AGP Executive Report

Cotton Revival: Kenya is investing Sh409 million in Bt cotton seed distribution across seven counties, aiming to bring farmers back to the crop and supply local textile makers. Farm Finance: Tanzania won a $60 million African Development Bank loan to expand agricultural lending, plus a $997,000 grant for digital climate insurance expected to reach 300,000 farmers. Crop Risk: Western Australian growers are considering legal action after alleged failures in some glyphosate-resistant canola varieties, with reported losses potentially running into millions of dollars. Grain Storage: Ghana is planning a US$4.8 million facility with capacity for 21,000 tonnes to ease storage shortages and cut post-harvest losses. Water Pressure: Farmers in India’s Telangana are demanding irrigation water through November 30, warning that stopping supply could damage crops nearing a critical growth stage.

Drought and Disaster Relief: Philippine lawmakers are pressing agencies to ensure ₱6.2 billion in El Niño aid reaches farmers and fishing communities as drought threatens production. Separately, ₱884.8 million has been distributed to 86,092 sugarcane farmers and workers in Negros affected by pest damage. Trade: Canada and China extended tariff relief on Canadian canola meal, peas, lobster and crab through 2028, giving exporters more predictable access to the Chinese market. Farm Costs: Indiana extended its gasoline tax suspension and diesel relief for farmers through Dec. 4. Storage and Markets: Ghana plans a 21,000-tonne grain storage facility in Wa by August 2027 to cut post-harvest losses and strengthen food reserves. U.S. soybean growers, meanwhile, report strong yields but steep quality discounts that are reducing returns.

Drought and Relief: The Philippine House is pressing agencies to ensure ₱6.2 billion in El Niño aid reaches farmers and fishers as drought threatens production. In Maine, USDA says drought-hit farmers and livestock producers may qualify for disaster assistance. Flood Recovery: A central team inspected cyclone- and flood-damaged paddy fields in Odisha’s Ganjam district, while Cambodia distributed rice seeds to 899 flood-affected farming families. Storage and Markets: Ghana plans a 21,000-tonne grain facility to cut post-harvest losses and build emergency reserves. The Philippines’ National Food Authority expects larger bags to lift palay storage capacity by 30%, helping it buy and stock more rice from local farmers. Policy and Production: India’s ethanol blending could fall to about 15% as El Niño-hit crops push food security ahead of fuel. Sikkim’s milk output, meanwhile, has risen 79% in a decade. Texas Leadership: Rancher Clayton Tucker declared victory in the agriculture commissioner race, poised to become the state’s first Democratic holder of the post in nearly 40 years.

Crop Innovation: Bayer has licensed UC Davis technology to gene-edit corn, wheat and rice so they can use nitrogen from the air, potentially reducing fertilizer costs and emissions. Farm Support: USDA is directing $51.9 million to fight crop-damaging feral swine and awarding grants to expand meat processing, including more than $2 million for two Iowa facilities. Fire and Air Quality: Punjab recorded 584 stubble fires in one day as Delhi’s air quality fell to “very poor”; officials face scrutiny over rising incidents. Weather and Prices: A weak monsoon is delaying India’s winter sowing and raising concerns about lower yields and food inflation, while cyclone-related rain threatens crops in southern India. Harvests: Morocco expects a record 177,000-tonne date crop, up 11%; Iowa soybean harvest is nearly complete, with strong yields reported locally. Farmland: Graves County, Kentucky, has lost nearly 20% of its farmland since 1949, though its number of farms and acreage edged up from 2017.

Weather & Planting: India’s rabi sowing was down 46% year over year by Oct. 30, as weak monsoon rains left soils dry and limited irrigation. Cyclone Murasu, the second storm to hit Andhra’s coast in five days, added to farmers’ fears of crop losses. Farm Support: Kwara State began distributing machinery, processing equipment and farm inputs to support dry-season production and reduce post-harvest losses. Markets & Costs: U.S. fertilizer supplies are tightening as exports from Trinidad and Tobago fall, adding to farmers’ fuel and input bills. Chicago wheat prices slipped on hopes of Russia-Ukraine peace talks and more grain exports. Harvest Pressures: Punjab recorded 1,612 farm-fire incidents by Nov. 2, including more than 500 in the previous 72 hours, as harvesting and wheat-sowing deadlines approach. Machinery: John Deere India reported a record, surpassing 100,000 tractor sales in a single fiscal year.

Wheat Harvest: Zimbabwe has harvested 83% of its winter wheat, producing an estimated 568,581 tonnes so far. Officials expect at least 600,000 tonnes and urge farmers to finish by Friday to protect grain quality. Cyclone Damage: Heavy rain from Cyclone Murasu has damaged crops in India’s Godavari districts, compounding losses from an earlier storm. Farmers are seeking damage assessments, compensation and relief for tenant growers. Farm Relief: Maharashtra has approved ₹291.91 crore for crop and farmland damage from heavy rain and floods, covering more than 309,000 farmers. Rising Costs: U.S. ammonia prices have climbed from about $600 to $875 per short ton since June, adding fertilizer pressure as farmers also face high diesel costs. Farm Technology: Southern Illinois and Missouri researchers will use drones and AI to track drought stress in soybeans, aiming to make the tools practical for growers. Soil and Climate: New research estimates disturbed soils released about 3.9 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases annually from 2016 to 2024, with two-thirds linked to drained or burned peat and other carbon-rich soils.

Climate-Ready Farming: About 200 rice farmers in the Philippines’ Lanao del Sur received fertilizer and training on improving production and preparing for El Niño. Ghana’s weather agency also urged coordinated action ahead of a very strong El Niño expected to bring hotter, drier conditions and water stress. Farm Support: Sri Lanka plans to extend cultivation subsidies to 12 more food crops grown on paddy land, while Maharashtra has sought ₹31,000 crore from the Centre after crop assessments found major losses across 14.15 million hectares. Mechanisation and Markets: Liberia received 304 farm machines as it targets 50,000 hectares for expanded production; Tanzania is exploring low-cost cold rooms to cut produce losses. Dairy Development: Sikkim is set to launch new dairy cooperatives, a milk laboratory and fodder producer groups. Cyclone Relief: Odisha announced assistance for households and farmers affected by Cyclone Arnab, with further damage assessments underway.

Farm Aid: The Trump administration has pledged more than $15 billion for U.S. farmers, including an $8 billion one-time fuel-cost payment, but details and timing are still unclear. Storm Damage: Flooding after Cyclone Arnab damaged crops in Odisha; the state announced cash and rice relief, plus subsidies for eligible farmers. Officials are investigating after a farmer’s death, which his family linked to crop losses. Harvest Outlook: Zimbabwe expects at least 600,000 tonnes of wheat after harvesting 83% of its crop, with officials urging crews to finish before rain threatens grain quality. Market Opportunities: A proposed coconut-shell processing plant in the Philippines could handle 20,000 tonnes a year, giving growers a new outlet for farm by-products. Crop Risks: California’s pistachio harvest could fall to less than half last year’s record after spring heat and alternate-bearing trees, cutting grower revenue despite higher prices. New Crops: Ladakh’s saffron trial produced its first flowers in just 30 days, with officials eyeing expansion to 200 acres.

Cyclone Threat: Andhra Pradesh farmers are being urged to protect crops as a new Bay of Bengal depression threatens heavy rain, days after Cyclone Arnab damaged crops across the state. Farm Investment: Sri Lanka’s US$835 million AgriConnect plan aims to improve market access for 900,000 farmers by 2030; its test will be turning the proposed funding into higher incomes and stronger food security. Livestock Support: Maharashtra will direct at least 5% of district planning funds to fodder production and conservation, including fodder banks and drought-tolerant crops. Climate Adaptation: In Himachal Pradesh, some farmers are switching crops and reviving springs as weather risks grow. In Nepal, wildlife damage has pushed one farmer to replace maize, millet and rice with marketable timur pepper. Crop Markets: India’s maize is increasingly being diverted to ethanol, which now takes about a quarter of grain consumption, reshaping demand for a crop grown by millions of farmers.

Drought and Planting: Telangana ruled out a Rabi crop holiday but urged farmers to favor pulses and vegetables as water supplies dwindle; growers are already shifting from paddy to vegetables and spices. Cyclone Losses: Andhra Pradesh estimates Cyclone Arnab damaged crops across 352,000 hectares, affecting 463,000 farmers and causing at least ₹4,764 crore in losses. Farm Support: The Centre transferred ₹18,680 crore under PM-KISAN to 9.34 crore farmers. Harvest Pressure: Punjab’s farm-fire tally topped 1,000, with 246 cases filed against farmers, as officials face pressure to curb stubble burning. Trade and Storage: A new gamma irradiation centre in Bangladesh aims to extend produce shelf life and cut post-harvest losses; meanwhile, a review of India’s farm trade finds exports growing slowly and leaning more toward bulk commodities than higher-value products.

Farmer Support: India’s PM-KISAN scheme transferred more than ₹18,680 crore to 9.34 crore farm families, alongside the launch of agricultural and rural infrastructure projects in Gujarat. Harvest Risks: Early heat and a short pollination period are expected to cut Tru-Cape’s South African cherry crop by about half, though fruit quality is strong. Unseasonal rain is also raising damage concerns for harvest-ready paddy in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Farm Costs and Conservation: Record-high U.S. diesel prices are squeezing farmers during harvest, while a $1.23 million USDA grant will support trials of precision irrigation technology intended to reduce groundwater use on row-crop farms. Food Security: Kenya’s agriculture principal secretary says food security requires more than higher production, calling for healthier soils, quality seeds, reliable water and greater access to nutritious food. Punjab Crop Residue: Stubble-burning incidents have topped 1,000, including a record 194 in one day, as paddy harvest continues.

Farm Energy: Surging diesel prices are squeezing farms and rural businesses. In Tanzania, replacing a diesel pump with solar irrigation roughly doubled mango production and sales income in one season. Crop Insurance: Corn and soybean harvest-price guarantees are expected to remain above spring levels, at $4.75 and $12.63 respectively, even as grain markets slide. Punjab Stubble Fires: The state has recorded more than 1,000 fires this season, including 194 in one day; authorities have filed 246 cases against farmers as wheat sowing approaches. Processing and Markets: India’s expanded Banas Dairy fries plant can process five tonnes of potatoes an hour, offering growers in Gujarat stronger access to organized buyers. Harvest Disruptions: Flood-damaged roads and bridges in Nepal’s Rasuwa district are leaving vegetables to rot in fields, with farmers struggling to afford costly, improvised transport. Dairy Output: U.S. milk production rose 2.6% in September year over year, while Idaho output grew 3.5%.

Stranded Harvest: Flood-damaged roads and bridges in Nepal’s Manaslu region have left about 100,000 kilograms of apples unsold, putting a strong harvest at risk of spoiling. Crop Protection: Surveillance plots in Bangladesh are giving officials early warning of pests and disease, helping farmers protect paddy crops. Farm Fires: Punjab reported 194 stubble fires on Oct. 29, its biggest daily spike this season; an officer inspecting fires was assaulted and hospitalized. Harvest and Markets: Kazakhstan recorded one of its largest grain harvests in 15 years, with strong wheat quality and exports also rising. Reducing Losses: Solar-powered dryers in Kerala are helping more than 100 rural families preserve fruit and vegetables and turn surplus produce into value-added goods. Drought Pressure: Butebo residents in Uganda are seeking food aid and fast-growing seeds after a dry spell damaged cultivation across several seasons.

Storm Damage: Cyclone Arnab brought exceptional rain to Odisha, flooding villages and damaging ripe paddy; farmers in Chhattisgarh also report flattened crops and are seeking damage surveys and compensation. India Support: PM Modi is set to transfer ₹18,690 crore to 9.34 crore farmers on Friday, alongside projects for agricultural storage and horticulture. U.S. Markets: USDA plans to buy up to $472.5 million in American farm commodities for food assistance, while wheat prices extend a historic slide and rising diesel costs squeeze growers. Harvest Watch: Harvest is nearly complete in southeast Saskatchewan, but wet fields have left some acres inaccessible. In Virginia, corn yields are finishing stronger than feared after drought eased. Farm Risk: A new crop-insurance commentary urges growers to build coverage into production budgets as weather, input costs and market disruptions compound.

Cyclone Damage: Cyclone Arnab battered Andhra Pradesh, damaging crops across 14 districts; officials are assessing losses and planning relief for affected farmers. Afghanistan’s Crop Crisis: Opium poppy cultivation rose 330% to 43,000 hectares in 2026 despite the Taliban ban, as poverty and poor returns from legal crops push some farmers back to poppy, the UN says. Harvest Update: Mongolia’s autumn harvest was 88.1% complete by Oct. 26, with 569,500 tonnes of grain collected. Market Access: Flood-damaged roads have left apples stranded in Nepal’s Manaslu region, where one orchard produced about 100,000 kilograms this year. Climate Resilience: After El Niño-related losses of 3.5 billion pesos, farmers and fisherfolk in the Philippines’ Agusan del Sur are using weather forecasts to adjust field routines. Rising Costs: The World Bank expects global food commodity prices to climb 10% in 2026, citing disrupted grain shipments, El Niño risks and higher fuel and fertilizer costs.

Tea Policy: Uganda’s Parliament has cleared the way for a bill requiring value addition to tea exports and creating a domestic auction system, aiming to reduce reliance on the Mombasa market and protect growers from unstable prices. Fuel Costs: Canadian grain growers are seeking a 50-cent-per-litre diesel subsidy as harvest fuel bills climb. Harvests: Ukraine has gathered 41.7 million tonnes of grain, up 7.3% year over year, and 16.9 million tonnes of oilseeds, up 11.7%. Climate Risks: Cyclone Arnab damaged crops across 79,000 acres in Andhra Pradesh, while Cebu is organizing a task force ahead of forecast El Niño drought. Farm Technology and Water: China’s agricultural drone fleet now exceeds 300,000, and a new irrigation project in Kenya is expected to bring year-round water to 834 acres and benefit 1,668 households.