Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Potato farmers hit by untimely rains and labour shortage problem in Punjabedit
The Times of India – Online
Having been through a rough patch over the past three years, most potato farmers in the state are wrapping up the current season with mixed feelings. Even though things looked up in terms of stable prices due to limited supply, the potato crop was hit by untimely rains and the problem of labour shortage at some places due to the lockdown.
With no one to take them to mandis, most farm commodities fall below MSPedit
Business Standard – Online
Prices of most agricultural commodities have slipped below their minimum support price (MSP) because of lockdown-triggered labour and logistic problems, which created supply pressure on mandis near major production centres, even as remote agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) remain deserted.
Allow bulk buyers, big retailers to buy directly from farmers, cooperatives: Centre to statesedit
One India – Online
The Centre has asked states to allow bulk buyers, processors and big retailers for next three months to directly buy agri-produce from farmers, FPOs and cooperatives, in a bid to decongest mandis and ensure enough supply to consumption region amid COVID-19 lockdown.
Coronavirus in Tamil Nadu: Provide more financial support to poor families, Stalin demandsedit
The Times of India – Online
DMK president M K Stalin on Wednesday demanded that the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government provide additional financial support to poor families affected by the lockdown, in force to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Govt. Policies
Centre urged to ensure sufficient farm credit flow for next kharifedit
The Hindu – Online
The State government has requested the Centre to give appropriate directions to banks through regulator Reserve Bank of India (RBI) so that the farming community is not forced to face any credit crunch by ensuring sanction of sufficient crop production loans without any restrictions in the wake of coronavirus lockdown.
COVID-19: To revive growth govt working on bailout package of Rs 75,000 croreedit
One India – Online
The government is likely to set up a corpus fund of about Rs 75,000 crore to revive industries that are particularly labour intensive small and medium units.
Centre asks states for compliance of exemptions to farmers,lockdown continues to hit agri operationsedit
The Times of India – Online
Exemptions to farmers during the lockdown period have eased farming operations a bit, but ground situation continues to be difficult for transporting farm produce to ‘mandis’ and for movement of farmworkers as local authorities are observing extreme caution, considering the need for social distancing to prevent the spread of disease.
Foodgrain supply to Gujarat doubled during lockdown: FCIedit
The Indian Express – Online
The official said the foodgrains are being issued to the state government for distribution at an average of 12,000 MT per day wherein 600 trucks transport the stock from the 33 FCI depots across the state to 17,000 fair price shops.
Why New India Needs A Grand Reconstruction Budget Post Covid-19edit
Swarajya Mag – Online
The Covid-19 pandemic has morphed into a global economic crisis. All activity is grinding to a halt with unemployment on the rise. Stock market value has declined by more than $27 trillion.