Media Monitor
| Category | Stories |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Industry | 176 |
| Competition | 1 |
| Coverage | 4 |
| Dairy Farming | 3 |
| Technology in Agriculture | 10 |
| Govt. Policies | 23 |
| Stubble Burning | 15 |
| Uncategorized | 2 |
Agriculture Industry
COMBINE HARVESTER MACHINES OPERATING WITHOUT SUPER STRAW MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO BE IMPOUNDEDedit
In order to effectively curb the menace of stubble burning during ensuing paddy harvesting season, especially amid COVID-19 pandemic, the Punjab Pollution Control Board in consultation with Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare of the State has ordered that combine harvester machines functioning without Super Straw Management System (SMS) will be impounded.
Disclosing this today, Additional Chief Secretary Development Anirudh Tewari urged the combine harvester operators to get the Super SMS fitted on their machines. He informed that the state government is providing 50% subsidy on the total cost of getting the SMS fitted on the machines.
He further said that Agriculture Department has also extended the date to submit the applications for subsidy on SMS up ...
Kuttanad all geared up for paddy harvestedit
Amidst the pandemic and hardships caused by recent floods, Kuttanad is all geared up for paddy harvest.
According to Agriculture Department officials, harvest of the additional crop (second crop) will begin in the district in the first week of October. “The August floods had destroyed paddy in around 3,500 ha in the district. However, crop in around 5,300 ha survived the floods. We have made all arrangements for the harvest of the second crop,” Lata Mary George, Principal Agricultural Officer, said.
Ms. George said in view of the pandemic, paddy harvest would be conducted as per a special protocol. A committee involving agriculture officers and health workers would be constituted in all grama panchayats. It would prepare ...
PM-Kisan scam: Defrauding farmersedit
When the Tamil Nadu government machinery was busy grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic across the State, a WhatsApp message from a farmer alerted a top officer in the State Directorate of Agriculture to the fact that all was not well with the implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship welfare scheme for farmers, the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan), in the State.
The message, received on August 6, claimed that miscreants and middlemen had been stuffing the scheme’s beneficiary list with ‘ineligible farmers’ with the intent to siphon funds from scheme. Just prior to its receipt, the Directorate of Agriculture in Chennai itself had smelt a rat while carrying out a routine verification of the scheme. It ...
How farm reforms can transform India into an agricultural powerhouse by 2030edit
Agriculture accounts for only 15 per cent of India’s $2.9 trillion economy, growing annually at the sluggish pace of 1.5-2 per cent. The Narendra Modi government’s bold moves to fundamentally reform one of the most important sectors of the Indian economy seek to change this. The primary motive behind the three Farm Bills recently passed is to revamp the agriculture value chain and attract the necessary investments to build world-class farmgate to market infrastructure. These Bills promise to remove government-imposed barriers so that farmers gain access to national markets to sell their produce, realising increased incomes.
New agricultural paradigmedit
The over-hyped green revolution of the late 1960s introduced varieties of dwarf rice and wheat in northern India with a cocktail of chemical fertilisers and pesticides that sucked up groundwater and gradually made it unfit for drinking. The chemicals leached into the soil and water. State-sponsored propaganda about “miraculous yields” extended the phenomenon across the country, ruining soil fertility and the nutritious value of food crops; the impact on public health was noticed by the medical community but all voices were silenced. Today, Gurdaspur-to-Delhi trains are called “Cancer Express”, yet there has been no medical study of the harm caused by chemical agriculture to the health of humans, animals, soil and water resources.
Agritech trends: Use of data science in agricultureedit
Agriculture and allied sectors in India employ about 50% of India’s workforce. Yet, it contributes to less than a fifth of the GDP. An average farmer in India earns less than US$ 2000 per annum, compared to the United States of America, where the Food and Agriculture sector contributes ~US$ 1tn to the GDP and employs roughly 25 million people, directly and indirectly. The Food and Agriculture per capita GDP in the US is ~ US$ 40,000. Even with the largest area of land under agriculture in the world, agricultural yield per hectare is still low for major crops in India. The gap in productivity and efficiency in the Indian farm and agriculture sector is a glaring ...
Farm Bills: What corporatisation did to agrarian societies of the worldedit
Amid widespread protests and turmoil, Rajya Sabha gave its nod to the three contentious agriculture Bills that seek to replace ordinances enforced in June this year. The idea behind the three Bills is to expedite investment of infrastructure and technology in the agrarian sector and liberalise farm market by facilitating the involvement of corporates. However, the farming societies, especially in Punjab and Haryana and those at the opposing end of the spectrum, reiterate that the government attempted to supersede the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) that provided farmers with a fair share in collective bargaining on price and non-price issues (weighing, grading, measurement among others). The protesters also called for regulation of ...
Mahindra & Mahindra increases its stake to 74.97% in Sampo Rosenlewedit
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. today raised its shareholding in Sampo Rosenlew Oy to 74.97 %. Mahindra & Mahindra has been a shareholder in Sampo Rosenlew since July 2016. Since then the two companies have closely worked on a global alliance to drive the growth of their combine harvester and forest machine businesses in various parts of the world. In line with Mahindra’s governance principles for associate companies Sampo-Rosenlew will continue to be run as a stand-alone, independent business unit while simultaneously leveraging synergies where possible.
Mahindra & Mahindra is the world’s largest farm tractor manufacturer by volume. Harvesting machinery is the second largest category in the global farm equipment industry. Mahindra’s scale in tractors and Sampo’s expertise ...
Paradox of poor farmers in food-rich Indiaedit
Agriculture is the primary source of livelihood for over 60% of India’s population. Considered as the backbone of the country, leading economists have always advocated for farmer friendly policies to boost the economy and GDP. But from time to time, farmers in India have been at the receiving end of many government policies. In a country that is seemingly more corporate oriented, the plight of the farmers often goes unreported. Farmers here suffer more in marketing their produce than in raising their crops or harvesting them. Markets have never been farmer-friendly. Will the new farm reform legislations help farmers get their fair share for their produce?
What are Farm Bills 2020 and why farmers are concerned?edit
Farmers across India have taken to streets to protest against the three farm reform bills passed by the Parliament in the monsoon session amid protests by opposition parties and signed by President Ram Nath Kovind. The three bills are The Farmers Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill. In protest against the bills, Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP, resigned from the Union Cabinet. SAD has been one of the oldest allies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Following Harsimrat s resignation, the SAD also pulled out of the BJP-led ...
Punjab set to move Supreme Court on farm laws as stir intensifiesedit
Punjab, where angry farmers are protesting against the three farm bills enacted by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), will challenge the legislation in the Supreme Court, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said on Monday, accusing the federal government of trying to dismantle the farming system as it exists now.
“Our lawyers are coming from Delhi tomorrow (on Tuesday). We will discuss how to proceed in the matter and then challenge the legislation in the Supreme Court,” Captain Amarinder Singh said in Khatkar Kalan, where he staged a sit-in protest against the laws.
Khatkar Kalan is the village of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Monday marked the freedom fighter’s birth anniversary.
1,500 centres to be set up to provide equipment to Haryana farmersedit
The Haryana government will set up 1, 500 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), which will provide crop residue management equipment to farmers.
Additional chief secretary (ACS), agriculture and farmers’ welfare, Sanjeev Kaushal said a target to establish 820 CHCs had been set earlier. However, keeping in view the demand from farmers, 680 more such centres will be set up. He said preference will be given to small and marginal farmers to ensure that they are able to access agricultural machinery easily and participate in the statewide campaign against stubble burning. Allocations will be done on priority basis in red and yellow/orange zones, identified by the department on the basis of incidences of crop residue burning last year.
Farmers, agri sector exempted from seeking permit for groundwater useedit
The Centre has notified new guidelines for groundwater use in the country, prescribing a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on industrial and commercial users who extract it without permission, but exempting farmers and the agriculture sector, the largest users of groundwater, from the requirement of a no-objection certificate or penalties for drawing water up to a limit.
An environmental compensation of Rs 1 lakh on industrial, mining and infrastructure users for extracting water illegally could be increased depending on the quantum of illegally extracted water, states the new notification issued by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) under the Jal Shakti ministry on September 24.
Centre must make MSP a legal right, say Congress MPs Bajwa, Dulloedit
A Congress Rajya Sabha members Shamsher Singh Dullo and Partap Singh Bajwa on Monday demanded that the Centre must make the minimum support price (MSP) a legal right to prevent private corporations from buying agricultural goods below this price.
Speaking to reporters after paying obeisance at Golden Temple, Dullo and Bajwa, both former state Congress chiefs, said that Punjab must unite and ensure the Centre repeals the Acts that seek to liberalise agriculture.
New farm laws threaten India’s ability to impose high tariffs on imported agri-produceedit
India’s recently legislated farm laws, meant to liberalise agricultural trade and allow businesses to directly procure agri-produce from farmers and stock and sell it within India and abroad without any government regulation, may pose new challenges for the country at the international level.
The new agression towards agri-business is a shift from the past where India had defended its agriculture policies – subsidies, government procurement, and release of stocks to contain agri-produce prices in the retail market – as something driven by the need to protect its small and marginal farmers and provide food security to the vulnerable population of India. The liberalisation in agriculture and freeing up markets and exports as a means to double farmers’ ...
Paddy worth Rs 10.53 cr procured in last 48 hours; MSP buying begins in all states: Govtedit
Amid widespread farmers’ protest against the new farm laws, the Centre on Monday came out with the latest data of paddy procurement in the last 48 hours to allay any apprehensions over the minimum support price (MSP) buying. With the latest procurement data, the government aims to send a clear message – it has no intention of scrapping the MSP and that it has put in a mechanism for procurement of not only summer-sown paddy but also pulses and oilseeds this year.
Boosting pulses production: From scarcity to sufficiencyedit
This pandemic has made us learn one key lesson: Be atmanirbhar. More so in the case of food. Imagine scrambling for food when everything has been shut down, including avenues for import. Most of the countries which had food grains declared an export embargo. India is a rare example. The country not only fed its citizens for free but also gave food in the form of humanitarian aid.
Farm fires set to continue as subsidy may not encourage shift to techedit
The harvest season has already begun in many parts of northwest India, and even as most farmer groups agitate against the farm bills, community leaders said crop stubble burning may continue this year too, saying subsidies on straw management machinery is not enough for small farmers to switch to machines.
Satellite images released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) have shown an increasing number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab over the past five days, especially in Amritsar district.
Nasa also warned that with plumes of smoke being seen over Delhi, the city’s air quality may also deteriorate in the coming weeks. Delhi government data shows that stubble burning accounted for 44% of the city’s ...
Chief Agriculture Officer provides farming machines to farmers in Patialaedit
As part of the steps being taken to prevent burning of straw in the current kharif season, machines were being provided to the farmers in Patiala district for disposal of paddy straw. Giving information in this regard, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr. Mr. Inderpal Singh Sandhu said that in order to tackle the problem of burning of straw, the Agriculture Department has formulated a comprehensive program to deal with the problem of burning of straw without burning it. Under this, agricultural machines are being provided to the farmers individually or through groups or cooperative societies at 50 per cent to 80 per cent subsidy.
Listen to CACP: Centre must review open-ended procurement of grainsedit
One would have thought a government-appointed panel of agri-economy experts repeatedly recommending a review (read scrapping) of the open-ended rice and wheat procurement policy would have pushed the Centre to do this post-haste. The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) has recommended this in all its price policy reports for kharif and rabi crops since March 2019, right till the latest one (in July). Of course, now, with farmers agitating against an ‘agri-reform laws mean MSP repeal’ bogey drummed up by opposition parties, a review seems politically fraught.
Had the Centre eased farmers in states like Punjab and Haryana into scaled-down procurement earlier, it is possible that these protests—clearly aimed at protecting the significant revenues states ...
Farmers need price assurance tooedit
One silver lining to the 24 per cent fall in quarterly GDP between April and June, was that growth in the agriculture sector was positive, at 3.4 per cent. This is the first time in India’s history that we are experiencing a steep recession without any adverse shock of drought or a failed monsoon affecting agriculture.
Another notable positive development was the robust procurement of the spring harvest (rabi crop), especially of wheat. Not just frontrunners like Punjab and Haryana, but Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh also had good rabi procurement by the Central government-run Food Corporation of India (FCI). When the FCI does procurement, usually through its designated agencies, based in various states, it ...
Rains effect: Preliminary loss of paddy fields pegged at 287 hecedit
The Agriculture Department after conducting its preliminary assessment has found that at least 287 hectares of paddy fields have been destroyed due to the torrential rains that have hit the State this year.
Agriculture Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said that if agriculturists have no Krishi Card it will be difficult to compensate them.
The minister was speaking at the culmination program of the Paddy Combined Harvester Operation skill training program along with the Agriculture Director Neville Alphonso.
The Director of Agriculture disclosed that 287 hectares of paddy fields were destroyed due to the heavy rains that Goa is experiencing this year.
Mahindra & Mahindra increases stake in Sampo Rosenlew to 74.97%edit
Mahindra & Mahindra has raised its shareholding in Finland-based Sampo Rosenlew Oy to 74.97 per cent.
Mahindra & Mahindra has been a shareholder in Sampo Rosenlew since July 2016. Since then the two companies have closely worked on a global alliance to drive the growth of their combine harvester and forest machine businesses in various parts of the world.
In line with Mahindra’s governance principles for associate companies, Sampo will continue to be run as a standalone, independent business unit while simultaneously leveraging synergies where possible.
How the farm reforms will destroy India’s farmers and food security?edit
A massive wave of farmers’ protest movements against the anti-farmer agriculture bills and amendment to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, has stunned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), as it couldn’t believe that a mass upheaval is possible against its economic policies in northern India where Hindutva fascist propaganda has polarised the majority Hindu community.
Reimagining Agriculture during COVID-19 and Beyondedit
The Agriculture sector has been the ‘economic sweet-spot,’ being amongst the least affected segments of the economy during the current pandemic. Despite all the hardships the Indian economy faced during the last six months, the Agriculture sector has given respite to the country as a whole. At a time when the Indian economy has contracted by 23.9% during Q1 of 2020-21, agriculture and allied activities were the sole bright spot amid the dismal performance of other sectors, clocking a growth rate of 3.4% at constant prices during Q1 of 2020-21.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in India and the resultant lockdowns have disrupted all spheres of life and the Agriculture sector was no exception to this. The Nation-wide ...
India’s agrarian distress: How dissent has been on the riseedit
India’s farmers are not happy, and dissent is on the rise. Thousands of farmers recently broke out on the streets in vehement opposition against the Union government’s contentious farm bills passed in the Parliament’s Monsoon Session in September 2020.
This, however, is not the first instance of farmers clamouring against the Centre’s ‘unjust’ policies: At least 50 major protests were reported across 20 Indian states in nine months between January and September. These include four countrywide protests in January, May, August and September.
Agricultural reforms bills: Paving the way to self-reliant Bharatedit
The agricultural reform bills have led to a new political scenario leading the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to quit the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The bills were passed by a voice vote in the Rajya Sabha on Sunday amid a major ruckus by the Opposition members who trooped into the Well of the House, shouted slogans, tore the rule book, and damaged the presiding officer’s mike to register their protest.
To add to this one of these manhandled the marshal. After manhandling the marshal, he along with his fellows start picketing on the issue of violating the procedure of passing the bill depicting typical pseudo-secularism. In my opinion; Marshal was just performing his ...
High kharif output coupled with MSP hikes can leave farmers with more liquidity of Rs 50,000 crore: Reportedit
With yet another record food production at 301 million tonnes expected on the back of a bumper kharif crop this year, recent MSP hikes can leave the farmers with an additional liquidity of Rs 50,000 crore, according to a report.
The first advance estimates of major kharif crops for 2020-21 have pegged total kharif foodgrain production at 144.52 million tonnes and the overall foodgrain output at 301 million tonnes, CARE Ratings said in the report on Friday.
West Bengal: Protests against farm Bills sweep stateedit
Widespread protests against controversial farm Bills that the Centre recently pushed through Parliament were held across West Bengal on Friday.
While the Left Front and the Congress held joint demonstrations and organised road blockades in different districts, the farmers’ wing of the Trinamool Congress staged a sit-in on Mayo Road in Kolkata.
In the evening, the Left and the Congress organised a rally in the capital. Congress leaders Abdul Mannan and Pradip Bhattacharya, and Left leaders such as Biman Bose, Manoj Bhattacharya and Sujan Chakraborty participated in the march from Shyambazar to Dharmatala. Congress activists burnt copies of the legislation, and shouted slogans against the BJP government.
Farm bills are seen by farmers to deliver freedom — not to them, but to private capitaledit
On Friday, September 25, farmers’ organisations across the country gave a call for a bandh to protest the three bills passed by Parliament. These bills, namely the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 (FPTC), the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 (FAPAFS), and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 were passed amid protests by the Opposition parties, without discussion in Parliament. Even the government’s allies, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal, have raised apprehensions, lending their voice to the farmers’ demands.
Farm bills will ‘enslave farmers’, says Rahul Gandhi, likens it to Centre’s GST reformedit
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked the Narendra Modi government over the three farm bills that were passed in Parliament during the Monsoon Session, saying it will “enslave farmers”.
His comments came as several farmers’ outfits intensified their agitation against the legislations and began a nationwide protest. Opposition parties, including the Congress, have extended support to the call of Bharat Bandh.
“A flawed GST destroyed MSMEs [Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises],” Gandhi tweeted. “The new agriculture laws will enslave our farmers.”
Four states gear up to resist ‘anti-farmer’ billsedit
Shortly after the nationwide farmers protest on September 25, Maharashtra government said that it would not allow the three agriculture Bills – the Farmer’s Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – to be implemented, said a Rediff report. On the day of the protest, Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar said in Pune that the NCP and other parties are opposed to the new bills. He added that a dharna agitation will be held on October 2 in the state.
Days after Parliament passed the three agriculture-related ordinances to regulate out-of-mandi transactions and provide ...
Sugarcane Trash as Biomass Resourceedit
Sugarcane trash (or cane trash) is an excellent biomass resource in sugar-producing countries worldwide. The amount of cane trash produced depends on the plant variety, age of the crop at harvest and soil and weather conditions. Typically it represents about 15% of the total above ground biomass at harvest which is equivalent to about 10-15 tons per hectare of dry matter. During the harvesting operation around 70-80% of the cane trash is left in the field with 20-30% taken to the mill together with the sugarcane stalks as extraneous matter.
‘Farm Bills will create new markets, opportunities for farmers’edit
In the post-Independence era, the first reforms in agriculture marketing were initiated in the 1960s and 1970s, when the states enacted Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulations) Act, or APMC Act. The organised APMC markets came into existence so that the farmers in their vicinity could bring in their produce for sale. APMC markets were to have physical auctions to ensure transparent price discovery.
Farm bills: Centre ‘pushing’ 75 crore Indians dependent on agriculture to uncertaintyedit
Stating that the three farm bills passed in Parliament are “against farmers and food security for all”, and urging the President of India not endorse them, the civil rights organization Right to Food Campaign has said that they seek to reduce the state’s role in procurement of foodgrains, even as opening up markets for corporate interests without any protective regulation. In a statement, the top NGO states, “It is also unacceptable that no dialogue has been done with any of the state governments before introducing the bills and they have been passed in the Parliament although the Constitution of India lists agriculture as a state subject.”
Agritech Startups On The New Models, Opportunities In The Wake Of The Farm Reform Billsedit
While India’s recent agriculture reform bills have attracted plenty of controversy and protests from farmers across the country, there’s undoubtedly a ray of hope that the market would open up and increase agriculture income at the bottom of the chain i.e. at the farm level.
Even as the bills — the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill — await the final go-ahead from the President, there are questions about whether they will improve market access for farmers and whether it will tackle the problem of hoarding of agri commodities by large farmers to drive up prices and ...
MSP procurement of kharif paddy begins immediately in Punjab and Haryana: Centreedit
The Centre on Saturday announced commencement of paddy procurement at the minimum support price (MSP) with immediate effect in Punjab and Haryana in the wake of early arrival of the kharif crop in these two states.
Otherwise, paddy procurement for the 2020-21 kharif (summer) marketing season is scheduled to begin from October 1 in all the key growing states, it said.
Centre advances paddy procurement in Haryana, Punjabedit
Amid mass farmer agitations in Punjab and Haryana, the Centre has advanced kharif paddy procurement, allowing operations to begin on Saturday, September 26, instead of the scheduled date of October 1.
According to the Food Ministry, the change is due to the early arrival of paddy in these States. Both states have announced that procurement will begin from Sunday.
The harvest season has already begun in many parts of northwest India, and even as most farmer groups agitate against the farm bills, community leaders said crop stubble burning may continue this year too, saying subsidies on straw management machinery is not enough for small farmers to switch to machines. Satellite images released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) have shown an increasing number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab over the past five days, especially in Amritsar district. Nasa also warned that with plumes of smoke being seen over Delhi, the city’s air quality may also deteriorate in the coming weeks. Delhi government data shows that stubble burning accounted for 44% of the city’s air pollution last year.edit
Amid farmer discontent in Punjab and Haryana over reformist farm sector bills cleared by Parliament, the Modi government has announced early procurement operations for paddy/rice from the two states at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
This year’s Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) for paddy is scheduled to commence in all the procuring States from October 1 and State Procuring Agencies including the Food Corporation of India (FCI) are ready for smoothly undertaking procurement operations.
Farm protests may hit transport of essentials: Railwaysedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Railway authorities said 20 trains passing through Punjab will remain suspended between Thursday and Saturday because of the protest , as the state-owned transporter seeks to ensure the safety of passengers and protect its property. Many freight and parcel trains too have been rescheduled.
Top-Down Decision Making Will Not Help Improve Farmers’ Incomesedit
The Wire – Online
The decentralised phenomenon attached to small savings and small farmers needs to be seen as a strategic advantage and not a drawback.
PDS wheat ends up in open market; price falls 20 per centedit
The Tribune , The Indian Express – Online
With a surge in wheat delivery through the Public Distribution System (PDS) among the Smart Ration Cardholders during the lockdown, the prices of wheat, flour, maida and suji have fallen by more than 20 per cent in September in the area.
View: Modi government is heralding the path for farmers to be atmanirbharedit
The Economic Times – Online
Indian agriculture has for long suffered from apathy and policies rigged to benefit others at the cost of the farmer. Under successive Congress governments, ringing tributes were ritualistically paid to the industry of “kisan”, but the loudly declared intent to help farmers never translated into ground reality.
Farm Bills brazenly crushes Bengal’s pro-farmer initiatives: Agri expertsedit
Millennium Post – Online
The carefully woven policy of the Mamata Banerjee government to benefit both the farmers and consumers will be brazenly crushed by the anti-farmers policy of the Centre. According to the agriculture experts, in the name of benefitting the farmers what has been passed on “Black Sunday” in Rajya Sabha will actually strengthen the hands of hoarders and the middlemen and the final losses will be of farmers and the marginal ones.
New laws, a game-changer for agricultureedit
The Hindu Business Line – Online
The recently passed ordinances create rules for farmers to engage with businesses. But small farmers may not benefit
Southwest monsoon to begin retreat from next week after late stayedit
The Economic Times – Online
The southwest monsoon will start withdrawing from Rajasthan next week, marking the end of the season, where crop planting rose to a record, which has raised hopes of a big boost in rural demand after a bumper harvest.
Lower MSP rise shows govt’s aim to balance farmer, consumer interests: Nomuraedit
The Economic Times – Online
Financial services company Nomura on Wednesday said that lower minimum support price (MSP) increase reflects lower input costs of production this year (fertilisers, diesel), higher buffer stocks (rice and wheat) and also the government’s aim to balance the interests of farmers and consumers.
MSP Debate May Have Little Impact On India’s Macroeconomicsedit
Bloomberg Quint – Online
The government’s attempt to bring changes to the agricultural market is mired in debate with questions being raised on the impact of proposed changes on the farm community.
Few farmers really worry about MSPedit
The Financial Express – Online
Given the furore created over the link between the APMC reforms and the possible discontinuation of the Centre’s Minimum Support Price (MSP) operations—the government has continuously asserted MSPs will continue—it is natural to feel MSPs are critical to the well-being of the farm sector. The truth, however, is that MSPs are largely irrelevant, they matter just to a small number of farmers in a small number of north Indian states like Haryana and Punjab.
India’s Kharif foodgrain production seen at record 144.52 million tonnesedit
Kharif foodgrain production in the country is estimated at a record 144.52 million tonnes, as per the first advance estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2020-21 released by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare.
The assessment of production of different crops is based on data received from states and validated with information available from other sources, as per the release issued on 22 September 2020.Explained: The 3 Farmers Bills And The Controversies Surrounding Themedit
A high voltage drama took place in the Rajya Sabha during the passage of the first two bills, with the opposition crying foul over Deputy Chairman proceeding to clear the bill via voice voting, turning down their demand for divisions on vote.
Reform or no reform, the farmer is hardly the saviour India is waiting for. Aiyar explains whyedit
At a time when Modi govt’s new farm laws have sharply divided opinions in India, the optimist faction’s high expectations from these reforms do not appear to be rooted in reality, Swaminathan Aiyar told ET Now in an interview.
The new legislations come amid a slight sequential uptick in the agri sector. While all other segments of the economy are still majorly stuck in Covid-induced disruptions, agri has shown some nascent signs of a recovery.
Maize, Cotton sold below MSP in Punjab; farmers worry that wheat, paddy will meet same fateedit
Unlike wheat and paddy, crops like maize and cotton which have a Minimum Support Price (MSP) are not backed by bodies like the Food Corporation of India, thus are being sold much below the MSP in Punjab.
Farmers are strongly opposing the agriculture bill as they apprehend that the same fate will befall wheat and paddy.
India’s farmers give Mahindra (and maybe Modi) a sliver of hopeedit
Indian conglomerate Mahindra Group said sales of farm equipment are much better than expected as the country’s vast hinterland bounces back from lockdown, despite the coronavirus running rampant.
Tractor sales jumped 69% in August from a year earlier, Mahindra’s head of finance, Anish Shah, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. India’s farm equipment sales have been improving since a barren April, when all sorts of manufacturers across the country were forced to halt production and the top carmakers didn’t report any vehicle sales.
Why India farm reforms have sparked protestsedit
How can Agritechs and FPOs build a bridge between Agribusiness corp and small farmers?edit
The primary and persistent problem of the Food and Agriculture sector in India is the inefficiency caused due to the information asymmetry that exists at various levels. While on the buyer’s end there exists an uncertainty of what quality produce they will be getting for the price being paid; on the farmer’s end, he/she is worried about the price they will be getting for the cultivated crop sold. Both of these insecurities make the entire Agri supply chain to be more worried about supply-demand matching at the lowest price leading to a suboptimal efficiency. The focus should rather be on predictable and quality-based pricing of produce. The question is, how do we get there?
Can augmenting rural sector revive the economy?edit
COVID-19 has created an extraordinary situation where both demand and supply curves have been deeply supressed simultaneously. The economy contracted by 23.9 percent in the quarter ending June. The agriculture sector stood-out as an exception which grew by 3.4 percent during the same period. While agriculture can be at the core of revival, economic growth needs to be propelled by the overall rural economy.
Farmers buying 20,000 tractors a year; experts say encourage cooperativesedit
Ten lakh farmers in Punjab, one-third (33%) or 3.6 lakh small scale agriculturists among them, bought 20,000 new tractors every year, on average since 2016, data available with the Punjab state transport department shows. Small farmers own less than 5 acre. The cost of a tractor starts from ₹6 lakh, going up to ₹12 lakh. The numbers bought were 19,210 in 2016; 20,327 in 2017; 19,700 in 2018 and 13,645 till September 2020.
Villages under vigiledit
WITH the onset of paddy harvesting amid the Covid-19 crisis, the Haryana government has chalked out a plan to check stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution that chokes the national capital region in the winter. Apart from planning to establish more custom hiring centres (CHCs) to provide high-end equipment for crop residue management to farmers, the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has categorised the fields as red, orange and green zones, based on the active fire locations detected by the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) in the last paddy season.
We should not expect overnight miracles in farm sector: Swaminathan Aiyaredit
The whole idea of the new agri law is farmers should be free to sell the grain anywhere they want and that is surely an absolute and fundamental freedom, they should be allowed to, says the Consulting Editor, ET Now.
Farm Legislations Will Snatch Livelihood Of 62 Crore Farmers: Surjewalaedit
Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the central government has passed legislation on agriculture to snatch away the livelihood of 62 crore farmers in the country. “The Modi government has passed the law to snatch the livelihood of farmers on the basis of number force, but how will they implement it? The government has used hooliganism and it has forcibly passed the law and taken away the livelihood of 62 crore farmers,” Surjewala told ANI. “I have tried to show the blind deaf and dumb government a mirror of truth. When Parliament becomes hostage, there is no other option but to raise the voice,” he added. The Congress spokesperson further said that the Modi ...
BJP Broke The Back Of Indian Democracy: Derek O’Brienedit
Soon after Opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “broke the back of Indian democracy”. “Today is a historic day. Opposition MPs broke some microphones in the Rajya Sabha but BJP broke the back of Indian democracy. BJP and the Constitution answer me the following questions–Did opposition MPs get a chance to vote in Parliament on Farm Bills? Did they get a chance to press the division button.. all parties together?” O’Brien told ANI.
Here’s Why Farmers Are Protesting the 3 New Agriculture Ordinancesedit
The Lok Sabha on Thursday, 17 September, passed two contentious agriculture Bills, despite strong opposition, being termed an “anti-farmer” move by BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal, and widespread protests by farmers in various states over the issue.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Akali Dal resigned from the Narendra Modi government, hours ahead of the voting in the lower House on the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 as well as the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
Congress To Hold Nationwide Agitation Against Agricultural Bills, Party Leaders To Meet On September 21edit
Amid the farm bills row, the Congress is planning to hold a nationwide agitation against the Centre accusing it of supporting corporates. A meeting in this regard has been called by the party on September 21. Among those who have been asked to attend the meeting include members of the committee, general secretaries and state in-charges. According to sources, party interim president Sonia Gandhi, who has gone abroad for treatment and is accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi, has issued instructions regarding the meeting.
India hopes digital tech will save its floundering farm sector – but it’s working without evidenceedit
Constitutional guarantee for farmers’ welfare must: Punjab CMedit
Farmers of Punjab, with their toil and sweat, and the men of genius at Punjab Agricultural University did their best to make the country food secure.
Yediyurappa govt to pump Rs 39,300 cr to boost agri sectoredit
To give a strong fillip to agricultural and rural economy, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Wednesday announced that the state government is planning to pump about Rs 39,300 crore in this fiscal year to propel the agriculture related activities.
Speaking after launching ‘Financial Response’ scheme in an event that was organised by the Karnataka Cooperative department here, Yediyurappa said that the proposed grant of Rs 39,300 crore would be disbursed through cooperative institutions, and this will be done with the help of the Central government as well.
India receives 7% higher rainfall; sowing up 5.7% annually: CRISILedit
At a time when Indian economy faces its worst crisis due to coronavirus-led lockdown, “above normal” monsoon is likely to provide some respite to agriculture sector, which contributes nearly 17 per cent of India’s GDP and provides jobs to around 50 per cent of population. A report by CRISIL Research on Wednesday said that monsoon rains were 7 per cent above average this year, so far the best in five years, which led to 5.7 per cent year-on-year jump in sowing of crops.
Tractor makers need to innovate to grow volumes amid uncertainties due to the impact of COVID-19edit
Even though sales of tractors have picked up post the Covid-induced lockdown, manufacturers need to take measures to tide over uncertainties stemming from the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic by selling tractors as a solution both in agri and non-agri sectors, devising rental programmes and shared business usage, participating in the pre-owned tractors market, working on alternate fuel options and autonomous technology, Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Consulting & Solutions has held in its latest report ‘Tractors – Making the Trusted Workhorse Gallop into the Future’.
Environment Minister offers solution for stubble burningedit
Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday said that the government will give farmers a product developed by Pusa Agriculture Institute, which can turn stubble into manure to avoid stubble burning without any expense. The product, in the form of capsules, has to be mixed in water and sprayed on straw to decompose it.
“I met the Director of Pusa Agricultural Institute, who said they have developed a technology that can turn stubble into manure, which can be used on the fields. Today, I am here to see its demonstration. We have also invited some farmers to witness it. The cost of spraying it on the fields will be borne by the Delhi government so that there is ...
Kharif crop expected to be hit as excessive monsoon rain floods fields, sparks pest attacksedit
The above-normal monsoon rainfall has led to a drop in production of soybean and pulses, despite a record increase in acreage of major Kharif crops.
The monsoon rainfall across the country has seen a surplus of 6.6 per cent in a season in which farmers sowed their Kharif crops in 6.3 per cent more area as compared to last year.
The excess rainfall has led to flooding and water-logging in farmland, and has also sparked pest attacks that have damaged crops such as soybean, onion, urad and moong in major production states of central and western India like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.
The Agrarian Crisis in Kashmiredit
Agriculture sector has been the backbone of economy throughout our history and it still is. A cursory look at the data will reveal its importance. Although the sector contributes less than 18 percent of Gross State Domestic Product, it however employs more than 70 percent of our population both directly and indirectly. Moreover, more than 72 percent of our population lives in rural areas and this speaks itself of their interaction with agriculture sector. No doubt that Service sector contributes more than 60 percent of Gross State Domestic Product, however its reliability and sustainability has come under suspicion given the political situation in the valley. For instance during 2008, 2010, 2014 floods, 2016 Burhan crisis, 2019 ...
Onion growers, politicians shed tears over export banedit
While NCP President Sharad Pawar, a former Union Agriculture Minister, rushed to meet Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, farmers in Lasalgaon dumped onions on the roads and blocked the Mumbai-Agra Highway near the town.
The Agrarian Crisis in Kashmiredit
Agriculture has been the backbone of our economy throughout our history and still is. A cursory look at the data will reveal its importance. Although the sector contributes less than 18 percent of Gross State Domestic Product, it employs more than 70 percent of the population directly and indirectly. Moreover, more than 72 percent of our population lives in rural areas and this speaks itself of their association with agriculture.
Top Potato Varieties: Sow these 5 varieties of potatoes, you will get better yieldedit
Farmers start preparing sowing of Rabi Crops in September-October. This time is considered very good for potato sowing. Potatoes are cultivated at different times in different parts of our country. Therefore, while cultivating potatoes, farmers should sow the developed varieties of potatoes according to their region. Today we will tell you about the top 5 disease-resistant varieties of potatoes developed in this article. Which will provide you with good production as well as good income, so let’s know about them in detail …
Kufri KanchanThis variety of potato has been developed for the hills of North Bengal and Sikkim. With this variety, farmers get from 250 to 300 quintals per hectare.
Kufri GirdhariThis variety of potato has been developed for the ...
Maharashtra’s farmers hit out at Centre’s onion export banedit
Onion farmers across Maharashtra protested on Tuesday over the Narendra Modi government’s decision to ban export of the bulb.
Sharp condemnations were issued by major farmer outfits like Raju Shetti’s Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, the All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS), and the Sadabhau Khot-led Rayat Kranti Sanghatana, all of whom ascribed political motives behind the Centre’s move.
In the onion-producing hub of Nashik, protests erupted in Lasalgaon — which houses Asia’s largest onion market — as well as in Manmad, with irate farmers raising slogans against the Central government while demanding an immediate rollback of the export ban.
The Kharif 2020 Crop May Tell Us Whether the Centre’s Agri-Market Reform is Workingedit
In just about two weeks, the Kharif produce will start arriving in the markets.
This will be the first season after the promulgation of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance 2020, which introduced the concept of ‘trade areas’, outside the physical jurisdiction of APMCs.
Transactions in a trade area are exempted from the market fee, levies and other charges applicable in the APMCs.
Punjab and Haryana have been in turmoil since the promulgation of the ordinance as the farmers fear that the entire system of procurement at minimum support price (MSP) may be on the block. October and November 2020 will therefore be a testing ground for state governments, APMCs, corporate buyers of agricultural produce ...
Punjab farmers continue siege of 3 key bridges, block highways against agri ordinancesedit
Hundreds of farmers under the banner of the Kisan Sangharsh Committee continued to block three major bridges on the Beas river in the Majha region for the second consecutive day on Tuesday against the central government’s three agriculture ordinances.
Due to the blockade of the Harike bridge connecting Majha and Malwa, the Beas bridge on the Amritsar-Delhi highway and the Hargobindpur bridge in Gurdaspur, thousands of commuters were hassled. Long lines of stranded trucks and other vehicles was seen on both sides of the bridges.
An economic disaster foretoldedit
According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation of the Government of India on August 31, 2020, real quarterly GDP contracted by a whopping 23.9% between April-June 2019 and April-June 2020. This magnitude of real GDP decline is unprecedented since the country started publishing quarterly GDP estimates in 1996. This is an economic disaster, no doubt. But is a bigger one in the offing?
Agri-ordinance are a step towards privatising the farming industry, MSP will go: Bhagwant Mannedit
Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Bhagwant Mann today slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party for bringing anti-farmer laws like Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
Kharif rice procurement target set at 495 lakh tonnesedit
As India is heading for a record rice acreage during the current kharif season, the government has set a higher rice procurement target of 495.37 lakh tonnes (lt) for the 2020-21 kharif marketing season (KMS), an official statement said here on Monday.
The decision to increase rice procurement target by 19 per cent from the previous marketing season’s 416 lt was taken at a meeting of State food secretaries convened by Secretary, Department of Food & Public Distribution (DFPD), through video conferencing.
Hyderabad: Farmers protest against 3 agriculture bills tabled in Lok Sabhaedit
Several farmer unions in Hyderabad held agitations at several places on Monday against three farm ordinances promulgated by the Centre.
The farmers are demanding a rollback of the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The Centre has tabled these ordinances as bills for debate and passage during the current Monsoon session.
Cheap Chinese Machines For Madhya Pradesh Farmers In Big Scam: Sourcesedit
Substandard Chinese power tiller were given to farmers in Madhya Pradesh under the centre’s farm mechanisation scheme in Madhya Pradesh, according to a report by four-member committee headed by MP Agro managing director Shrikant Banoth. The substandard power tillers were given to farmers between 2017 and 2019 in 11 tribal-dominated districts, sources have said. They also alleged a massive scam in plantation along the banks of the Narmada.
Power tillers are mini-tractors that can till, plough, sow seeds, plant seedlings, spray fertiliser and harvest crops, among other tasks. They were given to farmers under the Krishi Yantrikaran Yojna or farm mechanisation scheme of the centre.
Farmer protests against agri ordinances politically motivated: Shanta Kumaredit
Former Union minister and BJP leader Shanta Kumar on Monday termed the protests by farmers in Punjab and Haryana against the Centre’s three agriculture ordinances as politically motivated.
The veteran leader said the recommendation made by the high-level committee on Food Corporation of India (FCI) restructuring, which he chaired, had made recommendations to bring radical changes in the system that would have revolutionised the farm sector.
“I can say with guarantee that in India there is highest-level of corruption in the FCI,” he said.
Agricultural Revolution?edit
The fall of 23.9 per cent in our first quarter GDP has confirmed the worst fears of naysayers while optimists who believed in a V-shaped recovery and were seeing green shoots all around have gone silent. To be fair, we had our hands full, what with the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of receding and China no intention of backing down. But, clearly, the time has come for the Government to pull out all stops to arrest the downward slide of the economy.
Farmers in Punjab, UP and Telangana protest against Centre’s farm sector ordinancesedit
Farmers in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Telangana on Monday staged protests against the Centre’s agriculture-related ordinances and demanded that they be withdrawn immediately.
They opposed the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, and an amendment in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, which have been tabled as bills for discussion during the Parliament’s Monsoon Session. The ordinances seek to include private players in agriculture and promote hurdle-free sale of produce, but the farmers argue that they will bring about corporate dominance.
Farm Bills: Marginal Farmers will be Further Alienated, Says Yogendra Yadavedit
The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) held a countrywide protest on Monday to press the Centre to scrap three bills pertaining to contract farming, marketing and the stocking of agriculture produce. The demonstrations coincided with the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, where the bills were introduced by the government.
The three bills – The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 – will replace ordinances which came into Standing kharif crops in most UP districts are said to be in dire need of at least one good spell of rain immediately for survival, even as authorities keep their fingers crossed, anxiously waiting for the possible arrival of retreating monsoon in the state in the first week of October. Barring eastern UP, the entire state is badly hit by a deficient monsoon posing a challenge to the kharif crops, primarily the paddy. “It is true that the monsoon has been quite deficient this year, especially in the western zone even as crops that are readying for harvesting urgently need one good spell of rain within a week or two,” said additional agriculture director, Rajesh Gupta.Deficient monsoon hits kharif crops in UP Deficient monsoon hits kharif crops in UPedit
As migrant workers return home to villages, India’s farming sector sees green shootsedit
Wearing a soiled kurta-pyjama, Ajay Kumar was tending to his green fields in a rural village in Uttar Pradesh. The uncertainty of the past few months is gradually making way for hope and happiness. The lands are now green, and with a good monsoon forecast, Kumar was hopeful of a bumper harvest.
“When I had returned to my village in April, we had no hope and were staring at a bleak future,” Kumar said. “So, turning to our ancestral fields seemed the only way forward for us.”
Auto, tractor companies build inventory ahead of Diwaliedit
Automobile and tractor manufacturers are stepping up production as they build inventory ahead of the main festivals, on hope that the momentum in demand seen since last month would pick up further ahead of Diwali.
Companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota Kirloskar are going full steam ahead on building stock. The current inventory with dealers is lower than last year, so they are also ramping up capacity utilisation to have adequate stock during the festival season.
India must stop misusing antibiotics in dairy sector, according to CSE reportedit
Is the milk we consume safe? According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), not really…
In July, the CSE hosted a virtual meeting to discuss the use of antibiotics within the world’s largest milk producer, Indian. Between 2018-19, the country produced a whopping 188 million tonnes.
However, a recent assessment conducted by the CSE has unearthed some “disturbing findings”.
Why giving up on milk is not a good ideaedit
For over a year, I have committed to giving up meat and becoming a vegetarian. Allow me to break down why this wasn’t just a decision taken in a flight of fancy, but one that was carefully measured, evaluated and understood. Right out of the gate, I’d like to establish one fact- I am now a vegetarian- not a vegan, nor following any other fad based diet out there. A vegetarian through and through. For a while there, belonging to a country with the world’s largest population of vegetarians- I didn’t think this would be such a cumbersome concept to understand or even practice. Who among us would disagree that Indian vegetarian cuisine is possibly the ...
Impact of climate change on livestock productionedit
Climate change is one the main hindrances for progress and development of various sectors and has an adverse effect on sustainable development of agriculture-cum-livestock sector-cum-the people whose livelihoods are involved directly or indirectly with it. This obstacle is more pronounced in the developing countries like India where a large section of the population mostly dependent on agriculture-cum-livestock sector.
Punjab, Haryana farmers protest Centre’s ordinances. This is whyedit
Farmers in Punjab, Haryana and certain parts of Uttar Pradesh are up in arms against what they call is the government’s “anti-farmer” move to corporatise agriculture and leave them at the mercy of market forces.
They are protesting against three ordinances introduced by the government for agriculture reforms, saying they will result in the involvement of big corporate houses in marketing and are an attempt by the government to abolish the minimum support price (MSP).
Union Jal Shakti Minister and Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare highlighted Indian Government’s priorities in G-20 Agriculture and Water Ministers’ Meetedit
A virtual meeting of G-20 Agriculture and Water Ministers held today was attended by G-20 Member countries and special invitees. Minister of Jal Shakti Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Minister of State (MoS) for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare Shri Parshottam Rupala attended the meeting. In his opening remarks Shri Shekhawat thanked Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the current Presidency of G-20 and complemented Saudi Arabia for its exemplary leadership during this Covid-19 pandemic for successfully facilitating the dialogue among the member countries through virtual meetings. The Minister stated that technology plays a critical role in the prevailing pandemic situation and applauded India’s IT expertise which India shares with the whole world. He also praised Japan for its ...
TMC to protest BJP’s agri policy on Sept 16, Mamata likely to joinedit
The farmers’ organisation of the Trinamool Congress, Paschimbango Trinamool Kisan O Khetmojur Congress, will organise protests against the Centre’s agricultural policy across the state on September 16. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to take part in the protest.
Planning the protest in a unique way amid the Covid-19 pandemic, agitators will queue up at their agricultural fields while maintaining social distancing and raise slogans against the Centre’s “lack of steps for the welfare of farmers”.
SAD appeals to Centre not to enact laws on farm ordinances till redressal of farmers’ fearsedit
The SAD on Saturday appealed to the BJP-led Centre not to present the three farm ordinances for approval in Parliament until “all reservations” expressed by farmers are “duly addressed.” A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the SAD core committee which was presided over by Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal here.
The core committee felt that it was its responsibility to get the reservations of the ‘annadaata’ (farmers) addressed and asserted that it was committed to taking up all issues raised by farmers with the Union government, said a party release here.
The statement came, amid a widespread criticism by many farmers’ organisations of the three farm ordinances promulgated by the ...
This week in auto: Tractors become first to beat previous year’s sales even as cars, bikes struggleedit
While all eyes are on reviving sentiments impacting the automobile industry, there is one segment that has quietly outperformed. The COVID-19 disruption notwithstanding, tractor volumes for the period January to August have sailed past volumes of the same period last year, thus becoming the first segment to achieve this. More on this later in the story, but before that here is a complete look at what made headlines in the auto space this week.
Farmers protest: Haryana sets up panel to address concerns after facing backlash over police actionedit
The Bharatiya Janata Party and alliance partner Jannayak Janata Party in Haryana have begun negotiations with farmers’ bodies to address their demands after hundreds of them protested Narendra Modi government’s farm ordinances over the last few days, NDTV reported on Saturday.
Three ordinances are the focal point of their protests – The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020. The biggest demand of the farmers is introduction of a law to assure them of a minimum support price. They also fear that an amendment in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, will lead ...
Monsoon boosts top rice exporter India’s prospectsedit
Strong monsoon rains have buoyed top rice exporter India’s prospects amid competitive prices and expectations of a record summer crop, a top trade official told indoasianommodities.com.
Exports of premium basmati rice have notched an 11% growth between April and June. Though data is not yet available for July and August, indications are that the trend has been maintained, according to Vinod Kaul, executive director at All India Rice Exporters Association.
Indian rice exports have strongly recovered since December last year due to highly competitive prices compared to other origins, according to the US Department of Agriculture, adding that there has been a steady stream of export demand.
Odisha announces special package for flood-hit farmersedit
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday announced a special package of Rs. 300 crore for livelihood support for the farmers affected by recent floods.
Incessant rainfall and consequent flood during last week of August in different districts of Odisha had caused damage to the standing crops.
Package for livelihood support
Agriculture Sector: Agriculture input subsidy will be provided to the small and marginal farmers who have sustained crop loss of 33% and above at the rate of Rs. 6,800 per hectare of land in rain-fed/non irrigated areas; Rs. 13,500 per hectare of land in areas under assured irrigation, and Rs. 18,000 per hectare for all types of perennial crops.
Positive elements seen during contractionedit
Each day now begins with the count of lives lost due to the pandemic and the freshly affected in the last 24 hours. Equally disastrous is the contraction in the economy that has happened due to the spread of the virus which prompted governments to resort to prolonged lockdown.
The stringency index coined by Oxford University, measuring the relationship between the intensity of the lockdown and loss of economic activity, has put India in a comfortable position so far as fatality rate is concerned at 1.78 against 3.0 in US, 5.3 in China, 10.1 in France, 3.1 in Brazil and 4.2 in Indonesia. Conversely however, the contraction in GDP in April-June of FY21 in India is (-) ...
Charting India’s pathway to the big leaguesedit
Even before the coronavirus pandemic swept through the country, India was at a crossroads. Its sustained economic expansion, accelerated by pathbreaking reforms in 1991, slowed significantly. Convulsions around religion and citizenship roiled domestic politics under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, the aspirations of international leadership that India has harboured since independence remain unrealised.
For all its recent shortcomings, however, India should not be counted out. At a time when China’s myriad pathologies have left many countries thirsting for an alternative exemplar, India could again become the world’s fastest-growing free market democracy. But it will need a new approach to revive its hopes of joining the league of great powers.
Three ordinances and a protest: Why Haryana and Punjab farmers are angryedit
On Thursday, farmer organisations in Haryana defied prohibitory orders imposed amid the pandemic to hold a rally at the Pipli wholesale grain market near Kurukshetra. They even blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh national highway for a couple of hours, when the police initially did not allow them to move to the venue. Their target was three central laws promulgated through ordinances on June 5: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, and the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020. These protests, preceded by sit-ins across Punjab, are expected to gather steam after September 14, when Parliament convenes for the Monsoon Session.
Modi govt wants to defeat the achievements of Green Revolution: Congressedit
A day after the BJP government in Haryana lathi charged protesting farmers, Congress slammed the Narendra Modi-led Central government in Delhi saying that the Modi government wants to destroy the achievements of the Green Revolution.
Issuing a statement, head of the Congress media cell, Randeep Surjewala said that the Modi government first brought an ordinance to capture the land of the poor and now they want to enslave the farmers.
Mahindra launches new potato planting machineedit
Mahindra has launched a new potato planter under its Farm Equipment Sector (FES). The new advanced Precision Potato Planting machinery, the new ‘PlantingMaster Potato +’ is designed and developed in collaboration with Europe-based partner Dewulf. According to the Indian company, PlantingMaster Potato + has been developed to suit Indian farming conditions, to offer higher yields and enhanced quality.
Agri exports fell by 1.8% in Jun qtredit
Lower exports of livestock and marine products led the decline in India’s agriculture exports in the June quarter of 2020-21, according to an analysis of government data.
Exports of major farm products were recorded at ₹43,894 crore between April and June, a fall of 1.8% from the year-ago period.
The overall decline in value is despite a 70% increase in the export of non-basmati rice and a 61% increase in the export of sugar.
How Indian states are promoting organic, natural farmingedit
Indian states essentially depend on the Union government’s schemes to promote organic and natural farming. Some states also utilise funds from other schemes such as Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture to do the job.
A few states, on the other hand, walked the extra mile and started initiatives of their own.
Chhattisgarh, for example, recently took initiatives to promote rural livelihoods along with organic farming. The new Godhan Nyay scheme was launched by Chhattisgarh government in July 2020. The scheme aims to increase income of farmers and cattle ranchers, promote organic compost, reduce chemical fertiliser usage and improve soil health.
Telangana to promote oil palm cultivation to reduce edible oil importsedit
Keeping in view of the demand for edible oils and increasing imports from abroad, the State government will be focusing on promoting oil palm cultivation on a large scale in the State. India had spent approximately Rs 79,000 crore of its foreign exchange last year to import edible oils from abroad of which over Rs 40,000 crore were spent for importing oil palm alone from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.
Responding to questions raised on oil palm cultivation during the Question Hour in the Assembly on Thursday, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy emphasised the need for crop rotation and cultivation of alternate crops like oil palm to increase yield and also cater to the market demand. He ...
Nabard to disburse Rs 1.2 trillion crop loan for farmers this fiscaledit
In a bid to support agri sector amid COVID-19 crisis, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on Thursday said it aims to disburse Rs 1.20 lakh crore crop loan to farmers for meeting production expenses this fiscal.
Apex agriculture financial institution Nabard annually disbursed Rs 90,000 crore crop loan at a concessional rate.
“It has been enhanced to Rs 1.20 lakh crore this fiscal. Of this, Rs 40,000 crore has already been disbursed,” National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) Chairman G R Chintala said.
An agriculture-led revival as flawed claimedit
A rather confident statement heard in the midst of India’s COVID-19-induced economic slowdown is this: “Agriculture will lead India’s economic revival”. But how valid is this claim put forward by government spokespersons and some observers?
Four major arguments are offered. First, India’s food grain production in 2019-20 was 3.7% higher than in 2018-19. The procurement of rabi wheat in 2020-21 was 12.6% higher than in 2019-20. These indicate, it is argued, resilience in the agricultural sector. Second, food inflation in the Q1 of 2020-21, at 9.2%, was higher than in the previous year due to “sustained demand for food”. This shows a shift of terms of trade in favour of agriculture. Third, the area under kharif sowing in 2020-21 was ...
Indian states step up natural farming adoptionedit
Chemical-free agriculture, popularly known as organic agriculture, has been gaining traction in India for quite some time now. The NITI Aayog prefers calling it ‘natural farming’. Most civil society members and farmers use ‘organic’ and ‘natural’ farming terms interchangeably.
People often use the term natural farming, if most farm inputs used are managed from the farm system or from nearby local ecosystems. Under organic farming, externally purchased farm inputs like bio-fertilisers and vermin-compost are also used on farm.
Organic / natural farming is native to India. The farmers of ancient India were known to have evolved nature-friendly farming systems and practices such as mixed farming, mixed cropping and crop rotation.
Redefining a farmeredit
The agriculture sector saw a slew of immediate and strategic stimuli under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programme after a nationwide lockdown was declared on March 25 this year. The post COVID-19 responses in the sector range from investments in agri-infrastructure, logistics and capacity building to governance and administrative reforms. The direct cash transfer scheme under PM-KISAN and the credit boost through PM Kisan Credit Cards have benefitted farmers both directly and indirectly.
How AP’s pivotal Rythu Bharosa scheme can benefit tenant farmersedit
One of the major issues impacting the country’s agrarian sector and its growth is the perplexing issue of tenancy. Despite land leasing being an informal and restricted practice, it is widely practised leaving tenant farmers susceptible to exploitation by landowners. Bringing some respite to these hitherto neglected farmers, Andhra Pradesh enacted the Crop Cultivator Rights Rules Act (CCRA), 2019 and the pivotal Rythu Bharosa scheme.
New generation of locusts may attack crops in UP after monsoonedit
Experts have warned that a new generation of locust swarms may attack crops in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan after the monsoon retreats even as the toxic insecticides sprayed to kill them might have caused adverse environmental and health consequences.
They have cautioned that a new generation of locust swarms might come out of eggs laid by the desert pests and these could attack the crops after the monsoon.
In India, locusts have a single breeding season that spans between July and October.
While the insect’s life cycle has three distinct stages— egg, hopper and adult.
New agro-processing policy to strengthen Raj rural economy says Gehlotedit
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday said the state’s new policy on agro-processing, business and export promotion will strengthen the rural economy. Interacting with farmers from all 33 districts through video conference, the chief minister asked them to take advantage of grants provided by the state government for setting up food processing units. He took feedback from farmers on the implementation of the the Rajasthan Agro-Processing, Agri-Business and Agri-Export Promotion Policy, 2019 . The chief minister said that the policy will promote agri-process units and generate employment opportunities.
FY21 GDP to contract 11.8%; growth to rebound to 9.9% in FY22: Ind-Raedit
Domestic rating agency India Ratings and Research on Tuesday revised downward the country’s FY21 GDP growth forecast to (-) 11.8 per cent, lowest in Indian history, from an earlier estimate of (-) 5.3 per cent.
The agency, however, expects the economy to grow at 9.9 per cent in FY22 helped mainly by the weak base of FY21. India Rating’s FY21 GDP growth forecast of negative 11.8 per cent will be the lowest GDP growth in the Indian history (GDP data is available from FY-1951) and sixth instance of economic contraction, others being in FY-1958, FY-1966, FY-1967, FY-1973 and FY-1980. The previous lowest was negative 5.2 per cent in FY-1980, the rating agency said in a report.
Explained Ideas: Four reasons why farmers are feeling cheated by the govt’s policiesedit
In his latest opinion piece in The Indian Express, Ajay Vir Jakhar, chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj, has written that “it appears the PM is in the dark about the delivery of his government’s policies, just as the Congress leadership seems clueless about issues on the ground”.
He points out four specific pain points that unmask the gap between policy and impact on the rural economy.
Under PM Kisan, each landowning farmer (landless are excluded) receives Rs 6,000 annually. A farmer growing a combination of paddy and wheat utilises about 50 litres of diesel per acre. Today, each litre of diesel gets taxed at about Rs 45. So a small five-acre farmer could be paying about Rs 6,000 as diesel tax, ...
Farmers are paying more, even under schemes meant for their benefitedit
The rodomontade about heralding a new epoch of prosperity six years ago is gradually evaporating. It appears the PM is in the dark about the delivery of his government’s policies, just as the Congress leadership seems clueless about issues on the ground. Four specific pain points unmask the gap between policy and impact on the rural economy.
Under PM Kisan, each landowning farmer (landless are excluded) receives Rs 6,000 annually. As per a Punjab Agriculture University study, a farmer growing a combination of paddy and wheat utilises about 50 litres of diesel per acre. The diesel usage differs, depending on the crop and practices. Today, each litre of diesel gets taxed at about Rs 45. Even if ...
On a tardy trail: State of organic farming in Indiaedit
Organic farming is in a nascent stage in India. About 2.78 million hectare of farmland was under organic cultivation as of March 2020, which is two per cent of the 140.1 million ha net sown area in the country, according to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
A few states have taken the lead in improving organic farming coverage, as a major part of this area is concentrated only in a handful of states. Madhya Pradesh tops the list with 0.76 million ha of area under organic cultivation — that is over 27 per cent of India’s total organic cultivation area.
The top three states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra — account for about ...
Amul to invest Rs 1500 crore in Setting up Dairy, Edible Oil, Bakery, Potato Processing Plants across Indiaedit
Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (GCMMF), Amul has announced an investment of Rs 1,500 crore over the next two years.
GCMMF managing director RS Sodhi said that the company would spend Rs 1,000 crore over the next two years on setting up milk processing plants. Besides, Rs 500 crore will be spent on new products such as edible oil facilities.
Cow Commission to push for business models for cow dung, urine productsedit
The ‘Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog’ (National Cow Commission), constituted by the Centre last year for conservation, protection and development of cows, will promote the use of multiple products of cow dung/urine as a business model so that more and more livestock farmers can join hands under a cooperative model to protect non-milk producing cattle in a sustainable manner and earn from it.
Farmers launch Jail Bharo Andolan over agricultural ordinancesedit
A large number of farmers, including women, under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KSMC), came forward to give their arrest against three agricultural ordinances, recently promulgated by the Union Government here on Monday.
The agitation was part of the state-wide Jail Bharo Andolan commenced by the committee. Caring two hoots for their safety in the current Covid-19 condition, a large number of farmers took part in the agitation.
Government to align agriculture with changing climate and rainfall patternsedit
The government plans to review crop planting across the country to align agricultural planning with changes in climate and rainfall patterns.
The focus of this exercise is to move towards precision agriculture with optimum water and nutrient use through drip, fertigation, conservation agriculture, mechanization.
“Climate changes are happening across the globe. We need to realign our crop planning as per the changes in climate and monsoon pattern. This will increase our productivity and help select right crop to plant,” said agriculture commisioner S K Malhotra.
Deluge here, drought there: India’s rainfall conundrum continuesedit
The conundrum is back. A fifth of India’s districts were under drought-like conditions by the end of August 2020 even as a large part was negotiating floods; cumulative rainfall for the whole of the country has been 10 per cent above normal, according to data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
If the trend continues in September, monsoon rain for India will top 10 per cent over normal for the first time in 25 years. This will be on the back of a nine-per cent excess in 2019. The last time there was such high excess for two consecutive years was a century ago, according to data from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.
Monsoon this year expected to help Indian economyedit
“Monsoon 2020 should help the Indian economy. We have had a very good monsoon this year which has helped agriculture,” said M. Rajeevan Nair, secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, at a special briefing on the progress of the Indian monsoon. The accumulated rainfall so far this season has notched 107 per cent of the Long Period Average (LPA), which is considered Above Normal. However, with two weeks in September predicted as having lesser rainfall, the Indian Metereological Department (IMD) predicts that overall, this season, the monsoon will be in the “normal” category. A normal monsoon is between 96 and 104 per cent of the LPA.
Growth in agriculture is not remunerative to Indian farmersedit
In recent times, agriculture made headlines for all the wrong reasons: Farmers quitting cultivation; the sector turning into a perennial loss-making enterprise; and the country’s official policy to downsize the dependence on agriculture to reduce overall economic hardship among the poorest of the population.
Agriculture’s fast-declining economic importance reached such an extent that economists suggested India had already turned into a non-agrarian economy and the more people quit farming, the better the fortune of remaining farmers would be.
But two developments in the first half of September seem to be forcing us to revise these perceptions of Indian farming and farmers.
Officials Should Make Arrangements For Procurement Of Kharif Crops: Haryana Deputy Chief Ministeredit
During the meeting, he also said the central government would be requested to grant permission for allowing the procurement of paddy, which is procured for the public distribution system (PDS), from September 25 instead of October 1, according to an official statement here. The state government wants the procurement to be staggered in view of the coronavirus pandemic.
‘Credit goes to my colleagues for making Mahindra brand known in US’: Anand Mahindra on 2020 Leadership award by US non-profitedit
The 2020 USISPF Leadership Awards is given to two business leaders who have displayed leadership and ambition in strengthening the U.S.-India bilateral economic partnership, especially at a time when the global economy is faced with uncertainties and businesses are forced to pivot from their core capabilities.
Monsoon rain 7 pc excess so far, more expected in last two weeks of Septemberedit
The Southwest Monsoon is running 7 per cent in excess, the IMD on Monday said, adding that all regions with the exception of some parts of Northwest India are currently in the green.
Even the Northwest is in the red primarily because of deficit in two subdivisions there, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh and Western Uttar Pradesh, IMD Director General Mritunjaya Mohapatra said speaking on the current status of Southwest Monsoon and future prospects in the remaining of the June-September season.
Reverse migration cheers up agricultural sector in villagesedit
– Reverse migration of labourers and closure of workspaces in urban areas due to the pandemic could have a positive impact on the rural agricultural sector as migrants that returned home and are now involved in farm work. – Ample farming hands aided by a good monsoon has made way for higher sowing of agricultural lands in some states. Official data shows, that kharif crop sowing across India this year is 21 percent more than last year. – Experts predict that the plentiful harvests and a good kharif harvest could support the sagging Indian economy.
Maharashtra approves agro-tourism policy to empower farmersedit
The Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday approved an agro-tourism policy aimed at empowering farmers. A statement from the chief minister’s office said the highlight of the policy would be rural development through tourism, making available market for agriculture produce, encouraging agriculture allied business, providing employment opportunities to women and youth in rural areas.
It would also provide platform to showcase folk art and culture as well as agriculture to tourists and allow them to spend time in a pollution-free environment, the statement informed.
Maharashtra: Rabi crops to be sown on 60 lakh hectares, says Agriculture Ministeredit
In the ensuing Rabi season, crops will be sown on 60 lakh hectares of land, up from the current 52 lakh hectares, due to good monsoon, Agriculture Minister Dadasaheb Bhuse said on Sunday.
At a meeting convened to review the preparedness for the Rabi season, which will commence in October, the minister said: “Monsoon this year has been very satisfactory. We estimate an increase in sowing of Rabi crops from 52 lakh hectares to 60 lakh hectares.”
Banking & Agriculture: Centre’s Two Most Contentious Bills In This 18-day Monsoon Sessionedit
As Parliament prepares for Monsoon session, the Centre plans to introduce 20 bills in the 18-day parliamentary session from September 14 to October 1. Apart from 20 bills, 11 ordinances will also have to be passed during the session as most of them face an expiry date by the winter session. The Centre has allowed a 30-minute question hour with only unstarred questions to be taken while it scrapped private members’ business due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) constraints.
Indian agri-tech sector can grow to $24.1 billion in five years: Reportedit
India’s agriculture technology sector has the potential to grow manifold to $24.1 billion in the next five years, according to a new report.
With a turnover of $204 million, India’s agri-tech sector is at under 1% of its market potential today. A big chunk of the gains will likely be made by companies addressing supply chain and financial services solutions, driven by the availability of affordable high-speed internet and maturing of India’s digital content ecosystem, the EY report on India’s agri-tech potential said.
The report has also forecast consolidation in the agri-tech space along with startups expanding horizontally to service the end-to-end needs of farmers within the next few years.
Riding on non-Basmati rice, sugar, agri exports jump 23% in Q1 despite lockdownedit
Despite Covid-19 and the lockdown, India saw a 23% increase in export of farm produce from April to June compared to the corresponding period last year, with rice and sugar dominating the charts. Though Basmati rice tops the list of exported farm items in terms of value (Rs 8,591 crore) — accounting for a third of India’s agri export in the first quarter of 2020-21, it’s an export of non-Basmati rice that contributed the highest rise of Rs 2,392 crore. Overall, India recorded an increase of Rs 4,818 crore of agri export compared to 2019 Q1.
Sowing seeds of learningedit
AGRICULTURE experts and farmers in Punjab have given a thumbs up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent statement underlining the need for imparting lessons in farming to schoolchildren. The PM was referring to the reforms under the National Education Policy (NEP-2020) for introducing agriculture as a subject at the middle school level.
Vice Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, Prof Baldev Singh Dhillon, says, “Integrating agriculture with school education is very important. Agriculture is directly associated with the lives of more than 70 per cent of our country’s population. Schoolchildren need to be educated about agriculture and associated fields like agri-entrepreneurship and agro-processing, which are new areas of study.”
Amul to invest Rs 1,500 cr in 2 yrs to set up dairy, edible oil, bakery, potato processing plantsedit
GCMMF, which markets dairy products under the Amul brand, will invest around Rs 1,000 crore over the next two years to set up milk processing plants, and another Rs 500 crore on facilities for new products like edible oil, its MD R S Sodhi said.
In an interview with PTI, Sodhi said the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd (GCMMF) expects 12-15 per cent growth in revenue in current fiscal year from Rs 38,550 crore during the last fiscal year despite COVID-19 pandemic, as demand for branded food products has increased.
“We will invest around Rs 1,000 crore in the next two years on setting up dairy plants across various states,” Sodhi told PTI.
How reforms swept past 250 million Indians, left their lives untouchededit
The Federal – Online
As part of our series on three decades of reforms, we look at how 250 million Indians slumped deeper into poverty in spite of a booming economy, and continued to grapple with starvation, lack of basic amenities, and early deaths.
Mahindra & Mahindra wants to supply the world’s best technology to Indian farmers at low cost: Hemant Sikka, President, Farm Equipment Sectoredit
Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) Ltd., talks about the tractor sales number of August, demand, capacity utilisation, CapEx and product pipeline among others during an interview with Swati Khandelwal, Zee Business. Edited Excerpts:
Q: Your domestic sales of tractors rose by 70% to 23,503 units in August 2020, which is your highest ever August sales. How will you summarize it? Do you think that this is a pent-up demand or robustness will be seen and consistent performance will be seen?
A: We had very good sales in August and our tractor business grew by 70% in the month. This August has been the best-ever August till date, even the previous month of July ...
Punjab’s Agriculture Sector Can’t Rest on its Past Gloryedit
If Punjab’s agriculture sector is to succeed, it has to think beyond short-term crises such as the current pandemic-induced one.
For instance, the Expert Group headed by Montek Singh Ahluwalia has made important recommendations about seeds, agricultural research, livestock, dairy and food processing.
It has been noted that Punjab has been successful in producing large quantities of potato seeds. However, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have emerged as major producers and processors of other seeds. For production of vegetable seeds like radish, cauliflower, turnip, capsicum, brinjal etc. a temperate climate is more suitable. Therefore, the hilly states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are most appropriate for production of these seeds.
Sonalika Records Highest Ever Domestic Growth of 80% in August-20, Sells 10,206 Tractorsedit
India’s one of the leading tractor manufacturer and No.1 Exports brand from the country, Sonalika Tractor beats its last month record & registering Highest Ever domestic growth of 80% in Aug-20 with 8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 sales same period last year. It continues its growth trajectory by surpassing estimated industry growth of 73% in August-20. Overall sales (domestic + exports) stood at 10,206 tractors in August-20 as compared to 6,412 tractors same period last year.
A bumper kharif harvest, recovery in global food prices may bring cheers to farmersedit
With India reporting a record high kharif sowing which may also lead to a bumper kharif harvest this season and with a recovery in global food prices, Indian farmers are expected to ride high. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index has only gone upward in the last three months and annual food inflation based on the global index has also rebounded from negative territory in August, The Indian Express reported, bearing good news for Indian farmers who will be sitting on a good harvest thanks to timely monsoon rainfall and center’s push to agricultural sector in the first four months of the ongoing financial year.
No impact of coronavirus on kharif season: Summer crops sowing touches record highedit
Kharif crops sown over record 1095.38 hectares; spur hopes for bumper harvestedit
On the back of favourable rains, farmers across the country have achieved a record acreage of Kharif crops despite the Covid-19 pandemic, raising hopes of a bumper harvest. The total acreage achieved for the ongoing Kharif season is 1095.38 lakh hectares, 6.32% higher than that achieved for the corresponding period of the previous year. Farmers have taken to cultivating oilseeds enthusiastically with acreage touching 194.75 lakh hectares, nearly 12% more than the previous year’s 174 lakh hectares.
On the rise again: Onion prices threaten to skyrocketedit
Come October-November, onion prices may skyrocket, like they did last year and around the same time in many of the previous years, exposing the absence of a policy paradigm to ensure price stability of India’s staple vegetable, despite it being a political hot potato.
Already, wholesale onion prices have nearly doubled within a span of 10 days at Lasalgaon, the country’s largest wholesale market for the bulb. Retail prices have touched `50 per kg in Mumbai and Pune, and even `70 per kg in Delhi. Yet ironically, farmers are complaining as large-scale crop damage has dented their profitability.
BJP government’s anti-farmer policy has ruined farmers, agriculture and villages: Paresh Dhananiedit
Pranab Patel, Gandhinagar: Regarding the damage caused by disproportionate rains, Leader of Opposition in Gujarat Assembly Paresh Dhanani today visited Tinmas of Vanthali taluka of Junagadh district, Bamanasa of Keshod taluka, Sarod, Akhodar, Balagam, Osa Ghed of Mangrol taluka and Gadu farmers of Malia Hati taluka and Gadu villages. The farmers were saddened by the information.
Due to monsoon rains, 23.21% water in 30 dams in the district, irrigation of Rabi crops is also difficultedit
This time due to the monsoon’s indifference in the district, where the production of kharif crop will be affected. It can also be difficult to release enough water from the canals for the Rabi crop. Three months have passed for the monsoon session in the district. But so far, 23.21 percent water has come in 30 dams of irrigation department. In such a situation, sweat can be released in the months of October and November. In the month of September, there is very little rainfall.
Yogi to create game-changing body for farmersedit
The new body will assist enterprising farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in investing in projects for post-harvest infrastructure management and community farming assets with the help of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) that the Centre had announced in August.
The body will be for farmers what Udyog Bandhu is for the industrial entrepreneurs.
According to official sources, the new body will be headed by an official who will be designated as the chief executive officer (CEO), and will be assisted by officials drawn from other departments such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairy development on deputation.
Agriculture can’t rescue Indian economy, it can only be a safety netedit
India’s agriculture sector isn’t the bright spot in the economy that many think it may be.
While farming was the only industry to post positive growth in the June quarter’s gross domestic product data, the rapid spread of the coronavirus in rural areas and declining prices are set to weigh on the outlook.
The optimism about the sector has been fueled by timely rains, a good monsoon and an increase in the crop area.
View: Empowering the Indian farmeredit
The agricultural sector in India is intricately linked to the country’s overall economic health. Not only is agriculture the primary source of livelihood for 58 per cent of India’s population, the sector contributed 16.5 per cent to India’s Gross Value Added (GVA). Over the last few months, movement restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and labour shortages have impacted crop harvesting to a great extent. Despite traditionally being an agrarian economy, agriculture in India has been plagued by environmentally stimulated problems around low yield and crop failure.
Uttar Pradesh to create Udyog Bandhu-like body for farmersedit
Uttar Pradesh (UP) is all set to create a dedicated body, on the lines of Udyog Bandhu, to assist enterprising farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in investing in projects for post-harvest infrastructure management and community farming assets with the help of the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) that the Centre had announced in August, sources revealed.
The UP cabinet is likely to clear the FPOs policy, 2020 soon in the wake of the Central government’s decision to form 10,000 such units in the country by 2023-24.
The Central government plans to make Rs 1 lakh crore AIF available to banks that will finance these projects.
South India to witness extreme rainfall by end of this century: IIT studyedit
The pattern of monsoon in India could undergo a major shift by the end of this century with southern India likely to register the maximum increase in extreme rainfall compared to states in central and north India, researchers from the Indian Institute of Kharagpur in West Bengal have said.
The scientists have also projected that extreme rainfall may increase in the Arabian Sea and south-Asian countries, including Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia.
Sonalika Tractors on a roll in August, sells 8,205 units to clock 80% growthedit
Sonalika Tractors has also done well in August and registered its highest-ever domestic growth of 80 percent with sale of 8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 units in August 2019. Overall sales (domestic and exports) stood at 10,206 tractors in August 2020 as compared to 6,412 tractors a year ago.
Speaking on the performance, Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, said, “The demand for tractors is on upsurge and I am happy that we are able to meet the growing demand.In August 2020,we have recorded highest ever domestic growth of 80% with overall sales at 10,206 tractors, making it the fourth consecutive month for us to have achieved a new record high and beating estimated industry growth of 73%. Our ...
COVID-19 effect: Sugar crop harvest faces potential delays, supply issuesedit
India is facing potential delays in the harvest of its massive sugarcane crop, threatening supply worldwide, as millions of migrant workers needed for the harvest may be scared to travel as coronavirus infections surge throughout the country. India’s sugar harvest begins in October, when other major producers are winding down. The country’s industry is not mechanized, however, relying on migrant workers to travel throughout the nation to cut cane. But with 3.7 million coronavirus infections, the third highest worldwide, there are fears that the harvest could act as a vector for further infections in India.
Another milestone for farm sector: Now, Kharif acreage at lifetime high; bumper harvest likelyedit
With a favourable monsoon this year, the agriculture sector has drawn the silver linings on the dark clouds of India’s severe economic stress. After a bumper rabi harvest, the acreage of the Kharif crops has skyrocketed to a lifetime high in the current year. The area sown for Kharif crops surged 7.2 per cent in only a year to 108.2 million hectares by 28 August 2020, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy. The area sown this Kharif season is higher by almost two million hectares, compared to the normal acreage for the Kharif season, which is 106.6 million hectares. On top of it, the sown area is likely to rise further by 2.5 to 3.5 ...
India’s sugar crop harvest faces delays with Covid-19 raging throughout nationedit
India is facing potential delays in the harvest of its massive sugarcane crop, threatening supply worldwide, as millions of migrant workers needed for the harvest may be scared to travel as coronavirus infections surge throughout the country.
India’s sugar harvest begins in October, when other major producers are winding down. The country’s industry is not mechanized, however, relying on migrant workers to travel throughout the nation to cut cane. But with 3.7 million coronavirus infect, the third highest worldwide, there are fears that the harvest could act as a vector for further infections in India
Will consistently export farm products without any disruption, India assures UN FAOedit
India has assured the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) it will consistently export farm products without any disruption to ensure steady global supply during Covid-19 pandemic.
India’s agricultural export rose by 23.24% to Rs 25,553 crore during in March-June this year, while many countries suffered a disruption in output and supply.
New Telangana milestone: Mega crop acreageedit
Telangana reached yet another milestone this Kharif season by raising crops in a whopping 1.36 crore acres, which is the highest in the country, percentage-wise. That it seems to be slowly turning into the rice bowl of India is borne out by the quantum of the staple the Food Corporation of India sourced from the state during the last Rabi season—as much as half of the total procurement across the country.
Neglected Indian Farmers Drove Agriculture To 3.4% Growth While GDP Shrunk By 24% During COVIDedit
The Indian economy contracted by 23.9 per cent in the April to June quarter (Q1 FY 21), marking the first contraction in more than 40 years as COVID-19 pandemic compressed consumer demand and private investments, government data showed.
Trade, hotels, transport and communication saw a dip of 47 per cent while manufacturing shrank by 39.3 per cent. The construction sector took a hit of 50.3 per cent as mining output struggled at 23.3 per cent, and electricity and gas dipped by 7 per cent mostly due to the lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Amid grim economic scenario, agriculture emerges as ray of hopeedit
Amid a very grim economic scenario in the country, the agriculture sector has emerged as a ray of hope primarily due to positive climatic conditions, the ground situation and some timely action by the government.
According to the figures released yesterday, all GDP segments witnessed major contraction in the April-June quarter of 2020 barring agriculture which managed to register a growth of 3.4% because of nature and early opening up of the sector to facilitate procurement and sowing in the Covid lockdown.
Agri saves day for economy, remains only sector to expand in Q1; hopes for Q2 come with a caveatedit
While India’s manufacturing and services sectors saw a major contraction, the agriculture sector recorded a growth of 3.4 per cent in the fiscal first quarter. The farm sector is the only sector that remained almost unaffected during the pandemic, and supported the overall economy by providing a sufficient amount of food. The optimism emerging from the agri sector in the first quarter also gives high hopes of healthy farm production in the upcoming quarters, on the back of a favourable monsoon. The rainfall is likely to be normal in the second half of the four-month monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said earlier.
Rice to go online: Punjab procures 170 lakh paddy for the sameedit
The state cabinet of Punjab sanctioned the new policy, aiming to guarantee seamless milling of paddy and delivery of rice into the central pool from more than 4,150 mills operating in the state of Punjab.
Punjab has projected to procure 170 lakh mts of paddy and the state is all set to go online with rice delivery operations, including feasible allotment, timely registration and physical verification of rice mills through videos, as part of the new milling policy for kharif 2020-21.
Rajasthan to ramp up farm produce exportsedit
The Rajasthan government is examining the scope for increasing the export of agricultural commodities after strengthening agro-processing units amid the limited opportunities available during the COVID-19 pandemic. The State Agricultural Marketing Board will help the farmers in the export of cumin, oilseeds and isabgol.
Sonalika records highest ever domestic growth of 80 percent in August-20, sells 10,206 tractorsedit
India’s one of the leading tractor manufacturer and No.1 Exports brand from the country, Sonalika Tractor beats its last month record & registering Highest Ever domestic growth of 80 per cent in Aug-20 with 8,205 tractors as compared to 4,560 sales same period last year. It continues its growth trajectory by surpassing estimated industry growth of 73 per cent in August-20. Overall sales (domestic plus exports) stood at 10,206 tractors in August-20 as compared to 6,412 tractors same period last year.
Micro-irrigation: The way ahead for sustainable agricultureedit
India is facing the twin challenge of water scarcity and population explosion. The ongoing water crisis has affected nearly 600 million people and is expected to only worsen: The country’s population is touted to increase to 1.6 billion by 2050.
The agriculture sector is the largest consumer of water in India. It accounts for approximately 90 per cent of 761,000 billion litres of annual freshwater withdrawals in the country. Per capita consumption of water in agriculture sector ranges from 4,913 to 5,800 kilolitre per capita per year.
How water extraction for food security turned into exploitationedit
Exploitation of groundwater is leading to depletion of resources that will jeopardise future generations, increasing ecological costs and causing salinisation of aquifers due to seawater intrusion. To address this, many have argued in support of pro-rata electricity pricing or replacing free electricity supplied to farmers with direct benefit transfer for sustainable agriculture and groundwater use.
The argument squarely puts the blame on the tiller when in reality demand for food grains, policies and governments have led to this situation. It disregards the fact that withdrawal of free electricity not only corners farmers it may also not be a long-term solution that is required to replenish groundwater resources. In this context, it is important to capture the ...
Agri saves day for economy, remains only sector to expand in Q1; hopes for Q2 come with a caveatedit
While India’s manufacturing and services sectors saw a major contraction, the agriculture sector recorded a growth of 3.4 per cent in the fiscal first quarter. The farm sector is the only sector that remained almost unaffected during the pandemic, and supported the overall economy by providing a sufficient amount of food. The optimism emerging from the agri sector in the first quarter also gives high hopes of healthy farm production in the upcoming quarters, on the back of a favourable monsoon. The rainfall is likely to be normal in the second half of the four-month monsoon season, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said earlier.
M&M auto sales in August decline 16% but tractor sales jump 65%edit
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) on Tuesday reported a 16 percent year on year fall in automotive sales to 30,426 vehicles in August 2020 compared to 36,085 vehicles during August 2019.
In the same period, total domestic sales declined 13 percent to 29,257 units from 33,564 units while total exports plunged 94 percent to 307 units from 5,373 units.
In the Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs, Cars, and Vans), Mahindra sold 13,651 vehicles in August 2020, compared to 13,507 vehicles in August 2019, registering a marginal growth of a percent.
Tractor industry should be used as digital tools to help farmersedit
Bountiful rains and the news of tractor sales shooting up by 38.5 per cent in July have triggered quite a buzz in the market. It is being claimed that agriculture will be the saviour of the economy this year. There is no doubt that while most of the other sectors are likely to see negative growth, agriculture will deliver a reasonably healthy positive growth. With water storage in reservoirs in good shape, not only is the kharif harvest likely to be good, there is also hope for a robust rabi crop.
All eyes on agriculture: August rainfalls hit 4-decade high; Kharif crop sowing tops last year markedit
India has recorded August rainfalls at four decade high this year with the monsoon season remaining robust in 2020 despite occasional hiccups a few weeks before. “Monsoon rains continued a strong run, with rainfall in August now the strongest it has been in 44 years, according to IMD,” a report by Barclays said on Monday. The Kharif crop sowing has also crossed the average area sown mark and has also surpassed last year’s area sown. Crop sowing remains robust, and 100% of the total area normally sown has been covered to date. As of 21st August, the area sown was reported at nearly 106 million hectares which is significantly ahead of around 97.9 million hectares sown last ...
India emerges as key player in global organic marketingedit
In our series on Atmanirbhar Bharat today, we bring you a special story on Organic farming.
India has emerged as a key player in global organic marketing. Agriculture Ministry has said that India ranks first in number of organic farmers and ninth in terms of area under organic farming.
Sikkim became the first state to become fully organic and other states including Tripura and Uttarakhand have set similar targets.
North East India has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than rest of the country
Rural India: A case for cautious optimism and nuanced policy mixedit
One of the major reasons EMs are forecasted to register less negative growth in 2020, vs. AEs, is the higher share of agricultural output. In India, there is optimism around agriculture, and thus rural, being the brighter spot in a contractionary growth year. The RBI Governor, in the recently released MPC meeting minutes noted rural indicators have shown a sharp revival which, if sustained, can provide support to demand going forward. In this note, we look at the current situation and the structural nuances of rural India to gauge the legitimacy of this optimism and the need for a nuanced policy approach.
India GDP Q1 data: Farm activity shows promise. Can it engineer a rebound?edit
The farm sector, which contributes around 17 percent to India’s GDP, has helped in arresting a much deeper fall in economic growth.
According to the data released by the Central Statistics Office on August 31, the agriculture sector, aided by good rains, grew 3.4 percent in the first quarter of 2020-21 against 3 percent during the same period last year.
The first quarter agricultural GDP includes production from the rabi season, which ends with harvesting in April-June. The Agriculture Ministry has pegged the output of wheat, chana and other rabi food grains 5.6 percent higher than last year.
Escorts surges 5% as tractor sales grow 80% YoY in Augustedit
Shares of Escorts gained 5 per cent to Rs 1,143 on the BSE on Tuesday after the company reported a strong 80.1 per cent year-on-year (YoY) jump in tractor sales in the month of August, 2020.
The company’s Agri Machinery Segment (EAM) sold 7,268 tractors, its highest-ever August sales. It had sold 4,035 tractors in August 2019. On month-on-month (MoM) basis, the volume was up 36.6 per cent, Escorts said in a statement.
COVID-19 Lockdown: Reverse Migration Cheers up Rural Agricultural Sectoredit
Wearing a soiled kurta-pyjama, Ajay Kumar was tending to his green fields in a rural village in Uttar Pradesh. The uncertainty of the past few months is gradually making way for hope and happiness. The lands are now green, and with a good monsoon forecast, Kumar was hopeful of a bumper harvest. “When I had returned to my village in April, we had no hope and were staring at a bleak future. So, turning to our ancestral fields seemed the only way forward for us. Two months on, we have made good progress and with good monsoon, I am looking forward to a bumper crop and good income,” Kumar said in Hindi.
Before returning to his village in ...
Competition
CNH INDUSTRIAL INDIA EXPORTS 100 TRACTORS TO BANGLADESHedit
CNH Industrial India has emerged as the first company in India to export 100 agricultural tractors to Bangladesh in an inaugural run of a freight train from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dadri, India. The 25-wagon freight train carrying the tractors was seen off by Mr. Vikas Kikan, Business Head, SAARC (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka).
Team CNH Industrial at the inaugural run of the freight train from the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dadri
Hailing this as a major achievement for Indian Railways and the entire country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal made a statement stating that, for the first time in the history of Indian Railways, 100 tractors have been exported to ...
Coverage
CLAAS launches a new series of straw balers in Indiaedit
In order to provide solution for crop stubble burning which causes massive pollution on the skies of north Indian states after Kharif crop harvest, CLAAS India, a 100 percent subsidiary of German agri-machinery conglomerate CLAAS KGaA, recently announced the virtual launch of its new range of straw balers, highlighting CLAAS’ contribution to the cause of crop residue management and effort taken to adapt to the new normal. During this first of a kind virtual agri-machinery launch, CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers – MARKANT 650 high-pressure square baler and globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler.
CLAAS India virtually launches a new series of Straw Balersedit
CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers- MARKANT 650 high- pressure square baler & globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler in India.
In a landmark development, CLAAS India, a 100% subsidiary of German Agri-machinery conglomerate CLAAS KGaA, recently announced the virtual launch of its new range of straw balers, highlighting CLAAS’ contribution to the cause of crop residue management & effort taken to adapt to the new normal. During this first of a kind virtual Agri-machinery launch, CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers- MARKANT 650 high-pressure square baler & globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler.
CLAAS India virtually launches a new series of Straw Balersedit
In a landmark development, CLAAS India, a 100% subsidiary of German Agri-machinery conglomerate CLAAS KGaA, recently announced the virtual launch of its new range of straw balers, highlighting CLAAS’ contribution to the cause of crop residue management & effort taken to adapt to the new normal. During this first of a kind virtual Agri-machinery launch, CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers- MARKANT 650 high-pressure square baler & globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler.
Equipped with extended draw bar & dual drive shaft, MARKANT 650 has a wide straw pick-up span of 1.85m with pick-up height adjustment via control cable from the tractor cab (hydraulic optional). To prevent damage, it comes fitted with slip clutch ...
CLAAS India virtually launches a new series of straw balersedit
In a landmark development, CLAAS India, a 100 percent subsidiary of German agri-machinery conglomerate CLAAS KGaA, recently announced the virtual launch of its new range of straw balers, highlighting CLAAS’ contribution to the cause of crop residue management and effort taken to adapt to the new normal. During this first of a kind virtual agri-machinery launch, CLAAS introduced two of its most advanced straw balers – MARKANT 650 high-pressure square baler and globally renowned ROLLANT 520RF round baler.
Dairy Farming
Here’s what key voices from the world of business and marketsedit
In a vast country like India, there are huge differences across the states and even within the states where marketing infrastructure is concerned. So it is true that for some states in which the agriculture infrastructure is weak, this bill may help the farmers because then we may see more investments in the supply chain, more warehouses will be set up, more packing houses maybe set up, etc.
However, in certain states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh where the marketing system is very well developed and the state governments have invested a huge amount of money over the last 40-50 years, the farmers feel that it is a step towards dismantling the minimum support price (MSP) regime.
...Farmers, agri varsity gave their best to make country food secure: Punjab CMedit
“Farmers of the state, with their toil and sweat, and men of genius at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) here did their best to make the country food secure. Their outstanding contributions during the past 55 years (since the Green Revolution) remain unsurpassed. But the small state that feeds the nation has not been treated well. The ongoing river disputes and the two farm bills passed in the Lok Sabha are going to hit Punjab and Haryana the maximum,” said Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, Punjab, while inaugurating the two-day virtual Kisan Mela at the PAU
Banas Dairy’s first bio-CNG outlet openededit
Palanpur-based Banas Dairy opened its first bio-CNG refuelling outlet last week, after it began generating bio-CNG from dung. The dairy has begun selling this CNG at Rs 50 a kg, lower than the prevailing market rate for the fuel. Banas Dairy senior general manager Viren Doshi said the dairy collects over 40 tonnes of dung everyday from around 250 farms in 12 villages. Farmers are paid one rupee for every kilo of dung and the system of payment is the same as that for milk – money is credited into their accounts every fortnight.
Technology in Agriculture
Kurien’s Amul model for contract farmingedit
The Tribune – Online
In Amul’s case, middlemen were effectively replaced by dairy producers through farmers’ cooperatives. These cooperatives were layered up to the state level, where today the huge dairy infrastructure is totally owned by the state and district-level cooperatives, with dairy producers owning them via membership. The corporates do not, in any way, own the huge Gujarat dairy federation.
Khet to Kirana could be the Future of Agritech for Farmers & Consumersedit
The middle-class is driving the consumption and there is a growing concern of food hygiene, nutrition, and sustainability so, it will increase the awareness about labels and food hygiene, according to the recent report by Omnivore: Vision 2030.
Over 90 percent of Kirana stores across the country will be digitized by 2025 and be linked to modern traceable logistics which will further benefit the transparency of the supply chain between the farmer and consumer.
Smart Agriculture Can Make You Rich: Know How?edit
Meet Pramod Gautam, a car engineer who shifted to farming in 2006, and now earns a yearly turnover of a crore, subsequent to actualizing a fundamentally extraordinary strategy for development.
In 2006, in the wake of feeling unsatisfied in his activity as an automobile engineer, Pramod abandoned engineering and chose to offer to cultivate a sincere chance on his 26-acre of ancestral land.
Agribazaar plans to scale up agriculture input business, to sell farm equipment from Decemberedit
Founded in 2016, Agribazaar, which delivers technology-enabled solutions to over 2 lakh farmers now by helping them get better prices, has since the past month has hired 200 of the 350 planned hiring this year, even amid the lockdowns and massive retrenchments in almost all sectors of the economy.
Why farm reform will fail without techedit
Kamlakant is a smallholder farmer in Daulatiyapur village of Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh. He is an enthusiastic vegetable cultivator and every season, he searches for answers to three basic questions—what crop to sow, how to grow it, and where to sell it.
The nearest Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) is 50km away, and he is thus unable to travel that distance to access information. He is dependent on a local farm consultant who visits his farm every week and charges ₹100 per visit. Ever since covid hit, the consultant has stopped visiting. He began to rely on WhatsApp to seek advice throughout the lockdown, harvesting 6 tonnes of brinjal and 9 tonnes of cauliflower on one acre, ...
‘Technology intervention must for farm development’edit
The rising scarcity of farm workers makes it evident that farmers have to go in for technology intervention in farming, according to Somashekara Bhat, Associate Director, Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT) of Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Delivering the presidential address at the inauguration of an online workshop on ‘Design of knowledge-based systems using AI and machine learning models in the context of agricultural and food products’, he said that the focus on agriculture sector has slightly reduced in the recent years. Unless the country takes care of this aspect, it may go further down.
India hopes digital tech will save its floundering farm sector – but it’s working without evidenceedit
Telangana prepares for major shift to farm mechanizationedit
Agriculture Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy said that sowing in 1,40,50,000 acres of land in Telangana State had been completed as on Wednesday under the current “Vaanakalam” season. He said that cultivation at this level will certainly require farm mechanisation and the State was preparing a major shift in this field by adopting available technologies in the world and adopting them in a suitable way by encouraging innovations.
Speaking on farm mechanisation scheme in drip irrigation in State Legislative Council, he said that the scheme was discontinued due to lack of budgetary support due to Covid. He said that the scheme will be revived during the next financial year. “We have also dropped a visit to Israel that ...
Pawan Goenka’s 5 provocative questions to the Indian auto industryedit
The Economic Times – Online
The industry stalwart was speaking at the 60th ACMA annual convention where he raised five provocative and pertinent questions to the Indian auto industry that have to be addressed to position it globally. India needs to build a narrative for components export like technology for Germany, quality for Japan, value for money for Korea, and scale and cost for China.
Nurturing nature: Permaculture farming finds an increasing number of takers in the countryedit
The Financial Express – Online
Permaculture farming, a self-sufficient and sustainable practice where nature does most of the work, is finding an increasing number of takers in the country today. The aim is to grow and harvest one’s own food, as well as create a piece of nature for future generations.
Govt. Policies
The new farm reforms: Content and controversyedit
The passing of farm bills in both the houses of Parliament has led to a major controversy in the country. The government claims that it is a historic step taken in the interest of farmers, giving them freedom to sell their produce anywhere and to whomsoever they want in the country. But the opposition parties say it is a ‘black day’ as it will destroy the existing system of minimum support price (MSP) and APMC markets, and leave the farmers at the mercy of big corporations.
Farm reform laws open the market. Now, a regulator is needededit
At the outset, the three farm Bills brought in by the Narendra Modi government seem to create a level-playing field in the farm sector. They empower the farmer to sell their produce anywhere and to anyone who offers them the best price. There is no need for the farmer to pay mandi tax, if the mandis are not providing any additional services.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 lays down the nomenclature to usher in contract farming in India. Companies engaging farmers in contract farming and providing crop advisory, input and assured buyback, may turn out to be a boon for the farmers. Of course, the government can always have a strong oversight on the way the companies engage with farmers and can anytime blacklist those that violate the prescribed ...
What do the agricultural reforms mean for the farmers in India?edit
Agriculture is an essential part of Indian economy in terms of income and livelihood. Its share in GDP is 16% and 44% in jobs. Thus understanding the recent agricultural reforms becomes critical. The broad goal of these is to free farmers from restrictions on sale of their produce. This allows private capital to come in by allowing farmers to enter into deals with large buyers such as exporters and retailers.
For this several amendments have been made. The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020: removes cereals, pulses, oilseeds, edible oil, onion and potato from essential commodity list; does away with the limit of stock imposition except under exceptional circumstances; basically it aims to give the freedom to agribusinesses to ...
Farm Bills Crucial, Will Bring “Revolutionary Changes”, Says Agriculture Ministeredit
NDTV – Online
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the PM Narendra Modi-led government has provided freedom to farmers through the Farm Bills.
Top-Down Decision Making Will Not Help Improve Farmers’ Incomesedit
The Wire – Online
The decentralised phenomenon attached to small savings and small farmers needs to be seen as a strategic advantage and not a drawback.
Article 370, CAA, Farm Bills: In Second Term, Modi Sarkar Is Using The Full Power Of Parliament To Push Reformsedit
Swarajya – Online
Yesterday, the monsoon session of the Parliament came to a close and both the Houses were adjourned sine die, eight days before the schedule because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Farm Bills offer revolutionary changes,says agriculture expertedit
The Financial Express – Online
The farm sector Bills offer “revolutionary” changes benefiting the farmers and help break the network of middlemen, money-lenders and market operators, an agriculture expert said on Wednesday. Former Director of the Institute for Social and Economic Change, Prof.R S Deshpande said the farmer would now be able to sell produce across the country in any market of his or her choice at the price negotiated with the purchaser.
Farm Bills reveal an inexplicable insensitivity and ingratitude towards farmersedit
The Indian Express – Online
The SAD has a history of making sacrifices in defence of the toiling and beleaguered farmers. It has a legacy to live up to. In the interest of our country, we still hope that the government would agree to withdraw these bills and reintroduce them in amended form.
Opposition leaders likely to meet President Kovind in Rashtrapati Bhavan at 5 pm to discuss farm Bills issueedit
The President of India will on Wednesday evening meet a few select leaders from the Opposition to discuss the Center’s newly-introduced agriculture reform Bills after the legislations sparked massive uproar across the country.
However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, only five opposition leaders have been permitted to meet President Ram Nath Kovind at 5 pm today sources quoted the Rashtrapati Bhavan as saying.
Explained: The 3 Farmers Bills And The Controversies Surrounding Themedit
A high voltage drama took place in the Rajya Sabha during the passage of the first two bills, with the opposition crying foul over Deputy Chairman proceeding to clear the bill via voice voting, turning down their demand for divisions on vote.
How to Apply for PM Kisan Tractor Yojana 2020?edit
PM Kisan tractor scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with an aim to make tractors available for farmers all across the country. As the cost of tractor is quite high many farmers are not able to buy it for agriculture purposes. Through this scheme, the government offers 20% to 50% subsidy to farmers for purchasing new tractors.
Why India farm reforms have sparked protestsedit
Can augmenting rural sector revive the economy?edit
COVID-19 has created an extraordinary situation where both demand and supply curves have been deeply supressed simultaneously. The economy contracted by 23.9 percent in the quarter ending June. The agriculture sector stood-out as an exception which grew by 3.4 percent during the same period. While agriculture can be at the core of revival, economic growth needs to be propelled by the overall rural economy.
PM Modi says those fearing losing control of agriculture sector are misleading farmersedit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that some people are fearing losing control in the agriculture sector after three key farm bills were passed in the Parliament for the betterment of country’s farmers. Speaking at the stone laying ceremony of various developmental projects in poll-bound Bihar, PM Modi took a dig at the opposition saying those who are trying to mislead the farmers are fearing losing control of the agriculture industry.
UP to bring policy for FPOs, provide working capital: CMedit
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday announced that the state government would soon come up with a policy to promote Farmers Produce Organisations (FPOs). Yogi said that under the policy, the FPOs would be benefitted through convergence of policies of the state and the Central government.
Farm Legislations Will Snatch Livelihood Of 62 Crore Farmers: Surjewalaedit
Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the central government has passed legislation on agriculture to snatch away the livelihood of 62 crore farmers in the country. “The Modi government has passed the law to snatch the livelihood of farmers on the basis of number force, but how will they implement it? The government has used hooliganism and it has forcibly passed the law and taken away the livelihood of 62 crore farmers,” Surjewala told ANI. “I have tried to show the blind deaf and dumb government a mirror of truth. When Parliament becomes hostage, there is no other option but to raise the voice,” he added. The Congress spokesperson further said that the Modi ...
BJP Broke The Back Of Indian Democracy: Derek O’Brienedit
Soon after Opposition parties submitted a no-confidence motion against Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’Brien on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “broke the back of Indian democracy”. “Today is a historic day. Opposition MPs broke some microphones in the Rajya Sabha but BJP broke the back of Indian democracy. BJP and the Constitution answer me the following questions–Did opposition MPs get a chance to vote in Parliament on Farm Bills? Did they get a chance to press the division button.. all parties together?” O’Brien told ANI.
Here’s Why Farmers Are Protesting the 3 New Agriculture Ordinancesedit
The Lok Sabha on Thursday, 17 September, passed two contentious agriculture Bills, despite strong opposition, being termed an “anti-farmer” move by BJP ally Shiromani Akali Dal, and widespread protests by farmers in various states over the issue.
Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Akali Dal resigned from the Narendra Modi government, hours ahead of the voting in the lower House on the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 as well as the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020.
Congress To Hold Nationwide Agitation Against Agricultural Bills, Party Leaders To Meet On September 21edit
Amid the farm bills row, the Congress is planning to hold a nationwide agitation against the Centre accusing it of supporting corporates. A meeting in this regard has been called by the party on September 21. Among those who have been asked to attend the meeting include members of the committee, general secretaries and state in-charges. According to sources, party interim president Sonia Gandhi, who has gone abroad for treatment and is accompanied by her son Rahul Gandhi, has issued instructions regarding the meeting.
Farm bills discussion: Farmers worried of MSP withdrawal; govt needs to allay fearsedit
Farmers in Punjab and Haryana are protesting over the three farm bills the government plans to make law.
Of these, the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill seeks to give farmers the freedom to sell their produce to buyers of their choice, other than the state-controlled APMC markets.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill seeks to promote contract farming, under which farmers can engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters, or large retailers for farm services and sell future produce at a pre-decided price acceptable to both parties.
Modi Inaugurates Projects To Enhance Income Of Dairy Farmers, Fisheriesedit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and e-Gopala App, a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers, which will do away with the role of middlemen in procurement and purchase.
After inaugurating the projects in Bihar virtually the Prime Minister interacted with many farmers involved in dairy and other animal rearing work. During the ceremony Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister for Animal Husbandry Giriraj Singh were also present.
Speaking on the occasion the Prime Minister said, “India is inching towards a goal where in the village itself there will be food processing clusters and research units.” He said the target ...
Farmers burn copies of agriculture ordinancesedit
The Times of India – Online
Farmers protesting against three agriculture ordinances burnt copies of the said ordinances in Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Yamunanagar districts on Saturday. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Haryana (Charuni) has given the call for a state-wide rally against the Centre’s farm ordinances at the grain market in Pipli, Kurukshetra on September 10.
A massive revival project is needed just to keep economy afloatedit
Deccan Herald – Online
In India, this will result in worsening unemployment. Like in other emerging economies, the informal sector will suffer the most. Roughly half of India’s GDP, and 80-90% of non-agricultural employment, comes from the informal sector.
Stubble Burning
Punjab farmers resort to early stubble burning for sowing veggiesedit
Farmers in Punjab, particularly in the Majha region, have yet again started burning the paddy residue early this year even as the state government is making tall claims of stopping the farm fires.
They are doing so to clear their fields and make them ready for sowing vegetables. The agriculture department officials say potato and peas are sown considerably in many areas. The farmers there prefer to cultivate the Pusa basmati-1,509 and some other hybrid varieties of paddy that ripen fast and thus are harvested early.
Stubble burning: Farmers not using straw managing machines to face criminal cases, Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh finesedit
Farmers using combine harvesters for paddy without a Super Straw Management System (SMS) will be slapped with a fine of Rs. 50,000 and face criminal proceedings, the district administration announced on Tuesday to check stubble burning and its resultant air pollution.
Dry heaps of residue are left behind after combine harvester machines cut the crops, which have to be cleared for the next sowing. Most farmers then use the cheapest way to dispose this by burning. SMS attachments chop the leftover stalks and spread the residue as mulch and plant seeds.
Admin starts Sensitization drive to eliminate Stubble burningedit
Tribune Newsline – Online
In a bid to save the environment from the hazardous gases produced from stubble burning which may increase problems for COVID patients, the district administration has begun a drive to make the combine operators aware about the importance of Super SMS machines in wiping out stubble burning.
Combines sans straw management system bannededit
The Tribune – Online
District Magistrate (DM) Sandeep Hans, while exercising his powers under Section 144 of the CrPC and Sections 30 and 34 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, today imposed a ban on burning of paddy straw by farmers.
Delhi government’s plan of action to curb pollution in winter: All you need to knowedit
Every year, Delhi’s pollution levels soar in winter due to a combination of factors, including changes in meteorology such as cold weather, calm winds, local emissions, coupled with stubble-burning in neighbouring states. This year too, the Delhi government is working to curb pollution from spiking in the next few months by putting together a plan of action.
Stubble burning: 332 villages identified as red zones in Haryanaedit
In anticipation of stubble burning incidents across the state, the Haryana agriculture department has identified red, yellow/orange and green zones in every district on the basis of incidences of crop residue burning last year. An official spokesperson said 332 villages fall under the red zone and 675 in yellow zone.
Panchkula farmers get Rs 40 lakh subsidy to manage stubble burningedit
This year, in Panchkula, more than 100 farmers, who are till tilling some areas of Barwala and Raipur Rani, were given subsidy of 50-80% on machines by the agriculture department, which will help them avoid stubble burning. The department had also reimbursed those who had rented the machines to manage crop leftovers in their fields.
Why Punjab needs a thrust for start-ups to deal with stubble burningedit
Punjab ranks among India’s Covid-stressed states. In about a week, stubble burning will begin in Punjab and jostle for space with Covid headlines. Stubble burning in Punjab has caused gas chamber-like conditions in the National Capital Region in the last few years.
Punjab Energy Development Authority (PEDA) is setting up projects to produce bio CNG from paddy stubble. Even after the commissioning of all these projects by 2022, Punjab will be able to utilise only 1.5 million tonnes, which is only 7 per cent of the total paddy stubble.
PMO-led task force to tackle air pollution management in NCRedit
head of the crop burning season, a high-level task force led by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday held a review meeting in advance before the onset of harvesting and winter season to ensure proper precautionary and preventive measures to combat the causes of air pollution are taken well in time for the management of air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).
During the meeting, it was observed that stubble burning were high in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh last year. A meeting was chaired by PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, involving all stakeholders, reviewed the main sources of air pollution, measures taken and the progress made by the State Governments and various ...
Stubble burning can exacerbate COVID situation in north India: Expertedit
The stubble burning which is likely to start later this month ahead of the Rabi crop sowing season can exacerbate the Coronavirus crisis, an agricultural-cum-environment expert has cautioned.
“If alternate arrangements to stubble burning are not made, pollutants like particulate matters and toxic gases like Carbon Monoxide and Methane could give rise to severe respiratory problems, which will further worsen the COVID 19 situation, as the Coronavirus also impacts the respiratory tract,” Sanjeev Nagpal, also an adviser to the Union and the Punjab governments on the crop residue management, told PTI on Sunday.
State pollution watchdog recommends preventive measures ahead of smog seasonedit
Ahead of October when the pollution levels see a steep rise in the city, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution control board (UPPCB) has recommended several pre-emptive pollution control measures to the Noida Authority.
Officials of the pollution control board held an inspection at multiple areas of Greater Noida earlier this week, during which they found several dust -generating sources. City-based environmentalist Vikrant Tongad was also present during the inspection.
रोक के बावजूद भी खेतों में जल रही परालीedit
सरकार ने पराली जलाने को पूरी तरह से प्रतिबंधित किया है। इसके बाद भी लोग नहीं मान रहे हैं। अवशेषों को खेतों में जलाकर नष्ट कर रहे हैं। इससे पर्यावरण प्रदूषित हो रहा है।
Why Farmers Must Start Using ‘Happy Seeder’ for Crop Residue Burningedit
The Happy Seeder agriculture innovation to oversee rice residue has the capability of producing 6,000-11,500 Indian rupees more benefits per hectare for the normal former. The Happy Seeder is a tractor mounted machine that cuts and lifts rice straw, plants wheat into the soil, and stores the straw over the planted region as mulch.
The examination assesses people in general and private expenses and advantages of ten substitute cultivating practices to oversee rice residue, including burn and non-burn choices. It is overall, 10% – 20% more beneficial than burning. This choice additionally has the biggest potential to diminish the ecological impression of on-farm exercises, as it would take out air contamination and would decrease ozone harming substance ...
Delhi: Crores allocated, but winter smog from stubble burning likely this year tooedit
Farmers in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are peeved at being blamed for Delhi’s smog. “We have been burning crop residue for the past 50 years now,” said a leader of the Bharatiya Kisan Union from Haryana, who does not want to be named. “If anybody is affected it should be the surrounding villages. We don’t face any such problem. So why is this problem in Delhi seen just during these past few years?”
Explained: Are 74,000 subsidised stubble management machines enough for Punjab?edit
To help Punjab farmers manage stubble after harvesting paddy in the coming months, the state government has arranged 74,000 subsidised machines. While some experts feel that the number is too small given that the task is to manage 20 million tonnes of stubble, others believe that the number is enough and the focus should now be on effective utilization of the available equipment. The Indian Express explains the challenge facing Punjab and how it intends to tackle it.
What are the types of stubble management machines available in Punjab?
According to Punjab Agriculture Department, the state has 15,000 Happy Seeders and 1,000 Super Seeders, currently. By September, 5,000 more Happy Seeders and Super Seeders will be added ...
Uncategorized
Here’s what key voices from the world of business and marketsedit
In a vast country like India, there are huge differences across the states and even within the states where marketing infrastructure is concerned. So it is true that for some states in which the agriculture infrastructure is weak, this bill may help the farmers because then we may see more investments in the supply chain, more warehouses will be set up, more packing houses maybe set up, etc.
However, in certain states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh where the marketing system is very well developed and the state governments have invested a huge amount of money over the last 40-50 years, the farmers feel that it is a step towards dismantling the minimum support price (MSP) regime.
...SC notice to Centre on plea against using artificial reproduction technique in livestockedit
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government on a plea to declare Artificial Reproduction Technique (ART) performed on livestock and animals without any proven biomedical need, as cruel, illegal, mala fide, and contrary to the established principles of law.