Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Maharashtra becomes first Indian state to use Automated Weather Stations for farmersedit
The Automated Weather Stations (AWS) will be helpful in measuring the wind direction, wind speed, air temperature, relative humidity, and record the amount of rainfall. The gathered information will be shared among the farmers by making them available on Mahavedh portal (Maharashtra agriculture weather information network) as well as on the Skymet mobile application.
Revised tech mission on cotton to raise yield urgededit
To improve the falling yield, the textile industry has sought the second edition of technology mission on cotton (TMC-II). The industry wants to bring back the TMC earlier launched in 2000 in a revised format with 4 mini missions. The mini missions would give thrust on cotton technology development, cotton technology transfer, cotton lint preparation on par with international quality parameters and branding of Indian cotton and its textiles and clothing products.
69 lakh tonnes of wheat arrives in Haryanaedit
As much as 69.32 lakh tonnes of wheat has so far arrived in Haryana during the ongoing Rabi marketing season, whereas over 64.59 lakh tonnes of wheat arrived during the corresponding period last year
Farmers to get free voice messagesedit
The messages will be released every day around 6pm and will have information on cultivation practices, animal husbandry, weather, government schemes related to agriculture etc. “We have a list of 1.5 lakh farmers, taluka wise from the state agriculture department.
Government planning ‘one nation, one market’ in agriculture sectoredit
Agriculture marketing is a state subject and the centre can only propose a blueprint. The eventual rollout will depend on the state governments. A model Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) law was first proposed in 2003 but made little progress.
Jain Irrigation buys two US firmsedit
Jain Irrigation has bought two irrigation and distribution companies – Agri-Valley Irrigation Inc and Irrigation Design and Construction Inc – for about Rs 315 crore ($48.5 million). With combined revenues of $113 million last year, the two companies will help Jain Irrigation distribute its agriculture technology portfolio.
NITI Aayog Action Agenda: Responsibility of implementing recommendations rests on Centre, statesedit
The much-awaited three-year action agenda by the NITI Aayog has been put in the public domain. NITI, appointed by the Cabinet Resolution on January 7, 2015, was envisaged to act as a “knowledge and innovation hub and provide research inputs by undertaking and accessing globally available research”. One of the major mandates of the Aayog is “…the formulation of strategic vision and long-term policies and programme framework both for the macroeconomy and for different sectors of the economy”.
Exporters must be informed of change in import norms in foreign nations quickly: Sitharamanedit
The comprehensive national strategy for standardisation of goods and services being worked out by the government and industry should not lose sight of immediate challenges, Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. “Any national strategy for standards should be able to factor in technology to disseminate any change in import requirements in foreign countries so that our exporters are well prepared to overcome those barriers.
BJP’s refusal to tax rich farmers shows party lacks courage to rise over vote bank politics a la Congressedit
The biggest were seed giants like Kaveri Seeds — which claimed Rs 186.63 crore exemption and made a profit of Rs 215 crore before tax and multinational Monsanto India, which claimed Rs 94 crore as exemption from agricultural income and earned Rs 138 crore profit before tax.”
3-year plan to let Delhi breatheedit
“In view of urgency of the problem and the large benefit from putting an end to crop residue burning, a larger subsidy on the machine for limited time may eliminate the problem within the next three years,” said the Aayog.
Govts apathetic even as farmers in tearsedit
Red chilli farmers are in the red, primarily because of the mismatch between the cost of cultivation and market prices. They are not getting back their investments. They have offers as low as Rs 4,000 per quintal. Cost of cultivation has increased tremendously in the last one year, not just because of manual labour and pesticide costs.
Law against supply of spurious seeds soon: KCRedit
The government will take stringent action if the information gathered is not factual. If the government has facts before it all the programmes can be implemented smoothly and effectively. Agriculture officers will visit each farmer and the farmers should give all the required information and cooperate with him,” the CM said.
As prices crash, farmers leave tomatoes to rotedit
Tomato farmers in several parts of Kolar are dumping their crop with prices crashing to as low as Rs 2 to Rs 3 a kg in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) in the district. Many are facing ruin. “I had cultivated tomato on a two-acre plot and invested Rs 2 lakh.
New crop of start-upsedit
Imagine farming in India and the picture that immediately comes to mind are wizened old men, bare-chested, oxen pulling ploughs and women bent over either planting saplings or helping harvest the crops. Of course, there is the occasional tractor and the combine harvester, but the image is always one of age-old practices. This may not be the true picture, but that is the lingering image reinforced partly by the small farm holdings that prevents large scale mechanisation, the poor productivity compared to other nations, the huge amount of wastage from farm to fork and the low income that farmers earn.
Agrarian crisis: Serious drought looms large over South Indiaedit
For paddy, the state government promised Rs 5,465 an acre, which many farmers in the Cauvery delta have reported to have received in their accounts. ARIYALUR: Everyone else may love a good drought, but not the victims who stare at a dim future. As serious drought looms large over South India, farmers live in distress and despair fearing a steep drop in acre age and yields.
Resil Chemicals looks to expand into new international marketsedit
Resil Chemicals today said it is looking to expand into new international markets in a phased manner. The company is a leading manufacturer of chemicals for industries, ranging from textiles to pharmaceuticals and agriculture. “Using various technologies, we have successfully been able to make customised products for individual customers and niche applications. We are now looking at expanding in global market in a phased manner,” Resil Chemicals N9 Technologies M.
How is China feeding its population of 1.4 billion?edit
Although only in the early stages of implementation for China, genetically modified (GM) crops may provide one potential solution to improve environmental resistance and enhance yields. China currently only permits the growing of GM cotton and papayas, but plans to open its agricultural sector up to other GM staple crops like soybeans and corn.
Dry land agriculture offers hope to parched rain-fed areasedit
Named as “mission on sustainable dry land agriculture” (MSDA), the scheme would cover 5,000 hectares in five clusters Marungapuri, Vaiyampatti, Thottiyam, Thuraiyur and Thathaingarpettai in the district which were all rain-fed areas without access to water from Cauvery or Kollidam rivers.
Technology in Agriculture
Monsanto scraps deal to sell Precision Planting to Deereedit
Monsanto Co has terminated an agreement to sell its Precision Planting LLC farm equipment business to machinery maker Deere & Co, the companies said on Monday, ending a legal fight with antitrust authorities over the deal.