Bhubaneswar: A group of women from Balasore who once depended on collecting sal leaves from forests and making traditional leaf plates for their livelihood have achieved a major milestone by securing an international cloth bag order from London. The development has brought recognition to the Navadurga Producers Group based in Dhobashila panchayat under Nilagiri block…
Bhubaneswar: India has eased mandatory inspection requirements for tea imports from Nepal following requests from Nepali authorities, offering significant relief to tea exporters and cross-border traders. Under the revised arrangement, trucks carrying Nepali tea meant for India’s domestic market will no longer be routinely stopped at border points for inspection and testing. The Tea Board…
Bhubaneswar: Fresh concerns have emerged over the future pace of Odisha’s widely recognised millet mission after the proposed budget allocation for the Shree Anna Abhiyan was reduced from ₹600 crore to ₹415 crore for 2026-27, marking a cut of nearly 31 percent. The reduction comes despite the programme reportedly achieving around 93 percent fund utilisation…
Bhubaneswar: India’s seafood exports have reached an all-time high, touching nearly ₹72,000 crore in value, with export volumes rising to 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, according to official data. The record performance highlights the growing global demand for Indian marine products and the continued expansion of the country’s seafood processing and export sector. Frozen shrimp remained…
Bhubaneswar: India’s jaggery industry continues to witness steady growth driven by strong sugarcane production, rising export demand and increasing consumer preference for natural sweeteners. According to official estimates, India’s total sugarcane production for 2024–25 is projected at around 444.9 million tonnes, providing substantial support to the country’s jaggery and traditional sweetener sector. India is also…
Bhubaneswar: Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired a high-level meeting at Krishi Bhavan in New Delhi with senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Ministry of Rural Development and the Department of Land Resources following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal for prudent use of national resources….
Bhubaneswar: The Union Cabinet of India, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a major scheme for promotion of surface coal and lignite gasification projects with a total financial outlay of ₹37,500 crore. The scheme aims to accelerate India’s coal gasification programme and support the national target of gasifying 100 million tonnes of coal…
Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the Union Cabinet has taken a “very important and timely decision” to promote coal gasification as part of India’s strategy to strengthen energy self-reliance amid rising gas demand and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Addressing a Cabinet briefing, the minister said India possesses sufficient coal reserves to meet requirements…
BHUBANESWAR: A report by State Bank of India (SBI) has revealed that nearly 66 per cent of Odisha’s informal sector workforce receives wages below the statutory minimum wage, placing the state among the poorest performers in minimum wage compliance. The findings, based on data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS)-2025, point to significant interstate…
Bhubaneswar: The Government of India and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) have launched a new eight-year strategic partnership framework under the Country Strategic Opportunities Programme (COSOP) for the period 2026 to 2033. The new strategy is aimed at strengthening India’s rural economy by enhancing rural incomes, improving resilience and expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities…