First Post

Despite the commendable efforts by the Central and state governments to stop this contagion, the media has already reported a mass exodus from affected cities back to hinterland villages, now who can ascertain, how many of them are carrying the virus? How will this disease affect our food supply and seeds?

Agriculture is the backbone of our survival and most of our agriculture today depends on quality seeds and the organised seed sector. Our food production is also dependent on the availability of human resources or farm labour, farm inputs and free movement of agricultural produce – including seeds. All are restricted at this time.

Indian Express

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Centre and state governments will take all steps to ensure the supply of “essential items” during the nationwide 21-day lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus. How prepared is India to meet the supply requirements of the most essential of items, food?

What is the domestic availability situation in foodstuffs? To what extent would the restrictions impact it?

There’s no real issue with the production or supply of most agri-commodities, starting with foodgrains. As on March 1, stocks of wheat and rice with the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was around 77.6 million tonnes (mt) — over three-and-a-half times the minimum operational buffer-cum-strategic stock of 21.04 mt required to be maintained for April 1. And the bumper ...

Times Of India

With Punjab and Haryana fighting to stop spread of novel coronavirus with lockdowns and curfew, the two states — collectively known as food basket of India — have to make arrangements for procurement of rabi (winter sown) crops, which normally starts at the beginning of April. The rain and hailstorm that took place in the last week of February and first week of March may have some adverse impact on the yield of rabi crops, such as wheat and mustard.

Times Of India

CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday sanctioned a sum of Rs 518.42 crore for payment to farmers against the loss of crops that occurred due to untimely rains and hailstorm in the current month. The chief minister further asked the agriculture secretary N Sarvana Kumar to ensure immediate transfer of sanctioned amount in the bank accounts of affected farmers. Earlier Nitish held a high level meeting at ‘Sankalp’ hall in the CM residence to review the intensity of crop loss due to untimely rains and hailstorm in different parts of the state in the month of March.

News Click

Five days after the first positive case of COVID-19 in Gujarat, the total number of cases has risen to 30 and one person is reported to have died. Five major cities of Gujarat, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Gandhinagar, have been completely shut down and borders of the cities have been sealed, restricting any movement in or out of the cities.

Economic Times

Food minister Ram Vilas Paswan, in a tweet, has said that the centre is considering positively to a proposal of Maharashtra government seeking an extension to rice purchase by a month due to lock down in the wake of Corona Virus. The procurement normally ends in March.

“The request of Maharashtra government is being considered positively,” Paswan tweeted.

Former agriculture minister NCP leader Sharad Pawar has also requested food ministry to extend the procurement due to the lockdown.

Live Mint

Japan’s leading tractor manufacturer Kubota Corp.’s strategic move to pick up a 10% stake in Escorts Ltd, for a technology partnership, has been well-received.

The Escorts stock has rallied 11% since the news broke on Friday against the Nifty 50’s fall of 5%.

“The entry of a global tractor player as a strategic investor or partner is a positive development for Escorts in terms of future product development, technology absorption and international footprint,” said analysts at Antique Stock Broking Ltd in a note to clients.

Times Of India

CM K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday announced that the crucial agriculture and dairy sectors in rural areas have been exempted from the purview of the lockdown, and that MGNREGA and irrigation works would also continue. “Agriculture and dairy in rural areas will remain unaffected until further orders to ensure regular supply of food and milk to the people. However, more than five farmers will not be allowed to gather at any one place and it would be ensured that they maintain a distance of atleast five feet,” said the chief minister. To ensure that farmers do not gather at the procurement centres and market committees located in towns, the government has decided to set up procurement ...