Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Experts caution against loan waiveredit
The banking industry, including the governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), may have raised concerns regarding the farm loan waiver, stating it would disrupt credit discipline, but others feel such measures will affect state finances and lead to cut-down in capital expenditures.
Aadhaar must for drip irrigation projectedit
The unique identification number is made mandatory for a farmer willing to apply for drip irrigation project. The Aadhaar linkage would ensure transparency and also avoid the involvement of middlemen. This apart, the use of biometric devices would be initiated to make sure the application is being made by the farmer and not middlemen.
Drought-hit Karnataka seeks to top millet productionedit
Drought-hit Karnataka aims to become the top producer of millets, a nutritious variety of grains that require just a fifth of the amount of water needed for growing rice.
PM Narendra Modi aims to double income of farmers by 2022edit
In a relief to farmers across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government has decided to extend the deadline for procurement of pulses by one week. Addressing a large gathering here, Modi also thanked the farmers for accepting his appeal to growing more tur dal. The PM hit out at the opposition for attacking him on the issue of price rise of dals within days of his assuming office in 2014.
Technology in Agriculture
Mahindra & Mahindra turns to non-tractor unit to offset slowdownedit
Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s largest tractor maker, would rely on gensets, soil nutrients and farming machinery to drive sales at its farm equipment services (FES) division, with tractor sales increasing at a rate slower than the raft of offerings bundled under the non-tractor FES.
IRDAI cuts third party premium for some categories of vehiclesedit
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) on Monday reduced premium rates of motor third party insurance for some categories of vehicles for 2017-18. According to the regulator, the new notification will override an earlier order issued by it on March 28, 2017, which notified rates with effect from April 1, 2017.