Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
State notifies Fasal Bima Yojanaedit
The government has issued notification for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during Rabi 2016-17 season. The notification issued by the cooperation department said all farmers growing the six notified crops – paddy, groundnut, mustard, potato, blackgram and greengram – under notified areas for them will be included in the scheme. Besides, farmers availing seasonal agricultural operations (SAO) loans from financial institutions for the notified crops will come under the scheme compulsorily.
State Govts should create massive awareness on crop stubble management: Radha Mohan Singhedit
A meeting under the Chairmanship of the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Radha Mohan Singh was held in New Delhi to discuss various issues regarding crop residue management. In the meeting, the Minister of State for Agriculture, S.S. Ahluwalia was also present. Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Deputy Director General, ICAR and representatives of the State Agriculture Departments of Punjab, Haryana and UP were also present.
Complete all procedures to purchase and store paddy: CMedit
Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said that all necessary procedures should be completed in time to purchase and store paddy. He said the mobile ‘daal bhat’ scheme will be started from December this year. He directed the officials concerned to supply food grain to the beneficiaries and get the cost deducted from their bank accounts.
More than 56.80L mts of paddy arrives in Haryana mandisedit
More than 56.80 lakh metric tonnes (MTs) of paddy has so far arrived in the mandis of Haryana whereas 51.05 lakh MTs of paddy had arrived during the corresponding period last year. Out of the total arrival, about 52.15 lakh MTs is leviable paddy. The Government procurement agencies have procured more than 51.85 lakh MTs of paddy and over 4.94 lakh MTs has been procured by millers and dealers, said a spokesman of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
Straws in the windedit
It is often pointed out that paddy stubble burning in neighbouring Haryana and Punjab is a major reason for affecting air quality in Delhi during the onset of winter. Stubble burning is a common practice followed by farmers in these States to prepare the field for sowing of wheat in November as there is little time left between the harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat. Since this practice is followed every year despite some efforts by the State governments to prevent it, the problem of air quality getting affected in Delhi during October-November will recur. Therefore, it is important to diagnose and address the fundamental problems that force the farmers to burn the paddy straw on ...
Acres Of Field Continue To Burn In Mukhtsar: Ground Report On Punjab’s Crop Firesedit
As the last of the paddy harvests continue to burn across Punjab, despite assurances by the state government that firm steps, including fines, are being levied to discourage farmers from indulging in a practice that results in a thick pollution blanket in much of north India, NDTV travelled to Mukhtsar, a district in south Punjab for a reality check.
Overseas agri trip fodder for farmersedit
In an effort to promote innovation, Madhya Pradesh government has offered its farmers subsidised overseas study tour to Israel and the Netherlands to learn innovative agricultural techniques that they can adopt to boost the productivity of their farms back home.
Regional meeting to draw road map on agricultural researchedit
The 25th Meeting of ICAR Regional Committee meeting of Zone VIII, to be held here from November 11, will analyze, discuss and draw a road map on agricultural research and educational issue specific to the region. Puducherry Agriculture minister R.Kamalakannan will inaugurate the two-day meeting which will be presided over by Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Department of Agriculture Research and Education, Government of India and Director General, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Delhi.
“Rajasthan will transform its agricultural landscape by adopting global best practices”: Rajeedit
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today categorically stated that Rajasthan stood committed to transform its agricultural landscape by actively promoting global best practices. “With surplus production of food grains, milk and pulses, the state is geared up to adopt multiple innovations such as digital soil mapping, use of drones for effective input management, employing innovative protected cultivation methods, zero budget natural farming or technology enabled traceability systems. The end objective of these interventions in farming will be increasing efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring sustainability,” she said while speaking at the inaugural session of the ‘Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet’ 2016 (GRAM 2016) today in Jaipur.
Guidelines to prepare for drought situationedit
The district administration has been served guidelines by the State government on preparations to be made in the district to meet acute drought situation in the backdrop of the government’s declaration of the State as drought-hit. The guideline contained instructions and priorities in the measures to be taken by districts declared drought-affected. An official press release announcing this here on Wednesday says restriction in the use of water is the most important instruction in the guideline. In the priority order, use of water for drinking should be accorded the top priority, followed by household uses, domestic animals, wild animals, agriculture.
President to inaugurate CII Agro Tech-2016 in Chandigarh on Nov 20edit
President Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the CII Agro Tech 2016, a four-day agro technology and business fair, on November 20 at the Sector-17 Parade Ground. Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel, will join as the guest of honour on the occasion. The fair organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is being held from November 19 to 22. The theme for this year is ‘Building Global Competitiveness’. More than 130 exhibitors will showcase the latest technology and state-of-the-art equipment in the agriculture sector.
Drones Market size for Agriculture Application predicted to grow with 21% CAGR from 2016 to 2023edit
Agricultural drones market size was valued over USD 135 million in 2015 and is anticipated to achieve over USD 555 million at a CAGR of 21% from 2016 to 2023.The potential benefits associated with these machines include improve yields and save water.In addition, drones may even assist the government to manage farming more effectively and efficiently by monitoring the usage of pesticides.
Competition
Farmers, agro industry developing alternatives to stubble-burningedit
After a tumultuous demand for alternatives to stubble-burning, the departments seem to have come into action. Officials are visiting the farmers, who gave up stubble-burning and adopted alternative methods on their own, to see the viability of the methods. The agriculture development department highlighted a new instrument made by New Gurdeep Combines, which is fixed at the back of a harvester combine. It trims the stubble into small pieces and spreads it evenly in the field.
Technology in Agriculture
Escorts launches new range of Farmtrac tractors in Italy and Mexicoedit
Escorts has launched a new range of FT 6080 Pro and FT 6090 Pro Farmtrac tractors in 80 & 90 HP category simultaneously in Italy and Mexico at EIMA, International Exposition of Machinery for Agriculture and Gardening, Bologna and at Expo Agroalimentaria Guanajuato, Irapuato, respectively. Aligned to Farmtrac pedigree of classic, simple and efficient farm machines, these new Escorts tractors are technology marvel with value for money for farmers worldwide.
Agriculture and Pollution: Tackling a burning problem with technologyedit
There is virtual unanimity — at least among scientists and aware farmers — that the ultimate solution to the recurrent problem of paddy stubble burning at this time of the year lies in the ‘Happy Seeder’ developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in 2002. But more than a decade later, the tractor-operated machine, which allows wheat seeds to be directly drilled in fields even with standing stubble or loose straw from combine-harvested paddy, is yet to find broad acceptance among farmers.
Hiring centers to help farmers rent latest farm equipment:Rajeedit
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today said that the state will set up Custom Hiring Centers in every Panchayat Samiti to help farmers rent the latest farming equipment. “Farmers will be provided farming equipment on rent through the custom hire centers. Farmers can make advanced bookings through the internet or a toll-free telephone number,” she said at the inaugural session of the three-day Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM) here. As many as 2,652 centers will be set up in the next three years. The centers will also provide job opportunities, Raje said.