ARTICLE 2 #prices

abruptly in most of the States, industry sources said. They attributed it to the relaxation granted to individual processors to lift a higher quantity

Punjab flood devastation raises questions on overall impact on agricultural sector. Flood came just before Kharif harvest season, affecting Punjab's significant paddy production. Punjab's farmers struggle to deal with losses as 4 lakh hectares under paddy cultivation across Punjab still flooded.

Delhi hosted its first-ever millet-based culinary contest under the PM Poshan mid-day meal initiative. Focusing on porridges and millet dishes, the event aims to make healthy eating appealing to children. Over 16.6 lakh students across nearly 2,800 schools benefit from this scheme, which now includes millets in its menu (for the 2024–25 academic year). The Akshaya Patra Foundation secured the top spot in the competition.

India’s government warehouses are overflowing. As of September 1, 2025, rice reserves—including unfilled paddy—have climbed to a record 48.2 million metric tons, a jump of over 14% compared to the same time last year. Wheat stocks, too, are at a four‑year high, reaching 33.3 million metric tons. These figures greatly overshoot government targets: for rice, the July 1 target is only 13.5 million tons, while for wheat the target is about 27.6 million tons.

India’s aggressive drive to expand ethanol production is triggering significant shifts in what farmers plant — and raising fresh concerns about food, oilseed, and resource security.