Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
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.