Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Central panel on doubling farmers’ income mulls major reformsedit
A committee formed by the Centre to double farmers’ income by 2022 is considering major reforms in the agriculture sector like adopting a profit-centric approach, aiming at higher productivity and reducing cost of cultivation.
What farmers want from policy-makersedit
Agriculture is not a profitable business in India. About 70 per cent of the country’s farmers are struggling to make ends meet. In 2012-13, the NSSO’s ‘Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households’ showed that farmers who own 1 hectare or less of land see an average monthly income of ₹5,247, which doesn’t even suffice to meet their household expenses.
Central panel on doubling farmers’ income mulls major reformsedit
Budget
Budget Paves Way For Long-Term Boost To Economyedit
The Budget continued from its last year’s focus to support agriculture and farmers’ incomes by announcing higher credit, increased crop insurance, greater investments in irrigation facilities etc. Additionally, the Budget also increased allocation to MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) to a record high of Rs. 48,000 crore. Although, this would not have a short term impact on rural spending, this will help uplift rural consumption over the longer run.
Agriculture, rural development given priority in Union Budget: Jaitleyedit
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said rural development holds the key for the growth of Indian economy and stressed that he has laid emphasis on the development of villages in the Budget so as to put the country among developed nations.
Technology in Agriculture
Farm equipment firm plans unit in Telanganaedit
A Gujarat-based farm equipment manufacturing company, Shaktiman, has expressed interest in investing in Telangana by setting up its unit. A delegation of the company comprising its national head Ravi Mathur and HR head Gunakar Rao met Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy here on Saturday and explained their plans. They told the Minister that they were planning to invest up to ₹500 crore and creating direct employment for 1,000 persons.