Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Gurgaon: Mill to buy 1 lakh tonnes of straw to power itselfedit
A Naraingarh sugar mill is planning to buy 1 lakh tonne of paddy stubble to run its power generation plant. meeting between mill representatives and Ambala deputy director of agriculture (DDA) took place on Wednesday. The mill want the paddy stubble for power generation at the plant on its premises at Banondi village in Shahzadpur block. However, the administration is not offering any financial assistance to the mill to purchase the stubble. “In Ambala, around 85% of paddy has been harvested. The mill asked for paddy residue late, so not enough stubble will be available,” said DDA Girish Nagpal.
Germany says can help India double farmers’ incomeedit
Germany has told India it can play key role in doubling farmers’ income as the European nation has the expertise in farm mechanisation and post-harvest management, the government said on Friday. German Food and Agriculture Minister Julia Klockner met her Indian counterpart Narendra Singh Tomar and discussed various issues on the agriculture sector. The two ministers also signed a ‘joint declaration of intent’ on cooperation in agriculture market development, the agriculture ministry said in a statement.
October rain damages a third of kharif crops in Maharashtraedit
Unseasonal rain in October has ruined kharif crops on over 54 lakh hectare of the 140 lakh hectare under cultivation in Maharashtra, with officials estimating the losses to rise, affecting this year’s production. Agriculture minister Anil Bonde told TOI on Friday that nearly one-third of the total area under cultivation or crops on over 54 lakh hectare have been affected by the unseasonal rainfall.
Insurance fails to reach farmers amid massive crop loss?edit
Confusion and distress seem to reign supreme among farmers in the State. Unable to contact the companies providing them insurance under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, many farmers who have suffered crop damage due to the recent rains and thunderstorms are turned helpless. According to data obtained from the agriculture department, crops in at least 37,000 hectares have been damaged due to heavy rains across the State, impacting over 39,000 farmers.
Solar Power and Agriculture: Can There Be a Happy Coexistence?edit
That there simply isn’t enough land that meets the requirements of sunlight, proximity to the transmission grid, and a ready market to make the industry a provider of first resort when it comes to the power grid. That is one reason floating solar, despite its higher costs, has been catching on increasingly and is set to grow well above industry growth rates for the next few years now. In India too, thanks to our massive agrarian economy, there have already been rumblings about allotment of land and the impact of solar parks on the local ecosystems in some cases.
Himachal farmers have an affair with flowersedit
“The people in my village thought I had gone mad when I decided to give up maize and grow wild marigolds in 2017,” says Pawan Kumar, a farmer in Himachal Pradesh. “The rebukes grew stronger when the flowers failed to bloom the first season,” recalls the 45-year-old resident of the backward Talla village in Chamba district that does not even have a motorable road. Today, Pawan has become a role model for most farmers in the district. He earns a phenomenal Rs 1.2 lakh a hectare — which is roughly five times what he would earn from maize cultivation.
Blockchain Transaction System and Drone-Powered Precision Agriculture Highlight Celexus R&Dedit
Celexus, Inc. announced today its new research and development division. In conjunction with small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Arizona-based agriculture organization is developing proprietary software using blockchain algorithms specific to the complexities of hemp biomass transactions. Additional technology in development includes drone mapping, soil nutrition, and data analytics, among others. To support its mission of growing a sustainable tomorrow, Celexus is investing in the technologies that will move agriculture, especially industrial hemp, into a growth market with far-reaching economic and environmental impact.
Narendra Singh Tomar meets German Food & Agri Ministeredit
Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, met German Minister of Food & Agriculture Julia Klockner here on Friday. The Ministers signed a Joint Declaration of Intent between India and Germany on cooperation in agriculture market development. During the meeting, Mr Tomar said, ‘India’s priority has shifted from production centric to farmer centric, and the goal of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 by improving productivity, lowering input cost, creating competitive markets and strengthening the value chain for agriculture and allied sectors.’
Farmers ready to stop stubble burning if it is cost-effectiveedit
A number of cultivators in Punjab and Haryana have said only an economically viable solution can convince them to give up setting paddy residue on fire. And farmers who are ready to make the switch complain of a shortage of machines. “The government needs to provide heavy duty machines, which can be collectively used by a group of farmers at village-level to make bundles of paddy straw so that it can be sold to the power generating units or to other units requiring the same. Most farmers cannot afford the heavy-duty machines on their own. The cost of diesel is another factor. In general, farmers find it easy and cheaper to burn the stubble than ...
‘Subsidised machines costlier than those being sold by private players’edit
Ahead of the paddy harvesting season this year, the Punjab government announced to provide more than 28,000 agro-machines to farmers at subsidised rates. The government said it has allocated Rs 278 crore in the current fiscal under first phase of in-situ management of paddy residue. The move initially drew good response from the farmers. The government in early August had claimed to have received around 12,000 applications from farmers, farmers’ groups and primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) for the subsidised machinery.
Why Millions of Farmers Won’t Receive at Least One Instalment of PM Kisanedit
Only 4.12 crore farmer families in the country are eligible to receive all the four instalments that will be due by the end of March 2020 under PM Kisan, according to information provided by the CEO of the scheme, Vivek Aggarwal. This is because the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has decided to not make payments with retrospective effect. So only those farmers – numbering 4.12 crore – who had been registered in the first time period will be eligible to receive all four instalments.
TN moving towards capitalist farming?edit
The Tamil Nadu Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2019, that has come into effect is seen as a major step towards making agriculture an entrepreneurial enterprise. The legislation, the first by a state, facilitates a foolproof mechanism to ensure farmers and those who own livestock get a fair deal.
Competition
Mahindra’s tractor sales decline 4% in October 2019edit
There has been no sign of relief for slowing down tractor sales in the India. Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES) has witnessed 4 percent decline in its sales in October 2019 as compared to the corresponding period in 2018. In October 2019, the India’s largest tractor manufacturing company sold 44,646 tractors, as against 46,312 units during October 2018. Total tractor sales, domestic and exports, during October 2019 were at 45,433 units, as against 47,376 units for the same period last year. Exports for the month stood at 787 units as compared to 1064 units in the corresponding month last year. The company today announced its tractor sales for the month of October 2019.
Technology in Agriculture
AI, Drone play crucial role in extending modern technologies to farmers in country: Subramaniahedit
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University ( TNAU) Director of Research Dr K S Subramaniah on Friday emphasised on how the Artificial Intelligence (AI), Drone, Sensor Technologies and Robotics play a crucial role in extending of modern technologies to the farmers in the country. Delivering the Eminent Soil Scientist Dr B Ramamoorthy Third Memorial Lecture on ‘ Smart Farming for Evergeen Revolution’ organized by PJTSAU (Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University) here, Dr Subramaniah explained about the challenges and opportunities in the smart agriculture and also spoke on how the nano technology will contribute the agricultural research for providing better services and developing low cost farm applications and technologies.
Blockchain Transaction System and Drone-Powered Precision Agriculture Highlight Celexus R&Dedit
Celexus, Inc. announced today its new research and development division. In conjunction with small businesses and entrepreneurs, the Arizona-based agriculture organization is developing proprietary software using blockchain algorithms specific to the complexities of hemp biomass transactions. Additional technology in development includes drone mapping, soil nutrition, and data analytics, among others. To support its mission of growing a sustainable tomorrow, Celexus is investing in the technologies that will move agriculture, especially industrial hemp, into a growth market with far-reaching economic and environmental impact.
Govt. Policies
Why Millions of Farmers Won’t Receive at Least One Instalment of PM Kisanedit
Only 4.12 crore farmer families in the country are eligible to receive all the four instalments that will be due by the end of March 2020 under PM Kisan, according to information provided by the CEO of the scheme, Vivek Aggarwal. This is because the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has decided to not make payments with retrospective effect. So only those farmers – numbering 4.12 crore – who had been registered in the first time period will be eligible to receive all four instalments.
Stubble Burning
Why Delhi is gasping for breath while Chandigarh is (somewhat) better offedit
It is that time of the year when Delhi is covered with haze and smoke. The extremely bad air quality in Delhi during this time is attributed mainly to the widespread burning of agricultural waste in the villages of neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana, as farmers in these areas try to quickly prepare their fields for their next crop.
Haryana CM announces cash award for info on stubble burningedit
Harayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced cash award for giving information about stubble burning as Delhi gasps. Khattar has announced a cash award of Rs 1,000 for giving information about the stubble burning as a thick cover of haze continues to envelope Delhi.
This is how stubble burning is avoided in Odishaedit
Unlike north India, crop stubble burning is not prevalent in Odisha even though it has started making inroads unto several parts of the coastal state. Air pollution due to stubble burning has turned a critical health hazard in north India. Agriculture in Odisha is the mainstay of the majority of the populace. The state is one of the largest producers of rice in the country. The state government has fixed a target of procuring 60 lakh metric tonne of paddy during the kharif marketing season (KMS), 2019-20. However, instead of burning the stubble, the farmers use the paddy straw in various ways such as cattle feed, compost manure, roofing of thatched houses, biomass energy and mushroom cultivation.
4 ways in which stubble can supplement agriculture, environmentedit
Once again, crop residue burning in Punjab, Haryana and other neighbouring states of Delhi has resulted in a thick haze across Delhi-NCR, leaving residents to gasp for fresh air. Commonly known as stubble burning, the activity is considered one of the prime reasons for rural air pollution and rapidly degrading air quality in Delhi. The waste burning emits aerosol particles – coarse particles (PM10), fine (PM2.5) – and greenhouse gases (GHG). These emissions aggravate the already poor air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region and constitute a serious environmental challenge.
Check stubble burning, educate farmers: Yogi Adityanathedit
With several cities of the state, including Lucknow, witnessing high level of air pollution over the last few days, chief minister Yogi Adityanath held an emergency meeting on Friday to take stock of the situation. Pulling up district magistrates and divisional commissioners for having failed to prevent burning of crop residue and waste in their respective districts, the CM said burning of waste in the open should be completely banned and strict action be taken against violators.
Chandigarh: Japanese team to check pollution due to stubble burningedit
A team from Japan has shown interest to check pollution due to crop residues and stubble burning in the Indo-Gangetic plains. They will be jointly working with the department of environmental studies, Panjab University, and the school of public health, PGI. The team visited the university on Friday and placed their compact sensor hand held device to measure PM 2.5. The device called CUPI (compact useful particulate instrument) costs USD 500, while the cost of the other monitors is around Rs 1.5 crore.
CM Arvind Kejriwal asks Punjab, Haryana governments to crack down on stubble burningedit
acing flak over the declining air quality in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday put the onus on his counterparts in Punjab and Haryana, urging them to act swiftly and effectively against stubble burning. The air quality, which dropped to the ‘severe plus’ category on Friday, has now been labelled as ‘extremely hazardous’ for the city’s elderly and children. It has also put the government in the line of Opposition fire. The CM hit out at parties, which he said were blaming the people of Delhi for the free-falling air quality and were sitting on hunger strikes, undermining the seriousness of the situation.
Punjab:’Financial aid, machines will end farm fires’edit
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana, are under pressure over increase in the number of farm fires. They understand the ill effects of burning crop residue but claim that the alternatives are just not economically-viable for small and marginal farmers. The farmers face red entries in their land records and financial penalties if caught burning crop residue in Punjab, but most want bonus on paddy MSP of Rs 200 per quintal or Rs 6,000 per acre or free machinery to manage stubble.
Farmers ready to stop stubble burning if it is cost-effectiveedit
A number of cultivators in Punjab and Haryana have said only an economically viable solution can convince them to give up setting paddy residue on fire. And farmers who are ready to make the switch complain of a shortage of machines. “The government needs to provide heavy duty machines, which can be collectively used by a group of farmers at village-level to make bundles of paddy straw so that it can be sold to the power generating units or to other units requiring the same. Most farmers cannot afford the heavy-duty machines on their own. The cost of diesel is another factor. In general, farmers find it easy and cheaper to burn the stubble than ...
Haryana: Over 100 cases of stubble burning reported in Sirsaedit
Over 100 cases of stubble burning have been reported in Haryana’s Sirsa in the past few days and actions are being taken on the same, said district’s Deputy Commissioner, Ashok Garg. “More than 100 cases of stubble burning have come forward in the district till date. An investigation is being done regarding the same and cases are being registered,” Garg said. Regarding stubble burning, there are strict orders from National Green Tribunal, Centre and state government, Garg said. “Awareness campaigns are also being done in villages for farmers,” Garg said.
‘Delhi has turned into gas chamber’: Arvind Kejriwal blames Punjab, Haryana for pollutionedit
As pollution levels spiked in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday blamed Haryana and Punjab governments for Delhi’s deteriorating air quality. Kejriwal said that Delhi has turned into a gas chamber due to smoke from crop burning in the neighbouring states. In a tweet, the Chief Minister urged the people to protect themselves from the toxic air by using breathing masks.
‘Subsidised machines costlier than those being sold by private players’edit
Ahead of the paddy harvesting season this year, the Punjab government announced to provide more than 28,000 agro-machines to farmers at subsidised rates. The government said it has allocated Rs 278 crore in the current fiscal under first phase of in-situ management of paddy residue. The move initially drew good response from the farmers. The government in early August had claimed to have received around 12,000 applications from farmers, farmers’ groups and primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) for the subsidised machinery.
End stubble burning, urge billboards, flex banners in Punjabedit
As stubble burning continues unabated, the Punjab government has stepped up efforts to make aware people of the ill effects of setting crop residue on fire. The state agriculture and farmers welfare department put up billboards and flex banners at strategic points in some towns with pictures showing the impact of crop residue burning.