia Haq, New Delhi