Business Standard

The Andhra Pradesh government has started purchasing paddy being harvested in the rabi season just as it had announced the measure late last month in view of the ongoing lockdown.

The government’s intervention provides an interim platform for farmers to sell their Rabi produce at the assured minimum support price (MSP) of respective crops as all the agriculture market yards are shut as part of the steps being taken against the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the state. The move would also preempt distress sales that would possibly drive the prices below the MSP, according to the government.

The Hindu

Online seminars are helping farmers who find it tough to obtain expert advice on matters related to agriculture and animal husbandry, given the COVID-19 lockdown scenario in the State.

Financial Express

The Centre has transferred Rs 7,384 crore under the flagship direct income support scheme PM-Kisan since the Covid-19 relief package was announced last month, according to official data updated Monday.

The target was to disburse April-July instalment of Rs 2,000 each to about 9 crore farmers ‘immediately’, front-loading release of the money which was otherwise to be transferred by mid-April latest.

Indian Express

Amid the coronavirus lockdown, the Haryana government is hoping for a good production of wheat despite inclement weather conditions in the past couple of weeks.

“The crop is good this year inspite of untimely rainfall and hailstorm,” Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal told The Indian Express on Friday. According to Kaushal, the government has estimated wheat production of 120 lakh metric tonnes (MT). In the last three years, wheat production has been a little over 120 lakh MT, while it was 113.50 MT in 2016. This year, officials are expecting a per hectare yield of a little above that of 2016, but lesser than in the last three years.

Swarajyamag

The nationwide lockdown from 24 March to 14 April to tackle the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak could be a cause for concern to farmers in wheat-growing areas.

Business Standard

The mad rush by farmers to sell late the kharif variety of onion has pulled down the crop’s price to the season’s lowest of Rs 3 a kg in Vinchur mandi near Lasalgaon, Asia’s largest spot onion selling market yard. Lasalgaon is in Maharashtra’s Nashik district the country’s largest onion growing region. Prices now are trading below the cultivator’s cost of production.

With export quality onion selling in this mandi at Rs 9 a kg, its model or average price is Rs 6 a kg, the lowest so far in this late harvesting season. Farmers seemed to be in a hurry to sell off their produce, especially of the late kharif variety, due to its low shelf ...

The Hindu

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to global concerns on the state of agriculture and food security. On the one hand, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of a “food crisis” if countries do not protect vulnerable people from hunger and malnourishment. On the other, farmers face a stalemate as they are unable to work on their land, earn remunerative prices and gain access to markets. We can try to understand the impact of COVID-19 on agriculture with three questions. One, does the world have enough food to feed its people? Two, is food available at affordable prices? Three, how are farmers coping with the lockdown?

Times Of India

Seeking to connect farmers with agri markets in a hassle-free and cost-effective manner, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday asked central ministers to harness technology and explore innovative solutions like using ‘truck aggregators’ on the lines of app based cab services (such as Uber and Ola) to ensure smooth movement of farm produce.