Even though the government has banned exports of non-basmati rice, prices have shot up by 15% amid increased demand from south India where patchy rains in Karnataka have reduced kharif rice production. On the other hand, unpredictable rainfall in October has impacted sowing of the new potato crop, which will delay the arrival of the new crop, pushing up prices of the old stock of potatoes.
India uses soybeans to manufacture soyoil, which helps the country cut its hefty edible oil imports, while the by-product soymeal is used for animal feed and exported mainly to Southeast Asia.
Conducting water audits is essential to building resilience against climate change. Kerala’s pioneering water budget shows other states how to plan them