September 2018

The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (Upasi) has said that all plantation crops – tea, coffee, rubber and spices- are currently passing through an unusually difficult phase, with the basic problems of low commodity prices combined with high cost of production owing to low productivity of labour & land, further complicated by climate change .

Rythu Bandhu cheques to be given in October to skirt poll process

To complete the distribution of Rythu Bandhu cheques before the poll process begins, the agriculture department has decided to start the second phase of the scheme in October

How farmer producer company model can transform Indian agriculture

Agricultural engineer Vilas Shinde has reaped a rich harvest. Sahyadri Farms, the farmer producer company (FPC) set up by him in 2011, has grown to become the largest FPC in the country, with a membership of 8,000 farmers and a turnover of Rs 300 crore. It has overtaken Mahindra Agribusiness to become India’s largest grape exporting company, and many say it may well be on course to revolutionise the fruits and vegetables business in favour of growers just as Amul did for milk producers of Gujara ..

Govt to conduct livestock census from Oct 1

Outlook

The 20th livestock census will be conducted from October 1 across the country and breed-wise details will be collected that will help in framing policies for breed improvement, the agriculture ministry said Friday.

States asked to ensure distribution of farm implements to tackle stubble burning in 10 days

The Environment Ministry Thursday asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to complete distribution of agricultural implements among farmers within 10 days so as to tackle stubble burning, one of the key reasons for air pollution in Delhi in the winter.

Capt writes to Modi, wants Rs 100/quintal for farmers to manage paddy straw

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating his request for Rs 100 per quintal as compensation to farmers for management of paddy straw.

Punjab seeks compensation to farmers for crop residue management

The Week

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating his request for Rs 100 per quintal as compensation to farmers for management of paddy straw. The compensation should be given only to those farmers who refrained from burning paddy residue, he wrote in his letter, according to an official release.

CM : Give relief to farmers not burning straw

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking Rs 100/quintal compensation for farmers for the management of paddy straw.“The compensation should be given only to those farmers who refrain from burning paddy residue,” the CM wrote in a demi-official (DO) letter to the PM. “The task of achieving zero stubble burning in the state is not only a Herculean one but also puts additional financial burden on the farmers,” the Chief Minister pointed out, adding that despite strict control measures, about 15 million MT (metric tonnes) of paddy straw was being burnt in Punjab annually.

Students, farmers told about crop residue mgmt

The Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Samrala, under the aegis of the PAU, organised an awareness camp for the students of Malwa College, Bondli.The camp was held under the guidance of Dr SC Sharma (Associate Director), in which around 500 students and farmers participated.

Amarinder writes to PM on compensation to farmers

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reiterating his request for ₹100 per quintal as compensation to farmers for management of paddy straw.

Andhra Pradesh’s push for zero budget natural farming inspires others

Mongabay

Use of chemical pesticides in India, including those that are banned in other countries, has been a matter of concern and a raging topic of discussion in the country. Addressing the issue, the Andhra Pradesh government has adopted a chemical-free approach with the concept of zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) and is now scaling it up to an unprecedented level to cover the entire state by 2024.

PJTSAU to monitor pest attacks on crop using drones

Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Bengaluru-based AEgis Technologies, engaged in drone manufacturing, for utilising the modern technology in agricultural operations on pilot basis. The agreement was signed by Registrar of the university, S. Sudheer Kumar, and Director of AEgis Technologies, S. Vinod Kumar, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor V. Praveen Rao. As part of the MoU, the agricultural university would utilise the technical services of AEgis in diagnosing pest and insect attacks on rice, maize and cotton crops in the State to take timely measures like spraying of pesticides with drones.

Rajasthan farmers benefited from solar water pumps: study

A scientific study conducted by Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, has found mismatch between investment in solar energy sources and employment generation in the sector, but has stated that the farmers in Rajasthan have immensely benefited from the solar photovoltaic (SPV) water pumping systems.

Hopeful of agri exports crossing $40 billion by year-end, says agriculture secretary

Talking about agri exports, Shobhana Pattanayak, agriculture secretary, in an interview with CNBC-TV1, said the government has brought out a new export policy and over the last few years the level of exports has been around $37 billion.

India’s Kharif crop output may hit all-time high this year; how it may impact rice exports, MSP

After government estimates said that Indian agriculture could be heading for bumper kharif crop harvest, experts say that it could provide a major fillip to rice exports. However, the development could potentially put increased pressure on the government to buy the crops at the MSPs, if market rates fall below the benchmark rates on bumper arrivals at mandis.

Walmart to invest Rs 1.8 bn to improve farmers’ livelihood in next 5 years

As part of its initiative to support sustainable livelihood for farmers in India, the Walmart Foundation Thursday announced investment of Rs 1.8 billion over the next five years in the country.”The Walmart Foundation, working beyond the Walmart India supply chain, will invest approximately Rs 1.8 billion ($25 million) to improve farmers’ livelihood over the next five years,” Walmart International CEO Judith McKenna said.

Why ITC’s Sanjiv Puri champions Sustainable Agriculture

Food is the essence of life. Apart from being necessary for survival, it is emotional, evocative and comforting. It can soothe the soul, enhance moments and turn the humdrum into joy. Most television advertising is focused around these aspects. Happy families, lunches, dinners, meetings, special moments and more. The producer of the food though, the farmers and their families, are never seen. It is almost as if they don’t exist except in newsprint when you hear of drought or floods or farm distress.

Over 6 lakh ryots to ‘forego’ cheques for Kharif

Over six-lakh farmers who have not availed the Rythu Bandh benefit of ₹4,000 per acre financial assistance given by the State government as input support during the kharif season that is coming to end by the month-end are likely to forego it, irrespective of the reasons.

If not agriculture minister, farmers at least know about agri-schemes: Radha Mohan Singh

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said on Thursday if not his name, farmers across the country are at least aware of agricultural schemes in the current government when compared to the previous regime.Attacking the previous government for neglecting the farming community, Singh said the NDA government on the other hand has given a top priority to the welfare of farmers, and therefore raised substantially the budget allocation to Rs 2,11,000 crore in the last four years to develop agri-sector.

Agri dept plans campaign against stubble burning

The state government will run a special campaign to sensitise farmers about the hazards of burning stubble after harvesting of Kharif crops, particularly paddy.

Punjab: Rain to delay paddy harvesting by 10 days, stubble management a challenge

Stubble management is likely to pose a major challenge for Punjab as the heavy rain that lashed the state over the past few days is set to delay harvesting of paddy by around a week to 10 days. Over 200 lakh tonnes paddy stubble is produced in Punjab every year. There is just 20-25 days window between paddy harvesting and wheat sowing in Punjab and delay in harvesting would lessen this period to almost half.

UP govt to sensitise farmers on crop burning

Uttar Pradesh government will run a special campaign for the farmers to sensitise them about the hazards of burning crops after the harvesting of Kharif crops, particularly paddy.

Use digital tools to attain success in agriculture

Agriculture is a complex profession. Every stage involved difficulties and challenges. Risks are a part of agricultural activity as well as agribusiness,” said Ramesh Mittal, director, National Institute of Agriculture Marketing, Jaipur.

Kharif food-grain output to be record high, show initial government estimates

India is likely to post record high food-grain production this kharif season, with monsoon rains being normal in main crop-producing states, the government’s initial estimates show.

Nagaland govt encourages sustainable agriculture

Morung Express

The Department of Horticulture organised a program under the theme “Bridging the gap towards sustainable horticulture in Nagaland” under the patronage of Governor, PB Acharya on September 24 at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India.

Cabinet approves Agreement b/w India, Uzbekistan on cooperation in agriculture, allied sectors

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the signing of an agreement between India and Uzbekistan for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sector

Delivering smarter agriculture

Telangana Today

For the many potential application areas where artificial intelligence can deliver breakthrough transformation, unlock efficiencies and augment human life, one of the most impactful areas – at least in the Indian context – will be the value it can bring to the field of agriculture.

Walmart team meets Yogi Adityanath; discusses agriculture, food processing

At the meeting, the UP chief minister spoke about focussing on agriculture sourcing, food processing industry and One District One Product (ODOP) to support local traditional art forms.

Agriculture Department to roll out programme to promote farming in capital

The Agriculture Department is launching a major initiative to help state capital Thiruvananthapuram restore its former glory as an agriculture-rich district. For this, the department will join hands with various farm-related agencies and the district administration to roll out programme by placing emphasis on organic farming methods and ‘Food Security and Safe Food’ as the focal themes. A meeting to work out the details of the programme was convened by Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar here on Wednesday.

How do economists foresee India’s rural economy?

Rural Marketing

Today, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The growth in its gross domestic products (GDP) has been 7 to 8 percent over the decade. However, rural India where 68 percent of country’s population reside, could not maintain the pace with national GDP growth.

Maharashtra govt plans to use drones in agriculture

Taking its reforms in the agriculture sector forward, Maharashtra government has decided to introduce drones to help farmers improve sowing and harvest of crops. The first pilot project will be launched in winter during October-November for rabi crops in two districts, Latur (Marathwada) and Yavatmal (Vidarbha).

IBM looks to partner with government bodies, banks for agriculture solutions

Global tech major IBM is looking to partner with government bodies and financial institutions in the country to deepen reach of its artificial intelligence (AI) platform for the farm sector.

MPs’ panel to review Centre’s flagship agriculture schemes

A parliamentary standing committee of MPs will assess Centre’s flagship schemes announced three years ago to double farmers’ income by 2022.

Stubble burning on in Karnal

Despite the NGT ban on stubble burning, the practice continues unabated in the district. As many as 71 cases of fire have been reported and 18 FIRs have been registered against farmers so far. Besides, the authorities have imposed a fine of Rs 1.92 lakh on the violators.

Punjab Agricultural University students turn stubble into jewellery

As experts from across the country came together at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana in the kisan mela to devise an alternative, a team of six students from the College of Home Science came up with a solution to deal with the menace by converting the agricultural waste into jewellery.

Heavy rains hit paddy, cotton crops hard

Torrential rains at the end of the monsoon season have severely damaged paddy, cotton as well as vegetable crops in Punjab and Haryana, the key suppliers of grain in the country, dampening prospects of a record harvest that the agriculture ministry expects.

Karnataka: Firm set to tap into the potential of neera

Bangalore Mirror MNSPL will set up neera or coconut sap processing unit Baranduru village of Bhadravathi taluk at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore.Manohar Maski, Chairman of MNSPL told BM the company will train agricultural labourers to extract neera. “The total area of coconut in Karnataka is about 5,11,000 Ha and the total number of palms is about 7.665 crores. The total area covered by 13 major coconut growing districts is 4,22,245 hectares. The districts include Tumakuru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Chikkamgaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Ramanagar, Davangere, Chamarajanagar, Uttar Kannada and Shivamogga. Neera from one per cent palms can provide an additional revenue of Rs 4,600 crore to the state. By sale of coconuts, the total income generated ...

Schemes to double farmers’ income

Daily Excelsior

The flagship schemes of the Central Government announced three years back to have the income of farmers doubled by the year 2022 appear to have either not travelled to this end in Jammu and Kashmir or the response from the concerned officials, economic and agricultural experts in the State, is mired in procedural delays.

Crop damage feared as heavy rain lashes Punjab, Haryana; Himachal schools shut

Both crops are at maturity stage and at least one paddy variety, PUSA 1509, is already being harvested. Director, Punjab Agriculture, Dr Jasbir Singh Bains said reports of standing paddy crop getting flattened due to rain and wind, known as lodging in agricultural parlance, were coming in from various parts of Punjab, and the damage could be assessed only after the rain stopped.

India simply cannot afford to keep supporting agriculture the dumb way

Though Icrier and Syngenta Foundation economists Ashok Gulati, Marco Ferroni and Yuan Zhou didn’t say as much, that their book—released by finance minister Arun Jaitley—is called Supporting Indian Farms, the smart way makes it clear they feel this is being done the dumb way right now.

Govt plans Rs 65,000-crore project to reduce greenhouse gases from agriculture

India is set to roll out its most integrated programme yet to cut greenhouse gases from agriculture. The project is primarily aimed at protecting the country’s five biggest vulnerable ecological landscapes, according to a two officials familiar with the matter.

Govt draws up ₹ 1,500 crore plan to boost agri exports

The commerce ministry is planning to invest ₹ 1,500 crore to develop 40 export-oriented clusters under the proposed agriculture export policy. The move is part of the government’s short- and long-term initiatives to boost exports and curb India’s mounting current account deficit. The proposal is currently under inter-ministerial consultation. It will be sent to the cabinet for approval, a commerce ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

Ashoka Pillar Award: Rs 10 Lakh cash to honour efforts to save environment

Last week, Ashoka University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship hosted the inaugural edition of the Ashoka Pillar Award, to award young talent for their innovative solutions to tackle the worsening air quality in India, at its campus in Sonepat, near Delhi. The winners, the university said, will receive Rs 6.5 lakh, Rs. 1.8 lakh and Rs. 1.4 lakh, respectively. They are Eklavya Singh (who made the EZ-Harv electric-powered combine harvester designed to prevent stubble burning), Twinkle Malhan and Aadesh Pratap Singh (who designed the Aerohealer, which uses aeroponics technology—the process of growing plants in a misty environment without the use of soil—and aloe vera plant) and Rohit Rawat (made the Green Air biotech air filter).

Haryana to watch 30 villages known for crop burning

The state government has identified 30 villages that will be monitored to prevent stubble burning, which usually takes place in October and early November. DS Dhesi, chief secretary of Haryana government, on Saturday, said that these villages, which have a history of burning stubble, will be monitored till October 5.

Cards mapping soil profile of lands distributed to farmers

The first of the Land Resource Inventory (LRI) cards, which narrate the tale of soil and crops in a farmer’s land, is being distributed to thousands of farmer households in the State.

Seed Mela marks start of Krishi Mela in Dharwad

The four-day Krishi Mela organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, which attracts lakhs of visitors, mainly farmers, from Karnataka as well as neighbouring States, kicked off here on Saturday with the inauguration of the Seed Mela, where farmers were distributed seeds symbolically.

Mela ends with focus on stubble menace

The three-day Kisan Mela at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) concluded on Saturday. The major crux of the event this year evolved around curbing stubble burning nuisance which largely impacts air and soil quality throughout north India after harvesting of paddy crop in particular. However, rain played a spoilsport on third day and as a result, number of visitors remained low.

Farmers’ Harvest Festival: A celebration of bumper harvest

CGTN

In June 2018, China’s State Council announced the establishment of the Farmers’ Harvest Festival, an annual celebration of Chinese farmers, on Sept. 23 this year. It is the first festival in China created solely for farmers. The high-standard courtesy highlights the country’s special emphasis on the work of “agriculture, rural areas and farmers.”

Punjab offers million-dollar reward to anyone who can solve stubble-burning problem

The Print

The Punjab Farmers Commission has announced a million-dollar award for the most viable eco-friendly technological solution to paddy straw burning, a perennial problem in the state that is blamed for the smog that blankets Delhi in winter.

Argentina bets on $600 million satellite to advance agriculture sector

Deccan Chronicle

Argentina is launching a new microwave imaging satellite to monitor natural disasters and soil moisture, in a long-term bid to bolster the farm sector, an industry that has historically been the backbone of the country’s economy.

5 pesticides banned to curb deaths due to inhalation

Nyoooz

The state agriculture department banned five pesticides, for two months, to prevent accidental inhalation while spraying the farms.In the past four years, 272 farmers have died and thousands of others have fallen ill following accidental pesticide inhalation in the state. Rajaram Deshmukh, the former vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, said, “The Centre needs to step in and ban these pesticides permanently. Our flying squads and officials will conduct random raids,” said Sachindra Pratap Singh, the agriculture commissioner.Meanwhile, agriculture experts and farmers said the government should ban these pesticides permanently. Farmers in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions usually spray these pesticides on cotton and soybean crop and as a result, most of the pesticide-related farmer deaths ...

Farmers oppose Karur-Coimbatore proposed bypass project

The farmers gathered for a meeting at Karanampettai on Saturday to draw the attention of the Governments to their opposition to the project. The farmers, who were from more than 20 panchayats in the region, passed a resolution at the meeting demanding the Central and State governments to drop the proposal and widen the existing road between Coimbatore and Karur. “We will submit a copy of the resolution to all the authorities concerned,” said K. Satheesh Kumar, working committee member of Kongu Mandala Vivasaigal Vazhvaadhara Padhukaapu Kuzhu.

Ashoka Pillar Award given to young talent for their solutions to tackle the worsening air quality

The Statesman

Ashoka University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship hosted the inaugural edition of Ashoka Pillar Award on September 18. The university awarded young talent for their innovative solutions to tackle the worsening air quality in India.

Oilseed exports gain, but prices rise on Re dive

The sharp depreciation of the rupee has been a double-edged sword for the oil and oilseeds industry. While the weak rupee pushed up edible oil prices 2-3% in the past month, it bought cheer to farmers as soya meal and oilseeds exports will earn more.

E-NAM starts logistical support for trading outside mandis

The government-promoted electronic-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) has entered another phase with the launch of pilot project giving logistical support to trading outside mandis.

Kisan mela kicks off with a message on stubble burning

The much-awaited Kisan Mela kicked off at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Thursday. The three-day event will mainly focus on paddy straw management to dissuade farmers from stubble burning. Students showcased beautiful things made out of paddy straw like mats, carpets, baskets and paintings. Narinderjeet Kaur, a professor from home science department, PAU, said this is a symbolic message that nothing goes waste

Ludhiana: Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai inaugurates farmer and animal fair

Former Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday inaugurated the two-day PAU Kisan Mela and Pashu Palan Mela at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU). In his brief speech, which he started with Sat Shri Akal, he said that he was overwhelmed by the hospitality of both the universities.

Govt filip to farmers’ services

The Telegraph

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday inaugurated Krushi Bhavan, which will house agriculture and related departments.The building, which is located near the Stare Guest House and behind the state secretariat, displayed the traditional art and architecture of Odisha.

Kharif acreage up 0.61% YoY to 1,057.81 lakh hectare

Planting of kharif crops this season has increased over the previous year’s figure. According to latest numbers from the agriculture ministry, kharif crop planting has covered 1,057.81 lakh hectare from June to September 20, a 0.61% increase from 1,051.36 lakh hectares a year earlier.

MoU signed for setting up biggest unit in India to make starch from maize

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the State Government and companies for investment proposals in the food procession sector. The MoU was signed in the presence of Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Agriculture Minister Subodh Uniyal. It was signed by by agriculture secretary D Senthil Pandian and managing director of Rocket Riddhi-Siddhi Private Limited, Goregoan, Mumbai, Rohit Marken.

Pb CM assures Karzai of support for development of war-torn Afghanistan

Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday assured former Afghan President Hamid Karzai of greater strategic support and cooperation for the war-torn nation.

Punjab stumbling in stubble burning fight

Earlier this week, a committee headed by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Nripendra Misra, took stock of preparations by Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to combat pollution from the burning of stubble. Various studies say that during November such burning of straw contributes to 20%-50% of the pollution in Delhi.

Smart farming in the home of drones

A drone buzzes over a farm, capturing images of a rapeseed field in Nyon — the Swiss district famous as the headquarters of European football’s governing body Uefa. The images — captured using a multispectral camera — are analysed on ground using a software that maps the soil’s nitrogen content, which is traditionally done by physical testing of the soil. It can also identity patches with high weed growth, and help farmers minimize the use of fertilizers and herbicides.

PAU gears up for Kisan Mela

The stage is set for a three-day agro-industrial exhibition at the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). This is the first time that the university has extended the Kisan Mela schedule by one day to educate farmers to stop burning paddy straw and focus on stubble management. The theme of the exhibition is ‘Save Mother Earth: Stop stubble burning’. Field functionaries will talk at length about the recent farm practices and technology, suggesting suitable solutions to the problems being faced by farmers

NABARD Injects Rs 65,635 Crore Into Indian Agriculture For 93 Irrigation Projects, Will Benefit 80 Lakh Hectares Of Land

Swarajya

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has approved Rs 65,635 crore for 93 irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY), Press Trust of India has reported.

Sugar Mills Will Be Under Lot Of Pressure: Siraj Hussain, Former Secretary Of Agriculture

BW Businessworld

The Cabinet Committee on economic affairs is expected to take series of decisions related to sugarcane farmers and export relaxations on sugar. This may be another landmark announcement by Indian government post raising MSP’s. Is it a desperate measure to relieve stressed sugarcane farmers’? What will be the possible outcomes of the decision? BW Businessworld speaks to Siraj Hussain, Former Secretary of Agriculture Govt. of India, excerpts:

Rs 65,634.93 crore released so far under PMKSY for 93 irrigation projects

The government has released more than Rs 65,000 crore so far for 93 prioritised irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) through long-term irrigation fund or LTIF, said National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala.

APMCs failing to implement Pledge Fin Scheme face dissolution: Maharashtra minister

Maharashtra cooperation and marketing minister Subhash Deshmukh on Wednesday threatened to dissolve the administrative boards of Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) that do not implement the state’s Agriculture Pledge Finance Scheme effectively.

For The Farmer’s Future

With elections around the corner, it’s too late for a course correction of the farm sector, but it’s an opportune time to document the unintended consequences of half-baked policies for the next five years. Otherwise, the momentum of existing policies will continue to feed rural economic misery.

India Russia seek deeper cooperation in Space, Agriculture and Pharma

Financial express

Ahead of the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit in New Delhi early next month. With the two -way investments having already crossed the $30 bn target, the two countries have now proposed to enhance this figure to $50 bn by 2025. To achieve this both countries are seeking deeper cooperation in various other sectors including Railways, agriculture, North South Corridor and the pharmaceuticals.

‘Why delay agricultural service connections?’

The Madras High Court on Tuesday expressed dismay over Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) taking years to provide electricity connections to agricultural lands. It stressed the need to expedite the process and provide such connections to farmers without loss of time.

Stubble burning: Punjab delivers over 7,300 machines for crop residue management

The Statesman

Acting on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, the Punjab agriculture department has so far delivered 7337 subsidized agro-machines to farmers for the effective scientific management of paddy residue.

Arun Jaitley bats for blending subsidy with investment to boost farm sector

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday made a case for blending subsidy with investment to augment farm sector growth and make it sustainable. He also said formalisation of the economy has started showing visible result in terms of higher resource mobilisation, leaving more in the hands of the government for the capital formation in various sectors.

Agriculture: Jaitley concerned over declining share of public investment

Finance minister Arun Jaitley has expressed concern over a declining share of public investment in agriculture while subsidies to the sector are on the rise. “I do see a point in blending the subsidy support with investment because a model which sustains indefinitely only on subsidy will not be sustainable.

Sanjay Agarawal appointed Agricultural Secy

The Centre on Monday effected a major bureaucratic reshuffle. Sanjay Agarawal will be the new Agriculture Secretary while Sanjeev Ranjan will be the new chairman of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and Tarun Kapoor the new Vice Chairman, Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

Centre asks states to strengthen surveillance against diseases in maize, cotton,wheat crops

Officials of the Union Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday expressed serious concern about maize, cotton and wheat cultivation being afflicted with diseases caused by Fall Army Worm, Pink Ball Worm and, Wheat Blast, Yellow Rust and Karnal Bunt respectively. States were asked to strengthen disease surveillance system and advise farmers to plant certified seeds only. The invasion of Fall Army Worm from Africa in maize cultivation in Karnataka with risks to the crop in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu is a serious worry officials told the UN

Hard work, but low wages for women farmers

Down To Earth

As farmers and agricultural labourers, women contribute significantly to food security of the country, but they are paid 22 per cent less than their male counterparts, shows a report on agricultural statistics released by the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. While wages of both male and female farmers increased in the last decade (2006-17), the wage disparity continues and the women farmers continue to earn less.

Centre sets foodgrains target of 285 2 mt for next year, against estimated output of 284 8 mt this year

Despite monsoon being deficient by eight per cent so far this year, the Centre on Tuesday announced a foodgrains production target of 285.2 million tonnes for the next year (2018-19) with 141.2 million tonnes to be achieved in kharif and 144 million tonnes in the Rabi season. The total foodgrains output achieved in 2017- 18 was 284.8 million tonnes as declared recently by the Union Agriculture Ministry in its 4th Advance Estimates.

Stubble burning down 60%, will vanish next year

We have successfully managed to bring down the cases of stubble burning by around 60% and so the pollution levels too have come down accordingly. We have set up district-level committees across the state, which work in coordination with the Punjab Pollution Control Board, state agriculture department and other agencies. The committees visit villages to create awareness among the farmers and educate them about the ill effects of stubble burning not only on environment but also their farmland.

Trade to play major role in fighting hunger: FAO

Trade in agricultural products will make an increasingly key contribution to feeding the planet and responding to famines as climate change is set to significantly alter the ability of many world regions to produce food, according to a new report by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Harvard Team Finds Way to Turn ‘Cause’ of Delhi’s Pollution Into Cooling Panels!

The Better India

Delhi’s 16.3 million residents experience devastatingly dangerous levels of air pollution in their city, irrespective of what some apologists would like to suggest. The numbers don’t lie.In parts of the city, air quality index (AQI) readings had hit 999—the equivalent of smoking 45 cigarettes a day. According to the World Health Organization, Delhi has the worst air quality in the world alongside other Indian cities like Gwalior, Allahabad, and Ludhiana. According to one study, approximately 15,000 people died prematurely in Delhi due to particulate matter in 2016.

Farmers adopt nature farming in 66,000 hectares in state

The Hans India

At present about five lakh farmers adopted ZBNF and cultivating various crops in 66,000 hectares in the state. Subhash Palekar Guru of ZBNF and agriculture scientists are giving advises and suggestions to the farmers who started nature farming. The farmers are feeling that agriculture was viable if the cost of cultivation reduced.

MERC to verify power usage for agriculture

The Asian Age

State electricity regulator, Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC), has decided to undertake a third-party verification of agricultural sales to get an accurate assessment of agricultural power consumption in the state. It will take at least a year to complete the assessment as the regulator will have to consider sales during different agricultural seasons as the energy requirements may differ, according to MERC member Mukesh Khullar

Sanjay Agarwal appointed Agri Secy; Sanjeev Ranjan to be NHAI chief

Senior bureaucrats Sanjay Agarawal and Sanjeev Ranjan have been appointed as Agriculture Secretary and NHAI chief respectively as part of a bureaucratic reshuffle effected Monday. Agarawal, who is at present serving in his cadre state Uttar Pradesh, will be Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare on superannuation of S K Pattanayak, on September 30, an order issued by the Personnel Ministry said.

PAU kisan mela at Amritsar

A large of farmers gathered was witnessed at the kisan mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University(PAU) at Nag Kalan Jahangir regional research station, Amritsar on Monday.

Kisan Mela: ‘Excessive use of pesticides harmful’

DURING THE fourth segment of a series of Kisan Melas organised by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Vice-Chancellor Dr B S Dhillon highlighted that farmers must select zinc fortified and yellow rust resistant wheat varieties for the coming Rabi season. He was speaking at the Kisan Mela organised at Faridkot Monday. On export of basmati, Dr Dhillon cautioned against unnecessary spraying of pesticide that had affected the country’s export of basmati to some countries in the past.

Farmers pledge to eliminate stubble burning from district

“Farmers from the historic district should come forward on their own to take a lead in the state in completely eliminating the menace of burning residue as residents did in curbing the female foeticide, “said Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Fatehgarh Sahib, while making a passionate appeal in his address to the farming community after inaugurating the district-level farmers’ awareness camp, organised by the District Agriculture and Kisan Bhalai Department, at Mata Gujri College here today.

Seeds of entrepreneurship

The idea to use technology through corporate intervention is still remote in the Indian agriculture sector. For decades, the agrarian and industrial economies were treated as unrelated entities, hence agriculture still looks at corporate interventions with suspicion. Until recently, companies’ involvement in the farming communities was only through the corporate social responsibility (CSR). Anything beyond CSR raises distrust.

Nabard okays 66K-cr loan for 93 agriculture projects

The Hans India

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has approved Rs 65,634.93-crore loan so far to 93 prioritised irrigation projects under the government’s flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), its chairman H K Bhanwala said.

Transforming agriculture

India is signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity. As four of the 35 biodiversity hotspots are located in India, it is biodiversity-rich. However, climate change and development without consideration for biodiversity are leading to loss of biodiversity.

Punjab gearing up to check stubble burning

Punjab is gearing up to curtail stubble burning during the ensuing paddy harvesting season. The State government has asked its officials to ensure timely supply of subsidised farm equipment to the farmers or face disciplinary action.

MSP: Minimal Suicide of Peasants

Should I till the land, lease it or leave it barren? Or resort to the extreme step? These were the questions that prevailed on the minds of farmers until the Modi Government took to power in 2014. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the apathy towards the agriculture sector by introducing a slew of measures: Schemes like Soil Health Card, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima; initiatives like production of neem coated urea, e-Nam; policies like price support scheme for pulses and oilseeds; and market intervention scheme for non-MSP crops, among others. Announced in the Union Budget 2018-19, the Modi Government’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) policy of assured procurement or price support for 23 notified crops at cost (A2+FL) plus 50 ...

Farmers attend kisan mela

Rakhra Kisan Mela organised by the Punjab Young Farmers Association at ICAR- Indian Agricultural Research Institute Collaborative Outstation Research Centre in Rakhra village here attracted a large number of farmers from all over the state and neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan on Saturday.

Will blockchain play role in agriculture?

Farm Dairy

Does blockchain technology have a place in the future of the agricultural supply chain? It is certainly starting to look that way.

Perspective Plans for Agriculture has to be implemented in Tripura: Report of Govt

The State, needs to implement successfully the already taken “Perspective Plans for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Forestry and Irrigation” to address the future demands of food, effectively and efficiently, said a report of the Tripura Government, published by Directorate of Economics & Statistics Planning (Statistics) Department.

Maharashtra’s agricultural market reforms may disrupt open market trade

Maharashtra’s new agricultural market reforms look to disrupt open market trade scenario by better management of inventory and infrastructure instead of regulating the Minimum Support Price (MSP), according to a report submitted to the State Cabinet. The reforms, part of the efforts to streamline the existing MSP regime, include opening up of MSP procurement centres, effective management of the inventory of the procured food grains and incurring losses by off loading the same in open market. All of this to “further disrupt” the open market trade scenario, officials said.

New agriculture scheme gets thumbs down

DNA

The government launched the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) last week in an attempt to provide further benefit to farmers growing pulses and oilseeds from the higher minimum support prices (MSPs) that were announced earlier. The new scheme will be a mix of three mini schemes: direct procurement from farmers (price support scheme or PSS), reimbursing them for losses incurred when wholesale market prices fall below the announced MSP (price deficiency payment scheme or PDPS) and a pilot project for procurement by private traders at MSP for the government.

NGOs team up to fight stubble burning in Punjab

The momentum is building up in Punjab’s paddy fields with stakeholders, including the central and state governments, agricultural universities, machine manufacturers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), gearing up to educate and equip farmers against stubble burning after the harvest in October and November.

Rice, wheat producing countries should be concerned about India’s domestic support policy: US

Outlook

The US has alleged that India is providing massive subsidies to its farmers producing rice and wheat and said that other countries need to be concerned about New Delhi’s “trade distorting policy”.

Rice, wheat producing countries should be concerned about India’s trade-distorting policy: US

Bengal shows the way in agricultural growth

Bengal is a largely agricultural economy with 96 per cent of the 7.23 lakh farm families being marginal and small farmers (average size of land holdings being only 0.77 hectare).

Poll season kicks off, now to see what MSP costs government

Himachal Pradesh to be first in India to get climate-smart agriculture profile

Himachal Pradesh is going to be the first state in India to get its climate-smart agriculture (CSA) profile done. Regional program leader of the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) Dr Pramod Aggarwal said that that they had collaborated with the World Bank to prepare CSA profiles of 20 countries and Himachal was chosen because it was a fairly progressive state with rich experience and depth in data through ongoing projects, which needed to be analyzed. “Globally, climatic issues are becoming more serious and Himachal Pradesh is no exception as it is bound to witness almost all aspects of climate change. It is now all the more imperative that what we do today should ...

Punjab seeks new technology to cut down on paddy burning, declares award of more than Rs 7 crore

Scroll

The Punjab government on Thursday announced a cash award of more than Rs 7 crore to help develop technology that would provide a solution to effectively manage paddy straw produced and burnt in the state and cut down on air pollution. Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman of the Punjab State Farmers and Farm Workers Commission, called upon research institutions and individuals to come up with a cheaper and environment-friendly technology, which would be evaluated by the Punjab Agricultural University.

Gadkari assures Sukhbir on Jalandhar-Ajmer Sharif expressway construction

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday accepted SAD president Sukhbir Badal’s request to take up construction of Jalandhar-Ajmer Shareef expressway in the first phase of the national expressway project scheme.

Cabinet allows private companies to take part in foodgrain procurement

The Cabinet has allowed gradual entry of private companies in procurement of foodgrains and sanctioned ?31,603 crore for two schemes to ensure farmers are able to sell their produce at the minimum support price (MSP).

National Action Plan on Dairy requires Rs 51,077 crore, says minister Radha Mohan Singh

Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh has said implementation of National Action Plan on Dairy Development 2022, which seeks to increase milk production and double the income of dairy farmers, will require an investment of Rs 51,077 crore.

Centre approves additional assistance for UP, Maharashtra

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday approved an additional assistance from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) of Rs 157.23 crore for the state of Uttar Pradesh and Rs 60.76 crore for the state of Maharashtra.

Farmers don’t have enough cash to save or invest

Barely one in 10 rural households in India had any investible surplus in 2015-16, says the Nabard All India Rural Financial Inclusion Survey 2016-17 (NAFIS), published recently.Those who invested did so largely in physical assets, while less than 3% invested in financial instruments. (charts 1a and 1b)

Formulation of J&K State Agriculture Policy

The Northlines

A carefully crafted Policy is perhaps the best driver for effective delivery of programs for serving the people at large. In Jammu and Kashmir, like elsewhere in India, agriculture remains the mainstay of the economy and contributes 15.89% of the GDP (2015-16 Economic Survey estimates), amidst a vast range of opportunities and challenges presented by the diversity of the agro-climatic zones obtaining in the State. A comprehensive, vibrant and effective Agriculture Policy is however yet to see light of the day in the State. It is not surprising, that concern has recently been raised in a section of the local press regarding continued delay in notifying the J&K State Agriculture Policy despite the fact that around seven ...

Hussain writes to neighbouring states to curb pollution by stubble burning

Outlook

Ahead of winters, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain Thursday asked ministers in neighbouring states to take preventive and precautionary measures to curb air pollution resulting from stubble burning.

Country diary: wood pigeons gorge in huddles among the stubble

The Guardian

Late in the summers of my childhood, black specks would fall out of the sky, floating in through my open bedroom window, snagging on the net curtains. Though we lived a good half mile from the nearest field, the charred shreds from stubble-burning made no distinction between town and country. Sooty showers rained down on suburban sensibilities year after year. Though people complained, nothing changed, for this was an age when farming sat in the social and political ascendancy.

Punjab takes steps to prevent straw burning this winter

To effectively check the menace of paddy straw burning, Punjab Government on Wednesday warned the officers of the state Agriculture Department to ensure timely supply of subsidized farm equipments to the farmers or face disciplinary action for delinquency in performing services.

Bracing for stubble trouble: How Punjab plans to stop the fire

In a month, the lush paddy fields of Punjab will be ready for harvest. With a brief window to clear the field for sowing wheat before winter sets in, farmers tend to burn the crop residue, causing smog to engulf the region. This happened till the last paddy season despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on stubble burning three years ago. But this year could be a different story with the central and state governments educating and providing farmers subsidised machinery to tackle the stubble in environment-friendly ways.

India signs pacts with Rakhine State for capacity building, economic development

Indian Embassy on Wednesday signed two agreements with Myanmar’s Rakhine State Government to facilitate capacity building and economic development in the province. The pacts will help promote agricultural mechanisation and support computer literacy among the youth of Rakhine State to prepare them for employment opportunities in the software sector.

Govt Blinks on Fixing Procurement Infrastructure, Announces Price Support Schemes

The Wire

On Wednesday, the Union cabinet announced a range of measures aimed at ensuring that farmers benefit from the minimum support prices (MSP) announced by the Centre. It announced a new umbrella scheme called the ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan’ and abbreviated to PM-AASHA to be implemented with effect from the new kharif marketing season starting October. The new scheme will have three components: a price support scheme (PSS) that has existed for several years; a price deficiency payment scheme (PDPS) modelled on Bhawantar Bhugtan Yojana; and a private procurement and stockist scheme (PPPS). As much as Rs 15,053 crore has been allocated under this scheme.

Centre approves PM-AASHA for farmers’ welfare

With an aim to boost the pro-farmer initiatives of the government, the Centre on Wednesday approved a new Umbrella Scheme “Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA). The scheme is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to the farmers for their produce as announced in the Union Budget for 2018.

Farmers should produce what markets want

At a time when the government aims to double farmers income, Chaudhry said that rather than saying that farmer will produce and then find market it should be what does the market want and bring in back to the farmer to produce it.

Centre announces new price support scheme for farmers

The government launched the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) on Wednesday to ensure that poor farmers growing pulses and oilseeds benefit from higher minimum support prices (MSPs) announced by the government.

Schemes for Assam farmers

The Telegraph

Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora on Wednesday announced several schemes for the benefit of farmers in the state, in line with the Centre’s bid to double farmers’ incomes by 2022.

Agriculture department advised to introduce farming models for increase in farmers’ income

Devdicourse

An advisor to Jammu and Kashmir governor Tuesday asked the agriculturedepartment functionaries to introduce farming models that help increase farmers’ income substantially.

UHF holds workshop on Climate-Smart Agriculture

As part of its effort to prepare the first state-level Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) profile in India and to mainstream climate resilience into the agriculture sector, a broad consultation workshop was held at the Nauni based Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry

Centre approves MoU with Egypt on agriculture, allied sectors

ANI

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Egypt for cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors.

Union Cabinet approves New Umbrella Scheme ‘PM-AASHA’: Agriculture Minister

Deccan Chronicle

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday addressed a press conference in the national capital. Speaking at the event, Singh announced that the union cabinet approved new umbrella scheme ‘Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan’ (PM-AASHA).

A never-ending tale of agriculture revival

The term ‘agrarian’ is no longer synonymous with just the rural anymore — it has spread across the larger society. It’s not just the rural economy but the entire Indian economy that is heavily dependent on the progress of the agricultural sector that accounts for around 17-18 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and also employs about half of the total workforce. It remains the main source of livelihood for over half of India’s population. It is also a fact that since 1995, nearly three lakh farmers have committed suicide owing to agrarian crisis. And successive Governments have claimed to have pushed India to the top as the world’s fastest growing economy. Nevertheless, they also ...

‘Zero Budget-Natural Farming’ soon: Brijmohan

Chhattisgarh will take up ‘Zero Budget-Natural Farming’ in five acres of land available with the Agriculture Department, Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation and the Agriculture Science Centers, State Agriculture Minister Brjmohan Agrawal announced on Wednesday.

Centre approves Rs 218 crore to UP, Maharashtra for crop damage in 2017

The committee approved an additional assistance from the National Disaster Relief Fund of Rs 157.23 crore for Uttar Pradesh and Rs 60.76 crore for Maharashtra, a home ministry spokesperson said.

Future group ties up with USAID horticulture & agriculture marketing programme

Future group, through its various retail formats including Big Bazaar, is collaborating with USAID Commercial Horticulture and Agricultural Marketing Programme (CHAMP) to deliver mutual benefits to Indian consumers and Afghanistan horticultural producers.

Tackle crop residue in new ways, agriculture minister tells farmers

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to farmers not to burn crop residue and asked them to adopt new methods to manage the same, including using the waste for biogas production.

Bihar to up green cover to 17% by 2022

Disclosing this at a press conference in Patna on Monday, principal secretary (environment and forest) Tripurari Sharan Singh said 15% green cover had been targeted by 2017 under an agriculture road map.

Centre let down farmers on support price: Somireddy

The Hans India

Stating that the state government was committed to the welfare of farmers by taking several measures to protect their interests including implementation of Swaminathan Commission recommendations of support prices to various crops, agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy criticised the NDA government for failing to provide minimum support price (MSP) to agricultural produce despite making tall claims that farmers’ income would be doubled by 2022.

India’s public spending on agriculture R&D not far behind China: Niti Aayog member

India’s public spending on agriculture research and development is not far behind neighbouring China, Niti Aayog member Ramesh Chand said Tuesday.

Employment-income mismatch in agri sector is a structural challenge for India, says HT’s Roshan Kishore

CNBC TV

The biggest challenge facing the Narendra Modi government has to do with job creation. CNBC-TV18 in partnership with Hindustan Times starts a special series on the job market.

Song educating about stubble burning a hit among farmers

Jagwinder Singh Jodha, Assistant Professor, Punjab Agricultural University, has found a novel way for educating farmers about the ill-effects of paddy stubble/straw burning on our environment.

Haryana to award such villages which do not burn stubble after crop harvesting

Haryana government will award such villages which do not burn the stubble after crop harvesting. It will also give cash prizes to those farmers who instead of burning the stubble use it as manure. This was conveyed by Deputy Commissioner Sharandeep Kaur Barar through videoconferencing in her office on Tuesday

Radha Mohan appeals to farmers not to burn crop residue; says govt helping with mechanisation

Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday appealed to paddy farmers not to burn crop residue so as to protect human health and environment. Emphasising the need for eliminating pollution caused by the burning of stubble as the poisonous gas generated affects human health and destroys soil nutrients, he said farmer groups were being provided 80 per cent financial assistance of the project cost for establishing Farm Machinery Banks for Custom Hiring of crop residue management machinery

Use of drugs on livestock for more milk: HC pulls up Punjab, Haryana for not submitting reports

THE PUNJAB and Haryana High Court has pulled up the governments of Punjab and Haryana and the administration of UT Chandigarh for their failure to submit action-taken reports on the steps being taken to curb the use of drugs being administrated to cows and buffaloes for extracting more milk.

Engaging youth in agriculture

Aging may not be a serious menace for India as yet, but the same cannot be said about its farm sector.Hardly 5 per cent of the youth are engaged in agriculture though over 60 per cent of the rural people derive their livelihood fully or partly from farming and its related activities. Clearly, the modern youth are disenchanted with agriculture and are shunning it as a profession. The farming population is, consequently, getting old. It bodes ill for the future of agriculture as it may hold it from growing to its full potential.

Most agricultural commodity prices well below minimum support price

The average price of maize, for example, was Rs 887 a quintal during August at the Santhesargur (Karnataka) wholesale centre (mandi), around 38 per cent lower than its MSP of Rs 1,425 a quintal. Black gram (urad) at the Alirajpur (Madhya Pradesh) mandi was quoted at Rs 2,827 a quintal in August, on average; the MSP is Rs 5,400 a quintal.

‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ Workshop from today

State Agriculture Department will be organising two-day, State-level Workshop on ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ on September 11 and 12 in the city.Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Brijmohan Agrawal would inaugurate the event at Government Agriculture College at 2.00 pm.

India has become self-sufficient to meet the demand for dairy: Agriculture Minister

Devdicourse.

The development of dairy sector is imperative for the prosperity of farmers. Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh, at the inauguration ceremony of the seminar “Role of Technology in Doubling Dairy Farmers’ Income” in Anand, Gujarat, today praised the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for playing a crucial role in the implementation of National Dairy Plan (NDP) and Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF). Since the beginning, the NDDB has implemented several major dairy development programs including ‘Operation Flood’. As a result, India has become self-sufficient to meet the demand for milk.

Agriculture has seen tech reforms for first time since Independence only under Modi govt: Union Minister

Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh on Monday urged the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) in Anand to come up with a new innovation so that farmers are able to separate A1 and A2 milk for better income. He was speaking at a seminar on the ‘Role of Technology in Doubling Dairy Farmers’ Income’ organised by NDDB here.

Punjab braces for smog control

Dawn

Nasimur Rehman Shah, a senior officer of the EPD, told Dawn the owners of all furnaces and steel mills had been asked to install proper emission control system (dry scrubbers etc) in their units immediately; otherwise, strict legal action would be taken against them under the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (Amended 2012), ...

To prevent stubble burning, IOC to set up ethanol plant in Panipat

To manage the crop residue and prevent straw burning, Haryana government on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to setup a 100 kilolitre per day Ethanol Plant (bio-refinery) at Bohali village, in Panipat at an expense of over Rs 900 crore.

Demand for crop-loss aid

The Telegraph

Farmers from various parts of the district hit the streets on Sunday after unseasonal rain triggered extensive damage to standing paddy crops.

Road Ahead

Pune Mirror

You can do a one-year diploma in taxation law after completing your graduation. Ideally, you should start working with a chartered accountant or practising tax consultant immediately and continue during your diploma course as it will be a part-time evening course and you get ample time for learning on the job. Considering the complexity of our tax structure, two or three years of on-the-job learning is ideal.

Plastic waste accumulates in paddy fields in Kerala

In many paddy fields in the state, plastic waste and bottles have accumulated along with clay and sand. These have to be removed before the weed grows since it will be difficult to pick them out then. Availability of paddy seeds for the second crop could be another hiccup, said Narayanankutty.

Odisha farmers in deep water as rains damage crop fields

Large tracts of paddy fields have been damaged due to recent torrential rains in Kendrapara district and its nearby areas. Paddy saplings have been damaged in Rajnagar, Aul, Rajkanika, Derabishi and Pattamundai blocks of Kendrapara district, said Gayadhar Dhal, secretary of the district unit of Krusaka Sabha. Scores of farmers of Kansar and Ostapur gram panchayats in the district, demanding compensation for crop loss, blocked the main road at Kansar on Sunday.

Driverless tractors may soon help farmers till their lands

A tractor still needs a human driver. So you think. But if you can have driverless cars and trucks, then why not have tractors without farmers? US-based Autonomous Tractor Corp. began developing automation technology for tractors way back in 2011. Two-and-a-half years back, the Harper Adams University in England unveiled an autonomous tractor.

Punjab on song to tackle stubble burning

The Punjab government, as part of the ongoing anti-stubble burning campaign, has turned to songs to encourage its farmers not to set paddy residue on fire. The state government, which is struggling to get its farmers to use clean technology for disposal of paddy stubble, has started publicizing

‘Time ripe for switching over to integrated farming system’

Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) P H Kurian’s comments to stop promoting paddy cultivation in Kuttanad and push tourism and potable water plants in the flood-hit region may not have gone down well with Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar and the agri scientific community in the state. However, there are a lot of takers for promoting integrated farming system (IFS) in Kuttanad, which is yet to gain momentum in the region despite it being part of the National Agriculture Development Programme (NADP).

Modi govt giving away agri loans to corporates: APCC

The Arunachal Times

The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Saturday attacked the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for allegedly giving away several thousand crores of rupees to big corporates as agricultural loans, depriving the poor and marginalized farmers burdened with loan debts.

eNAM: Sowing seeds for future

The Hindu Business Line

Since its launch in April 2016, many States have joined the electronic national agriculture market (eNAM) platform by reforming their APMC (Agricultural Produce Market Committee) Act and taking a hard stance with arhityas(commission agents) who had been resisting e-auctioning and online payment. But at the ground level, have things changed for the farmer?

In Hungund, a Green Revolution is on drip by drip

Deccan Chronicle

If hi-tech agriculture can ensure more yield from the bowels of the earth, why not adopt it even if the expertise comes from a foreign land like faraway Israel? That seems to be the new buzzword among farmers of perpetually drought-stricken Hungund taluk in Bagalkot district, who have become role models for youth aspiring to make it big in agriculture, by generously borrowing from Israel’s agriculture technology. The country’s first community based drip irrigation project has rekindled hope among farmers who had started assuming that farming is a loss making activity. The Ramthal (Marol)drip irrigation project has overcome the vexed issue of acquiring land to build canals as water is conveyed through a network of pipes buried ...

Government may announce Rs 10,000 crore scheme to ensure MSP to oilseeds growers

The Economic Times

With growing import dependence on cooking oilsNSE -0.75 %, the government is likely to announce a over Rs 10,000 crore scheme under which oilseeds farmers will be compensated if the rates fall below the minimum support price. The agriculture ministry has prepared a cabinet note proposing a new mechanism ‘Price Deficiency Payment’ on the lines of Madhya Pradesh government’s Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY) to protect oilseeds farmers, the sources said.

Why India must prepare to exit the World Trade Organization

Daily O

American economist Harry Dexter White and British economist John Maynard Keynes were strong advocates of a centrally controlled international trade environment, and recommended the establishment of three institutions: the International Monetary Fund — for fiscal and monetary issues; the World Bank — for financial and structural issues, and the International Trade Organization (ITO) — for international cooperation.

‘Those which have actively taken up eNAM have seen success’

In a candid talk with BusinessLine, Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak throws light on the various challenges before the agri-marketing reform process. He explains the initiatives taken to push forward eNAM, and answers questions on why and how the implementation of eNAM is being done the way it is. Excerpts:

Record power consumption in Telangana by agriculture sector

The officials said that the reason for the rise in the power demand is due to low rainfall across the state which has met one-third of the total demand. As the cultivation of paddy is in full swing, the need for water also increased which in turn needs more power.

BJP resolution on agriculture thanks Modi for steps to double farmers’ income

Outlook

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in its national executive meeting on Saturday, passed a resolution on agriculture, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking various initiatives, including raising minimum support price for crops, to double farmers’ income.

‘Gujarat can’t afford farm loan waiver

If the Gujarat government plans to agree to the farm loan waiver that is being demanded by Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel and the Congress, (although it is categorically denying it right now), the state’s government’s finances will be unsettled and the state could even even go broke, as it does not have the resources to bear this burden.

Karnataka ministers in Israel to prepare ground for partnerships in agriculture

Karnataka government has begun the ground work to introduce and adopt latest Israeli model of agriculture practices in water conservation and post-harvest technology.

PMO to vet agri export policy before it is taken to Cabinet

Keeping a keen eye on the proposed draft National Agriculture Export Policy (NAEP), one of the Centre’s key policy measures to help double farm exports and farmers’ incomes by 2022, the Prime Minister’s Office (PM) has asked the Commerce Ministry to make a detailed presentation on the proposed measures before placing them before the Union Cabinet for approval.

Farmers welfare is our priority: Kadam Anjaneilu

Taking charge as the new chairman for Agriculture Market Committee in Mahbubnagar, Kadam Anjayenilu stressed that he is having a clear cut vision to ensure the farming community gets best remunerative prices for the their produce.

Diesel pain erodes MSP gains for farmers

Diesel is now retailing at Rs 71.34 per litre in Delhi, compared to Rs 57.46 a year ago. That is a whopping Rs 13.88 per litre or 24.2 per cent jump, which — along with similar increases for fertilisers and crop protection chemicals during this period — threatens to undo all the gains to farmers from higher minimum support prices (MSP) of crops declared by the Narendra Modi government.

Benefits of the Kaleshwaram project

In the last Rabi season (January-May 2018), a farmer from Medak district of Telangana cultivating paddy in two acres preferred to hire a combine harvester by paying ₹1,800 per hour despite having four family members who could have completed harvesting their field without paying a rupee.

Making bio-fuel from paddy straw

Rice residue burning has high global warming and pollution potentials. This was stated by Dr JS Samra, former CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), NITI Aayog, while delivering his talk during a brain storming workshop on “Crop residue management” at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here on Thursday.

Experts push for Delhi-esque pro-farmer solar policies

Millennium Post

Green policy think tanks are pushing for the adoption of pro-farmer solar power policies, along the lines of Delhi government’s ‘Mukhyamantri Kisan Aaye Badhotri Yojna’ (MKABY) which aims at increasing annual income of farmers through installation of solar pumps for agriculture.

Fertiliser sector counts losses as floods erase subsidy trail

The New Indian Express

While the extent of damage to crops in the floods has been estimated at 56,439 hectares, a related sector supplying agriculture inputs too remains battered. Tonnes of fertilisers and pesticides have been laid waste after floodwater gushed into shops.As the fertile top soil has been washed away, experts feel the soil needs to be tested and sufficient quantities of organic manure, major and minor nutrients applied. Amendments also need to be made to the soil to restore fertility.

There’s need to allow futures trading for fuel and pulses; here’s why

Financial Express

Logically, any commodity that can be traded should be allowed on the futures platform as it gives a chance to users to hedge their risk. In fact, if the rules of the game are played out well, it should lead to efficient price-discovery, which is what a futures market is all about.

2 irrigation schemes planned on Cheyyeru

In a major relief to the farmers of Rajampet and Railway Kodur constituencies, the state government agreed to construct two irrigation projects on Cheyyeru river with an estimated cost of Rs 160 crore.

Agricultural university to hold Krishi Mela in Dharwad from Sept 22-25

The University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Dharwad, plans to hold its annual four-day Krishi Mela from September 22-25. UAS has planned to organise Krishimela-2018 under the theme ‘Consume Millets-Conserve Health’ in collaboration with the Karnataka State Department of Agriculture and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) at the main campus in Dharwad.

Organic or not, agriculture should be sustainable

Governance Now

The ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare had recently organised a seminar, ‘Agriculture 2022: Doubling Farmers Income’, where over 300 top minds from the government, academia, industry, NGOs and most importantly representatives from the farming community participated for two days to chalk out a roadmap. The highlight of the conference was various groups looking at aspects like policy, inputs, value chain, automation, credit, insurance and sustainable agriculture and presenting a way forward to the prime minister of India. While such brainstorming was the first of its kind, the mindset of at least my group on sustainable agriculture left much to be desired.

Exclusive: Agricultural Loans Worth Rs 59,000 Crore Went to 615 Accounts in One Year

The Wire

Government banks handed out Rs 58,561 crore to 615 accounts in agricultural loans in the year 2016. On average, each account has been given over Rs 95 crore in agricultural loans.This information was revealed by the Reserve Bank of India in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Wire.

Why the RCEP trade deal could hit India’s agriculture, manufacturing sectors

Moneycontrol

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the 16-member mega-regional trading arrangement that is being negotiated for the past six years, seems to be ready for the end-game by close of the year. This was the message that was conveyed at the end of the meeting of the ministers from the RCEP Participating Countries (RPCs) held in Singapore last week.The ministerial statement informed that the ministers had adopted a “Package of Year-End Deliverables”, which was developed by the Trade Negotiating Committee.

Intellectual property and agriculture: The world’s only IP Act that recognises rights of breeders, farmers

Anjamma from Gangwar village in Medak district of Telangana has collected, stored and maintained the seeds of 70 traditional varieties of rice for over 50 years, recognising their uniquely distinguishable traits. The 70-year-old also takes pride in sharing these with her fellow farmers.

Exclusive: Agricultural Loans Worth Rs 59,000 Crore Went to 615 Accounts in One Year

The Wire

Thousands of farmers, workers to march to Parliament against Modi Govt policies

UNI

Late Monsoon and the misery of staying in temporary shelters at the Ramlila gorund have not deterred the spirit of workers, peasants and agriculture labours arriving in thousands from across the country to march towards Parliament on September 5 against the Union government and it’s ‘neo-liberal’ policies and ‘communal and divisional agenda

Lest it goes up in smoke

Soon it will be that time of the year again when plume of smoke will leave all breathless. It need not be so, if the government, in time, ensures that its paddy stubble management plan actually works. The Centre had in March approved Rs 1,151 crore for Punjab, which was allotted Rs 695 crore over two financial years. The rest was meant for Haryana, UP and Delhi. Five months on, the signs are ominous. Of the 14,000 ‘subsidised’ machines ordered to clear stubble, only 500 have been delivered so far. The deadline of September 30 is at the door.

Changing face of agriculture

Millennium Post

The NABARD survey estimates the total number of rural households in India for 2016-17 at 21.17 crore. The definition of ‘rural’ is a broad one, covering revenue villages and semi-urban centres with a population of less than 50,000. Out of the 21.17 crore rural households, 10.07 crore, or under 48 per cent, are ‘agricultural’ – those with at least one member self-employed in farming and reporting an annual value of production at more than Rs 5,000. The remaining 11.10 crore households or 52 per cent are ‘non-agricultural’

Agri-biotech cos float new lobby group

The nine members of ABLE-AG, the agri-biotech group within the Association of Biotech-Led Enterprises (ABLE), have formed a new association, breaking away from the pharma-focussed advocacy group.

Workshop on e-auction in Agriculture held

The Northlines

The workshop was attended by National experts Senior Vice President SNEIT Prasad Nagool, Delivery leader SNEIT Ganesh Jayaraman, Special Officer Tea Board of India S.M, Nasrullah Special Officer Tea Board of India, e-auction expert of Tea Board of India Rajnigandha, Deputy director NABL, Vikas K. Jaiswal, Managing Director IFAB Dr. Representative of Spice Board M. Vishwanathan, Roy Joseph and concerned officers of the department, farmers and saffron growers.

Thousands of farmers, workers to march to Parliament against Modi Govt policies

UNI

Govt needs to address policy ambiguities affecting shifting cultivation: NITI Aayog

Down To Earth

The “inconsistency and incongruence among policies of various departments” of the Central and state governments regarding shifting cultivation needs to be done away with, says the latest NITI Aayog report on bringing transformative changes to shifting cultivation. “Central as well as State government departments of forests and environment, agriculture and allied departments often have divergent approaches towards shifting cultivation. This creates confusion among grassroots level workers and jhum farmers,” the report observes.

RS 1,407 FROM FARMING, RS 4,976 FROM ALL SOURCES

The Pioneer

The monthly average income of a farmer family from agriculture source in Odisha increased from Rs 336 in 2002-03 to Rs 1,407 in 2013-14, informed Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Pradeep Maharathy in the State Assembly on Tuesday.

Government snaps its own Krushi Samruddhi project

The state government has wrapped up its own prestigious Motiram Lahane Krushi Samrudhi Project which was developed to substantiate crisis of the farmers in Yavatmal district. The project was launched two years ago with great fanfare.

Call to focus on farmers, women issues

Speaking at a programme organised for distributing financial assistance to widows of farming community and single women here on Tuesday, he said that compared to other countries, problems being faced by women are more in India and there was an imperative need to address it.

Maharashtra govt working on model to help farmers fetch MSP in open market

The state government is working on a model to enable farmers fetch Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their produce in the open market, for which work on necessary infrastructure and investment is under way, said Maharashtra State Commission for Agriculture Cost and Prices chairman Pasha Patel.

Tamil Nadu’s GSDP shifting from farm to industry: Finance Commission

The New Indian Express

The 15th Finance Commission has observed that the structure of GSDP (gross state domestic product) in Tamil Nadu has been shifting away from agriculture towards industry and services. From 2012-13 to 2016-17, the average share of agriculture and allied sector was 10.9 per cent, industry was 35 per cent and that of services was 54.6 per cent.

J’khand govt to help farmers who approach it via co-operatives

Business Standard

The Jharkhand government would fully support the farmers who would approach it through agricultural co-operative societies, Chief Minister Raghubar Das said Monday.

Utilization of Science and Technology is essential to address issues of agriculture sector: Dalwai

UNI

Utilization of Science and Technology is essential to address issues of agriculture sector, Dr Ashok Dalwai, CEO, National Rainfed Area Authority [NRAA], Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, said on Monday.

Demand to write off agri loans, assess actual crop loss

A resolution unanimously passed by the District Development Council (DDC) meeting here on Saturday urged the state government to immediately write off all agriculture loans taken by farmers in the light of the destruction of agriculture crops and land in the devastating floods in the district.

83,378 quintals of seeds to be distributed to ryots

The New Indian Express

After 21 more mandals in Prakasam and Chittoor districts have been declared drought prone, the State Agriculture Ministry has chalked out an action plan to distribute 83,378 quintals of seeds to farmers to raise alternative crops, said Agriculture Minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy.

Govt drones to verify farmland cropping

The Telegraph

Plans are afoot to use drones for collecting authentic data about cropped areas in Bihar to help farmers in case they fail to cultivate seasonal crops due to some reason.

Poultry farming most lucrative in agriculture in Haryana

Dhankar, who holds the ministries of agriculture, development and panchayats, mines and geology, animal husbandry and dairying, and fisheries, said Haryana had been making consistent efforts to increase farm income. He said farmers should shift from traditional agriculture to newer areas, where incentives were bigger. “There is a large scope for farmers in the allied sectors, instead of conventional agriculture. There is increased focus on growing fruit and flowers. As many districts are next to Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), they can emerge as a major market for farmers of these areas to sell their produce. Proximity to Delhi and NCR will help our farmers sell their produce directly. We can provide fresh ...

VP Naidu calls for greater support in agriculture sector

ANI

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday called for greater support by those engaged in the agriculture sector. “Finance Minister is here, he may not like what I am saying as he has to take care of everybody, but there has to be bias towards agriculture in coming days, otherwise people will leave agriculture as it’s not remunerative,” he said while expressing concern at the depleting agriculture sector. He was speaking at the launch of his new book “Moving On, Moving Forward: A Year In Office” here.

Impose penalties for delayed crop insurance payouts, Agriculture Ministry tells FinMin

The Agriculture Ministry has approached the Finance Ministry with proposals to make provisions to punish delays in crop insurance claim payouts, and also to give incentives to those who settle them before the deadline.

WHY BURN WHEN YOU CAN EARN

The Pioneer

Paddy stubble can be used in concrete manufacturing as a study suggests that the ash of rice straw burned in a scientific manner can give concrete more strength. If industry is allowed to buy stubble directly from the farm, it will cut down the chance of smog as well as give farmers some monetary benefits

How a new cooling panel can fix stubble burning challenge, save Delhi’s air

Business Standard

Agricultural fires in Punjab and Haryana cause about half of Delhi’s air pollution, according to a new Harvard University study. Daniel Cusworth, an atmospheric chemist at Harvard and co-founder of Green Screen, a US start-up, proposes a solution by converting the farm waste that is usually burned into cooling panels for the city’s poor, to protect them from extreme summer heat.

Agri exports: PMO set to review policy on Monday

Financial Express

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will review on Monday the farm export policy floated by the commerce ministry, a source told FE. The draft export policy, which has been circulated for inter-ministerial consultations, has proposed to keep the outbound shipment of processed and organic items free of any restriction.

Agriculture GDP clocks 5.3% growth in Q1 of 2018-19

Mint

A bumper harvest of winter crops and higher production in livestock and fisheries sectors aided a 5.3% growth in agriculture GDP in the first quarter of 2018-19, up from 3% in the same period last year. The latest estimates from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) is based on Rabi or winter harvest during the agriculture crop year 2017-18 (July to June).

National Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development – Redemption of Bond

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development has informed BSE regarding “Redemption of Bond”.

‘Natural wisdom can save agriculture’

The Statesman

The man who launched zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) in India, 69-year-old Subhash Palekar from Belora village in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, has taken up the cause of spreading the concept as a viable and healthy alternative in agriculture.

CLAAS Mentions

Global Grain Combine Harvester Market Research Report 2018: AGCO, KUHN, Kubota, John Deere, Case IH, CLAAS, Kverneland

Share Tech News

The global “Grain Combine Harvester market” research report encloses a deep analysis of the global Grain Combine Harvester market. It portrays as a helpful resource for the new business entrants and existing players in the market. In this report, the global Grain Combine Harvester market is valued at USD XX million in 2018 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2025.This report delivers a brief summary of the global Grain Combine Harvester market and reviews the market volume. It highlights important players in the global Grain Combine Harvester market such as AGCO, KUHN, Kubota, John Deere, Case IH, CLAAS, Kverneland, Same ...

Global Telehandler Handler Market Share (2018 – 2023): Terex, Claas, Skjack And Dieci

First Pharmacist

Reporte.us is online market intelligence firm has recently published a new report “Telehandler Handler Market: Global Industry Analysis 2013 – 2017 and Forecast 2018-2023” covers a comprehensive study of global telehandler handler market. The report offers concise and complete information about emerging market segments in telehandler handler and market driving factors will boost the decision-making process. Moreover, market statistic information from 2013 – 2013, top market players in telehandler handler, their company profile, market share, segmentation, and geographical overview of the telehandler handler industry will help the readers in planning their business strategies.

Competition

Why farmers are hacking their John Deere tractors

BHP

John Deere has put in software locks that disables their tractors from unauthorised repairs. According to a media report, farmers in the USA are now sourcing software to bypass these locks.

Rajiv Prasad: ‘Our new Centre of Excellence will help us manufacture global-standard tyres.’

Autocar

On August 28, JK Tyre inauguated its new Global Research & Technology Centre at Mysore. Company president (India Operations) Rajiv Prasad spoke to Kiran Bajad on the R&D facility which offers the latest technologies in the tyre manufacturing space, including a semi-anechoic chamber for reduced noise vibration and harshness data analysis. He also reveals plans to improve efficiencies, grow capacities, launch new products, expand its global footprint and also enhance brand recall.

Global Driverless Tractors Market Analysis 2018 -23: Autonomous Tractor Corporation, CNH Global (Case IH) and AGCO(Fendt)

The Edition Time

Market Research Mentor (MRM) has launched a strategic market research document that covers comprehensive assessment on the current state of the driverless tractors industry and growth rate of the market in the expected time period. The driverless tractors report primarily aim is to identify the stakeholders in the market and provide imperatives for succeeding in the driverless tractors business. Although the report covers the cumulative study of global driverless tractors market growth segments, by sizing the market with product type, application, and regions. These market segregation covers driverless tractors market growth segments analysis from (2013 to 2018) and forecasts market values from (2018 to 2025).

Aeris, Hello Tractor to provide tractors to farmers on lease

Outlook

The US-based technology firm Aeris said Tuesday it has tied up with Hello Tractor to provide tractors on lease to Indian farmers.Aeris and Hello Tractor launched this service in India and the ASEAN region at a session on ‘India-Africa- ASEAN: Internet of Things (IoT) in Agriculture’, organised in association with FICCI, the industry body said in a statement.

Coverage

Maize Harvesting Machine

Prajvani

CLAAS introduces maize harvester, to set up 35 CHCs

Deccan Herald

Now, you can hire maize harvester

The Hindu

Maize harvesters will be soon available on hire basis at 35 centres in the districts of Kalaburagi and Bidar with a Germany-based company entering into an agreement with the State government.

New Maize Harvester launched at Kisan Mela

Amar Ujala

Custom centers to assist farmers in hiring machines

Hindustan Times

Technology in Agriculture

Crop burning in Punjab, Haryana: Machine distribution, info campaigns on to curb stubble burning

More than 50 per cent of individual farmers in Haryana have been supplied machinery for in-situ crop residue management, while machines such as ‘Happy Seeder’ have been distributed to 836 of the state’s 900 custom hiring centres (CHC), C K Mishra, Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, told The Indian Express.

Centre asks northern states to give farmers equipment to curb stubble burning within 10 days

Scroll

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday asked Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to ensure that farmers get equipment within 10 days to prevent stubble burning during the paddy harvest season, reported Hindustan Times.

NCR states given 10 days to check stubble burning

Hindustan Times

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday asked Delhi’s neighbouring states to ensure that farm equipment being distributed to tackle stubble burning should be made available to farmers in the next 10 days in order to prevent stubble burning this paddy harvest season.

Farmers urged to refrain from stubble burning

A Kisan Mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) was held at the Regional Research Station here on Wednesday.

NABARD campaign to curb stubble burning launched

A campaign against paddy straw burning (crop residue management) in about 320 villages was launched by the Punjab Regional Office, NABARD, Chandigarh, during a district-level training meet presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner (D) Shena Aggarwal, IAS, in Ludhiana on Tuesday.

Allow potato farmers to burn straw, demands BKU

Ahead of potato sowing season, activists of Bharatiya Kisan Union (Haryana) are demanding a special permission to burn paddy stubble.

Farmers urged to adopt straw mgmt techniques

PAU Kisan Mela Theme: ‘Manage Crop Residue efficiently, enhance soil fertility’ | Governor VP Badnor asks farmers not to burn paddy straw, exhorts them to give their best in agriculture and reminds them how privileged they are to be educated

Stubble burning continues in Karnal despite NGT ban

Despite a ban on stubble burning by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), farmers continue to defy the orders with impunity. As many as five incidents of stubble burning have been reported in the district in the last one week.

7,337 equipment given to farmers under subsidy scheme for paddy management

UNI

Acting on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the Punjab Agriculture department has so far delivered 7,337 subsidised agromachines/farm equipment to farmers for the effective scientific management of paddy residue.

Stubble burning relies on farmers’ awareness, vigil as mechanisation inadequate this season

The Economic Times

North India may be headed for another smoky winter this season in the absence of adequate machinery to help farmers in the region clear their fields of paddy stubble before the planting of wheat.

Governor in Faridkot, urges farmers to shun stubble burning

Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore on Monday called upon the farmers to shun the practice of burning of paddy and wheat straw in order to save the environment and enhance land fertility.After playing a leading role in making the nation food surplus with Green Revolution and ushering the country into White Revolution (with high milk production), Punjab farmers now once again need to become role model for the country by adopting mechanised disposal of stubble, instead of setting it on fire, the Governor said while addressing a gathering of farmers at Kisan Mela in Faridkot on Monday.

Steps taken to curb stubble burning

The district administration has taken precautionary measures to curb the burning of paddy husk and stubble during the coming paddy harvesting season.According to Deputy Commissioner Vinay Singh, besides receiving a resolution from every gram panchayat against the burning of paddy husk and stubble, the administration has constituted mobile teams — comprising village Sarpanch, Numbardar, Patwari, Panchayat Secretary as members — in every village to inform the administration about any violation of rules.

Dist shows the way in tackling paddy stubble burning

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma said the data reveals that in 2014-15, 1.67 lakh hectares of land in the district was under paddy cultivation and the total production of paddy was 6.16 lakh metric tonnes. In 2015-16, the area under paddy cultivation was 1.68 lakh hectare and production was 6.53 lakh metric tonnes, in 2016-17, the area was 1.70 lakh hectares and production was 6.99 lakh metric tonnes and in 2017-18, the area under paddy cultivation was 1.71 lakh hectares and production was 7.15 lakh metric tonnes.

40 % of paddy stubble to be managed by machines in Punjab

Krishijagran.com

As the harvest season is close at hand, the central as well as state governments are working to support agricultural mechanization for in-situ management of crop remains in Punjab. And for the first time, 40 percent of the 74 lakh acres land that comes under paddy cultivation will have machines taking out the stubble.

Punjab seeks new technology to cut down on paddy burning, declares award of more than Rs 7 crore

Mint

Haryana deadline for subsidy distribution to stem stubble-burning

SME Times

The Haryana government has set September 20 as the deadline for all Deputy Commissioners to ensure physical verification and distribution of subsidy to farmers to curb burning of paddy residue that causes environmental pollution.

Machines to manage 40% of paddy stubble in Punjab

Hindustan Times

It’s a race against time to meet the paddy stubble burning challenge. The harvest season is round the corner and the state and central governments are working to promote agricultural mechanisation for in-situ management of crop residue in Punjab. For the first time, 40% of the 74 lakh acres under paddy cultivation in the state will have machines extracting the stubble.

Farmers to hold convention on stubble burning

Despite given a subsidy on buying machines to stop stubble burning, seven farmer unions will organise a convention on this issue at Barnala on September 23. Though in a fully funded central government scheme, Rs 395 crore have been sanctioned for Punjab this season to provide subsidy to farmers, however, farmer unions are now saying that stubble burning is not causing widespread pollution.

Punjab farmers can lead fight against stubble burning in country, says Governor V P Singh

Citing their role in leading the country’s Green Revolution in the 1960s, Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore on Tuesday urged the farmers to lead the fight against stubble burning in the country. “Punjab farmers can become role models for the whole country by adopting mechanised disposal of stubble instead of setting it on fire,” Badnore, also the Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), said while inaugurating a ‘Kisan Mela’ at the university.

Farm unions seek aid for straw management

The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta) and its allied farm unions have demanded Rs 200 per quintal as bonus or Rs 6,000 per acre as financial assistance for stopping paddy straw/stubble burning to check air pollution in the state.

PAU helped turn 33 villages into no straw-burning area: VC

“PAU bagged prestigious Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award 2017 and has also been identified along with IITs and IIMs as specialized institution with research of national global eminence (institution of eminence).

Stubble burning menace prime reason for poor air quality in state, says Pannu

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Kahan Singh Pannu exhorted farmers and general public not to burn stubble and burst crackers on Diwali. Pannu while speaking at an event organised by non-governmental organistaions “EcoSikh” and “I am an NGO” at the Bachat Bhawan said everyone has equal right on clean water and air.

Air pollution: Capital fares well in first half, dubious on clean winter

The Hindu

The Capital has registered 118 days of ‘good’, ‘satisfactory’ or ‘moderate’ air quality between January 1 and August 26 this year— its best performance in three years, according to an analysis by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). In the same period, there were 117 such days in 2017; and only 74 in 2016.

Just 500 machines to check stubble burning

Punjab, which saw 43,800 stubble-burning cases post paddy harvesting last year, may be headed for a choked winter ahead. It has at its disposal barely 500 machines to take care of the leftover straw as against the government sanction for 20,000.

Hope sprouts as tribals get gift of farm equipment