Tribune India

Widespread rain across Haryana today damaged the wheat lying in the open at various grain markets even as farmers rued the inadequate arrangements at purchase centres to deal with the showers.

The rain that lashed Karnal damaged the wheat produce lying in the open while arhtiyas maintained that the slow lifting of the grain also contributed to their problems. Farmers have been forced to suspend harvesting for a couple of days as they alleged that there were insufficient arrangements at the procurement centres to cover the produce lying in the open.

In Kaithal, rain accompanied by strong winds caused damage to the grain lying in mandis and hampered harvesting operations at several places, adding to the worries ...

Hindustan Times

Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday demanded relaxation in moisture specifications for wheat as unseasonal rainfall had damaged the harvested crop.

He asked the state government to increase the moisture content limit for wheat from 12% to 18%.

Addressing mediapersons here on Sunday, Surjewala criticised the government for its failure to provide adequate arrangements for coverage of the wheat harvest lying in the open in grain markets. He said grain markets in Karnal, Nissing, Jundla, Gharaunda, Assandh, Nilokheri, Kaithal, Guhla Cheeka, Pundri, Pai, Dhandh, Ismailabad, Shahbad, Pehowa, Jhansa, Bilaspur, Jagadhari, Yamunanagar, Rohtak were waterlogged.

Indian Express

Foodgrain stocks in the Central pool stood at 73.85 million tonnes (mt) as on April 1, the highest ever for this date and three-and-a-half times the minimum operational-cum-strategic reserve requirement of 21.04 mt.

The 73.85 mt figure includes 24.70 mt of wheat and 32.24 mt of rice. In addition, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government agencies were holding 25.24 mt of un-milled paddy, whose rice equivalent, at an out-turn ratio of 67 per cent, worked out to 16.91 mt. Out-turn is the share of rice extracted from harvested paddy grains after removal of outer husk and inner bran layers.

Times Of India

The Centre is examining a “significant number” of reforms along with staggered stimulus packages aimed at various stressed sectors of the economy as part of its strategy to combat the bruising impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources said the government has started the process of identifying reforms which can be pushed through to make the economy more attractive and productive and help it overcome the impact of the pandemic in the “shortest possible time.”

Times Of India

Amid the ongoing lockdown, nearly 90% of the wheat arriving in mandis over the first 10 days has been procured by government agencies, while the entire paddy crop in southern states has been purchased, as part of an attempt to ensure that farmers do not face hardship, while also replenishing stocks in Food Corporation of India silos. The food stock, which is remains surplus by a long margin, has been depleted in the last few weeks as the government doubled the quota of grains given to the poor through the public distribution system due to Covid-19. As reported by TOI on April 15, states are targeting to procure 40 million tonnes during 2020-21 marketing year (April to March), compared to ...

Hindustan Times

For the first time in a decade, the world risks being cut off from Russian wheat at a time when some key buyers are rushing to import it.

The top shipper last month limited sales through June to protect its own supply as the coronavirus crisis sparks food-security concerns around the world. Although the curbs were seen loose enough to ensure normal trade flows for this time of year, Russia has already burned through the entire quota. It will halt grain shipments to all but four former Soviet neighbors once the last cargo booked under the limits leaves the country.

While the ban will only last until farmers start harvesting in July, some other nearby nations have ...