The Hindu Business Line

Demonetisation has jeopardised trading in agricultural markets across the country. In Karnataka, considered a pioneer in agri-marketing reforms — most APMC [Agricultural Produce Market Committee] market yards in the State are already automated — it was no different.

The Hindu Business Line

The majority of Indian farmers have a holding of less than an acre. With no bargaining power, left to the mercy of middlemen, they struggle to make ends meet. While on the one hand input costs are high, on the other, they don’t get the right price for their produce. The futures market can play an effective role in mitigating such risks. The Indian commodity derivative exchanges have been in existence for over a decade, but not many farmers know about them. Today, some farmer producer companies are using this platform to help out farmer members. We take a look at how this is done.

The Hindu

With paucity of cash to pay labourers for harvesting work and the decline in the price of agriculture produce, farmers in rural areas of Malnad region are grappling with the after effects of demonetisation of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes. It may be mentioned here that immediately after the announcement of demonetisation, the prices of arecanut registered a slump by around 10 percent in the Shivamogga market. Arecanut trading had come to a standstill from November 10 to 17. Though the trading of arecanut has resumed, no improvement in the price can be seen.

The Hindu

The withdrawal of high denomination notes has severely affected cash flow in the district, leaving the farming community in dire straits. Farmers, who already marketed their kharif harvest, cannot spend the cash they have earned to prepare the ground for rabi cultivation, while the rest are not finding traders to purchase their produce. Many ginger growers have left their produce on the farmland, waiting to sell at a suitable price. Similarly, maize growers have delayed the harvest hoping that the situation will get better soon.

Greater Kashmir

Minister of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), Choudhary Zulfkar Ali Sunday inaugurated the maiden Maize Procurement Mandi at Siot in district Rajouri. It is the first Mandi of its kind in the entire North India. Felicitating the people of the area for getting the Mandi, the Minister said setting up of Maize Procurement Mandi at Siot would not only save the people of the area from the exploitation they faced through middlemen but it will also help transform the socio-economic profile of the area.

The Indian Express

Management of paddy stubble was among the much discussed topics on Sunday, the first day of CII Agrotech 2016. Experts from across the country and beyond emphasised that farmers should not be burning paddy stubble as it causes “serious problems”. On the inaugural day of the CII Agrotech – a biennial event – experts also elaborated on the options available with farmers apart from stubble burning. The theme of Sunday’s session was Challenges and Solutions for Comprehensive Straw Management.