The Hindu Business Line

Once again, GDP makes the maximum noise in the news headlines. A back-series data released last week showed that GDP of India grew at double-digts during the UPA regime. The National Statistics Commission (NSC) dismissed the same saying that methodology for back-casting GDP series has not yet been finalised and various alternative methods are being explored.

Swarajaya

The country’s foodgrain production is estimated to have scaled to a record level of 284 million tonnes in the 2017-18 crop year that ended this June. The growth has been powered by record outputs in wheat, rice, coarse cereals – mainly maize- and pulses following a normal monsoon.

The Times of India

The US has lauded the Haryana government for its efforts to tackle air pollution caused by vehicular traffic and stubble burning especially areas under the National Capital Region (NCR) and has offered all technological expertise to effectively deal with this problem.

Hindustan Times

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to implement its air pollution abatement action plan in Noida and Ghaziabad by September 15. The direction was issued during a meeting conducted to discuss the winter preparedness to tackle pollution in NCR cities on Thursday.

UNI

A two-day conference to attract youth in agriculture began here on Thursday with speakers stressing on the need to provide lucrative alternatives. Inaugurating the two-day conference on Motivating and Attracting Youth in Agriculture (MAYA), Dr Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) and Director General (ICAR) said, ”We need to attract youth in agriculture by providing them lucrative alternatives.

Pune Mirror

The commercial use of drones (unmanned aircraft) across sectors such as agriculture, health and disaster relief under new regulations will come into force from December 1, but delivery of payload, including food items, would not be allowed as of now, the government said today

Business Standard

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and FAO have agreed to raise up to $100 million over five years to support partnerships to catalyse agricultural investment in Africa, end hunger and malnutrition and lift millions from poverty across the continent.

Fnb news

The Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2018 is a facilitator and not regulator that aims at serving its intended objectives, particularly raising the productivity of the farm sector with emerging tools of modern agriculture with new technologies.

The Tribune

In a unique initiative under “Haryana-Ek Sudhar” programme of the Khattar Government, farmers in Kaithal on Monday pledged not to burn stubble in a bid to reduced pollution and protect environment.

Deccan Chronicle

The situation in rain and landslide-hit Kodagu has considerably improved with 719 more people returning home and two more relief centres closed on Tuesday. Presently there are 2,469 people in 25 relief camps. Earlier, a total 7,594 people were housed in 51 relief centres.

The Pioneer

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) to promote cooperation between agriculture and forestry research, particularly in exchange of scientists and technologists, germplasm, breeding material and scientific knowledge, besides development and implementation of collaborative research projects.

The Hans India

Three villages Lokavaram, Battulapalli and Narayanapuram under Kalloor mandal have been selected under the Central government Scheme Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan, according to Agriculture Officer Rupa here on Sunday.

The Economic Times

Economic policy think-tank NCAER has retained India’s growth forecast for the current fiscal at 7.4 per cent citing comfortable agricultural sector outlook and a marked improvement in the external sector.

Rising Kashmir

The anthropogenic activities in the current era have highly altered the structure and function of the natural environments to fulfill human needs. The environmental effects are hence mostly linked with economic externalities.

The Times of India

For the first time in the country, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is preparing a development index for sustainable agriculture.The announcement was made by ICAR’s secretary Chhabilendra Roul during the 42nd foundation day celebration of the National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning (NBSS & LUP) held in the city on Monday.

The Times of India

The first batch of students from the state’s only agriculture college in Sulcorna, which graduates this year, is set to give the profession a shot in the arm with the degree lending it the respectability it deserves. The demand for the professional degree course at the Don Bosco College of Agriculture, now in its fourth year, has only been growing, taking even the government, which was sceptical of its filling even 30 seats, by surprise. Considering the college has been receiving more than 100 applications each year for its 40 seats, it has been granted permission to increase intake by ten students this year

The Tribune

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while counting his government’s numerous agriculture-related policy initiatives and interventions from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day, mentioned that a new agriculture export policy was on the anvil. Modi linked this new policy to his dream project of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 and claimed that this would open new competitive markets for Indian farmers.

The Hindu

The State has come out with its own variant of the concept of “doubling farmers’ income,” through the integrated farming system (IFS). To be implemented as part of the National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP), the IFS would require every beneficiary-farmer to undertake a host of activities, apart from agriculture, so that he or she gets a higher income than what he or she has been earning under the conventional way of farming.

The New Indian Express

A silent revolution is taking place in the drought-prone districts of Latur, Osmanabad and Solapur with womenfolk emerging as harbingers of change by strengthening the local economy and improving their socio-economic status through sustainable agricultural practices. Vaishali Ghuge from Andur village in Solapur district has excelled the technique of vermicompost.

UNI

The BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is doing the utmost to help ensure double the farm income by 2022 and steps are being taken to open new opportunities for the farmers, UP, Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Sahi said here on Saturday.

The New Indian Express

With the Bihar government targeting to disburse loans of Rs 60,000 crore to farmers this financial year and the disbursal in the first quarter (April to June) being just Rs 8,755 crore, the agriculture department plans to hold a series of camps across the state to encourage farmers to take loans and raise productivity.

Daily Excelsior.com

By definition dryland farming or dryland agriculture obtains low rainfall as compared to rainfed farming. Further, it is added that dryland agriculture possessed more hostile environments than that of rainfed. Dryland farming constitutes about 72 per cent of the total cropped area of 143 million hectares (Mha) in India contributing to about 42 per cent of total food production (Reddy, 2001).

The Week

Laying emphasis on the need to create more job opportunities and enhance employability of the youth, junior HRD Minister Satyapal Singh today suggested the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to explore internship opportunities in varied fields including agriculture.

The New Indian Express

The devastating floods that have left a trail of destruction will cripple the state’s agriculture production in a major way in the current year, especially rice. As per the primary analysis by the the state agriculture department, around 56,844.44 ha of cropped area has been affected by the floods, causing a loss of Rs 1355.68 crore ...

Morung Express

State Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute (SAMETI) organised two-day training on ‘Mainstreaming gender and women empowerment for Agriculture development’ for Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) functionaries at SAMETI, Medziphema from August 23–24.

Firstpost.com

For several months, developers and farmers in northeast Japan have been testing a new drone that can hover above paddy fields and perform backbreaking tasks in a fraction of the time it takes for elderly farmers.

Down To Earth

Apex trade association ASSOCHAM has indicated that Kerala may have suffered economic losses to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore-Rs 20,000 crore due to the recent floods that devastated large parts of the state between August 8-18.

The Economic Times

The use of agricultural residues in power plants can help reduce pollution in the Delhi-NCR region by 8 per cent by 2025, a new study has suggested

Deccan Chronicle

While the domestic manufacturing and services sector appears to have shown robust growth during the April-June quarter, a report by SBI said that the gross value added (GVA) during Q1FY19 is likely to be pulled down by a weak agriculture sector growth.

Financial Express

Ever since Atal ji began his heavenly journey, everyone has been fondly remembering him. While many applauded his personality, calling him Ajatashatru and an orator par-excellence, others lauded him for his impeccable wit and humour and profound poetic expressions. His pivotal contribution in policymaking—from laying the foundation of India’s road infrastructure (highways and rural roads) to telecom policy and the privatisation of PSUs—is rightly highlighted by others. Surprisingly, not much is written about his contribution to the agriculture sector and I want to highlight some of them.

Deccan Chronicle

While the domestic manufacturing and services sector appears to have shown robust growth during the April-June quarter, a report by SBI said that the gross value added (GVA) during Q1FY19 is likely to be pulled down by a weak agriculture sector growth.

The Wire

On August 16, the vice-chairman of Niti Aayog released NABARD’s All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey, appropriately named ‘NAFIS’, which in Urdu means decent. NABARD management has truly acted ‘NAFIS’ by commissioning this detailed survey and then publishing its finding rather quickly. The survey was conducted between January 2017 and June 2017, covering 40,327 households in 245 districts spread across 29 states. The reference period for agriculture related data was from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016 (agriculture year, AY, 2015-16).

The Economic Times

The use of agricultural residues in power plants can help reduce pollution in the Delhi-NCR region by 8 per cent by 2025, a new study has suggested.

The Times of India

The agriculture department has organised a capacity building training for director designates ofFarmers Producers Company.

Telangana Today

Cotton crop across the State bore the brunt of destruction caused by the recent heavy rains, with cotton in about five lakh acres damaged according to preliminary estimates. Other crops which suffered damage include maize, red gram, paddy and vegetables.

Business Standard

The recent survey by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), which attracted criticism for increasing the threshold of income for agricultural households, has some insights into how the rural landscape in the country has been changing.

The Pioneer

In the flood fury that has severely impacted a large section of over 19 lakh farmers in Kerala, only 46,136 have insured their crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY) in 2017-18. The number of Kerala farmers who insured their crops is fewer than those in other States, which reflects that farmers are still unaware of the details of the PMFBY.

The Indian Express

Last year, the Maharashtra government had announced its plans to set up about 2,060 Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs) across the state, in partnership with Skymet. The ambitious project – Mahavedh — is meant to supply the latest weather information, including data about rainfall, to help farmers plan cultivation schedules and the government make policy decisions pertaining to agriculture. However, barely a few days into the first monsoon since the project became functional, the State Agriculture Department had to revert to its age-old system of collecting rainfall data by using manual rain gauges, after cases of thefts and vandalism were reported from AWSs installed in rural areas, hindering data collection.

Agriculture.com

No matter what industry you’re in, you need to be looking ahead for technological changes, the cost-effectiveness of your competition, changing customer behavior, and potential government regulation.

Telangana Today

Cotton crop across the State bore the brunt of destruction caused by the recent heavy rains, with cotton in about five lakh acres damaged according to preliminary estimates. Other crops which suffered damage include maize, red gram, paddy and vegetables.

Zee Business

After two successive droughts in 2014 and 2015 and devastating floods in parts of India this year, the government has woken up to farm distress and recently announced some steps to alleviate the suffering of farmers, although pundits feel they are very little and too late.

The Economic Times

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu today reviewed proposed agriculture export and new industrial policies and discussed strategies to boost outward shipments with top officials here

The Indian Express

A canal has given a new lease of life to the dry fields at Takalgaon village, which has a population of 1,869 people, in Pathri taluka of Parbhani district.

The Hindu Business Line

Inaugurating the ‘Nitte Agripreneurs Summit’, organised by the Nitte-based Justice KS Hegde Institute of Management at Nitte in Udupi district on Saturday, P Chandrashekar, Director General of the Jaipur-based National Institute of Agricultural Marketing (NIAM), said that agriculture should be treated as a group-led activity than led by an individual farmer.

The Economic Times

Farmers are still unaware of the details of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana (PMFBY) even as the government and insurers are trying to increasing the penetration in the non-loanee segment, said a climate risk management firm WRMS.

The Indian Express

Hardly 23 per cent of the average income of all rural households in India comes from agriculture and animal husbandry activity, reveals a nationwide financial inclusion survey by NABARD. Moreover, even among so-called agricultural households — those with at least one member engaged in farming and whose produce is annually worth Rs 5,000 or more — just over 43 per cent of income on an average comes from cultivation and livestock rearing.

Moneycontrol

The United States has dropped a contentious demand from the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement to impose restrictions on Mexican agricultural exports, Mexico’s top farm lobby said on Sunday.

The Economic Times

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu today reviewed proposed agriculture export and new industrial policies and discussed strategies to boost outward shipments with top officials here.The Commerce and Industry Minister said the government was working on new initiatives to take India’s exports to the next level.

Financial Express

NABARD presented a gift to the nation on August 16, 2018, when it released results of its NABARD All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS). Among other things, the Survey estimates 2015-16 farmers’ income levels. When in February, 2016, PM Modi presented his vision of doubling farmer incomes (DFI) by 2022-23, there was no assessment of the base (2015-16) aggregate income levels, and now, estimates from NAFIS fill that gap. NAFIS is based on a sample of 40,327 rural households in 29 states, of which 48% were agriculture households (agri-HHs) and 87% of them were small and marginal farmer households. NAFIS combines strengths of NSSO’s Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) and RBI’s All India Debt and Investment Survey ...

Businessworld

Krishi India 2018 expo/Wellness India 2018 expo kicks off tomorrow, bringing together influential voices dedicated to lifting millions of small scale farmers out of poverty, and embracing an improved lifestyle with balanced diet for better health.

The Hindu Business Line

Duggirala, a village in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, joined the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM) platform in May 2017. It was one of the 10 mandis in AP to join eNAM in the programme’s second phase. The mandi had been using the online platform of NeML (NCDEX e Markets Ltd) till then.

The Indian Express

On August 16, NABARD presented the nation with a gift when it released the results of its All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey (NAFIS). Among other things, the survey estimates 2015-16 farmers’ income levels. In February 2016, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his vision of doubling farmer incomes by 2022-23, there was no assessment of the base (2015-16) aggregate income levels. The estimates from NAFIS fill that gap.

The Telegraph

The district’s agriculture sector has been severely hit by lack of monsoon rain in the past 15 days.It has specifically affected the paddy farmers who are eagerly waiting to plant sali saplings or winter crop.

The Tribune

FOSSIL fuels are finite. Being nonrenewable, they are major threats to the environment. As India’s crude oil production is able to meet about 17.9 per cent of the domestic demand, the country is heavily dependent on costly energy imports, putting severe strain on valuable foreign exchange reserves.

The Indian Express

The earning of an agricultural household for year 2016-17 averaged at Rs 1,07,172 was higher compared to households confined to non-agricultural activities at Rs 87,228.

UNI

With floods playing havoc in Kerala, the state, known as ‘God’s Own Country’ would have suffered massive economic losses, the estimates of which could well be Rs 15,000-20,000 crore with a staggered impact of a few months, mostly on tourism, cash crops, trade including international trade from Kochi and other ports, besides shaking the lives of millions of people, an ASSOCHAM quick assessment has indicated

The Tribune

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has sanctioned Rs 4 crore to Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture (HAU) University to check environment pollution owing to burning of crop residue.

The Tribune

The Captain-led state government as promised waived off co-operative loans worth Rs 1,700 crore of three lakh farmers having less than 2.5 acre land. The government plans to waive off loans taken by farmers, who have land holdings up to five acres, from commercial banks and co-operatives in the second phase.

Quint

A few months ago, Madhu, 27, was first tied and then brutally beaten to death by a frenzied mob in Kerala. His fault? Allegedly stealing food worth USD 3. In a similar incident in 2011, a video appeared, showing a Pakistani teen being shot twice by security forces for allegedly stealing food.

Telangana Today

Rythu Bandhu Life Insurance Scheme proved to be the biggest source of support for the peasant families that lost their breadwinners during the past five days after its launch.

The Times of India

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani reviewed threadbare the state’s water supply, agriculture and fodder situation in the state following widespread rains for the last two days at a high level meeting here in presence of deputy CM Nitin Patel and education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma.

Bloomberg

American Farm Bureau Federation’s Will Rodger was quoted in a Bloomberg article on agriculture’s continued general support for the Trump administration during the current trade war, even when the industry has and will continue to see detrimental effects. “President Donald Trump’s trade disputes with China, Mexico and Canada are already eroding the value of American agricultural production, with soybean growers alone expected to lose at least $3.2 billion during the next crop season,” noted Bloomberg.

Indian Express

In order to stop farmers from stubble burning, Rs 395 crore subsidy has been sanctioned for Punjab by the Centre this financial year unlike previous years when it ranged from Rs 10-50 crores. CM Capt Amarinder Singh, who handed over certificates of subsidies to a few farmers on Wednesday, said all machines will be given at a 50 per cent subsidised rates to the farmers.

The Pioneer

In a bid to prevent burning of crop residue in the State, Haryana State Pollution Control Board has issued directions for undertaking the harvesting of paddy. The HSPCB has issued directions that the owners of combine harvester desirous of undertaking the harvesting of paddy would attach Super Straw Management System (SSMS) with the harvester and no machine would be allowed to harvest paddy in the State without functional SSMS attached to it.

News 18

The financial inclusion drive has resulted in proliferation of bank accounts in rural areas with 88.1 per cent of households having savings accounts, said a survey by Nabard.Incidence of Indebtedness (IOI), which is a proportion of households having outstanding debt on the date of the survey, was 52.5 per cent and 42.8 per cent for agricultural and non-agricultural households, respectively.

The Hans India

The Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) on Thursday signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with National Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), a national-level research centre also located in Rajendranagar.

The Times of India

Uzhavan App, a farmer-friendly mobile application by Tamil Nadu agricultural department, seems to have hit the bullseye, with many lauding the move for improving agricultural activities in Madurai. The app was launched on April 5, 2018 in an effort to pass on beneficial information to farmers and give out details on various schemes available for them. The farmers said that they have been able to obtain information on various aspects including, among others things, subsidy details, tractors, power tillers, green houses, registration for subsidies and insurance schemes from the app

The Telegraph

As part of this, special loan camps were organised in all 534 blocks of the state on Thursday and agriculture minister Prem Kumar himself took part in one of these camps at Pandaul block of Madhubani district.

Down To Earth

Around three years after the Anupam Verma Committee submitted its recommendations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has finally issued the Pesticides (Prohibition) Order, 2018, banning 18 pesticides. Of these 18, 12 pesticides have been banned from immediate effect (from August 9, 2018) and ban on another six will be implemented from December 31, 2020. The ban applies to registration, import, manufacture, formulation, transport, sale and use of all these pesticides.

Mint

Rural households have access to banking and have savings but investment levels and pension and insurance coverage remain very low, a financial inclusion survey conducted by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) showed. At the same time, levels of indebtedness were high and nearly equalled annual incomes, according to the National Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17.

The Hindu Business Line

India on Thursday requested the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to declare an “upcoming” year as International Year of Millets, an official release said.In a letter to FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said this would help garner wider global attention to millets which are not only nutritious but also resilient to climate change.

Businessworld

The agriculture sector in India is expected to generate better momentum in the next few years due to increased investments in agricultural infrastructure such as irrigation facilities, warehousing and cold storage. India is expected to be self-sufficient in pulses in the coming few years due to concerted efforts of scientists to get early-maturing varieties of pulses and the increase in minimum support price

The Times of India

A parliamentary panel has pulled up the government for not taking steps to lower the prices of power tillers and check cartels in the agri-machinery sector. Most farmers in the country are small and marginal, who could hardly afford costly agri-equipment and machinery. In this scenario, power tillers with flexibility, multi-purpose nature and low cost are considered ideal to enhance the level of agri-mechanisation, it said.

Daily Excelsior

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today between J & K Agriculture Department and National Seed Corporation (NSC) for the establishment of Seed Processing and Storage Unit at Kathua. The project would be developed over 16 Kanal land at Village Taraf Manjali in Kathua. Director Agriculture Jammu, H. K. Razdan and Regional Manager National Seed Corporation, Chandigarh Mukesh Kumar Jatt signed the MoU.

The Free Press Journal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said a new agriculture export policy will be unveiled soon to boost farm income as the government is on track to achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

World Observer

Global “Electric Vehicles for Construction, Agriculture and Mining” Market report is made by executing a wonderful research procedure to assemble key data of this worldwide Electric Vehicles for Construction, Agriculture and Mining market. The examination is dependant on only two portions, particularly, boss research and broad auxiliary research. The fundamental examination contains a practical Electric Vehicles for Construction, Agriculture and Mining market review and division of the business. Moreover, it features basic players at the Electric Vehicles for Construction, Agriculture and Mining Market.

The New Indian Express

With the increasing number of farmer deaths due to pesticide poisoning, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has notified Pesticides (Prohibition) Order, 2018 under which use of 18 pesticides will be banned. Of the total 18, 11 pesticides are banned with immediate effect and six will face the axe from December, 2020 and one pesticide Trifluralin, which is widely used as herbicide, is allowed only in wheat.

The Times of India

Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) and Perambalur Farmers’ Training Centre have sent 20 sugarcane farmers from fourd elta districts of Tamil Nadu to study sugarcane practices in Maharashtra. The sugarcane farmers, sent for study tour identified by sugar mills based on the yield achieved in their fields, will be studying the advancements in cultivation and irrigation management in growing sugarcane.

The Economic Times

The southwest monsoon has entered a vigorous phase, soaking dry fields in central and western India and filling up depleted reservoirs, but unrelenting showers have swamped farms and plantations in the south and may cause yet more damage in other regions in the next two weeks.

Moneycontrol

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the state has huge potential for development in the fields of agriculture, tourism, education and urged the people to protect the environment.Development of agriculture would provide employment opportunities to people, help in providing food security for the state, and enhance the economy of the farmers, Sangma said while unfurling the national flag at the Polo Ground here on the occasion of the 72nd Independence Day.

The Hindu Business Line

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said a new agriculture export policy will be unveiled soon to boost farm income as the government is on track to achieve the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.Addressing the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the occasion of 72nd Independence Day, Modi spelt out pro-farm measures taken during four years of his government, the cornerstone being the bold move to fix the minimum support price (MSP) of crops at least 1.5 times of the cost of production.

The Tribune

Aiming at checking stubble burning meance in the state, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, inked a memorandum of agreement (MoAs) with five companies.Dr Navtej Singh Bains, Director of Research, PAU, signed the pact on behalf of the varsity with KS Matharu Agriculture Works, Hathur, Bathinda, Jassa Singh and Company, GehriMandi, Amritsar, KR Agriculture Works, Handiaya Road, Barnala, Punjab Workshop, Nidhanwala, Moga, and Ladal Agricultural Works, Bareta, Mansa, for commercialisation of the PAU Super Straw Management System (SMS) technology.

Telangana Today

When passion drives a person, retirement is just from the job and not from work, especially if the work is connected with nature. M Sudarshan Reddy, a native of Gopanpet village in Madanapuram mandal, may have retired as a Dean of Agriculture in 2013, but his passion for agriculture has led him to a new mission – to transform villages into seed producers instead of seed buyers.

Business Standard

As precision farming or smart agriculture gains prominence in India, global majors are adopting innovative solutions and customized models to help small and marginal Indian farmers whose investment capacity is limited. Precision farming uses technology to make agriculture more accurate and controlled.

The New Indian Express

Struggling to raise resources to fulfil its poll promise of farm loan waiver, the Kumaraswamy government has sought help from the National Bank For Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) to disburse fresh loans for farmers.

Cooperation minister Bandeppa Kashempur has submitted a representation to this effect to Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh requesting the latter to issue necessary instructions to NABARD.

The Hindu Business Line

The Karnataka government is in talks with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) to seek an increase in the amount of refinance to help in waiving crop loans farmers have taken from the co-operative banks in the State.

News Services Division

Manipur Government is working on a robust plan to realize Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income by 2022. The State Agriculture Department is making an all out effort to successfully implement the Soil Health Card Scheme. Under the program, soil health cards are distributed to farmers providing information on the nutrient status of soil along with recommendations on appropriate dosage of soil nutrients to be applied for improving soil health and its fertility. A ground report from AIR Imphal correspondent:

Odisha News Insight

“The Intellects”, a progressive forum of intellectuals for the first time organised a conference on Agriculture in Odisha at the Press Club of Orissa, Bhubaneswar on Sunday.Government Secretary of the Department of Agricultural Research and Education and the director general of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra inaugurated the event.

Devdicourse

Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Krishna Raj said today that Mizoram has the potential to expand in agricultural and allied sector.On her visit here, the minister told officials that it was clear that Mizoram could become an organic state in a big way in horticulture, an official statement said here.

Telangana Today

Telangana Rashtra Rythu Samanvaya Samithi president Gutha Sukender Reddy on Monday said that the State government is on a mission to restore the agriculture sector’s lost glory, as it was stuck in a crisis for the last 60 years.

EPW

Maharashtra continues to top the list of states with the highest number of farmers’ suicides in the country, as was revealed in Parliament by the minister for agriculture in reply to a question (Sandhu 2018). Despite the farm loan waiver announced by the state government, in the first six months of 2018, a large number of farmers’ suicides have been reported (Kakodkar 2018). Thus, Maharashtra, once famous for path-breaking innovations in agriculture as well as its trendsetting policies for agricultural and rural development, has now won repute as the worst state for farmers and land tillers, with the highest number of farmer suicides in the country so far.

State Times

India is basically an agricultural society, where around 60-70 per cent of our population is dependent on it. Past 20 years of economic reforms have brought growth in services and manufacturing sectors but contribution of agriculture has been coming down. It is now currently close to 16-17 per cent of GDP as per Government of India statistics. The interest of the society in this field is declining day by day. It is very simple to observe this change even in our locality. If we go 15 years back, I remember those days when a large number of farmers (including females and children) could be seen working in the fields growing various types of crops such as wheat, ...

The Wire

Farmers from over 400 districts across India participated in various forms of protest against the policies of the central and state governments that are causing agrarian distress. This comes in the context of a recent hike in minimum support price which the central government claimed to historically unprecedented. Yet the farmers have been upset that it fell far short of the recommendations of the Swaminathan Committee recommendation that had used the total cost of production including the implied rent to arrive at the MSP. There were also other demands including loan waivers, land acquisition issues and social security for farmers. The protests were organised and spearheaded by the CPIM backed All India Kisan Sabha.

The Tribune

In a bid to solve the stubble burning problem here, the Punjab Government has given nod to Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Ltd for setting up a bio-CNG plant in the Dera Bassi area here. “The plant will generate bio-CNG from agricultural waste to operate vehicles and generators, apart from providing organic fertiliser for cultivation. The plant will also provide additional income to farmers as the straw will be procured from them at the market price,” said Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra. Sapra said with this plant coming into operation, all problems related to stubble burning would be solved.

The Pioneer

To keep Delhi environment clean and pollution free during winter, the Centre would provide Rs 575.18 crore to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to buy 55,622 stubble machines to farmers of these States.

Telangana Today

The Telangana government is pitching for farm mechanisation on a large scale to boost production of foodgrains. Keeping in mind the ever-mounting input costs and non-availability of agriculture workers, the government is firm on bailing out farmers by relieving them from manual operations as much as possible.

The Telegraph

Linking MGNREGA with agriculture would serve the twin purposes of bringing diversification in farming and increasing farmer’s income, agri experts said on Saturday.”Agriculture-related activities under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (MGNREGA) and labour can benefit farmers by reducing cost of cultivation while fencing of farms would protect them from wild animals,” deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said. “It will also increase the speed of scheme and farmer’s income in Bihar.

Business Standard

In a bid to create awareness about the ill effects of crop residue burning and management, Parijat Urja Chakra in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) organized a special campaign at Fatehgarh village of Ambala in Haryana.

Business Standard

In a bid to create awareness about the ill effects of crop residue burning and management, Parijat Urja Chakra in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) organized a special campaign at Fatehgarh village of Ambala in Haryana.

The Economic Times

Bengal’s state agriculture marketing department has decided to build a Sufal Bangla Mall in Rajarhat, close to IT hub of Salt lake to sell crops grown using organic fertilisers..

The hub will be set up on 15 cottahs of land and will cost Rs 16 crore. It would be inaugurated on August 31 with the opening of a Sufal Bangla stall. Gradually other organic crop growers would be allotted space to sell their produce.

The Pioneer

The State Government, in order to provide much needed fillip to laggard farm sector in Jharkhand, will be organising the ‘Agriculture Summit’ in November this year. The effort would be possibly the first of its kind in the country.

The Hindu Business Line

The proposed National Agriculture Export Policy — aimed at doubling the country’s farm exports to $60 billion by 2022, placing India among top 10 agriculture exporters in the world and promoting stability in export rules — is being vetted at the inter-ministerial level and will soon be placed before the Union Cabinet for approval.

The Tribune

Punjab Agricultural University has released a song against stubble burning. Students who will sing the song on Independence Day or during any other function will be honoured by the PAU at Kisan Mela to be held in September.

UNI

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today said the state would get maximum benefits from MNREGA in increasing income of farmers. Mr Modi, while inaugurating a workshop of North East States on coordination between agriculture and MNREGA here, said the scheme was labour oriented and it had provision for farmers to work on land of others.

Business Standard

After criticism for its handling of agrarian issues, the government found some support from an article written a few days earlier by eminent agricultural scientist M S Swaminathan, considered one of the fathers of the country’s earlier Green Revolution.

The Indian Express

Seven months after closing four units of the Guru Gobind Singh thermal plant in Bathinda and two units of the Ropar thermal plant, Punjab has now decided to review its decision. The state now plans to try and run one unit of the Bathinda thermal plant on paddy stubble as a test case before taking a final decision on the matter.

The Hindu

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Agriculture Ministry Secretary to file a status report on infrastructural assistance to be provided to farmers to stop stubble burning.Directing the authorities to submit the report within six weeks, a Bench headed by NGT chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel had said, “As per estimates of the Niti Aayog, farmers are required to be educated at a cost of ₹700 crore. The report dated June 5, 2017, mentioned equipments available for the purpose. However, poor farmers are unable to afford the machines. The Centre has set aside a sum of ₹ 685 crore to help farmers. Still, stubble burning continues.”

Moneycontrol

The government is implementing recommendations suggested in the Swaminathan Commission report to improve the living standards of farmers and uplift the farm sector, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on August 8.

The Pioneer

This refers to the article, “Act before it’s too late” by Kota Sriraj (July 09). Since decades, India has failed to chalk out a priority plan to sort out the multitude of problems plaguing the country. Obviously, the worst casualty has been the agriculture sector. Our farmers remain unequipped to perform the task. They are an unequal match to the rising problems and challenges facing this sector. Climate change conditions have added to their woes.

The Hans India

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy faced the wrath of farming community at a programme conducted in Ramapuram village in YSR Kadapa district. The farmers questioned the minister for the government’s failure in fulfilling the promise of waiver of loans pending for the last five years. They also raised the issue of supply of seven hour power supply.

The Hindu Business Line

The Narendra Modi government is committed to the welfare of farmers. As a result of this there has been a qualitative improvement in their lives. Taking a step in this direction, the government has transformed the targets meant for the implementation of farmers’ welfare schemes in a mission mode and time-bound manner.

Northline

Director Agriculture , Hari Krishan Razdan, accompanied by team of officers visited farmers’ fields at Dansal, Badsu and other areas to monitor the progress of various Farmers’ welfare schemes, here today.

The Asian Age

Despite a series of measures, including a statutory ban, taken by the neighbouring states of Delhi to curb crop burning, the air pollution in Delhi-NCR hasn’t improved much and, in fact, has been deteriorating further, a parliamentary report said on air pollution in the national capital.Expressing strong reservations towards “failure” of states like Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in taking effective steps, the standing committee report said that weak enforcement of statutory ban “coupled with laxity towards sensitivity and gravity of the matter” has adversely affected the ongoing efforts to tackle the issue.

Business Standard

The air pollution in Delhi and its neighbouring cities has not improved since last year as the practice of stubble burning continues despite a ban by the neighbouring states, a parliamentary panel noted today.

Business Standard

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture to submit a status report within six weeks on providing infrastructural assistance to farmers to stop them from burning crop residue to prevent air pollution.

The Economic Times

Emphasising strict and time-bound action to deal with the growing menace of air pollution in Delhi, a parliamentary panel on Tuesday asked the government to further step up its efforts to deal with the crisis and suggested revisiting policies where it allows cutting down of trees for development works in the capital. Insisting that “worst situations demand stringent solutions”, it also asked the Centre to take strict measures to phase out the “polluting vehicles at the earliest”.

The Indian Express

Over a year after the Punjab government announced to set up a $1 million Paddy Straw Management Challenge Fund, to invite possible solutions to the menace of paddy stubble burning, the government is yet to even advertise the initiative.

Down to Earth

Harendra Neog, a farmer in India’s northeast state of Assam, recounts how his family would bathe their cattle in ponds every Bohaag Bihu, the celebration of the Assamese New Year. It is a tradition in which everyone participates in outside their homes. “But this time in April during Bihu the ponds were almost dry,” he said.

The Economic Times

The government is implementing the Swaminathan Commission report for improving living standards of farmers and upliftment of farm sector, said agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh.

The Hans India

If there is anything called a divine coincidence, it is this. Prime Minister Modi’s visionary zeal to infuse life into agriculture, South Asia emerging as the fastest growing market for ‘impact investing’ and 63% of Impact Investors from around the world looking to put their dollars into food-related businesses!

The Hindu Business Line

Agriculture Flying: Operations involving the carriage and/or spreading of chemicals, seed, fertiliser or other substances for agricultural purposes, including operations for the purpose of pest and disease control.

Timesnownews.com

Accusing the BJP of ignoring the agriculture sector, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress president Sachin Pilot on Monday alleged that hundreds of farmers have committed suicide in the state because of the Raje government’s policies. The pilot said Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje should tell people that how farmers’ suicides have increased the pride of the state as she is taking out the ‘Rajasthan Gaurav Yatra.’ Raje began her Yatra on Saturday. She will cover 165 out of total 200 assembly constituencies during the yatra which will culminate in Ajmer’s Pushkar town on September 30.

The Economic Times

Over 1.11 crore farmers spread over 16 states and union territories have registered on e-NAM platform, which promotes better marketing opportunities for farmers to sell their produce online, Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said today.

The New Indian Express

Studies have begun at the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell at the Kerala Agriculture University (KAU), Mannuthy, to present the case of Attukombu Amara (Lablab Bean) and Attappadi Thuvara (red gram/pigeon pea) for the Geographical Indication tag.“Since there aren’t much area of millet cultivation in Kerala, we propose to compare the origin and specialities of the Attukombu Amara and Attappadi Thuvara with similar varieties in the neighbouring states. There is no need to go into molecular techniques like gene mapping as the specific features of the crop produce attached to the region’s topography will suffice,” said KAU IPR cell professor and co-ordinator C R Elsy.

The Economic Times

In a major outreach ahead of elections in three tribal-dominated states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the Modi government is planning a 40-60% increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for minor forest produce (MFP) collected by tribals.

The Economic Times

Monsoon rainfall this season has slipped 10% below normal at the peak time for crop growth, which has led to lower planting of kharif or summer-sown crops, and threatens to hit output even as several agencies predict weak rainfall this month.

The Economic Times

Production of pulses, groundnut, cotton, coarse cereals and paddy can see a fall in yield across Gujarat, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Karnataka if rains don’t cover these region in the next few days, feel farmers, government officials and analysts.

The Asian Age

The growing India-Israel relationship took a step further as six Israeli startups with innovative technologies in the fields of healthcare, agriculture and water management interacted with various Indian businesses.

The Times of India

Bioenergy scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) have discovered a method to reduce the impact of stubble burning, which is the main cause of air pollution in New Delhi. Stubble burning or the burning of paddy residues, more commonly known as rice straws, generally occurs in north India, particularly in Punjab and Haryana

The Pioneer

With an eye on the polls and under pressure of farmers’ unions, the Centre is considering a proposal to link the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with agriculture. Besides increasing farmers’ income, the move will also help meet the demand of shortage of farm labourers during pre-sowing and post- harvest phases across the country and create jobs in the rural sector and.

The Pioneer

Citing that the Chhattisgarh Government has made a pro-farmer budget outlay of Rs 86,096 crore this fiscal year, the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Brijmohan Agrawal said the state government is committed to fulfill the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doubling the farmer’s income.

The Times of India

The Union agriculture department has sought clarification from Maharashtra government regarding mismatch in the area affected by pest attack and the total area under cotton cultivation. While expressing concern it might reduce the chances of getting Centre’s assistance, an official said that even if the Centre approves the application, it might not sanction the entire assistance sought by the state.

The Times of India Blog

Under then agriculture minister Rajnath Singh, in 2004 for the first time in the history of independent as well as colonial India, a National Commission on Farmers (NCF) was set up by the Government of India for looking into the problems of farm families and suggesting methods for making farming more remunerative as well as attractive to the younger generation.

The Arunachal Times

Members of the farmers’ club here in Lower Dibang Valley district were informed about government- and NABARD-sponsored schemes like CMKRY, DDUSY, Rural Mart, Rural Haat, etc, during an interaction programme organized by the NABARD on Saturday.

UNI

Several farmers from rural Delhi and Haryana met Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu here on Sunday and thanked him for his efforts to make agriculture sustainable and profitable through convening the National Consultation Meetings across the country.

Mint

Each year in India, one half of a billion people pray for rain. The rain has to be just right. Too little and there is drought. Too much and there are floods. In either of these cases, their agricultural crop does not provide them sufficient livelihood. Misery generally follows in its wake.

Newnow.in

BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary on Saturday distributed tractors and its accessories to beneficiaries under the Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnaya Yojana (CMSGUY) at a ceremonial function held at BTC Secretariat field, Bodofa Nwgwr in Kokrajhar in presence of Assam Minister Pramila Rani Brahma and Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary.

Zee Business

Haryana government today said it will launch a massive campaign in the state to create awareness among farmers about proper management of crops residue and the ill effects of stubble burning in view of the ensuing paddy harvesting season.

The Wire

In a programme on June 23 in Lucknow, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Adityanath was extolling the virtues of his government and boasting about how much his government had done for farmers. Anil Mishra, a member of the audience and a farmer associated with Ram Manohar Lohia Kisan Sabha from neighbouring Unnao District who had been invited by the Department of Horticulture to the meeting, stood up and began shouting slogans against the chief minster. His grievance pertained to mango farmers who, he claimed, were getting a price of only Rs 300 a box compared to Rs 800 last year. He demanded that the government pay at least the cost of irrigation for mango farmers who were ...

Deccan Chronicle

The state Cabinet has decided to fund the setting up of a Centre for Excellence in Agriculture Innovation, to foster innovation in Agriculture Sciences.Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mr Krishna Byregowda said that the campus will come up in the National Centre for Biological Sciences, located in the University of Agriculture Sciences campus(UAS). The NCBS has a C-CAMP incubation centre, which promotes research in science. However, most of the research done in this campus are human related and pharmaceutical industry oriented. None of the research projects are related to agriculture.

Down To Earth

In the backdrop of NITI Aayog’s consultation with a high-powered committee of chief ministers on using MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) funds to reduce agricultural input cost and help in doubling farmers’ income, a consortium of farmers’ organisations demands their participation in the consultation.

The New Indian express

The State Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to set up a Cabinet Sub-committee headed by the Chief Minister to decide on special incentives that could be offered to draw big-ticket investments to the state. Though the state already has packages of such incentives, the cabinet felt the need for offering special incentives for mega or super projects depending on the investment amount, employment generation potential and backwardness of the region where the investment is proposed.

NDTV

Haryana government on Friday said it will launch a massive campaign in the state to create awareness among farmers about proper management of crops residue and the ill effects of stubble burning in view of the ensuing paddy harvesting season.

The New Indian Express

The State Cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to set up a Cabinet Sub-committee headed by the Chief Minister to decide on special incentives that could be offered to draw big-ticket investments to the state. Though the state already has packages of such incentives, the cabinet felt the need for offering special incentives for mega or super projects depending on the investment amount, employment generation potential and backwardness of the region where the investment is proposed.

The Economic Times

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today asked MPs to urge states to promote location specific Integrated Farming System (IFS) for achieving the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

Telangana Today

Chief Secretary SK Joshi on Thursday directed officials to prepare a roadmap to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen seed sector in the State.He urged the Agriculture Department officials to set goals for the next five years and prepare plans taking into consideration total agricultural land, production, and productivity. “Plans should be chalked out crop-wise and village-wise, which will help in easy monitoring and assessment,” he said.

Mumbai Mirror

Goa Agriculture Minister Vijai Sardesai is in favour of holding beauty contests in paddy fields if that serves the purpose of attracting the youth to farming. The minister was responding to the Demands for Grants for Agriculture department in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday

Financial Express

Providing a major fillip to PM Narendra Modi’s dream of doubling farmers’ income by 2022, the farm exports have risen dramatically, reversing the trend of falling trade surpluses in the last three years. Agricultural trade surplus, i.e exports minus imports relating to farm commodities has improved in 2017-18 and also the first quarter of this fiscal, after deteriorating in the last three years. According to data released by the Commerce Ministry, India exported agricultural commodities worth $38.74 billion, as against imports of $24.89 billion, in fiscal year 2018.

UNI

The growing India-Israel relationship took a step further as six Israeli startups with innovative technologies in the fields of healthcare, agriculture and water management interacted with various Indian businesses.

The Telegraph

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday launched the Chief Minister’s Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana at Chaulkhowa in the district and distributed tractors as part of the scheme.

Nenow.in

Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday ceremonially launched Chief Minister Samagra Gramya Unnayan Yojana (CMSGUY) in Dibrugarh district and distributed tractors to farmer units at a programme organized by CMSGUY Mega Mission Society under the aegis of Agriculture Department at Chaulkhowa playground in Dibrugarh district.

The Indian Express

The average size of operational landholdings in India, according to the last Agriculture Census of 2010-11, was 1.15 hectares. This figure was lower, at 0.62 hectares, for Jammu & Kashmir and even less for the districts in the Kashmir Valley: Anantnag (0.39 hectares), Kulgam (0.39), Shopian (0.56), Pulwama (0.48), Srinagar (0.31), Budgam (0.43), Baramulla (0.51), Ganderbal (0.37), Bandipora (0.48) and Kupwara (0.51).

The Telegraph

Agriculture minister Prem Kumar on Tuesday directed field officials to generate awareness about the benefits of micro irrigation among farmers.The directions to spread word on the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana were issued at a review meeting to assess the implementation.

Outlook

According to the latest figures released by the government, farmer suicides in 2016 have come down to 6351 from 8007 in 2015, a drop of 21 per cent. Suicides among agricultural labourers, however, have gone up by about 10 per cent, from 4,595 farm labour suicides in 2015 to 5,019 in 2016.

CNBC TV18

Scores of dairy farmers demonstrated here on Tuesday and spilled milk on the road, demanding subsidy in exports and fixed minimum price of their produce from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Gathered under the banner of All India Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (AIPDFA), they threatened of a nation-wide agitation if their demands were not met within 15 days and submitted a list of their demands to the Prime Minister.

News Patrolling

The agricultural drone has joined the league of smartphones to become farmer’s choice when it comes to the use of technological-driven tools on the farm. Farmers make use of them to perform various operations on the farm ranging from plant health monitoring to other activities such as pest control and the likes. Drones are easy, cheaper and more autonomous due to the achievement recorded in the development of its software, this rapid software development saves the farmer from the use of a specialized drone Pilot.

Analytics India

AgriTech in India has become a booming field with numerous startups working with technologies such as data analytics, machine learning and satellite imaging, among others, enabling farmers to maximise their output. According to a NASSCOM report, the Indian Government specifically supports AgriTech startups through its Startup India program. In 2016, more than 350 AgriTech startups raised $300 million in investment globally, out of which Indian investment accounted for 10 percent.

The Pioneer

More than two years after its formal launch, the Centre has decided to impose financial penalties on State Governments, banks and insurance companies for delay in claim settlement under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Insurance Companies and State Governments will have to repay with 12 per cent interest if they fail to clear claims of farmers for loss of crop loss within two months. The decision was taken by the Ministry of Agriculture after reports that insurance companies, banks are not settling claims of farmers for their crop loss despite insurance of crops.

Telangana Today

The Niti Aayog is in the process of chalking out a draft national policy on linking National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) works with the agriculture sector, Union Secretary for Rural Development Amarjeet Sinha Singh said here on Tuesday. Speaking at a workshop conducted by the Telangana State government in association with NITI Aayog, he said several States were already reaping the benefits of NREGA by utilising labour in agriculture activities. “Deploying employment guarantee scheme workers in agriculture works will increase income levels of farmers besides reducing investment costs,” he said.

The Pioneer

Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister Gaurishankar Bisen has said that the Government has fulfilled the challenge of increasing agricultural production in the state. Arrangement is being made for better marketing of agricultural produce of farmers.