While everyday rice demands yearly sowing and is prone to soil depletion, wild rice thrives as a rugged, self-renewing perennial. The team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences screened hundreds of wild strains, using advanced biotech tools to clone the vital gene that confers this multi-year productivity.

China’s diverse landscape, dotted with hilly farmlands in its southwestern, northeastern, and northwestern provinces, stands to benefit immensely. These areas grapple with steep slopes where traditional annual crops falter. The new rice variety addresses this head-on, minimizing replanting efforts, curbing expenses, and fortifying food reserves against uncertainties.

This development not only elevates China’s agricultural prowess but also offers a blueprint for sustainable farming globally. By mimicking wild resilience in cultivated crops, scientists pave the way for eco-friendly practices that could mitigate famine risks and adapt to changing climates.

Over the past decade since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi has joined more than 60 such discussions. These forums allow him to delve into topics ranging from economic restructuring to people’s livelihoods, often employing relatable analogies to demystify governance strategies and rally support for national goals.

Xi has consistently advocated for shifting economic paradigms, urging a focus on industrial enhancements, innovation-led progress, sustainable green practices, and regenerative growth akin to a phoenix rising from ashes.

The 2022 sessions saw Xi reiterate the non-negotiable status of food security. With China’s vast agricultural base in mind, he cautioned against laxity, positioning farmers’ well-being at the core of national stability.

Equally emphatic has been Xi’s environmental ethos. By equating clean water and verdant mountains to priceless treasures, he has championed harmonious development that safeguards ecology while fueling prosperity. As China advances, these Two Sessions conversations remain vital in charting a resilient future.

Government data reveals that the stock includes 47 million tonnes of urea alone, supplemented by phosphates and potash to meet comprehensive nutrient needs. This diversification addresses past criticisms of over-reliance on single nutrients, promoting healthier soil and sustainable farming.

Prime Minister’s Office sources indicate that negotiations with global suppliers like Russia, Morocco, and Canada have been pivotal. Domestic giants such as IFFCO and Rashtriya Chemicals are ramping up production to contribute 60% of the total supply.

The impact on rural economies could be transformative. With fertilizer costs constituting 20-30% of input expenses, this availability is projected to save farmers up to ₹20,000 crore collectively. States with high fertilizer consumption, including Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, stand to gain the most.

To ensure last-mile delivery, the government is deploying AI-driven logistics and drone surveillance in vulnerable areas. A new subsidy mechanism tied to soil health cards will optimize usage and minimize wastage.

Critics, however, urge vigilance against hoarding. The Fertilizer Ministry has vowed strict enforcement, with penalties for errant dealers. As harvest seasons unfold, this policy could redefine productivity benchmarks, securing India’s position as the world’s top agrarian powerhouse.

Millets are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals, and are naturally gluten-free. They have a low glycemic index, making them suitable for people with diabetes and celiac disease.

India is currently the world’s largest producer of millets, contributing 38.4% to global grain production. Due to its low cultivation costs and ability to withstand climate change, millets are a crucial part of the country’s food reserves, making it a sustainable option for farmers.

By July 2025, India achieved a total millet production target of 18.015 million tons in 2024-25, an increase of 443,000 tons compared to the previous year. This continuous growth highlights the country’s focused efforts to promote millet cultivation across diverse agro-climatic zones.

The government has consistently strengthened budgetary and policy frameworks to promote millets. This support is available in all areas of production, export, and research. The National Food Security and Nutrition Mission supports millet production. The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is running a sub-mission on nutritious cereals under the National Food Security Mission, which includes jowar, bajra, ragi-mandua, and small millets like kutki, kodo, sava-jhangora, kangni-kakun. This initiative operates in 28 states and 2 union territories.

States can also utilize the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana according to their needs and priorities and improve millet production. Additionally, the Nutritious Cereals Sub-Mission provides assistance to farmers. This scheme is implemented through states and union territories. Moreover, the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM-FME) scheme provides targeted support, including micro food processing units related to millet-based products. The scheme has received an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for the year 2025-26.

The government also launched production-linked incentive schemes for millet-based products. Its aim was to promote the use of millets in branded ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) products. The government aimed to encourage their value addition by supporting the production of millet-based food products for both domestic and export markets and wanted to connect millet producers with food processors by increasing the demand for grain production. India produced a total of 18.015 million tons of millets in 2024-25. This was an increase of 443,000 tons compared to the previous year. Rajasthan is at the top in millet production.

Raigarh district has 310,000 ration cardholders, with 1,057,540 beneficiaries receiving rations each month. Following state government directives, a verification process revealed that about 79,247 beneficiaries had not linked their Aadhaar cards to their ration cards. Even without their thumbprints or iris scans, the head of the household has been receiving the allocated ration for them every month. Notably, the Aadhaar seeding process has been ongoing for the past one and a half years, yet these details remain unmerged, raising suspicions about the authenticity of these beneficiaries.

Under the Public Distribution System, the government is distributing rations for June, July, and August together. The combined distribution of three months’ rations has caused increased crowding at ration shops. Consumers are feeling inconvenienced due to time constraints, while shopkeepers are struggling to serve a large number of consumers within a limited timeframe. Consumers had requested an extension to the distribution deadline so that all beneficiaries could receive their grains on time.

As of June 30th, approximately 75 to 80 percent of the ration has been distributed, while a large number of beneficiaries are still awaiting their rations. Considering these issues, the government has made a relief decision. The final date for distributing three months’ rations has been extended to July 7th. This decision will provide the most relief to consumers who have not yet received their rations due to crowds or other reasons. The government’s decision is expected to ensure that the remaining 20 to 25 percent of beneficiaries also receive their ration on time, and no one has to return empty-handed.