AGP Executive Report

Fertiliser Policy Clash: India’s push to cut chemical fertiliser use is colliding with state rules that restrict subsidised products to only price-controlled markets, potentially slowing uptake of speciality nutrients and natural farming. Monsoon Worries: IMD has trimmed its 2026 monsoon forecast to 90% of average, with El Niño risks raising odds of dry spells and heatwaves that could hit kharif sowing. Crop Insurance Doubts: Kashmir apple growers are skeptical of a new weather-linked crop insurance plan after earlier schemes failed to deliver relief from hail damage. Farmgate Affordability Pressure: In the US, tomato prices are up about 40% year-on-year, with tariffs and shipping costs blamed for squeezing household budgets. Drought and Water Cuts: Southern Idaho’s Twin Falls Canal Company has cut deliveries again as historic drought deepens, forcing tough crop and lawn trade-offs. Hail/Freeze Impacts: Eastern Panhandle orchardists report severe spring freeze losses, while Oklahoma wheat faces hail and late-season rain quality hits. Residue Burning Spread: Crop residue burning is expanding beyond north India into Telangana and Andhra, threatening soil fertility and air quality. Telangana Paddy Procurement Row: BJP alleges Congress is failing on paddy procurement, with farmers waiting at market yards and accusing collusion with millers. Strawberry Pest Reality: A guide explains how spotted wing drosophila larvae can end up inside strawberries and what growers and buyers can do.

Fertiliser Pressure & Trade Tensions: The U.S. FTC has opened an investigation into a sharp fertilizer-price spike tied to the Iran conflict, as farmers face tighter margins and higher input costs. Regional Food Security: South Africa’s agriculture minister urged SADC to fast-track harmonised fertiliser rules and strengthen disease controls after warning that 58 million people in the region still face food insecurity. Ghana Market Access Boost: The World Bank approved $500m for Ghana’s rural feeder roads to cut transport costs and post-harvest losses, targeting 350,000 farmers and improving access to markets. Poultry in Ghana: Ho’s municipal leadership backed the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” push to revitalise poultry and reduce reliance on imported chicken. Aquaculture Safety Alert: South Africa’s fisheries department closed Saldanha Bay shellfish harvesting after paralytic shellfish toxins in mussels and oysters hit more than 15 times the safety limit. Climate-Smart Farming Ideas: A Tamil Nadu farmer credited tree-based multi-crop methods for turning a loss-making coconut farm into a high-income enterprise, while a U.S. cover-crop programme reopened enrollment with higher payments for farmers adopting soil-improving practices.

Disaster Relief: New Jersey farmers are tallying losses after an April freeze wiped out most apple and peach crops, with Gov. Mikie Sherrill seeking federal aid after a projected $300M hit. Water Stress: In the Philippines, Bulacan says irrigation shortfalls are worsening as Angat Dam levels keep dropping despite intermittent rains. Input Costs & Policy: The U.S. FTC has launched an investigation into possible anti-competitive practices in the fertilizer industry as growers face soaring prices; USDA is also updating base acres that could change farm program support. Weather Impacts Crops: Nebraska growers in Auburn-area storms say years of topsoil recovery may be needed after heavy rain and flash flooding. Planting Progress: Saskatchewan seeding has reached 52% but still lags averages, with regions uneven after wet, cool starts. Biofuels & Cotton: Canada’s clean fuel rules uncertainty is raising investment fears, while U.S. officials unveiled a “Great American Cotton Plan” to expand markets. Bees & Pollination: A California beekeeper reports losing 80 hives in the Verona fire, warning of knock-on effects for pollination-dependent farms.

El Niño Risk to Rice: The Philippines’ Department of Agriculture warned a severe El Niño could cut national rice output by up to 700,000 metric tons, and is restarting its task force with steps like cloud seeding, solar irrigation, planting-calendar shifts, and crop diversification. Hidden Food Threats: A separate report argues Super El Niño impacts go beyond yields, raising concerns about food quality, nutrition gaps, microbial spoilage, heat-related health risks, and pollution from fires. Farmers Under Pressure: Minnesota farmers are seeing bankruptcies surge as costs rise and crop prices sink, reviving fears of a wider farm crisis. Commodity and Market Strains: Native tobacco prices in Pangasinan, Philippines, have fallen sharply amid oversupply, while Asia rice trade shows firmer demand for Indian and Thai rice. Livestock Support: South Africa’s ARC is running its Cattle Betterment Programme to improve identification, breeding, health, and traceability for smallholders. On-Farm Tech: Cornell researchers unveiled a soft robotic gripper that can sense fruit ripeness by touch, aiming to reduce bruising and improve harvest quality. Drought-Ready Crops: Nebraska researchers are pushing drought- and heat-tolerant sorghum as extreme dryness spreads. Policy and Value Addition: Kenya announced Ksh2.4B for common-user facilities in county industrial parks to help small agribusinesses with processing and packaging.

Pest Threats: Butte County, California, moved to protect citrus and almonds after detecting the glassy-winged sharpshooter, using sticky traps near Costco and urging residents to report sightings because the insect can spread Pierce’s disease. Food Security & Reserves: The Philippines’ National Food Authority expanded milling capacity via emergency contracts in Bicol and Region 12 to speed up processing of palay and strengthen rice reserves for the P20-per-kilo program. Climate Risk: A new study warns climate change could boost hail size and damage, with bigger hail increasing by up to 47% by century’s end. Farm Inputs & Tech: Australia’s Liquid Systems launched a simplified in-furrow liquid application system aimed at helping growers stretch fertilizer and input dollars. Weather Damage: Heavy storms in western North Carolina left some farms facing major crop losses and costly cleanup, forcing tough replant-or-repair decisions. Policy & Water: The U.S. Supreme Court approved a settlement to curb groundwater pumping along the Rio Grande, including retiring some irrigated farmland rights. Market Pressure: In Uganda’s Bugiri District, rare pests are devastating maize and eggplant, drying plants and threatening harvests and loan repayment.

Bio-based crop protection: EU’s CROPSAFE project has screened 51 bio-based compounds and picked 24 lab-tested candidates to replace synthetic pesticides for potato, tomato and banana crops. Agri-tech for dual land use: EnergyLane is pushing agrivoltaics—solar above active farmland—aimed at letting farms keep producing while generating power. Farm safety on the road: Ireland’s farm groups urged extra caution on rural roads as silage harvesting ramps up, warning drivers to expect heavy agricultural traffic. Flood wipes out harvests: In Bangladesh’s haor areas, continuous rain and upstream runoff submerged ripe boro paddy, leaving families facing debt and no Eid harvest. Policy and inputs pressure: Vermont became the first US state to ban paraquat over Parkinson’s fears, while analysts warn fertilizer costs may stay high into next spring. Food security risk from energy shocks: FAO warned Strait of Hormuz disruptions could deepen the global food crisis by raising fertilizer and seed costs. Maize outlook: Zambia projects a record 4.9m tonnes of maize, citing favorable weather and targeted support. Hemp jobs push: South Africa’s Eastern Cape says local hemp processing is now feasible using existing cotton technology, aiming to unlock rural jobs.

Fertilizer Shock Meets Policy Push: With the Strait of Hormuz still mostly closed, urea prices are at multi-year highs and UN warnings point to longer food-price pressure—while the Trump administration is moving to expand domestic ammonia capacity, including a new CF Industries plant in Louisiana that won’t hit prices for years. Farm Risk on Multiple Fronts: Vietnam’s coffee growers are getting parametric payouts after extreme rainfall, and poultry producers are being warned to brace for summer heat to protect egg output and survival. Food Safety Spotlight: A new “Dirty Dozen” test roundup says nearly all sampled produce types showed pesticide residues, including “forever chemicals,” keeping scrutiny on chemical use. Legal & Market Moves: A court greenlights farmers’ bid to sue the federal government over the 2011 Canadian Wheat Board deal, and Wisconsin’s farm groups are pushing back on how to reach net-zero. Climate Reality Check: El Niño-linked warnings suggest food prices may “shoot up” and then drift down slowly—so relief may be delayed.

Policy & Markets: Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved selling part of Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) stocks (about 115,000 metric tons stored) to free up warehouse space and cash for Yala paddy purchases, keeping a safety stock in place. Weather Shock & Crops: Western Slope growers say Palisade peaches largely dodged freeze damage that hit other areas, pushing back against “wiped out” headlines as early-season fruit markets reset. Input Costs & Trade Tensions: Europe is rolling out a fertilizer-cost response plan, while the wider story remains grim: Iran-linked supply disruptions are still feeding higher fertilizer and energy prices that can lift food costs sharply. Seed & Competition: The U.S. DOJ says Bayer will suspend “unfair” seed contract loyalty provisions for seven years, aiming to reduce pressure on farmers’ seed-purchase options. Biosecurity & Compliance: Zimbabwe tobacco authorities warn growers to destroy stalks by May 15 to stop pests and diseases carrying over into the next season. Local Governance: Cebu City lawmakers are alarmed that drought-protection irrigation projects are stalled, underfunded, or broken, raising questions about readiness for El Niño.

Courtroom Shock in Nigeria: A DSS witness told the Federal High Court in Abuja that Benue youth leader Silas Oloche was arrested with grenades and ammunition, allegedly linked to plans for retaliation after herder attacks—while the court also admitted a DSS report in the wider Benue arms stockpiling trial. Local Power Under Scrutiny: Osun’s monarch, Oba Muideen Azeez, was arrested inside court premises after a bench warrant, amid allegations tied to the robbery of women processing palm oil and destruction of farmland. Food Supply Watch: Indonesia says rice output should stay stable despite El Niño risk, citing irrigation and Bulog reserves. Fruit Crop Hit: India’s Alphonso mango crop in Maharashtra is being ruined by weather swings, forcing farmers to source fruit elsewhere to meet orders. ASF Containment: Fresh African Swine Fever restrictions were imposed in Nagaland districts, tightening movement and sales of pigs and pork. UK Food Costs: A UK report warns food prices may stay high longer due to “rocket and feathers” effects from war and extreme weather. Farm Innovation: Northern Ireland’s Blaney Group opened a new funding call for practical farm machinery ideas.

Diesel Relief for Paddy Services: Malaysia is set to extend its subsidised diesel fleet card to 17,000 agricultural machinery service providers, with about RM200m proposed to cut paddy cultivation costs as fuel pressures squeeze tractor, harvester and fertiliser-spreader operators. Harvest Readiness in Tunisia: A small Cabinet meeting in Tunisia approved plans to keep grain procurement prices steady, fund the harvest with state guarantees, expand combine adjustments (1,300 combines), and tighten storage and fire-prevention ahead of the 2026/27 season. Planting Progress in Malaysia’s MADA: In Perlis, officials say 65% of Muda paddy areas are ready, with farmers expected to start sowing after Aidiladha as water supply improves. Procurement Tensions in Telangana: Telangana’s BJP and BRS are trading blame over delayed paddy/maize procurement, pending payments and distress sales, while the government launches a 10-day push to catch up. Flood Fallout in South Africa: Western Cape flooding is described as the worst in 100 years, with major farm damage and long road closures still reported. Soil-to-Plant Innovation: A study spotlights rice-fish coculture as a low-input way to boost phosphorus availability in paddy soils.

Heat-and-water damage: Negros Occidental (Philippines) says extreme heat and water shortages hit rice and high-value crops worth P16.2M from April to May, with rice losses at P15.9M across 26 barangays in Silay/Bago and towns including San Enrique, Pulupandan and Hinoba-an; the provincial government is pushing cloud seeding and a new El Niño task force for contingency planning. Weather risk: In Kashmir, severe storms brought a hailstorm and lightning in Lolab, killing a 22-year-old and injuring another, while meteorologists warn El Niño may add to Kashmir’s weather instability. Market pressure: A separate analysis flags how fertiliser import costs and the Strait of Hormuz could keep squeezing farm economics, while wheat procurement failures show how one region’s issues can ripple through national food prices. Local food access: Nanaimo’s new online hub, Homegrown, is now live to help farms sell directly for pickup.

Food-price pressure from energy shocks: A new Mekong-region report says inflation is staying “elevated” as West Asia conflict keeps energy prices high and supply chains shaky—hitting agriculture and other fuel-dependent sectors and squeezing consumer spending. Import-replacement push: Malaysia’s MARDI-backed onion venture is scaling fast, with one young farmer expanding from 500 polybags to about 51,000, betting on locally grown red onions to cut import reliance. Procurement fight: In India’s Telangana, BRS leaders staged a road protest alleging the government failed to procure paddy and maize on time, with claims of unfair weighing losses for farmers. Seasonal market lift: Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat fruit markets are buzzing as Joishtho seasonal fruits roll in, though traders say prices remain high due to limited early supply. Labour health in the fields: In Maharashtra, sugarcane cutters are getting basic field healthcare training under a local “Arogya Sathi” initiative, turning trained women into “doctor tai” for remote worksites. Global risk watch: FAO warns the Strait of Hormuz closure could trigger a systemic agri-food shock and severe food price crisis within 6–12 months.

Hailstorm Fallout in Kashmir: Growers in the Valley say repeated hail has wrecked nearly 30% of agriculture and horticulture, with orchardists in debt and demanding a disaster-year tag and faster crop insurance relief after Minister Javid Ahmad Dar toured Rafiabad. Water for Farms: Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini pledged irrigation water to every field via community tanks for 10+ acres and micro-irrigation, with 85% subsidy. Fertiliser Pressure Ahead of Kharif: Maharashtra moved to ration and monitor fertiliser supply as global disruptions squeeze availability. Weedkiller-to-Clinic Link: A study from Argentina reports glyphosate-toughened bacteria in unsprayed wetlands matching hospital-resistant strains, raising new farm-to-health concerns. Pollinator Update: A bee long thought extinct since 1960 was rediscovered in Rhode Island, alongside 25 never-before-recorded species. Food Prices Bite: Nigeria’s Sallah season is pushing tomato and pepper costs higher, forcing households to buy less. Local Trade Watch: Meherpur litchi farmers are eyeing up to Tk 55 crore in seasonal sales as orchards hit peak harvest.

Input-Cost Shock: Mexico’s wholesale food market is seeing steep price hikes as fuel, fertiliser and logistics costs surge after Strait of Hormuz disruptions, squeezing low-income shoppers who spend most of their income on food. Market Monitoring: Oman’s agriculture ministry is stepping up inspections ahead of Eid Al Adha, reporting strong central-market supplies and steady shipments. Pesticide Pushback: Malaysia’s Pahang Sultanate urged Cameron Highlands farmers to cut pesticide dependence using safer, tech-enabled and biological control methods. Farm Safety: A tractor-trolley carrying migrant labourers overturned in Madhya Pradesh, killing two and injuring about 20. Climate Pressure: Kansas wheat growers warn of a “double whammy” from record drought/heat and disease, with the smallest crop since 1972 projected. Aquaculture Spotlight: Indonesia’s Prabowo visited a Kebumen shrimp facility, touting high productivity and jobs as the country expands pond farming.

Fertiliser Shock Relief: The EU has temporarily suspended customs duties on key nitrogen fertilisers like urea and ammonia for one year, aiming to blunt price spikes hitting farmers after near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz—though the move excludes imports from Russia and Belarus and is capped by a quota. Input-Cost Pressure: With shortages likely to squeeze 2027 output and push commodity prices higher, farmers are already weighing crop changes and higher bills. Weather Stress, Uneven Recovery: Moisture is improving some areas, but drought damage is sticking—Arkansas experts say recent rain can’t undo months of dry, and Kansas wheat faces one of its toughest seasons in decades. Policy & Tech Moves: John Deere’s right-to-repair settlement gets preliminary court approval, while China’s leadership is urging “all-out” summer grain work and trans-regional machinery support. Food Security Beyond Farms: Cleveland Clinic is expanding a $2.5m partnership with Second Harvest to reach more food-insecure families.

Input Crunch & Policy: India’s fertiliser squeeze has shifted from “can we get it?” to “can we keep paying for it?” as kharif demand looms and output falls, prompting a subsidy boost while retail prices stay flat. Weather Shock: Saskatchewan seeding is only 29% complete after rain/snow and strong winds slowed work, while New Jersey farmers are still reeling from April’s freeze that triggered a statewide emergency and potential $300M+ losses. Regional Production Push: China’s Heilongjiang doubles down on grain output and black-soil protection, aiming to add 10 million tonnes under its 2026-30 plan. Value-Add on the Farm: Singapore-linked partners are backing climate-friendly rice that could earn carbon credit revenue for farmers, and Australia’s Harvest ResQ concept targets on-farm dehydration to rescue surplus fruit from waste. Food Security Pressure: Golden Harvest Food Bank says federal food deliveries are down nearly 40% and donations are down 27%, forcing a major purchasing ramp-up. Local Ag Politics: Telangana’s Kavitha was detained during a protest over paddy procurement delays and bonus demands. Market Watch: The U.S. winter wheat story is getting louder as conditions slip and the crop moves fast, limiting recovery chances.