Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
From Plate to Plough: A finger on the pulsesedit
One of the key findings of the committee was if farmers have to be incentivised to grow more pulses, and on a larger irrigated area, they must receive a sufficient profit from growing pulses. Given the levels of technology, it was realised that if farmers get about Rs 7,000/quintal for their produce, then pulses can compete with other crops.
Farmer ‘First’edit
Given the importance of the agricultural in the Indian economy and the sector being a source of livelihood for more than half of the population in the country, the farm and the farmer needs to be put first. From the community development programme of 1952’s to the Training and Visit of eighties to present day Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) under National Mission on Agricultural Extension Technology (NMAET), the agriculture sector has always been on the forefront.
A successful India is good for the worldedit
In addressing rapid urbanization, one should not forget that most Indians still live in rural areas. Their livelihoods depend on agriculture. What is already a hard way to make a living is becoming harder still due to the rapid depletion of water resources and climate change. Indian agriculture will need to become more climate resilient to continue delivering crop yields as the climate heats up. As the country’s leaders are aware, India as a whole will need to address the long-term issues of environmental sustainability.
Krishi Unnati Mela begins tomorrowedit
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will tomorrow inaugurate a three-day Krishi Unnati Mela for providing information on new farm schemes and technologies that will help farmers double their incomes by 2022. Singh will also give away Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Protsahan Puraskar to recognise contribution of Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
Minister flags-off Inter-State Farmers Exposure visitedit
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura Tuesday flagged-off two groups of farmers comprising of 188 progressive farmers from Jammu Division for participating in Krishi Unnati Mela IARI Pusa New Delhi being held from March 15 to 17 and Kissan Mela on 15th of March at KVK Gurdaspur, Punjab respectively. The Minister also flagged-off a group of 30 progressive vegetable growers of Block Marh under Chief Minister’s Special Project-Intensive Vegetable Development Cluster to Punjab Agriculture University Ludhiana for a study visit.
SBI to allow one-time settlement for tractor, farm equipment loansedit
State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday said it would allow one-time settlements for tractor and farm equipment loans that make up about Rs6,000 crore of doubtful and loss cases on its books. SBI is willing to take an up to 40% haircut on such farm loans, said Rajnish Kumar, managing director (national banking) at State Bank of India. “From time to time, we open up the OTS (one-time settlement) scheme for certain segments of our customers to boost our recovery rate. That is what the aim is here,” Kumar said.
Technology in Agriculture
Trringo – A First of Its Kind Tractor and Farm Equipment Rental Businessedit
Founded in March, 2016, Mumbai-based Trringo is a farm equipment rental business. It aims to bring the sharing economy to rural India by creating a large inventory of farm equipments on rent. Farmers can place order for tractors and implements through a toll free number or through the app. The digital backend finds the nearest tractor and passes order to the driver. The driver arrives at the location and completes the work and charges on an hourly basis.