Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Ease of farming indexedit
Nearly 144 farmers from Araria district in Bihar have been waiting to receive the compensation promised under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the paddy crop loss they suffered in 2017.
The new government must begin agricultural reforms fastedit
Latest government data that shows the slowing of rural wages is worrying. As is the detail that they actually declined for several months in 2018-19. The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing agrarian crisis which, at least to date, hasn’t been addressed adequately by either the spate of farm loan waivers across India or the increase in the government’s procurement price for key crops. Lower than anticipated summer rains (which keeps the soil extra dry) and fears that El Nino could affect this year’s monsoon rains just serve to increase the risks.
In times of drought, no full-time Secretary, minister for agriculture in Maharashtraedit
The government is yet to appoint a full-time Secretary for the agriculture department, one of the most crucial departments, as the State faces one of the worst droughts in recent times. Since the retirement of Bijay Kumar in August last year, Eknath Dawale, Secretary, Water Conservation and Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) has had additional charge of agriculture.
Demonetisation: I-T Dept probing gains made in agriculture incomeedit
The Income Tax Department, investigating cases of tax evasion during demonetisation, is stepping up probe into gains made in agriculture income by farmers and other assessees. Under the Income Tax (IT) Act of 1961, agriculture income is exempt from taxes. But during the demonetisation period, Income Tax Department officers suspect that excess non-agriculture income or black money was declared as agriculture income.
Farmers’ rights are a hot potatoedit
A legal battle over the right to grow the humble potato has caught global attention, after US snack and beverage giant PepsiCo sued a handful of farmers in Gujarat for cultivating a variety of potato that the multinational claims as its own. The American major uses the particular tuber in question for making Lay’s brand of chips.
Contract farming may pave way for prosperity, enhance farmers’ incomeedit
Agriculture in India basically depends on seasonal factors, as it is, sometimes, marred by heavy precipitation or by drought, thereby hitting especially small and marginal farmers, who find themselves helpless before nature. Since such farmers are unable to make any experiment, they are drifting towards cities once they bear losses in agriculture. Although the Centre as well as state governments are striving hard to help farmers to rise above subsistence level, the steps being taken so far seem to be inadequate. Notably, the government is also trying to create awareness among farmers to adopt modern means to enhance their income, and of these, contract farming, is one of the new moves.
Pesticide Poisoning Inspires Odisha Teacher To Go Organic, Save 700 Rice Varietiesedit
The incident dates back to the early 90s. But retired teacher and octogenarian paddy farmer Natabar Sarangi remembers it as though it were yesterday. After 32 years of service as a government school teacher, the man had turned to his ancestral profession of farming in a 3.5-acre land. He had inherited 1.5 acres from his family and acquired the remaining two over time.
Nabard announces Rs 700-cr VC fund for agri, rural startupsedit
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Monday announced a Rs 700-crore venture capital (VC) fund for equity investments in agriculture and rural-focused startups.
Disaster resilient farming reduces agriculture risksedit
A new study by the UN agriculture agency has revealed a scale of economic gains through easy-toimplement “disaster resilient” farming practices. According to Disaster risk reduction at farm level: Multiple benefits, no regrets by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), poor farmers can obtain significant economic gains and other benefits by implementing modified farming practices aimed at boosting their ability to cope with disasters and natural shocks
APMC notice draws veggie vendors’ ireedit
Hundreds of farmers and wholesale vegetable vendors under the banner of Jai Kisan Wholesale Vegetable Merchants’ Association took out a rally here on Monday opposing a public notice of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) about shifting the market from Cantonment area to APMC yard. The rally began from the vegetable market in Cantonment and culminated at the DC office after passing through Market police station and RTO Circle. They later submitted a memorandum to DC Vishal R.
India 2019/20 sugar output to decline 8.4%: US Department of Agricultureedit
Indian sugar production in 2019/20 is expected to decline 8.4% from the record-large 2018/19 crop to 30.3 million tonnes, the US Department of Agriculture attache in New Delhi said in a report. Output is expected to fall as the area under harvest contracts and the average sugar recovery rate declines, and as ethanol becomes an increasingly attractive option for cane mills, the attache said.
Competition
New Holland Agriculture Steals the Show at the Indian Tractor of the Year Award (ITOTY 2019)edit
New Holland Agriculture, one of the world’s leading agriculture equipment brands won 3 awards at the first edition of ITOTY 2019 held by Tractor Junction in Delhi. The brand was awarded under 3 categories:
1. Best Tractor between 46-50 HP: NEW HOLLAND 3600-2 All Rounder Plus
2. Best Tractor between 31-40 HP: NEW HOLLAND 3037 TX
3. Best CSR Initiative: Multi-Media School Education Project – New Holland Digital Classroom
Tata Motors global wholesale down 22% in Apriledit
Tata Motors Monday reported 22 per cent decline in group global wholesales, including that of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), at 79,923 units in April 2019.
The best riding lawn mowers you can buyedit
If you find yourself dreading mowing the lawn because of the physical effort and time it takes to cover the area with a push mower, then it might be time to upgrade to a riding lawn mower (also called a ride-on mower), especially if you have acres of grass to cut. Riding mowers take much of the physical effort out of mowing, and because they have larger mowing decks than push mowers, they can cover a larger area in less time.
Wheel Loader Market 2014-2024 | Growth, Trends and Forecast | Caterpillar, Komatsu, Doosan, John Deereedit
Courant.biz announces the release of yet another comprehensive sectoral research that highlights on Wheel Loader Market, imparts thorough research and upcoming trends of the market for Wheel Loader. Owing to the authenticity of the data and information gathered by Courant.biz this report on Wheel Loader Market will be an aid to managers, academicians, analysts, and industry experts. The study is supported by significant trend analysis and the key results are summarised through charts and tables, for quick analysis. The report also covers the current and past market trends, drivers and challenges faced by the sector.
Global Security Safes Market 2019 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2025edit
Global Security Safes Market 2019 by Manufacturers, Regions, Type, and Application, Forecast to 2025: This report tracks the major market events including product launches, development trends, mergers & acquisitions and the innovative business strategies opted by key market players. Along with strategically analyzing the key markets, the report also focuses on industry-specific drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges in the Security Safes market.
Technology in Agriculture
Indian Agricultural Tractor Market Set for Steady Growthedit
The agriculture sector in India has traditionally been one of the largest employment generators employing almost 45% of the population and contributing to almost 15% of the GDP; a situation unlike most developed and emerging economies where these numbers are around 3%-5% and 1% to 3% (GDP contribution) respectively. The situation is further compounded by the fact that farmland sizes held by the farmers have been reducing, thereby, impacting the efficiency, overall productivity & farm output significantly with significant scope for efficient farming practices and mechanization based on custom-built solutions for the Indian market.
Stubble Burning
Stubble burning: Farmers take advantage of Lok Sabha elections to get rid of farm residueedit
As the wheat harvesting season has reached its fag end in Punjab and Haryana, farmers are busy setting the fields ablaze to get rid of the wheat stubble. Hundreds of acres of wheat fields have been put on fire in Haryana and Punjab. While authorities are busying conducting the Lok Sabha elections, farmers taking advantage of the slack vigil to burn residual wheat stalks. The burning takes place during the wee hours of the morning.
Stubble burning rises: Late harvest, poll dutyedit
NASA’s fire mapper, which uses satellites to map the number of active fires in a region, shows that the instances of fires in Punjab and Haryana have sharply risen over the last week. The spike in crop burning comes despite several orders from the state government, the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the National Green Tribunal, which have directed that farmers burning crop residue be fined based on the area under cultivation.
Apparently Stubble Burning Can’t Be Stopped In Punjab, Haryana Because Of Electionsedit
It’s not even winter, but Delhi’s air quality has seen a drastic deterioration in the past few days. It touched the ‘very poor’ category on Monday. This time, the India Meteorological Department said that the lack of rain was to blame. In the past, authorities have also cited crop burning as a reason for Delhi’s poor air and have claimed measures had been taken to curb crop burning during harvest season.