Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
How Amul swung the great Indian milk runedit
Like millions of householders in India, Devender Sodhi, too, was glued to her television late evening on 24 March. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to unveil a covid-19 crisis management plan. Barely six minutes into his speech, Modi announced a stringent 21-day lockdown to control the spread of the novel coronavirus.
No one will be allowed to move out of their homes from midnight, the Prime Minister proclaimed. Panicky households rushed to grocery stores to stock up on essentials. Twenty-two minutes into his speech, Modi said essential services would be exempted from the lockdown, but many did not wait that long.
Climate Change And Its Impact On Agricultureedit
The “Global Risks Report 2020” published by lists Climate Change as the top global threat over the next decade while the Global Climate Risk Index places India as the fifth most vulnerable country due to events catalyzed by climate change. The past few years have seen an increase in awareness of climate change impact on the Indian agricultural ecosystem both among policymakers as well as the general populace.
9,000 state dairy farmers to be covered under Kisan Credit Card Schemeedit
The state government has set a target to cover 9,000 dairy farmers in Goa under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme launched by the central government, wherein they would get Rs 1.60 lakh collateral-free credit.
Speaking to the media on Monday, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that the Goa government has launched a drive to cover dairy farmers under Kisan Credit Card Scheme for making them eligible for 1.6 lakh collateral-free credit as a part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat, an initiative of the Union government.
NABARD credit support of Rs 1,607 cr to West Bengal in COVID-19 timeedit
National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has provided credit support of Rs 1,607 crore to West Bengal during the COVID-19 pandemic so far, an official said on Monday.
Besides the bank’s normal refinance schemes, this is a special liquidity support measure as the pandemic and the lockdown have severely affected the rural economy, a NABARD official said.
A smooth credit flow will provide support to the farming sector for sustaining agricultural and allied operations during the post-harvest Rabi crops and ongoing Kharif season, he said.
Agriculture Sector Leads Way to Indian Economy’s Recovery Post COVID Lockdownedit
Agriculture is the primary stake for the revival of the Indian Economy. A vast majority of the Indian population is still dependent on agriculture. According to the preliminary data from the Agricultural Ministry, rice has been sowed in 12 million hectares. India has received 14% more rain than the past year that will help the farmers. Most farmlands in the country depend on the monsoon because of the lack of agricultural facilities.
Prometheus Unbound: India Must Look to the Farmer for Way Forwardedit
In his recent nationally televised speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly thanked the Indian farmer and the taxpayer in the same breath. The farmers though wear both hats as they pay taxes on most of their inputs. With no set off opportunity as agri-produce sales are zero rated, there is no input credit, so perhaps the farmer was appreciated twice, as a provider of food and taxes.
Dairy Farming
India working on strategy to boost dairy exports and domestic productionedit
In a bid to ensure that the Indian dairy sector continues to be “Atmanirbhar”, New Delhi is working on a strategy to boost dairy exports and domestic production. According to government sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently reviewed the strategy to incentivise investments in dairy sector and measures to improve livestock productivity.
“Laying a special thrust on dairy sector, Prime Minister reviewed the vision of India to become a major dairy products exporter in next 3-5 years. The government is also aiming to fast-track organised off-take of milk produce to 50%. Once the organised off take increases it will, in turn, increase milk production, ensure predictability of demand and assured prices to farmers,” the sources said.