The power sector being the largest emitter of CO2 has a key role to play if India wants to achieve its target of going net-zero by 2070. This will mean that we would need to move away from coal-based generation and adopt renewable power instead, mainly wind and solar. Of course, it can be supplemented with hydro power, biomass and nuclear.

Globally 30 percent of the food produced never reaches to a human stomach (FAO, 2021). Tackling food loss and waste benefits the climate, food security, and sustainability of agri-food systems. India suffers a food loss of about Rs.

India suffers a food loss of about Rs. 1.53 trillion (USD 18.5 billion) every year as per the latest large-scale study conducted by NABCONs during 2020 to 2022.

In the dynamic landscape of Indian agriculture, the pursuit of sustainability and enhanced farmer well-being has become imperative.

The State of India’s Digital Economy (SIDE) 2024 presents a new approach to measure digitalisation. This approach is better suited for developing countries like India for three reasons.

Demand and supply projections are crucial for formulating farsighted agricultural and food policies to sustain food production, ensure food security and for the efficient functioning of food systems while controlling for external factors such as changing consumption basket, taste, and preferences, changing population growth and income growth.

In a somewhat concerning development on macro-economic front, retail inflation, measured by the year-on-year (YoY) Consumer Price Index (CPI) remains above the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) upper tolerance ceiling of 6 percent (4+/- 2 percent), at 6.83 percent in August 2023. In the last month, retail inflation had surged to 7.44 percent.

One of the hallmarks of India’s G20 presidency is inclusion of African Union (AU) as a permanent member of G20. The group may now be called G21. By bringing in AU in G21, India has ensured that the voice of Global South is put firmly upfront. AU comprises of 55 countries and 1.4 billion people on this planet.

This issue of the Agri-Food Trends and Analytics Bulletin (AF-TAB) aims to explore the relationship between El Niño, erratic and unseasonal rainfall, and its impact on agricultural production as well as food inflation.

The Union Budget 2023-24 was presented against the backdrop of some critical geopolitical developments and was the last full budget before the next general elections. Signicantly, 2023 is also the year in which India became the most populated country in the planet and assumed G20 presidency.