Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Panel discussion at PU: Techniques to deal with paddy residue, but farmers are reluctantedit
Despite There being techniques available in the market to deal with the problem of paddy residue, the majority of farmers are reluctant to do so, said additional director, Research, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Surinder Singh Kukal on Friday. He added that the burning of paddy residue was causing pollution and a matter of concern.
Farmers, govt divided over note ban impactedit
Reports about farmers not able to get seeds for sowing, fertilisers, and other essential items for their daily consumption started coming from the hinterlands as a result of which, the government allowed farmers to withdraw Rs 25,000 from their accounts and use the now-defunct Rs 500 notes for buying seeds. So, who are the ones really feeling the pinch of demonetisation? In reply to this, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, “Swapping old currency for new is not bothering 70 per cent of rural people because they generally deal in notes lower than Rs 500.
Rabi sowing hit 55% mark in stateedit
Over 30.08 lakh hectare was covered under rabi sowing till the third week of November, which is 55% of the estimated area of over 54.75 lakh hectare. As per the agriculture department, the sowing this season has come down by 7% as compared to the same period last year. “In 2015 till third week of November, around 32.55 lakh hectare was covered under rabi sowing as against the 30.08 lakh hectare this time around,” stated the latest report released by the department.
Himachal sees 80% deficit rains, may hit wheat cropedit
More than 80 per cent of wheat sowing has been completed in Himachal Pradesh in the Rabi season, but the prolonged dry spell for almost two months is causing anxiety among the farmers as they apprehend it will badly hit the crop. According to the weather bureau in Shimla on Sunday, the deficiency in rainfall was almost 100 per cent from October 1 to November 26. Hamirpur, Kangra and Una were among the worst affected districts.
Tamil Nadu’s credit mechanism push for fund-starved farmersedit
Stepping in to address the severe cash crunch due to demonetisation, the state has asked district central cooperative banks (DCCBs) to disburse agriculture loans to farmers. This would be attached to the primacy agricultural cooperative credit societies (PACCS). A new KYC compliant account will be opened at DCCBs for each of them.
Technology in Agriculture
Agri mechanisation must to boost crop productivity: Ministeredit
There is a need to boost agriculture mechanisation to enhance crop productivity to feed the growing population, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Friday. After launching a coffee table book ‘Agri-Mechanisation for Make in India’, Singh said: “India’s population is going to be 140 crore in 2020, which poses challenge to food security. Agriculture mechanisation will play important role in addressing this problem.”