Dec 20, 2025. The newly formed National Makhana Board convened its first meeting in New Delhi, marking a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen India’s makhana (fox nut) sector and improve farmer incomes. The meeting was chaired by Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, and focused on rolling out a comprehensive Central Sector Scheme to modernise the makhana value chain across the country. During the inaugural session, the Board examined annual action plans submitted by state governments and agricultural research institutions, approving budgets for key programme components. These include research and development, quality seed production, value addition, market linkages, branding, and export promotion. Particular attention was given to strengthening post-harvest infrastructure for grading, drying, popping, and packaging, alongside the adoption of improved and contemporary cultivation practices in both traditional and emerging makhana-growing regions. To address seed availability and quality, the Board outlined a coordinated approach involving leading institutions in Bihar. Supply consolidation will be supported through SAU Sabour and CAU Samastipur, while NRC Makhana, Darbhanga, will play a central role in training trainers and disseminating modern production techniques. This institutional collaboration is expected to enhance technical capacity and skill development among farmers, processors, and other stakeholders across the value chain. The Central Sector Scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2025–26, carries a total outlay of ₹476.03 crore for the period 2025–26 to 2030–31. Designed as a holistic intervention, the scheme aims to boost scientific research, strengthen the seed ecosystem, promote value addition, improve market access, and prepare the makhana sector for export-oriented growth. Officials indicated that the Board’s roadmap lays the foundation for coordinated and market-driven development of the makhana industry. By transitioning from largely traditional production systems to modern, competitive value chains, the initiative seeks to deliver higher and more stable returns for farmers while expanding India’s footprint in global makhana and healthy snack markets.
Dec 19, 2025. India has recorded a notable increase in mustard sowing during the ongoing Rabi 2025–26 season, with total acreage reaching around 77.06 lakh hectares as on November 30, reflecting a rise of nearly 6% compared with the same period last year. The expansion highlights improved farmer interest and favourable early-season conditions for the oilseed crop. According to Sanjeev Asthana, President of the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India (SEA), the association has released the First and Second Mustard Crop Monitoring Reports for Rabi 2025–26, prepared by Agriwatch. These reports point to a broad-based rise in mustard planting across major producing regions. The increase in acreage has been particularly significant in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal, which together account for a large share of India’s mustard output. SEA noted that farmers in these states expanded sowing in response to supportive market signals, adequate soil moisture, and timely field preparation.
Crop conditions across the country are reported to be largely normal so far, aided by favourable weather patterns and sufficient soil moisture levels. While some localised stress was observed in pockets due to uneven rainfall during October, the overall health of the crop remains satisfactory. SEA indicated that vegetative growth has been steady in most regions, with no major pest or disease concerns reported at this stage. Looking ahead, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic. SEA stated that subject to normal weather conditions in the coming months, the mustard crop outlook for Rabi 2025–26 remains positive, raising expectations of improved production and better availability of domestic oilseeds in the next marketing season.
Dec 17, 2025: India, which commands nearly 70% share of the global turmeric market, is facing increasing competition from countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, and several African nations, as these regions rapidly expand turmeric cultivation to capture international market share.
Highlighting the growing challenge, N. Bhavani Sri, Secretary of the National Turmeric Board, stressed the urgent need to enhance the quality of Indian turmeric to retain its global leadership.
Speaking at the maiden Turmeric Value Chain Summit 2025, she said that while global demand for Indian turmeric remains strong, international buyers are becoming more selective. “Top exporters are keen to source as much turmeric as India can supply, but they are specifically demanding high-quality seed material grown under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),” she noted.
According to her, improving curcumin content and reducing moisture levels below 10% are critical to meeting global standards. She added that while organic certification is not mandatory, produce must follow integrated pest management practices and comply with international quality benchmarks. With competing countries investing aggressively in plantation expansion and quality upgrades, experts believe India must now focus on standardisation, quality enhancement, and value-chain strengthening to maintain its dominance in the global turmeric trade.
Dec 16, 2025: Ahmedabad/Jodhpur: India’s cumin (jeera) acreage is expected to decline during the current rabi season, as farmers cut back sowing in response to weak prices and muted export demand, particularly from China and Bangladesh, market participants said.
Sowing of cumin, which began earlier than usual this year due to the early onset of winter, has so far remained below last year’s levels in the key producing states of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
According to the latest crop sowing data released by the Gujarat Agriculture Department, cumin has been planted on about 3.24 lakh hectares in Gujarat as of December 15, a decline of nearly 14% compared with 3.76 lakh hectares during the same period last year. The normal cumin acreage in the State stands at around 3.81 lakh hectares.
Stakeholders noted that a similar trend is emerging in Rajasthan, India’s second-largest cumin-producing state, where farmers are also trimming sowing due to limited price incentives.
“Cumin area will be down this year as prices are weak,” said Dinesh Soni, a spices trader and exporter at Shree Shyam International, Jodhpur. “Though prices rose by about ₹20–25 per kg recently, there was a correction of nearly ₹10 per kg. As a result, acreage in Gujarat could fall by around 25%, while Rajasthan may see a decline of 10–15%.”
Despite the lower sowing outlook, traders remain cautiously optimistic due to ample carry-forward stocks, estimated at around 18–20 lakh bags, which are expected to cushion any sharp supply tightness in the near term. Market analysts said that unless export demand revives strongly in the coming months, cumin prices are likely to remain under pressure, influencing farmers’ planting decisions and shaping the overall supply scenario for the 2025 season.
Dec 14, 2025. India’s red chilli production in the 2025–26 season is likely to decline by nearly 20% as lower acreage, excess rainfall, and pest attacks weigh on crop prospects across key producing regions. Farmers in major chilli belts have reduced sowing and shifted to alternative crops such as maize, cotton, and pulses, citing better returns and comparatively lower risks.
Despite the expected drop in output, market prices are unlikely to witness sharp volatility. Large carry-forward stocks from the previous season, coupled with muted export demand, are expected to adequately cushion supplies and keep prices under check.
Sowing is still underway and has so far covered around 70% of the normal area, according to Velagapudi Sambasiva Rao, President of the Chilli Exporters Association. He noted that sowing has been staggered across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, making it premature to assess the final crop size. A clearer picture is expected to emerge by the first week of January. Unfavourable weather conditions, particularly excess rainfall during the sowing phase, along with increased pest incidence, have further impacted crop health in several pockets.
On the supply front, substantial unsold inventories from the previous season are expected to balance the reduced fresh arrivals. Carry-forward stocks are estimated at around 55 lakh bags in Andhra Pradesh, 36 lakh bags in Telangana, and 45 lakh bags in Karnataka, which should be sufficient to meet near-term domestic demand.
Export demand continues to remain subdued, especially from China, India’s largest buyer of red chilli, as higher local production there has reduced import requirements. This softness in overseas demand has further eased pressure on domestic prices.
Overall, while the production outlook for the 2025–26 season appears bearish due to lower acreage and weather-related stress, strong inventories and weak exports are likely to keep the market range-bound, ensuring price stability in the short to medium term.
Dec 13, 2025.The Turkish dried fig market has entered a phase of heightened volatility, as severe weather disruptions and a seasonal slowdown in exports combine to reshape price dynamics. Persistent drought followed by frost in key producing regions has sharply reduced the 2024–25 crop outlook, tightening raw material availability and pushing prices higher across the supply chain. Raw fig prices have climbed to around 1,500 TL per kilogram, reflecting acute scarcity and strong competition among processors and exporters for limited supplies. This surge underlines a broader trend in agriculture, where climate-related shocks are increasingly translating into sudden and pronounced price movements.
Despite this bullish backdrop, export activity has slowed noticeably as the year draws to a close. European buyers, in particular, have largely stepped back from the market, choosing to defer fresh purchasing decisions until after the holiday period. As a result, exporters report that recently concluded prices are expected to remain largely unchanged through the end of the year, bringing a temporary pause to active trading rather than a reversal of the underlying trend.
In the export market, dried fig prices from Turkey are currently holding steady across grades and sizes. FOB offers from the main producing region of Malatya remain unchanged week-on-week, with Lerida and Natural grades maintaining their previous levels in euro terms. This price stability, however, masks the tighter fundamentals developing beneath the surface, as reduced raw material intake limits the scope for any near-term discounts.
Turkey’s dominant position in the global dried fig trade continues to shape international pricing. As the world’s leading supplier, Turkey sets the tone for the market, particularly when adverse weather curtails output. Industry sources indicate that end-of-season inventories are likely to be significantly lower than last year, given the combination of reduced yields and steady underlying demand.
Competing origins such as Iran and Spain remain limited in scale and are unlikely to offset Turkey’s shortfall in the near term. With alternative supplies constrained, global buyers remain closely tied to Turkish price movements, reinforcing the country’s influence over international trade flows.
Looking ahead, the short-term outlook is mixed. The current export lull may persist until holiday periods conclude, keeping prices relatively stable in the immediate weeks. However, if tight supply conditions and weather-related constraints carry into the new year, the market could see renewed firmness or even further price escalation once buying activity resumes. For now, participants are watching weather patterns and post-holiday demand signals closely, aware that the balance remains fragile and prone to further shocks.
Maharashtra’s raisin export industry is facing a difficult season as repeated spells of unseasonal rainfall and adverse weather conditions have severely impacted grape cultivation across the State’s key production zones. Official export figures indicate that the State shipped only 6,309 tonnes of raisins between April and November 2025, marking a notable decline from normal export volumes and highlighting the scale of crop-related disruptions.
The impact has been particularly pronounced in Nashik and Sangli, which together form the backbone of Maharashtra’s grape and raisin economy. Growers and processors in these districts reported that persistent monsoon rains, followed by heavy showers in September and October, delayed harvesting schedules and led to deterioration in grape quality. These months are critical for grape maturation and the drying process required for raisin production, making weather stability essential for export-grade output.
Agricultural assessments for the 2025–26 grape season have further raised concerns, with experts warning that yields could decline by as much as 50% due to prolonged rainfall, reduced sunlight, and higher disease incidence. Industry participants fear that the impact may not be limited to a single season, as weakened vines and quality losses could affect both fresh grape supplies and raisin availability in the coming years. Despite the production challenges, Maharashtra continued to export raisins to a range of international destinations, including Morocco, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka. However, exporters noted that the availability of export-quality raisins remained constrained, forcing many processing units to operate below capacity and prioritise select markets.
Trade data underline Maharashtra’s importance to India’s dried fruit sector. In 2023–24, India exported more than 42,000 tonnes of raisins, with Maharashtra contributing over 75% of total production. This dominance means that weather-related disruptions in the State have a direct and significant impact on India’s overall export performance. Market participants report that tighter supplies of quality raisins are beginning to influence domestic pricing trends, while export growth remains under pressure. Processing and exporting units are increasingly concerned about capacity utilisation, cost pressures, and the ability to meet long-term international commitments.
Looking ahead, agricultural and trade bodies are closely monitoring the situation. Stakeholders are calling for stronger weather-resilience measures, improved crop insurance coverage, and better post-harvest and logistics support to safeguard Maharashtra’s position in global raisin markets and ensure greater stability for growers and exporters alike.
