Harish Damodaran
The writer, national rural affairs and agriculture editor for The Indian Express, is currently on sabbatical with the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi
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More From Harish Damodaran
Explained: Why food inflation may ease faster than expected
International prices falling the most since Oct 2008 and a good monsoon back home make it a possibility.
Wed, Aug 10, 2022
Explained: First grain cargo ship has left Ukraine since war began — how big a deal is this?
Ukraine is India's major supplier of sunflower oil. Shipments were impacted after the Russian invasion, and even though the UN-brokered deal will help, corn and wheat have priority over sunflower oil.
Thu, Aug 04, 2022
Explained: India’s unique jobs crisis
There are fewer people employed in agriculture today, but the transformation has been weak. Those moving out of farms are working more in construction sites and the informal economy than in factories.
Tue, Aug 02, 2022
Rains, falling prices prompt farmers to shift from pulses to soyabean, cotton
According to the Union Agriculture Ministry’s latest compiled data as of July 29, farmers have so far sown 106.18 lakh hectares (lh) area under pulses in the current kharif cropping season from June 1. This is above last year’s corresponding area coverage of 103.23 lh.
Mon, Aug 01, 2022
Explained: Making use of forex reserves
India’s foreign exchange reserves have dipped $70 bn in 10 months. Before that, India had accumulated these in a most unconventional manner — which it is now deploying to defend the rupee.
Mon, Jul 25, 2022
Explained: Is there a crisis in rice?
While overall crop coverage has risen since last year, that of rice is down. Deficient rainfall in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is among the reasons. But adequate stocks and cultivation over a wider area suggest there should be no cause for worry.
Tue, Jul 19, 2022
Monsoon revives: Kharif crop area rises, but rice, arhar remain concern
According to the Union Agriculture Ministry’s latest data, farmers have planted a total area of 592.11 lakh hectares (lh) so far in this kharif season from June. This is more than the 591.30 lh covered during the corresponding period of 2021
Sat, Jul 16, 2022
Explained: Global edible oil prices crash; will other food commodities follow?
Palm oil down 43 per cent from March peak, sets the stage for easing of global food inflation.
Tue, Jul 12, 2022
Global food prices decline for third straight month
Along with the revival of monsoon the decline in global food prices can help cool inflation
Fri, Jul 08, 2022
Global food prices decline for third straight month in June
The UN Food and Agricultural Organization's (FAO) Food Price Index averaged 154.2 points in June, down from 157.9 in May, 158.4 in April and the record of 159.7 points in March scaled immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Fri, Jul 08, 2022
Amid sanctions, Russia becomes India’s top DAP fertiliser supplier
Imports made at significant discount to international prices.
Thu, Jun 30, 2022
Explained: Why Western sanctions against Russia are flagging
The Western sanctions on Russia were predicted to inflict unbearable pain on Putin's government. The EU's dependence on Russian energy has prevented that from happening so far, and Russia's export outlook continues to look good in the near term.
Tue, Jun 28, 2022
What India needs to do to reduce its fertiliser bill
G Ravi Prasad and Harish Damodaran write: India cannot sustain the current cost of fertiliser imports and needs to cap its consumption of urea, DAP and MOP
Fri, Jun 24, 2022
In a first, India to import large quantity of urea from the US
“More vessels are likely from the US in the months ahead. It will help in diversifying our import sources and sending a message to other suppliers,” an industry expert told The Indian Express.
Fri, Jun 17, 2022
Explained: Why the UAE has ‘suspended’ re-export of Indian wheat-milling
"India doesn't want its wheat exported to Dubai or Abu Dhabi to go out to other countries, whether as grain or flour. It would want that wheat to be consumed locally, including the migrant Indian workers in UAE," trade sources told The Indian Express.
Wed, Jun 15, 2022
Easing global food prices and promise of good monsoon give RBI elbow room ahead of MPC meeting
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) food price index has fallen for a second consecutive month to 157.4 points in May.
Sat, Jun 04, 2022
Explained: How Maharashtra overtook UP to re-emerge as top sugar producer
Sugar will not go the wheat way, with both Maharashtra and Karnataka registering record production this year.
Tue, May 31, 2022
Explained: What’s behind the current food inflation?
The current inflation is supply shock-driven — and more about calories than proteins and micronutrients. What has been the impact of global calorie inflation on India, and what factors will determine trends in the days ahead?
Tue, May 24, 2022
Explained: Why textile and garment industries want ban on cotton exports
Domestic cotton prices have doubled compared to last year. But does that justify a ban on shipment similar to that on wheat, especially ahead of the new planting season?
Sat, May 21, 2022
Explained: The impact of price volatility
Normal food inflation doesn’t hurt as much as sudden price increases like now, which isn’t good either for consumers or producers.
Mon, May 16, 2022
Govt bans wheat exports after new low output estimate, says need to ensure food availability
Export of all wheat, including high-protein durum and normal soft bread varieties, have been moved from “free” to the “prohibited” category.
Sun, May 15, 2022
Glimmer of hope: Pulses, milk prices fall
The fall in global SMP and butter fat prices should put a lid on inflation in milk and dairy products in India. That, together with retail prices of pulses ruling lower than a year ago, offers some respite amid overall rising food inflation.
Fri, May 13, 2022
Explained: Behind low wheat procurement
From an all-time high last year, procurement of wheat is set to hit a 15-year low this season, falling below existing stocks for the first time. What has led to this, and will it impact availability?
Tue, May 10, 2022
Explained: Farm exports surge to all-time-high, but so do imports
Food inflation fears and supply uncertainties may dampen prospects for India’s agricultural trade after last year’s record $50 billion-plus exports
Fri, May 06, 2022
PDS has had a spectacular run. That may not last
Harish Damodaran, Samridhi Agarwal write: Its golden chapter was scripted in an environment of low global commodity prices and surplus domestic foodgrain production. That party is over, even as food inflation is back.
Wed, Apr 27, 2022