Farmers participate in a tractor rally to protest against the newly passed farm bills, on a highway on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, January 7, 2021.

Indian farmers to step up protests

Move comes after rejecting offer to defer controversial new laws

Indian farmers have rejected an offer by the government to defer three farm reform laws for 1-1/2 years, warning they would step up protests as they seek a repeal of the laws and a guarantee on minimum crop prices. Farm leaders said hundreds of thousands of farmers from neighbouring states including Haryana, Punjab and western

India brings forward ethanol blend target

India plans to achieve 20 per cent ethanol blending with gasoline by 2025, five years ahead of its previous target, to help reduce its dependence on costly oil imports, the government said January 14. Last year the government had set a target of reaching 10 per cent ethanol blending by 2022 — meaning 10 per


Farmers prepare for a rally against India’s newly passed farm laws ahead of Republic Day at Singhu border near New Delhi on Jan. 25, 2021. (Photo: Reyters/Anushree Fadnavis)

Indian farmers ride caravan of tractors into capitol ahead of Republic Day

Farmers reject government's offer to suspend ag market reforms

New Delhi | Reuters — Caravans of tractors clogged a key highway in northern India on Monday as tens of thousands of farmers protesting against agriculture reforms streamed into the capital ahead of Republic Day, and police said they were prepared to deal with the crowds. India marks its founding as a republic on Tuesday

A farmer prays to mark the 551st birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the first Sikh Guru and founder of Sikh faith, at Singhu border near Delhi on Nov. 30, 2020, at the site of a protest against newly passed farm bills. (Photo: Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

India offers to suspend farm reforms

Farmers may call off protests

New Delhi | Reuters — India’s government on Wednesday offered to suspend implementation of three new farm laws that have triggered the biggest farmers’ protests in years, which farm union leaders said they would now consider calling off. The cornerstone of the reform, introduced in September, allows private buyers to deal directly with farmers. Angry


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Pulse weekly outlook: Green, yellow pea prices reach parity

Lower-priced green peas meet upwardly-mobile yellows

MarketsFarm — Yellow and green pea prices in Western Canada have taken divergent paths to start 2021, with yellow peas on the rise and greens declining as values reach parity in many locations. Mike Jubinville of MarketsFarm Pro explained that while Canada’s pea exports suffered under yellow pea import restrictions implemented by India, China later




Yellow peas. (Victoria Popova/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Yellow pea prices stronger since harvest

MarketsFarm — Yellow pea prices on the Prairies have shown strength since harvest, as they’ve seen an appreciable change in demand from India. Darwin Hamilton of Kalshea Commodities in Winnipeg said India is always looking to increase its pulse acres. But, in the event of shortages, it’s been turning to North America for yellow peas.



Farmers attend a protest during a nationwide strike against newly passed farm bills at the Singhu border near Delhi on Dec. 8, 2020. (Photo: Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis)

Farmers protest across India against Modi’s farm market reforms

New Delhi/Mumbai | Reuters — Farmers’ protests against new laws liberalizing agricultural markets spread across India on Tuesday, as farm organizations called for a nationwide strike after inconclusive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. In eastern and western states, farmers blocked roads and squatted on railway tracks, delaying hordes of people getting to work,