Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
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.
Coverage
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 ...
Technology in Agriculture
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 ...