Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurates first ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’edit
The first ever ‘India International Cooperatives Trade Fair’(IICTF) was inaugurated today by the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The 3 day event is being held fromtoday till 13thOctober, 2019. As 94% of total farmers in India are members of at least one cooperative institution,IICTF is aimed at furthering Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government’s vision and goal of doubling farmers’ income by promoting cooperative-to-cooperative trade within India & abroad and promoting exports of key agriculture commodities and products leading to enhanced rural and farm prosperity.
Rs 452 crore disbursed under Mukhiya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna in Jharkhandedit
CM Raghubar Das on Friday launched the distribution of Rs 452 crore in the account of nearly 11.51 lakh marginalized farmers of the state who had been left out from receiving the first installment of the Mukhiya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna (given to over 13 lakh farmers on August 10) at a function held at Tata College Ground at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum. Significantly, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) an initiative announced during the 2019 interim Union budget on February 1 benefits will be provided to all small and marginal farmers’ families having total cultivable holdings of up to 2 hectares (5 acres). This will be provided in 3 equal installments of Rs 2000 each ...
PM-Kisan scheme: 34 lakh farmers get Rs 1,318 croreedit
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said the Centre has paid Rs 1,318.61 crore as assistance to small and marginal farmers of the state to augment their income under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PMKSNY) launched in the 2018-19 fiscal. The Centre had announced to pay Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 as assistance under PMKSNY. The money was to be transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT) method into the personal accounts of farmers selected for the purpose.
‘Agriculture may give big push to $5 trillion economy target’edit
Agriculture can be the biggest contributor to the target of 5 trillion dollar economy set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to agriculture scientist and chancellor of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (Jhansi) Prof Panjab Singh. Addressing the inaugural session of three-day international conference on ‘sustainable agriculture development in changing global scenario’ at BHU on Friday, Prof Singh spoke on challenges faced by agriculture sector in India and stressed on sustainable development.
Stubble burning to come down further this year: Tomaredit
Crop stubble burning is likely to come down further this year, as the Centre is subsidising machinery required for the crop residue management in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the national capital region, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday. “The scheme is running successfully and helped reduce the stubble burning last year. The burning will further come down this year,” Tomar said on the sidelines of an event here. The scheme is being implemented by farm research body ICAR through 60 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Punjab (22), Haryana (14), Delhi (1) and UP (23).
In Punjab, most farm fires reported in Majha regionedit
As the harvesting of the paddy has picked up pace in Majha region, the western border districts of Punjab are witnessing a spurt in the number of fire incidents over the last 15 days. Last year, it was the Malwa region comprising Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Moga districts that had witnessed the maximum number of cases.
State spending Rs 60K cr on agriculture annually: Niranjan Reddyedit
Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy on Friday said the State government was spending Rs 60,000 crore annually on the agriculture sector, which included Rs 12,000 crore on Rythu Bandhu, Rs 1300 crore on Rythu Bima, Rs 8,000 crore on crop loan waiver, Rs 1000 crore through Markfed for seeds and fertilizer subsidy and Rs 5,000 crore for power requirements for various lift irrigation schemes.
Cargill to Invest $160 Million over the Next Three Yearsedit
Global Food and Agriculture major Cargill has decided to invest $160 million over the next three years to increase its operations in India. As per the report, this would be in addition to the $80 million that the Minnesota-based private food and agricultural behemoth has already invested in the last two years. Marcel Smits, Cargill’s Chairman and CEO of the Asia-Pacific region, who has recently visited India said, “India is a regionally important country for us. It has the second-highest investment in the Asia Pacific region, after China. We have invested half a billion dollars in India already, which is about 1 percent of the company’s total investment.”
Why strong monsoon rains are not necessarily good news for Indian farmersedit
A prolonged dry spell resulted in significantly below-average rainfall at the start of the season, prompting farmers to delay the sowing of summer crops and leaving others wilting. By the end of July, rainfall was so heavy that rivers flooded and crops were damaged. The combination of a prolonged dry spell followed by heavy rainfall increased pest infestation and disease, forcing farmers to spend more on pesticides.
Farm cooperatives can play key role in achieving $5 trillion economy: Narendra Singh Tomaredit
Money Control The Free Press Journal
Farm and allied sector cooperatives have a huge potential to play a key role in making India a USD 5 trillion economy in next five years, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday. However, the cooperatives need a push to compete in the global market, he said at the inauguration of the first ever three-day India International Cooperatives Trade Fair here.
European Union organises food and agriculture seminar in Indiaedit
Food production and gastronomy in Europe are based on the combination of knowledge, skills, practices and traditions bringing together farming and methods of conserving, processing, cooking, sharing and eating food. India and the European Union (EU) share similar values when it comes to ‘food culture’. It is integral to the rich array of food production, tightly bound up with the unique farming practices resulting in distinct products. In the EU, as in India, consumer protection comes first. A high level of health protection is the paramount objective of all EU laws in food and farming sectors. The EU has, therefore, harmonised its food safety and quality regulations throughout the Union under the concept ‘from farm to fork’.
Success Story: Women Farmer Sets Example by Harvesting Highest Yield from This Latest Wheat Varietyedit
The Center has initiated different schemes to broaden the horizon of India’s agriculture scenario and to involve more and more women farmers in it. The agriculture ministry of India had introduced a new wheat variety Karan Vandana (DBW 187) which is showing the great results in the sown irrigated area of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam and the northeastern plain areas of West Bengal. This wheat variety is beneficial over the existing wheat varieties HD 2967, K0307, HD 2733, K1006, and DBW 39 for zones. As per the report, this variety of wheat gives better resistance against diseases and blossoms in 77 days and matures in 120 days of sowing.
Centre May Soon Set-up Rs 6,660 crore Fund for Farmer Producer Organisationsedit
The Centre is planning to set up a-Rs 6,660 crore fund to nurture 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations also known as FPOs across India over the next 5 years, a promise made by Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister in the budget. These FPO will help the farmers increase income through better market access as well as collective bargaining power. A senior Agriculture Ministry officer on condition of anonymity told media that “This will totally be a centrally sponsored programme and we have got the go-ahead from the agriculture minister”. The official added “Now, the proposal is being evaluated by the Department of Expenditure before being sent to the cabinet for approval.”
Budget
State spending Rs 60K cr on agriculture annually: Niranjan Reddyedit
Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy on Friday said the State government was spending Rs 60,000 crore annually on the agriculture sector, which included Rs 12,000 crore on Rythu Bandhu, Rs 1300 crore on Rythu Bima, Rs 8,000 crore on crop loan waiver, Rs 1000 crore through Markfed for seeds and fertilizer subsidy and Rs 5,000 crore for power requirements for various lift irrigation schemes.
Centre May Soon Set-up Rs 6,660 crore Fund for Farmer Producer Organisationsedit
The Centre is planning to set up a-Rs 6,660 crore fund to nurture 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations also known as FPOs across India over the next 5 years, a promise made by Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister in the budget. These FPO will help the farmers increase income through better market access as well as collective bargaining power. A senior Agriculture Ministry officer on condition of anonymity told media that “This will totally be a centrally sponsored programme and we have got the go-ahead from the agriculture minister”. The official added “Now, the proposal is being evaluated by the Department of Expenditure before being sent to the cabinet for approval.”
Technology in Agriculture
ICRISAT to host a convention on Big Data in Agricultureedit
The three-day 2019 “Big Data in Agriculture Convention: TRUST: Humans, Machines” will be hosted by ICRISAT (International Crop Research Institute for Semi-arid Tropics) between October 16 and 18, Hyderabad. Talking about the theme of convention, coordinator for the BIG DATA Platform, Brian King, highlighted the opportunities machines and machine-to-machine systems offer for accelerating food security solutions at a time when climates and ecosystems are under threat. He underlined the importance of ensuring that ethical frameworks and institutions stay abreast of the rate of changes these digital technologies present.
‘Farmbeats’ Can Tell the Health and Condition of Your Farmedit
FarmBeats collects data from multiple sources, such as sensors, drones, satellites and tractors and feeds it into cloud-based artificial intelligence models that provide a detailed picture of conditions on the farm. Since most farms have little or no internet access, FarmBeats transmits data via TV white spaces, the unused broadcasting frequencies between television channels, to an edge device at the farm and onto the Microsoft cloud.
Big Data in Agriculture Convention to be Held in Hyderabad from 16-18 Octoberedit
The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will organise the third annual convention of CGIAR (earlier known as Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) Platform for Big Data in Agriculture from 16th to 18th October 2019. Delegates from India as well as abroad will attend the convention, which is being held with the theme ‘Trust: Humans, Machines kicks’. Coordinator for the BIG DATA Platform, Brian King said, “We need to increase productivity, but we also need to preserve & renew ecosystems, manage climate extremes & deal with depleting soil & land resources. Reliable digital solutions can be the most important tool we have to rise to the challenge–if we can build them”.
Govt. Policies
Rs 452 crore disbursed under Mukhiya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna in Jharkhandedit
CM Raghubar Das on Friday launched the distribution of Rs 452 crore in the account of nearly 11.51 lakh marginalized farmers of the state who had been left out from receiving the first installment of the Mukhiya Mantri Krishi Ashirwad Yojna (given to over 13 lakh farmers on August 10) at a function held at Tata College Ground at Chaibasa in West Singhbhum. Significantly, Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) an initiative announced during the 2019 interim Union budget on February 1 benefits will be provided to all small and marginal farmers’ families having total cultivable holdings of up to 2 hectares (5 acres). This will be provided in 3 equal installments of Rs 2000 each ...
PM-Kisan scheme: 34 lakh farmers get Rs 1,318 croreedit
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday said the Centre has paid Rs 1,318.61 crore as assistance to small and marginal farmers of the state to augment their income under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana (PMKSNY) launched in the 2018-19 fiscal. The Centre had announced to pay Rs 6,000 in three equal instalments of Rs 2,000 as assistance under PMKSNY. The money was to be transferred through direct benefit transfer (DBT) method into the personal accounts of farmers selected for the purpose.
‘Agriculture may give big push to $5 trillion economy target’edit
Agriculture can be the biggest contributor to the target of 5 trillion dollar economy set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to agriculture scientist and chancellor of Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University (Jhansi) Prof Panjab Singh. Addressing the inaugural session of three-day international conference on ‘sustainable agriculture development in changing global scenario’ at BHU on Friday, Prof Singh spoke on challenges faced by agriculture sector in India and stressed on sustainable development.
State spending Rs 60K cr on agriculture annually: Niranjan Reddyedit
Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy on Friday said the State government was spending Rs 60,000 crore annually on the agriculture sector, which included Rs 12,000 crore on Rythu Bandhu, Rs 1300 crore on Rythu Bima, Rs 8,000 crore on crop loan waiver, Rs 1000 crore through Markfed for seeds and fertilizer subsidy and Rs 5,000 crore for power requirements for various lift irrigation schemes.
Stubble Burning
Stubble burning to come down further this year: Tomaredit
Crop stubble burning is likely to come down further this year, as the Centre is subsidising machinery required for the crop residue management in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the national capital region, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday. “The scheme is running successfully and helped reduce the stubble burning last year. The burning will further come down this year,” Tomar said on the sidelines of an event here. The scheme is being implemented by farm research body ICAR through 60 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) of Punjab (22), Haryana (14), Delhi (1) and UP (23).
In Punjab, most farm fires reported in Majha regionedit
As the harvesting of the paddy has picked up pace in Majha region, the western border districts of Punjab are witnessing a spurt in the number of fire incidents over the last 15 days. Last year, it was the Malwa region comprising Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Fazilka and Moga districts that had witnessed the maximum number of cases.
Stubble Burning And Its Harmful Effectsedit
The problem of stubble burning has reached an enormous level, what used to be done by farmers to get rid of waste and remove foliage from the agricultural fields is becoming a pollution hazard affecting not just a particular region, but numerous states. Stubble burning is the burning of the straw stubble that remains after the harvest of paddy and wheat. This is a common practice of preparing the fields for the next harvest as there is little time left for the sowing of seeds and next harvest.
Stubble Burning: Harvest of Tearsedit
Come October and reports start appearing about pollution caused by the burning of paddy stubble after the harvest in the plains of Punjab, Haryana and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The problem worsens in November to beat the deadline for sowing wheat. The narrow window between harvesting of paddy and sowing of wheat has now become a nightmare for people living in these areas as well as the national capital where the existing pollution gets exacerbated with smoke from thousands of burning fields. The smog hangs in the atmosphere till winter rains dissipate it.