Latest news with #Bihar
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
India: Uneven rainfall distribution may cause supply shock in crop prices
New Delhi: The uneven rainfall distribution across various states in the country implies a near-term supply-shock in prices of key crops, according to a report by ICICI Bank. The report highlighted that crop damage in certain regions, where rainfall has been deficient, could lead to upward pressure on prices. According to the report, several states have received excess rainfall. Rajasthan recorded 118 per cent above the Long Period Average (LPA), Madhya Pradesh received 57 per cent above LPA, Gujarat saw 48 per cent above LPA, and Haryana received 24 per cent above LPA. In contrast, Karnataka (8 per cent above LPA), West Bengal (4 per cent above LPA), and Chhattisgarh (3 per cent above LPA) have received normal rainfall. "The divergence in rainfall distribution implies a near-term supply-shock in prices of key crops that are produced in affected areas, due to crop damage," the report stated. On the other hand, key agricultural states such as Bihar (42 per cent below LPA), Telangana (22 per cent below LPA), Andhra Pradesh (15 per cent below LPA), Tamil Nadu (6 per cent below LPA), Maharashtra (3 per cent below LPA), Punjab (2 per cent below LPA), and Uttar Pradesh (2 per cent below LPA) have received lower-than-normal rainfall. Despite the uneven rainfall, the report mentioned that the kharif sowing has shown positive growth. Out of the normal sowing target of 109.7 million hectares, 70.8 million hectares have already been sown, compared to 68.0 million hectares in the same period last year. Last week alone, the sown area was 59.8 million hectares. India's cumulative rainfall, as of July 21, stands at 374 mm, which is 6 per cent above the long-term average. However, this is a decline from the 9 per cent surplus recorded last week, mainly due to reduced rainfall in the Central and Northeast regions of the country. The report suggested that while overall kharif sowing is progressing well, the divergence in rainfall could impact crop production in rain-deficient regions and may lead to supply-side price pressures in the near term.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Indian parliament starts monsoon season: will voter roll change create political storm?
India 's opposition is preparing to confront Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's government over the controversial revision of electoral rolls in the eastern state of Bihar, as parliament convenes for its monsoon session on Monday. Just months before crucial state elections, the Election Commission of India in June announced a sweeping revision of Bihar's electoral rolls — a move that has ignited a political firestorm. Opposition parties and activists have taken to the streets and courts, warning that the overhaul could disenfranchise over 30 million voters, many from already marginalised communities. 'Preferred voters are being added in Bihar and the ones which are not preferred by the Bharatiya Janata Party are being ejected out of the electoral process by the election commission,' Pramod Tiwari, a senior leader with the main opposition Indian National Congress, said at a press conference on Saturday while listing the opposition's agenda for the session. India's opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi (left) receives a giant Assamese traditional Sarai, a cultural symbol of the state, during a party worker's meeting in Bangaon, west of Guwahati, on Wednesday. Photo: AP Under the exercise, residents are required to submit birth certificates to establish nationality, and in some cases certificates for their parents, akin to proving citizenship, along with a list of government-issued documents.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
India Parliament Faces Uproar Over Controversial Voter Revision
India's opposition is preparing to confront Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the controversial revision of electoral rolls in the eastern state of Bihar, as the Parliament convenes for its monsoon session on Monday. Just months before crucial state elections, the Election Commission of India in June announced a sweeping revision of Bihar's electoral rolls — a move that has ignited a political firestorm. Opposition parties and activists have taken to the streets and courts, warning that the overhaul could disenfranchise over 30 million voters, many from already marginalized communities.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Lightning strikes kill 33 people in a week as India's monsoon season brings powerful storms
New Delhi — At least 33 people were killed and dozens injured by lightning strikes in the eastern Indian state of Bihar this week, officials said Friday. The deaths occurred as powerful storms and monsoon rains battered the state. Most of the deaths were reported on Wednesday and Thursday, when intense storms hit at least 10 districts in Bihar. Most of the victims were agricultural workers, including an elderly man killed by a lightning strike in the Nalanda district while he was out with grazing cattle. Two women were seriously injured in the same place and were being treated for burns. The state government has urged residents to take precautions, including remaining indoors during bad weather. Nitish Kumar, Bihar's Chief Minister, announced government compensation of 4 million Indian rupees (about $4,600) for the families of those killed. The storms and lightning are likely to continue, as monsoon rains are expected to continue for weeks in the region. India's Meteorological Department has predicted light to heavy rainfall in most parts of the southern and northeastern parts of Bihar until at least July 24. Lightning strikes are common during monsoon season in north and eastern India. More than 2,500 people in India are struck by lightning every year, according to government data. In Bihar alone, at least 243 people were killed by lightning strikes last year, and 275 died in 2023. In November 2023, lightning strikes during unseasonal rainfall killed 24 people in the western Indian state of Gujarat. A typical lightning strike packs around 300 million volts of electricity, which is capable of causing instant death or severe burn injuries. Scientists say climate change is leading to increased lightning activity and more intense storms. Rising land and sea surface temperatures mean there is more heat energy to fuel the thunderstorms that causes lightning. A study by scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, said lightning strikes in the U.S. could increase by 12% for every degree Celsius rise in average temperature. One person was killed and over a dozen others were injured after being struck by lightning in Jackson Township, New Jersey on Wednesday. India's east and northeast region is also prone to annual flooding that has killed dozens of people and displace hundreds of thousands during monsoon season. The seasonal rains wreaked havoc in southern India last year, too. In July 2024, massive landslides sparked by monsoon rains killed at least 158 people in the southern state of Kerala.
Entrepreneur
6 days ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Dodla Dairy Acquires Osam Dairy for INR 271 Cr in Strategic Expansion Move
InCred Capital acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Osam Dairy and its shareholders. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Dodla Dairy, a prominent South India-based dairy company, has announced the full acquisition of Osam Dairy for a consideration of INR 271 crore. The deal marks a significant development in the Indian dairy industry, particularly in the Eastern region, where large-scale acquisitions have been relatively rare. Osam Dairy, established in 2012, operates in Bihar, Jharkhand, and other Eastern Indian markets. The company runs a vertically integrated supply chain with two processing plants, more than 1,000 collection centers, and a procurement network involving over 25,000 dairy farmers. Processing around 1.1 lakh litres of milk daily, Osam has become a key regional player with a strong local presence. Dodla Dairy, founded in 1995, is one of leading integrated dairy companies. With procurement operations spread across five states and products available in 13, it boasts 190 milk chilling plants and over 2,900 agents. The company also operates 839 Dodla Retail Parlours as of March 2025 and has a growing international footprint in Uganda and Kenya. Dodla Sunil Reddy, Managing Director of Dodla Dairy, said, "We are thrilled to announce the proposed acquisition of Osam, marking a significant milestone in Dodla's journey. This strategic move underscores our commitment to becoming a Pan-India dairy company. Eastern India presents a highly promising market for dairy growth, and we see strong potential through this partnership." The acquisition signals not just expansion but a broader shift in industry dynamics. It underlines the rising interest of national players in regional markets and highlights the untapped growth potential in Eastern India. Abhinav Shah, Promoter and outgoing CEO of Osam Dairy, stated, "This acquisition marks the beginning of Osam's next chapter. Over the past decade, we've built a strong foundation, and joining hands with Dodla will accelerate the company's growth, leveraging their scale and operational excellence." InCred Capital acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Osam Dairy and its shareholders. Ashish Ambwani, Managing Director at InCred Capital, noted, "This transaction represents a landmark moment for Osam Dairy, which has carved a distinct niche in the competitive dairy sector of Eastern India. We're proud to have advised on this transformative deal." The acquisition reflects growing investor confidence in regional dairy ventures and signals an evolving ecosystem in the Indian dairy sector.
