Indian Agricultural Research Bulletin

PM-KISAN 20th  Instalment  2025: When Will Rs 2,000 Be Released? Key Updates for Farmers Tariq Ahmad Bhat Agricultural Extension Officer, Agricultural Production Department Email: tariqbhatkash@gmail.com As the kharif sowing season approaches, over 11 crore farmers across India are eagerly waiting for the 20th installment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme. The upcoming Rs 2,000 payout, expected in June 2025 , is a crucial source of financial support for small and marginal farmers preparing for cultivation. What is PM-KISAN? Launched in 2019 , PM-KISAN is a Central Sector Scheme that offers Rs 6,000 annually to eligible farmer families, disbursed in three equal installments of Rs 2,000 each via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) . The primary aim is to ease the financial burden of agricultural households by providing timely support for expenses related to seeds, fertilizers, and labor. When Will the 20th Installment Be Released? The 19th...

How Agricultural Education is Shaping the  Nation’s Future Dr.Sajad H.Parey Dr.Waseem Ahmad Agriculture is not just a profession in India—it’s a way of life. More than 50% of the country’s workforce depends on it, and in 2020–21, it contributed nearly 20% to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA), according to Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2021. But this isn’t only about fields and food. It’s a story of education, innovation, and the urgent need to prepare a new generation of skilled professionals who can feed the future. The Ancient Roots of Agricultural Wisdom India’s relationship with agriculture goes back centuries. In fact, it was part of the curriculum at ancient universities like Nalanda and Takshila. A 2021 policy paper from the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS) highlights how early Indian education systems placed high value on farming knowledge. This isn’t surprising. Agriculture wasn’t seen as just manual labor—it was respected as both science and ...

                  J ammu & Kashmir is well known for its apple exports as about 57% of the national produce of apples is contributed by the state. It is the 6th largest producer of walnuts  (Juglans regia ) in the world and an important producer and exporter of a wide variety of dry fruits. Jammu & Kashmir has been declared as “Agri Exports Zone for Apples and Walnuts”. Apples are a major produce of Jammu & Kashmir. During the last five years production in the state has increased from 1151.7 thousand metric tonnes in FY2006 to 1852 thousand metric tonnes in FY2011 (National Horticulture board, NHB) The apples exported in 2008-09 were priced at Rs 11,721 per ton, it was Rs 11,942 in 2009-10 and Rs 12,692 in 2010- 11; the apples imported carried a price tag of Rs 45,284 per ton in 2008-09, it was Rs 43,946 in 2009-10 and Rs 46,269 in 2010-11. As per Partap, 2011 unpublished data (Ex-V.C. SKUAST) Jammu & Kashm...

When War Strikes the Soil-  Agriculture in the Crossfire War rarely stays on the battlefield. When the smoke clears and the tanks roll away, what often remains are not just broken buildings—but broken harvests, broken supply chains, and broken hopes. One of the most under-reported casualties of conflict is agriculture. The soil itself becomes a silent victim. And from Gaza to Ukraine, and even in recent tensions between India and Pakistan, we are witnessing how war leaves farmland fallow and families famished. The destruction of agriculture during conflict isn’t just collateral damage—it is a slow, strategic unravelling of life itself. In Gaza today, the soil has turned to ash. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 75% of Gaza’s agricultural land has been destroyed amid the latest war. Crops have been razed, irrigation wells bombed, and greenhouses reduced to twisted metal. Over 96% of livestock is gone, and only 1% of poultry remains. Agriculture was one of the...

A Path-Breaking Initiative of SKUAST-Kashmir:  Minimising  Imports with Suitability & Sustainability   Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST)-Kashmir has embarked on a ground breaking initiative aimed at reducing agricultural imports while promoting self-sufficiency and sustainability. Under the dynamic leadership of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazir Ganai, the University is spearheading innovative research and practical solutions that promise to revolutionize the region’s agricultural landscape. Kashmir, despite its fertile land and favorable climate, has long been dependent on imports for various agricultural products, including seeds, fertilizers, and high-yield crop varieties. SKUAST-K’s latest initiative focuses on developing indigenous alternatives that are both suitable for the region and environmentally sustainable. The objective is clear—minimize reliance on external sources while empowering local farmers with homegrown solut...