Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Coronavirus pandemic reiterates need to strengthen public health systems, review production and consumption patternsedit
The global pandemic of COVID-19 virus, initially labelled the “novel coronavirus”, has forced most of the world into a lockdown, with sweeping spread, mounting mortality and eviscerated economies. While national responses have varied, there are key messages that India must heed as it shapes and strengthens her own response. This is not new wisdom but past prescriptions that were not implemented.
Farmers leave fields fallow after not getting subsidised fertiliseredit
Kedar Prasad Sah, a farmer of Sirsiya Khalwa Tol, Birgunj Metropolitan City-26, was forced to leave his 1.5 bigha farm fallow this year after not getting fertiliser.
He had wanted to plant wheat on his field after getting organic fertiliser from the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Parsa, but he could not procure any soil fortifier and had to give up his plans.
“I waited for a long time after getting assurances from the centre of obtaining organic fertiliser with a 75 percent subsidy,” he said. But he got no fertiliser and was unable to grow wheat in his field.
Kolkata markets limit sale of veggies to curb hoardingedit
Several wholesale and retail shops in Kolkata — including the 145 state-run Sufal outlets and the 47 KMC-run markets — have set a limit on vegetables to be sold per person to prevent hoarding and panic buying in the lockdown phase next week. The Bengal government has allayed fears of any problem in the availability of essential items during the lockdown period from March 23 to March 27. State food and civil supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick said, “I am convening an emergency meeting at noon on Monday with all the ration dealers, LPG dealers, kerosene dealers, petrol pump operators and representatives of oil marketing companies. I will issue a guideline for emergency services. I have withdrawn the weekly ...
Coronavirus: Amarinder Singh Seeks Comprehensive Economic Package From Centreedit
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday sought a comprehensive economic package from the Centre to mitigate the hardship resulting from COVID-19 to the most vulnerable people and establishments across sectors, besides the poor daily wage workers, in the state.
The chief minister has submitted a detailed memorandum in this regard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, requesting economic support from the Centre to business enterprises, MSMEs, as well as organised and unorganised labour in the state, according to an official spokesperson.