Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Agri enterprise gets push with tech-enabled FPOsedit
The Times of India – Online
Taking a precision move to make agriculture an entrepreneurial activity, the state government has decided to set up a farmer producer organisation (FPO), a registered body with agro producers as shareholders as a demand-based unit that would function with cluster-based approach. The step, official sources said, is aimed to pass on benefits of various agricultural schemes of state and Centre to FPOs to raise their capacity and improve marketing of agro produce. This move comes when the state is pushing for field paddy procurement to boost farming activity.
According to a memorandum issued by agriculture department, FPOs will raise capacity and quality of agro-produce in the most populous state.
Technology in Agriculture
New agricultural technologies on display at Krishi Mela in Bengaluruedit
The Hindu – Online
The three-day Krishi Mela 2020, organised by the University of Agricultural Sciences-Bangalore (UAS-B), began here on Wednesday. This year, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mela is low-key with limited number of people physically participating and limited number of stalls.
M. Byre Gowda of the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) said 17 new agricultural technologies and three new varieties of crops, including groundnut, had been released this year for the benefit of farmers.Demonstrations and information about the new agricultural technologies and three new varieties of crops were made during the the Mela.
Stubble Burning
Four farmers fined for burning stubble in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamliedit
The New Indian Express – Online
The district administration has imposed a fine of Rs 2,500 on four farmers for burning stubble in their fields in Shamli district, an official said on Wednesday.
According to Kairana Tehsildar Praveen Kumar, four farmers — Rajiv, Murari Singh, Aleem and Janisar — were found burning stubble in their fields on Tuesday.
Kumar said a fine of Rs 2,500 was imposed on each of them.
At 42%, stubble burning’s share in Delhi pollution soars to season’s highedit
National Herald – Online
The share of stubble burning in Delhi’s air pollution rose to 42 percent on Thursday, the maximum so far this season, as city’s residents woke up to air quality in severe category, according to a central government’s air quality monitoring agency.
On Wednesday, stubble burning had contributed only five percent to Delhi’s pollution, 10 percent on Tuesday and 16 percent on Monday and 40 percent a day before. Last year, the farm fire contribution to Delhi’s pollution had peaked to 44 percent on November 1.
Capital city’s air quality index stood at 471 micrograms per cubic meter at noon, in severe category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, all the 35 pollution monitoring station ...
3k more farm fires, Pb stubble burning cases close to 70kedit
The Times of India – Online
With close to 3,000 stubble burning events in the 24 hours up to Wednesday evening, the total count of farm fires in Punjab so far this year reached 69,323. With the state just 52 days into crop residue burning season, the figure is expected to rise further and could be close to the highest-ever record of 82,000 cases, recorded in 2016.
Bathinda, with 450 burning events, had the higehst number of cases. It was followed by 338 in Fazilka, 331 in Moga, 311 in Sangrur, 295 in Muktsar, 262 in Mansa, 234 in Barnala, 220 in Faridkot, 182 in Ferozepur, 143 in Ludhiana, and 100 in Patiala. Pathankot and SAS Nagar were the ...
Viral Video Of Stubble Burning In Punjab Shows How Bad The Air Pollution Situation Really Isedit
India Times – Online
Stubble burning is something that is affecting our air quality in a big way. In fact, it always has, but now with pollution levels in Delhi NCR really becoming dangerous, the problem is even more serious.
The thick smoke resulting from it especially in areas in Punjab contributes to smog in the atmosphere which makes it difficult and sometimes near impossible to breathe. But the situation is not as bad as it looks, in fact, it is worse. The issue is that of proximity. A recent video went viral of someone driving through Punjab and showed that the distance between 2 stubble fires was less than a kilometre. In other words, in less than 1000 metres one has a source of thick ...
We burn stubble ‘out of desperation’ because govt hasn’t found solutions, Punjab farmers sayedit
The Print – Online
Large plumes of thick smoke billowing from agricultural fields and then extending onto highways are a common sight in rural Punjab every year.
When ThePrint traveled through various regions in the last week, fields after fields were found to have been set afire, leading to a thick blanket of smoke hanging in the air.
The farm fires were raging in Mansa, Sangrur and Patiala districts from 6-8 November. On 9 November, fewer fields in areas around Patiala district were set ablaze as this reporter made her way from Chandigarh to Sangrur.
Every winter, stubble burning in the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh during October-November leaves Delhi gasping for breath.
Stubble burning is the cheapest option ...
CPCB orders closure of stone crushers, asks Punjab, Haryana to curb stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed stone crushers and hot mix plants to remain closed till November 17 in view of high air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.
Frequency of mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling on roads with high dust generating potential and guidelines and standard operating procedures for dust control at construction sites are strictly to be followed. In case of violations, a penalty will be imposed or construction activity will be stopped temporarily, CPCB said on Wednesday.
Tractor industry
Surge in rural economy to rev up tractor sales by 12% in FY21: Crisiledit
Auto Economic Times – Online
Credit rating agency Crisil has revised its forecast for the domestic tractor industry to 10%-12% growth in FY21 because of the strong rural economic prospects. Earlier it had projected a decline of 1%.
“Domestic tractor sales volume should recover faster than expected and notch up 10%-12% growth this fiscal, compared with a de-growth of 1% estimated earlier, as a raft of tailwinds lifts farm incomes despite the COVID-19