Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Why big businesses want these farm lawsedit
The Tribune – Online
Have you ever wondered why India’s big businesses are suddenly so keen on farming? The answer is very simple. They have already exhausted all other options of making mega profits. After all, we know that farm income in India has not kept pace with inflation for at least the past two decades now. So, in real terms, farmers earn less now than they did in the previous millennium. Yet, big corporates find the agriculture sector attractive enough to have lobbied for these new farm laws.
Darbari economists with their fairytale theories will tell you that corporates entering the farm is a win-win for all. Two banal concepts that they like to use here are ‘economies of ...
The Need to Improve Research and Development in Agriculture in Indiaedit
The CSR Journal – Online
India has set its target to double the farmers’ income by 2022 from its base year 2015. In order to achieve the target, the sector would need to display the growth of ten per cent each year from 2015. However, not for a single year have we been able to reach the target. In addition to this, the COVID-19 pandemic has set back the growth rate, even more, making it difficult to achieve the targets.
In order to bring about the desired growth, the government of India introduced three farm laws with an intent to bring reforms in the agriculture sector. The aim behind each of the law was the same – to increase the ...
Budget
Budget 2021: 3 expectations from Nirmala Sitharamanedit
India Today – Online
All eyes are on the upcoming budget for the next financial year as India looks to recover from the economic devastation caused by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020-21.
The government has already started consulting stakeholders and industry experts ahead of the all-important annual budget announcement for 2021-22. The budget for the next fiscal year will be announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1, 2021.
It is widely expected that the government will prioritise spending in the next fiscal and ensure a smooth transition into growth territory in 2021-22. However, expecting a lavish budget also seems far-fetched, given the fact that the government’s finances are stretched at the moment.
Budget 2021 Expectations: What Modi govt may propose for agriculture amid prolonged farmers’ protestedit
Financial Express – Online
Union Budget 2021-22 Expectations for Agriculture: While the upcoming budget will determine the growth trajectory of the Indian economy this year, all eyes will be set on what the government has for the agriculture sector in its briefcase. It has been over a month since the farmers from Punjab and Haryana began protesting against the three farm bills passed in the parliament in September 2020. While the government may roll out measures to compensate the farmers and show a farmer-centric policy, it is also believed that the government has already rolled out a slew of measures for the farm sector and thus no major decision can be taken.
“The government has already implemented a number of ...
Technology in Agriculture
Agri10x, HobSpace, KiranaKart, Eyestem raise fundingedit
VCCircle – Online
Agri10x, an agricultural-technology firm that operates a blockchain-based marketplace connecting farmers and buyers, has raised an undisclosed amount in seed funding.
Pune-based Agri10x, operated by Icognitive Global Pvt Ltd, has raised this capital from agriculture- and food systems-focussed Omnivore. The venture firm has funded several agri-tech firms in the past, including Animall, Arya, and DeHaat.
Emphasis on faster technology transfer to farmers: Scientistsedit
The Pioneer – Online
Agricultural scientists on Friday stressed on faster dissemination of technologies and recommendations of agricultural universities to farmers’ fields during 34th Birsa Agriculture University (BAU) Extension Education council meeting.
During the meeting Director, Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Patna, Dr Anjani Kumar Singh said that Krishi Vigyan Kendra
(KVKs) are working more effectively and at a faster pace than research institutes and agricultural universities so far as solution of farm related problems of farmers is concerned.
Tesla of Agriculture: ‘Best Agri-Tech Startup’ Can Analyze Food Quality in 30 Secsedit
The Better India – Online
Taranjeet Singh Bhamra, a graduate of agricultural engineering from IIT-Kharagpur, was a project manager working for a food manufacturing company in early 2004 when he visited the local mandi in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Working with the company since 2002, he was travelling to different corners of rural India to better understand the issues associated with the agriculture sector. What he saw at Shahjahanpur changed him immeasurably.
“I saw a farmer and his young son come to sell their produce on a bullock cart. I remember seeing the arhitiya (middle man) pushing them away saying their produce lacks quality after barely looking at it. For the next six days, the father and son stood in the sun ...
These women entrepreneurs are helping revolutionise farming practices with their agritech startupsedit
YourStory – Online
The bustling startup ecosystem has not missed out on innovating in agricultural practices. After all, the country is known for its agrarian economy with 70 percent of population engaged in farming activities. Not only is agritech being recognised as a promising market, but adoption of technology in agriculture is helping solve several challenges across the spectrum of the traditional agriculture value chain. This presents a market potential of $ 24 billion by 2025, according to the report, Agritech – Towards Transforming Indian Agriculture. HerStory presents five women entrepreneurs who are setting the trend in various aspects of the agritech market.