Theme: Agriculture | How Indian agriculture is bouncing back from climate woes

In this episode of the State of Economy Podcast, businessline’s Subramani Ra Mancombu talks to Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director, Yara South Asia, about the state of India’s crop input industry amidst climatic challenges and growing sustainability trends. The sector experienced a difficult phase from late 2022 to mid-2024 due to prolonged drought and weak monsoons, which severely affected farmer demand for fertilizers and other inputs. However, with the onset of a normal monsoon in July 2024, the situation improved significantly, especially during the rabi season.  Kanwar emphasises the increasing resilience and adaptability of Indian farmers, who are shifting toward shorter-duration, water-efficient crops and making more informed decisions based on weather and market data. The digitisation of agriculture and rising literacy are also playing a vital role in transforming farming practices. He notes a growing awareness of sustainability, with farmers adopting regenerative agriculture techniques, focusing on soil health, and organic fertilisers.  Fertiliser companies now play a crucial role in promoting balanced crop nutrition and reducing overuse of inputs. Kanwar stresses the importance of using the right nutrients at the right crop stages, especially micronutrients like zinc and boron, to enhance soil health and productivity sustainably.   (Host: Subramani Ra Mancombu, Producer: Amitha Rajkumar) About the State of the Economy podcast  India’s economy has been hailed as a bright spot amid the general gloom that seems to have enveloped the rest of the world. But several sectors continue to stutter even as others seem set to fire on all cylinders.