Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Indian Farmers’ Hidden Enemy: Disaster Capitalismedit
The Diplomat – Online
In September, India’s BJP-led central government enacted three controversial agricultural laws that critics say threaten the livelihoods of millions of smallholder farmers and those who rely on the agricultural sector to meet their basic needs. At a time of unprecedented, multidimensional crises in the country, both the substance of the laws and the process by which they were passed will have real ramifications for human security in India for years to come, constituting matters of existential concern for the country’s working class.
In her 2007 book “The Shock Doctrine,” Naomi Klein proposed the concept of “disaster capitalism” in reference to the tendency of governments to ram through free market policies in the wake of major crisis, ...
5 Fascinating Enterprises at the Forefront of the Zero Food Waste Movementedit
The Better India – Online
For decades now, India has been grappling with the issue of hunger and inadequate nutrition. Hence, it was no surprise when the Global Hunger Index, 2019, ranked India at 102 out of a list of 117 countries fighting hunger.
Economists and policymakers consider hunger an outcome of overpopulation and poverty. And while these are contributing factors, another culprit lurks in the form of dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate storage and overflowing dumpsters – the creation and improper treatment of food waste.
According to the United Nations Development Programme, almost 40% of the total food grown in India annually goes to waste. In other words, we waste close to half of what we produce. Wastage does not begin ...
Review: Other forms of Agricultural Marketing & Contract Farming in Indiaedit
Factly – Online
During 2017-18, the central government released the model APMC (Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee) and contract farming Acts to allow and promote restriction-free trade of agricultural produce, competition through multiple marketing channels, and farming under pre-agreed contracts. The Standing Committee (2018-19) noted that many states carried out partial reforms only, on a pick-and-choose basis.
To this end, the central government promulgated three Ordinances on June 5, 2020: (i) the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020, (ii) the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020, and (iii) the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020. The three Ordinances together aim to increase opportunities for farmers to enter long term sale contracts, ...
Technology in Agriculture
Vodafone India Foundation and Nokia Deploy Smart Agriculture Solutionedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Vodafone Idea’s CSR arm, Vodafone India Foundation has joined hands with Nokia to deploy a smart agriculture solution in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh that aims to increase productivity of farmers.
The pilot project of Vodafone India Foundation’s Smart Agri solution project is being implemented in 100 locations within the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra that will benefit more than 50,000 farmers within the region by enhancing their productivity as well as income.
The smart agriculture work-as-a-service solution, which utilizes service of Nokia’s Worldwide IoT Network Grid (WING) solution, which will make sure that precise and practical data is shipped to farmers enabling them to reinforce productivity.
VillageAgro hopes to boost rural economyedit
Fresh Plaza – Online
Recent lockdowns have shown that local food practices are the important in preventing hunger as well as illness. Such local practices are also the driving force behind VillageAgro, a unique, 8-month-old startup that combines agritech (agricultural technology) and smart farming in order to boost the rural economy.
VillageAgro Agritech Private Limited is an F2B (Farmer to Business) and F2C (Farmer to Customer) online marketplace, selling fresh and organic fruits, vegetables, poultry, and dairy products. The startup is a composite brainchild of a group of young IITians who are responding to a major shift in customer food demand, earmarked by the public’s inclination towards farm-fresh, healthy food, especially fruits, vegetables, dairy, and poultry products reports www.businessworld.in
Govt. Policies
From Education To Agriculture: Here Are Modi Govt’s Top Policies Which Changed 2020edit
Republic World – Online
With Coronavirus (COVID-19) being the biggest challenge for governments all around the world, the Indian government passed major reforms along with handling the pandemic this year. India- which implemented the strictest lockdown in March – saw its economy shrink to -23.9% in the first quarter of 2020-21, necessitating the need for major reforms. In a bid kickstart the economy, the Modi government several key policies this year like – Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the three Farm Laws, the three labour codes, Banking Regulation (Amendment). The government also unveiled the long-awaited National Education Policy 2020, Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment.
Tractor industry
Tractor sales up 48.34 per cent in Nov over last year but down MoM basisedit
Business Standard – Online
Tractor sales rose nearly 48.34 per cent in November 2020 to 89,530 units from 60,352 units a year ago as rural sentiments remained positive.
According to the Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA) sales have increased on year-on-year (YoY) basis while they have decreased 47 per cent on month-on-month (MoM) basis. Tractor sales have been growing on a monthly basis since April 2020, except in the month of August.