Rural World enters its second year with this edition. Our journey began five years ago with the launch of Rural Voice, a news portal, dedicated to a prosperous rural India. It is in the fourth year of Rural Voice running that we launched Rural World as an extension of our vision at the pivot of which is the farming community of this country. Through the editions of Rural World published so far, our effort has been to empower farmers with information, technology, and market insight. The selection of topics and the articles and reports published in each edition have all been guided by one core objective – what is essential for farmers and the citizens of rural India.

We have covered policy decisions at the state, national, and global levels, while keeping an eye and reporting on developments in local, domestic, and international markets, along with crucial details on agricultural and allied sectors – products, prices, imports, and exports. Additionally, we have explored innovations in agricultural research and technology, discussing what is happening and what needs to be done. I can say with a sense of pride that each edition of Rural World has been well received by farmers, researchers, scientists, policy planners and agroindustry – our patrons – alike.The issue in your hands is the anniversary edition of Rural World. Coincidentally, it is being released shortly after the Union Budget for FY 2025–26. Therefore, this edition provides an in-depth analysis of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's budgetary provisions for agriculture, allied sectors, and rural India, along with insight into newly announced schemes. This budget has proposed multiple schemes for the farm sector, from a newatma-nirbharta (self-reliance) mission for pulses, to a programme focusing on 100 agriculturally backward districts.

Apart from the budget, a significant global event is the return of Donald Trump to power in the US. Shortly after assuming office, his imposition of tariffs and threats of "reciprocation" – aimed at fulfilling his MAGA (Make America Great Again) agenda – could impact India's agricultural sector, markets, and farmers. International trade expert and former Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Dr. Biswajit Dhar has analysed these implications in this edition.

Two years ago, India lost lakhs of cattle to the deadly lumpy skin disease (LSD), leading to a financial loss of around Rs. 18,000 crore for farmers and a 25 percent decline in the milk-yielding capacity of cows. Scientists from ICAR have developed India’s first indigenous vaccine, Lumpy ProvacInd, against the disease. This edition features an exclusive article by its lead researchers, Dr. B.N. Tripathi and Dr. Naveen Kumar, detailing their thrilling five-year-long journey of developingthis vaccine, which has now been put up for commercial production.

India's dairy farmers are setting global benchmarks in productivity. Former Managing Director of Amul and president of the Indian Dairy Association, Dr. R.S. Sodhi, has written about how Indian farmers are emerging as global leaders, based on insights from a dairy fair held in Jagraon, Punjab. Besides crops, dairy and fisheries are the two fastest-growing agricultural sectors, significantly contributing to increasing farmers' incomes. This edition features an extensive article on transformations in aquaculture and its prospects. Additionally, an interview with Professor Glenn Denning of Columbia University sheds light on agriculture, climate change, and sustainable food security.

The successful journey of Rural World in its first year has strengthened our resolve and commitment to continue our endeavour to bring information to the farming community and rural citizens.