Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Delta farmers worried as urea in short supplyedit
Thousands of farmers were left running from pillar to post looking for chemical fertilizers, mostly urea, as they go into a short supply in cooperative societies even as the second stage of samba cultivation began in many parts of delta districts. The farmers alleged that private agencies were turning the crisis situation to their advantage, by selling fertilizers at a price over and above the government fixed rate. They complained chemical fertilizers such as urea, diammonium phosphate (DAP), potash and complex fertilizer are in short supply across the delta districts.
CACP is right, open-ended procurement must goedit
If the visuals of rotting grains over the years had not made this clear, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended that the government review (read scrap) its open-ended grain procurement policy. As of October 1, against a buffer requirement of 30.8 million tonnes (mt) of wheat and rice, the total central pool stock, including stock in transit, stood at 64.2 mt—109% more than the requirement. With paddy procurement yet to happen, this quantity will shoot up. The government has taken steps to liquidate 15 mt of stocks, but hasn’t met much success here. CACP, in its latest report for rabi season, has batted for direct procurement by private players, as envisaged under ...
Mixed response from Cauvery delta farmers on TN contract farming lawedit
With the President of India, Sri Ramnath Kovind recently giving assent to Tamil Nadu’s new law on contract farming, there has been a mixed reaction from farmers of Cauvery delta districts to the contract farming move of the State government. While S.Ranganathan, secretary, Cauvery delta farmers welfare association welcomed contract farming, V.Jeevakumar of All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and a farmer from Budalur said that it will deprive farmers of many facilities they enjoy now from Government and put them in the hands of corporate companies.
CS proposes enhancing orange cultivation in Dambukedit
Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar on Sunday visited the sites of ongoing infrastructure projects, besides ecotourism projects and agriculture and horticulture farms, here in Lower Dibang Valley district. He visited the Diphu Nallah area to inspect possible tourism sites, and inspected the Orange Festival site in Dambuk to assess the scope and pace of work. He suggested improvements and additions to be made in order to “enhance the experience of the tourists while using the facilities being undertaken at the site.” The chief secretary showed keen interest in enhancing the tourism and horticulture potential of Dambuk after visiting the Kone Gipong eco-tourist lodge
Speed up Rythu Bharosa survey: Collectoredit
Stubble Burning
Satellites identify just 4 stubble burning sites, PSRC says it’s because of dense smogedit
A thick cover of smog and clouds over Punjab is preventing satellites from accurately identifying crop stubble burning sites, the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PSRC) said Sunday, adding that only four such sites were identified across the state on November 2, a figure too low to be true. According to PSRC data, these the four identified sites were in Bathinda, Amritsar and Moga districts. Dense smog has been reported from various locations in Punjab, reducing visibility to a great extent.
Ground Zero Sangrur: Farmers battle gaps in govt’s subsidy coveredit
To know why the National Capital is choking, visit Sangrur in Punjab — the district that recorded the highest number of farm fires in a single day this year. One of Punjab’s largest paddy producing districts, Sangrur witnessed 2,157 farm fires from September 23 to October 30, the third highest district-wise figure in the state. Compared to the same period last year, the fire counts in this district increased by 943. In a single day, October 30, it recorded 550 such fires.