FAI chief advocates strategic land use for fertiliser efficiency
Director general of the Fertiliser Association of India ( FAI ), SK Chaudhari, emphasised the importance of clearly demarcating land use for conventional and organic farming to improve fertiliser efficiency .Chaudhari spoke at the inauguration of the Management Development Programme (MDP) at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Goa, on Tuesday. He took charge as the FAI head in February.'Such measures are essential to ensure the sustainable and efficient use of fertilisers in Indian agriculture,' he said, providing a detailed perspective on the current fertiliser industry landscape.The event featured technical sessions, including expert talks by Gopal Mahajan on fertiliser use under climate-smart agriculture and Murtaza Hasan (IARI, New Delhi) on smart urban farming .Participants toured ICAR Goa's demo units, which included coconut-based natural farming systems, organic input recycling, and the livestock waste valorisation system. The special focus was on PROM (Phosphourja), a phosphate-rich organic manure, highlighting its effectiveness and commercial potential.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
Russian oil import cuts could hit Indian OMCs GRM by $1–1.5/bbl, says report
US President Donald Trump last week targeted Indian imports by announcing a 25% tariff on goods imported from India, effective August 7, 2025, along with an unspecified penalty for the country's ties with Russia. He has been threatening to impose hefty tariffs on countries that continue importing Russian crude, claiming that these nations are directly financing Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine On July 15, 2025, Trump gave Russia 50 days to end the Ukraine war and agree to a peace deal; otherwise, he threatened to impose a 100% tariff on buyers of Russian oil. On July 29, he shortened this timeline to 10–12 days (down from 50 days). The US Treasury Secretary also warned China, the largest buyer of Russian oil, that it could face huge tariffs if it continued its purchases, with threats further extended to India to stop buying the Russian crude. India is among the major buyers of Russian crude, with imports witnessing a significant surge since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022 and the subsequent drop in Russian crude prices. The share of Russian crude in India's total crude petroleum imports rose from just 1.5% during FY2018–FY2022 to 19.3% in FY2023 and further to 33–35% in FY2024–FY2025. Discounted Russian oil has also helped stabilize prices during periods when global crude prices spiked sharply, reaching as high as $135 per barrel. Analysts at JM Financial believe this move is likely part of a broader US negotiation strategy aimed at pressuring Russia into agreeing to a peace deal with Ukraine. A significant reduction in Russian crude imports could otherwise trigger a sharp rise in crude prices, counteracting Trump's efforts to push the US Federal Reserve toward cutting interest rates, they added. The US threat of secondary tariffs and penalties has prompted Indian refiners to seek government guidance on Russian crude purchases. Reports suggest state refiners halted Russian oil buys last week due to narrowing discounts and sanction risks, with tankers idling off India's west coast. However, India's MEA stated energy imports are driven by market dynamics, not US pressure. While the US president claimed India may stop buying Russian oil, government sources clarified that refiners continue sourcing based on price, crude grade, and economic factors. According to analysts at JM Financial, if India stops importing Russian crude, it would significantly impact OMCs and CPCL/MRPL, while having only a slight negative effect on Reliance Industries. The brokerage noted that this would end the USD 1–1.5/bbl GRM benefit that Indian refiners have enjoyed since FY23, driven by Russian crude discounts of USD 3–4/bbl, which account for 30–40% of India's crude requirements. It further stated that every USD 1/bbl hit to GRM could negatively impact FY26 EBITDA by 8–10% for OMCs, 20–25% for MRPL/CPCL, and approximately 2% for RIL's consolidated EBITDA. This impact could be partially offset by a potential rise in diesel cracks due to supply-side concerns arising from possible US and EU sanctions. The brokerage also noted that crude oil prices could rise sharply if India halts Russian crude imports, assuming the shortfall is not offset by increased purchases from China or other countries. China already buys a substantial 2–2.5 mmbpd of Russian crude compared to its total oil demand of around 16.5 mmbpd. However, a sustained upside in crude prices is likely to be capped due to the current global oil oversupply of 1.5–2 mmbpd, aided by the easing of OPEC+'s 2.2 mmbpd voluntary output cut and a 1.5 mmbpd growth in non-OPEC+ output in CY25. Global oil supply is expected to grow 2.1 mmbpd in CY25 versus demand growth of approximately 0.7 mmbpd. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has spare capacity of around 2 mmbpd, and elevated crude prices could hinder a key priority of the US President, pushing the US Federal Reserve to cut interest rates, the brokerage noted. Disclaimer: This story is for educational purposes only. The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
Trump Threatens To "Substantially" Raise Tariffs On India Over Russian Oil
US President Donald Trump has threatened India yet again over its purchase of Russian oil. "India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA," he said without specifying what tariff level he had in mind. His post comes days after his announcement that 25 percent tariff would be imposed on goods imported from India, adding that the country would also face an unspecified penalty, but gave no details. Government sources, however, told NDTV that the tariff would have a "negligible" impact on the Indian economy. The GDP loss is not likely to exceed 0.2 per cent, sources said. Over the weekend, sources in the government told NDTV that Indian oil firms will not be halting Russian imports as "India's energy purchases are driven by national interests and market forces". Trump's threat follows his increasingly souring relationship with Russia for failing to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. He even threatened new economic sanctions if progress was not made. India, the world's third-largest crude importer after China and the US, historically bought most of its oil from the Middle East, but this changed after Russia began selling its oil at discounted rates after the West shunned it as punishment for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The same year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended India's decision and said, "India's total purchase of oil from Russia in a month is probably less than what Europe does in an afternoon". He was addressing a press conference in Washington. India purchases up to 2 million barrels per day of oil, accounting for 2 per cent of global supply. Other top buyers are China and Turkey. Last week, Trump declared that the US has a massive trade deficit with India, accusing it of having the "most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any country". "While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the world, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any country," he said.
Business Standard
25 minutes ago
- Business Standard
MS Dhoni's business empire: Brands, startups, and major investments
'It doesn't matter how you start, just finish it like Dhoni,' is a popular quote created by fans, derived from former Indian skipper MS Dhoni's time with the Indian cricket team when he became famous for winning matches for his team with his big-hitting abilities after taking the match into the final overs from an impossible-looking situation. However, while the quote is not officially given by the man himself, he sure does live by this code. Dhoni, even before announcing his retirement from international cricket almost six years ago, had already started working on what he would do once his time on the cricketing field was over. Dhoni started many business ventures and invested in just as many, practically building a business empire of his own. The former Indian skipper recently added yet another investment project to his portfolio by investing in a cloud kitchen venture which goes by the name House of Biryani (HOB), as mentioned in an advertorial in a major newspaper. Not his first rodeo Dhoni investing in HOB is not the first time the former Indian skipper has decided to invest in an up-and-coming business, as we have already mentioned earlier in the story. He has a long portfolio of companies where he either invested or founded/co-founded. From founding Seven to Hotel Mahi Residency or investing in projects like HOB, Dhoni has built a business empire of his own. But what are some other major projects Captain Cool has associated himself with? Take a look. Major investments and business ventures of Dhoni Seven (Sportswear and Footwear Brand): Launched in 2016, Dhoni is the part-owner (footwear section) and also the brand ambassador. The brand features sportswear and footwear inspired by his cricket legacy. SportsFit World / Fit7 (Gyms): Dhoni owns over 200 SportsFit gyms and has also invested in Fit7, making a notable mark on India's growing health and wellness industry. Chennaiyin FC (Indian Super League Football): Co-owner of Chennaiyin FC, one of the ISL's prominent football teams. The team has won multiple titles under his co-ownership. Mahi Racing Team India (SuperSport World Championship): Dhoni co-owns this motorcycle racing team, competing internationally and adding another sport to his business interests. Dhoni Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. (Film & Digital Content Production): Founded in 2019 with his wife, Sakshi, this company produces films and series, primarily in southern Indian languages, and aims to create positive, engaging content. Hotel Mahi Residency (Hospitality, Ranchi): Owner of Hotel Mahi Residency, a hospitality venture in his hometown, Ranchi. Organic Farming & Agriculture: Owns agricultural land near Ranchi, promoting organic farming and investing in agri-based startups. 7Ink Brews (F&B—Copter7 Beers & Chocolates): Invested in and co-founded this Mumbai-based beverage and artisanal chocolates startup. The Copter7 brand is inspired by his signature helicopter shot and jersey number. Startup and tech investments
