Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
How digital technology has revolutionised the agricultural sector globallyedit
Advancement in digital technology, ubiquitous internet connectivity, and ever-increasing penetration of smartphones are all manifestations of the digital revolution. Agriculture too is taking advantage of this revolution in many ways. During the last few years, technology has empowered farmers with access to information and markets, streamlined supply chains, provided tools for food safety and security, and more. In a post-pandemic world, the transformation will only become faster. Here is a look at what has been done so far.
New laws on agriculture trade and contract farming in the worksedit
The Centre is creating a new law that will help farmers in physical and electronic trade across the country, involving a major role for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) but without dislodging existing mandis that dominate the wholesale business in farm output.
The government is simultaneously working on a new law on contract farming, a piece of legislation that seeks to supplement and complement this proposed agri-trade law.
Locusts attack crops in North Indian states, governments issue alertedit
Amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the farmers of the country, especially in Western and Northern parts of the country, are facing a locust attack. According to the reports, crops and vegetation are some of the states are now threatened with locust, considered to be one of the most dangerous migratory pests in the world.
Sharp drop in vegetable prices as buyers stay inedit
Cherries for Rs 30/lg wholesale in Shimla; the fruit of the season, mango, for Rs 25/ kg wholesale in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur; and tomato for Rs 10/ kg wholesale in Bengal’s Siliguri .
The prices of fruits and vegetables in wholesale markets over the past week highlights the steep fall in the price of farm produce in the face of a drop in consumer demand during the lockdown imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic, experts said. No rebound is likely in the coming weeks and months, they added.
Kerala agriculture dept starts initiative to convert fallow lands into vegetable farmsedit
When a pandemic forced the states to close its doors to each other, it became all too clear how much one depended on another. For Kerala, this meant that food supplies, especially vegetables, coming from other states, would be affected. In a press conference towards the last half of April, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan spoke about the need for Kerala to be self-sufficient with food supplies.
Meetings got chaired, plans got made, and a name arose – Subiksha Keralam; and one by one, fallow lands are getting converted into farms.
Locust attack: Farmers may delay monsoon crops as the crisis lingersedit
With large-scale crop losses across Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, officials are now staring at another crisis caused by the worst-ever locust attack on Indian states.
Farmers in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh may have to delay the kharif, or monsoon crops, due to the locust attacks in both states, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been told in a meeting on May 26, 2020.
The stock-taking meeting was for India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. During the meeting, the United Nations agency received feedback from various countries that pointed to the locust crisis continuing.