Agri-business

The workshop focused on addressing critical gaps in India’s veterinary services by leveraging private sector expertise.

Eligible projects include warehouses, silos, cold chains, logistics facilities, and smart precision agriculture infrastructure. Loan applicants must contribute at least 10 per cent of the project cost, and an entity can apply for up to 25 projects, each eligible for a loan of up to Rs. 2 crore.

Case studies from Ethiopia, Mexico, and the Netherlands highlight how targeted actions, informed by robust governance and a focus on resilience, can catalyse broader progress.

For Bangladesh, the world’s second-largest producer of jackfruit, the fruit was a natural choice. Jackfruit is also the country’s national fruit and symbolizes abundance. Yet much of the potential of this fruit remained untapped.

Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE), a key driver of domestic demand, is projected to grow by 7.3 per cent in 2024-25, a sharp increase from the 4.0 per cent growth recorded in 2023-24.

The Punjab government, under an agreement with the World Bank, refrained from procuring wheat, leaving growers at the mercy of market forces.

The positive growth in food exports, coupled with a reduction in imports, highlights Pakistan’s progress in leveraging its agricultural and food production capabilities.

The SCL Act, which covers 63 items, imposes taxes at high rates on staple foods such as rice, potatoes, and maize. Critics argue that while these taxes protect domestic agriculture, they also make basic foods costly, exacerbating malnutrition among poor families.