Browse Data and Analysis

On November 5, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare published a marketing year 2024/25 production forecast at the lowest level in five years, at 23.4 million 480 lb. bales on an area of 11.4 million hectares.

India’s 2025 beef production (mostly carabeef) is forecast to reach 4.64 million metric tons (MMT), up from 4.57 MMT in 2024, on steady domestic and increased export demand.

There are no significant changes to the agricultural biotechnology situation in the Czech Republic in 2024. The country generally maintains a scientific approach towards biotechnology and became a vocal advocate for their adoption in the EU during its EU Council presidency. Czech farmers planted genetically engineered (GE) corn from 2005 to 2017.

FAS Mumbai forecasts MY 2024/25 Indian raw cotton exports at 1.2 million 480 lb. bales, 55 percent lower than previous estimate, due to India lint prices trading four percent higher than global prices, prompting buyers to prefer finer quality machine-picked cotton from foreign origins.

On September 25, 2024, India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoAFW) released final production estimates of major crops for Indian crop year (ICY) 2023/2024 (July-June). MoAFW estimated grain production at a record 332.3 million metric tons (MMT) due to record production of rice and wheat.

This report described Burma’s current production, regulations and trade for genetically engineered products, as well as recent activities focused on agricultural biotechnology. Burma’s (also called Myanmar) National Biosafety Framework and Biosafety Guidelines have been pending approval by the Ministry of Agriculture since before the 2021 coup.

India’s domestic apple production in marketing year (MY) 2024/2025 is forecast 6 percent higher at 2.55 million metric tons (MMT) due to favorable weather conditions in the apple growing regions.

Over the past two decades, India’s political landscape continues to hinder the developments in agriculture biotechnology. Bt cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) approved in 2002 remains the sole biotech-derived crop approved for commercial cultivation.

FAS New Delhi forecasts India’s total milk production in 2025 to rise to 216.5 MMT, attributable to the growing herd size of animals in milk, increased government support for the dairy sector, the expected continuation of good weather, high milk prices, and an absence of a major disease outbreak.

FAS Mumbai forecasts marketing year (MY) 2024/25 coffee production (Oct/Sep) at 6.2 million 60-kilogram bags, four percent higher than the previous forecast due to plentiful southwest monsoon rains that will improve Robusta crop yields.

A heavy 2024 southwest monsoon season has caused flooding and water logging in several central India states, leading to crop damage and expected lower agricultural production. India’s Meteorological Department (IMD) indicated that monsoon withdrawal was delayed by a week to September 23 and is likely to further exacerbate crop damage during harvest.

India's retail food sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by increased household purchasing power, rising awareness of gourmet products, and a growing economy.