Republic World – Online

The agriculture sector is in need of urgent reform and modernisation and the government has initiated reforms that would free the small farmers from the pressure of middlemen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday.

In his poll campaign here, he invoked Tamil classic ‘Thirukkural’ and said one common theme in it was respect for farmers.

The world must follow the farmers as farming is the base and farmers are the linchpin of the world for they support all others who cannot till the land, he said quoting the Kural.

“The agriculture sector is in need of urgent reform and modernisation.” The NDA government’s priority is the welfare of small farmer, he said.

The government has ...

Khmer Times – Online

On World Water day (March 22) Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the “Catch the Rain” campaign under the government’s flagship programme, Jal Shakti Abhiyan. He emphasised the importance of using every penny spent under MGNREGA to conserve water. This is a laudable objective. But what is the state of our water resources? How can we ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water, while industry and agriculture also get sufficient supplies to produce enough to meet the country’s demands? These issues demand close attention.

The Hindu Business Line – Online

Our Bureau The IIL Foundation, the CSR wing of agrochemical company Insecticides (India), has tied up with Foundation for Agriculture Sustainability and Transformation (FAST) to offer extension advice over a digital platform, which uses digital avenues like WhatsApp and YouTube.

The Digital Reach platform provides weather and pest infestation information regularly through a WhatsApp window. Besides, it will provide suggestions based on the information.

The Hindu – Online

The increase in the extent of cultivation and sharp rise in production of a few major crops following implementation of supportive measures by the State government has not only brought joy but also fears as the marketing of such a huge quantity would always pose a major challenge, Minister for Agriculture S. Niranjan Reddy said.

Speaking after a meeting with the officials of agriculture and marketing departments on procurement of yasangi (rabi) crops here on Tuesday, the Minister said it was the responsibility of the government to educate the farming community on market conditions and cropping patterns based on market research and analysis.

Krishi Jagran – Online

Regenerative Agriculture is the system of agriculture principles that helps to enhance ecosystem services, enriches soils, improve watersheds, and increase biodiversity. It evolves continuously with time.

Here is a list of organizations that are working to promote Regenerative Agriculture and improve the ecosystem and overall soil health;

Aryana Agricultural Alternatives

Aryana is committed to follow the philosophy of natural agricultural practices with focus on forest farming so as to take up production without causing destruction to the planet earth, enabling all lifeforms to co-exist. Aryana Agricultural Alternatives organizes and strengthens rural farming communities in India to achieve food and nutrition security through permaculture and regenerative agriculture.

The Indian Express – Online

More than six months after the Narendra Modi-led government passed three agricultural laws, protests are still going strong. The Supreme Court-appointed committee, formed to study the laws in detail and talk to all the stakeholders, is about to submit its report, while the application of the laws continues to be held in suspension.

The protest against the laws saw unprecedented mobilisation by farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, and kept the areas around Delhi borders blocked for months. Protesting farmer leaders have tried to raise the issue in the ongoing Assembly elections in West Bengal as well.

Businessworld – Online

INDIA has proposed bilateral collaboration with the Philippines in the areas of agricultural technology and financial technology to benefit small farmers, an agriculture industry association said.

The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) said in a statement Tuesday that Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu S. Kumaran recommended an exchange of technology between the two countries to improve the operations of small farms.

“The Indian government has touched base with Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III for a possible agricultural technology (agritech) and financial technology (fintech) exchange,” Mr. Kumaran was quoted as saying.

Financial Express – Online

The last two years have been deeply troubled for the Indian economy. The economic shock from Covid-19 lockdown was a big reason. Stories of hardships faced by millions of people who were rendered jobless when large number of MSMEs were forced to close operation dominated the front pages of news publications. And, then, before the industry could fully recover, the farmers’ agitation against the new farm Acts 2020 brought by the Union government to reform agricultural marketing brought in new uncertainty to the agricultural sector.

Businessworld – Online

Women are of vital importance to the rural economy and the agriculture sector. Around 75% women in rural areas work full-time as farmers, but only 13% have any land ownership and continue to be underrepresented in the sector. They also spend more time on the field; but have little or no decision-making power in spite of their vital contribution to the economy.

The global COVID-19 pandemic increased pressures on India’s smallholder farmers, limiting direct support offered at the farmgate and curbing post-harvest activities, but as the country moves to a post-pandemic future, it is important that the growth of the agriculture sector is inclusive. Growing the role of women farmers is a critical goal. As they become ...

First Post – Online

A third of the planet’s agricultural land is at “high risk” of pesticide pollution from the lingering residue of chemical ingredients that can leach into water supplies and threaten biodiversity, according to research published Monday. The use of pesticides has soared globally as agricultural production has expanded, prompting growing fears over environmental damage and calls to cut hazardous chemical use. Researchers in Australia modelled pollution risk across 168 countries with data on the usage of 92 active pesticide ingredients and found “widespread global pesticide pollution risk”.

They highlighted several acutely vulnerable ecosystems in South Africa, China, India, Australia and Argentina, at the nexus of high pollution risk, high water scarcity and high biodiversity.

The Hindu BusinessLine – Online

The IIL Foundation, the CSR wing of agrochemical company Insecticides (India), has tied up with Foundation for Agriculture Sustainability and Transformation (FAST) to offer extension advice over a digital platform, which uses digital avenues like WhatsApp and YouTube.

The Digital Reach platform provides weather and pest infestation information regularly through a WhatsApp window. Besides, it will provide suggestions based on the information.

The IIL Foundation, the CSR wing of agrochemical company Insecticides (India), has tied up with Foundation for Agriculture Sustainability and Transformation (FAST) to offer extension advice over a digital platform, which uses digital avenues like WhatsApp and YouTube.

The Digital Reach platform provides weather and pest infestation information regularly through a WhatsApp ...

The Hindu – Online

Minister for Agriculture Singireddy Niranjan Reddy has stated that the government has allocated ₹15 crore for establishing an agricultural marketing intelligence research and analysis centre for guiding the farming community on raising the crops having demand in the market.

Of the allocated amount, the government has already released ₹6.5 crore for the purpose in advance. The task of establishing such a centre has been given to Ernst & Young to guide the centre by studying the market conditions at the national and international level for creating awareness among the farming community so that they could get good price to their produce.

The Times of India – Online

Former Bengal chief minister and CPM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who had shelved his plan to set up a chemical hub at Nayachar following the Nandigram carnage in 2007, has appealed to voters — particularly in Singur and Nandigram — to vote against those who took Bengal down the slide in agriculture and industry.

“We have gone steps back in agriculture in the last 10 years There has been no major investment in industry during this time. Singur and Nandigram are caught in the silence of a graveyard. And those who scripted the evil drama in those days are now busy in mud-slinging,” Bhattacharjee said, without naming Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and her once-lieutenant-turned-BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

Telangana Today – Online

Despite growth in the economy and the working age population in India, the participation of women in the labour force has been declining. This is an alarming trend when seen against the backdrop of increasing crime against women and widespread gender discrimination. At 21%, India has one of the lowest female participation rates in the workforce across the world. It is less than half the global average. No matter which cluster of countries one compares with — high income or low, highly indebted or least developed — India comes off worse. The dismally low labour force participation rate can be attributed, at least partially, to the restrictive cultural norms regarding women’s work, gender wage gap ...

First Post – Online

In recent years, farming of traditionally grown crops like corn and rice in Bihar, has been hit by weather uncertainties and recurring floods. Some farmers, however, have turned the crisis into an opportunity by taking up the cultivation of foxnut as their primary produce. Popularly known as makhana, foxnut comes from the plant prickly water lily (Euryale ferox) which grows in the stagnant water of wetlands or ponds.

Bihar is currently the world’s biggest producer of makhana with a 90 percent share.

“Makhana made me a happy farmer. I used to cultivate corn and rice, but they were not profitable. I also tried wheat farming but could not turn farming into a profitable business. But, now makhana ...

Telangana Today -Online

It’s been over three months since the farmers’ began their protest demanding the repeal of the three farm laws, namely Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act (FPAFSA), 2020, Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act (FPTCA), 2020, and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act (ECA), 2020. Among these, the FPAFSA is critical as it sets out to provide “price assurance” to farmers leading to an increase in their net income. The provision looks promising and theoretically, no one would like to disagree with this proposition. However, the details lie in the implications of the provisions and their implementation on the ground.

Against this backdrop, it is necessary to explore some ...

Financial Express – Online

On World Water Day (March 22), PM Narendra Modi launched a campaign, ‘Catch the rain’, under the Centre’s flagship Jal Shakti Abhiyan. He emphasised that every penny being spent under MGNREGA must be used to conserve water. This is a laudable objective. But, what needs close attention is where do we stand on the water front, and how can we ensure that everyone has access to safe drinking water, while industry and agriculture also get sufficient water to produce what is demanded.

As per the Central Water Commission’s assessment of water availability using space inputs (2019), India receives mean annual precipitation of about 3,880 billion cubic metres (bcm) but it utilizes only 699 ...

The Hans India -Online

With resurge of corona cases in the State, the Telangana government has decided to procure paddy during the summer season in all the villages across the State through 6,408 procurement centres. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao took this decision during a high-level meeting on Agriculture, Marketing and Civil Supplies department on Monday. The Chief Minister directed Finance Principal Secretary Ramakrishna Rao to make all arrangements to give Rs 20,000 crore bank guarantee by Tuesday evening.

The Chief Minister also asked Chief secretary Somesh Kumar to conduct an emergency video conference with the Collectors for setting up of procurement centres. He also asked Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy to be in Hyderabad and monitor the setting ...

The Hindu – Online

With the global food demand set to surge almost two-fold by 2050 (according to UN estimates), it is imperative to increase agricultural productivity and enhance the quality of produce to feed the growing population. To meet this challenge, policy makers and stakeholders have been looking for a modern ecosystem that can amalgamate automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Big Data seamlessly with agriculture to reap better results. Consequently, agritech has emerged as the driving force for career opportunities in this sector.

Agritech — or the use of technology in agriculture, aquaculture, or horticulture — is a necessary tool to modernise agriculture and increase yields, while making it more cost-effective. It may also help in resolving the ...

India TV News – Online

Niti Aayog Member Ramesh Chand on Sunday said the target of doubling farmers’ income by 2022 will not be fulfilled if the three new farm laws are not implemented immediately, adding that the protesting farm unions should consider the government’s offer of discussing the legislation clause by clause.

In an interview to PTI, Chand further said the blanket ban on genetically modified crops is not the right approach.

The government and unions representing farmers, who have been camping at Delhi’s border for four months in protest against the three laws that they say will end state procurement of crops at MSP, have held 11 rounds of talks, the last being on January 22. ...

India Education Diary – Online

Principal Secretary, Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, Navin Kumar Choudhary today visited Sumb block of district Samba and inaugurated one day Kisan mela-cum-exhibition amidst enthusiastic response from the local farmers community.

The Principal Secretary along with concerned officers inspected different stalls including Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry, Sericulture, Handicraft, Khadi and Village Industry, Fisheries, and others exhibiting modern farm machinery, organic products, local products besides the stalls also highlighted various farmers’ welfare schemes and programmes.

Hindustan Times – Online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that like every sector, there is a need to adopt new practices in agriculture sector also. Addressing the nation on ‘Mann Ki Baat’, PM Modi highlighted the importance of bee farming and how it is helping farmers boost their income.

“In every aspect of life, novelty and modernisation is essential. Otherwise, it becomes a burden on us. In India’s agriculture sector, modernisation is the need of the hour. It’s very late, we have already lost a lot of time,” said PM Modi.

“To generate new employment opportunities, in agriculture sector, to increase the income of farmers, it is equally important to adopt new alternatives and innovations along with ...

Financial Express – Online

Encouraged by over 90% accuracy in monitoring crops and guiding farmers through technology, IFFCO Kisan, a value-added service provider, plans to expand a pilot project on advisory services, aimed at increasing quality, yield and income of farmers.

“Farmers need to know problems on three-four major issues like water requirement, seeds, fertiliser and pests and a timely information and intervention proved to have helped increase the productivity and value of crops,” said Sandeep Malhotra, chief executive officer (CEO) of IFFCO Kisan. About 1,500 farmers were covered under a pilot project for five crops — wheat, paddy, soyabean, cotton and ginger — in select districts of Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, he said.

The CSR Journal – Online

On one of my recent visits to Raigad, I interacted with Shiva, a small farmer whose family has been practising agriculture for generations. Walking across his field, he was navigating between three apps. He subscribed to one of the apps through Swades; for monitoring his farm inputs and cultivation data, while the other two Shiva got as free downloads. My curiosity forced me to ask Shiva about the utility of these apps. He shared that he installed these apps a few months ago and they have provided him with good insights and information. But he was quick to add that he has not realized any monetary benefit, though he managed some of his farm operations ...

Odisha Bytes – Online

Being a student of science he always tries to implement the rules of science and technology in agriculture. Dibyaprakash, 25, of Village Aniapal, Block Koliana, Mayurbhanj, inherited farming as a livelihood from his father, Pratap Chandra Dey.

His family of three lives in a village situated on the bank of a river. He owns eight acres of land. On four acres, he cultivates paddy and vegetables like ladies finger, coccinia, pointed gourd, cucumber, ridge gourd during Kharif. In Rabi, he grows vegetables like brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, onion and sweet corn on two acres. His father used to follow the traditional methods of cultivation but there were issues of low production, low yield, and low ...

The Assam Tribune – Online

Helping poor farmers by providing them free ration and cash under different government schemes is appreciable but there is a need to set up an organised market and cold storage facilities in every panchayat area to fetch long-term benefits, observed a section of farmers while talking to The Assam Tribune.

During the conversation, a progressive farmer from Darrang district Dhrubajyoti Saikia said, “Our State governments have always formulated different agriculture schemes that have already been implemented by states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, etc. However, unlike these States, farmers in Assam have limited agricultural land, due to which they cannot reap the same benefits under such schemes, which are tailor made for well-off farmers in northern ...

The Better India – Online

In 1988, Raj Seelam, an agriculture graduate from Hyderabad, joined a chemical fertiliser and pesticide manufacturing company. Over the next 12 years, he worked closely with farmers, guiding them with seed purchase and the use of chemicals.

But in the process, Raj realised the harmful impact of these chemicals on agricultural land, as well as the ecosystem at large. “These insecticides and pesticides were designed to kill. They terminated microbes and other living organisms that were vital to maintaining the health of the soil,” the 56-year-old says.

Raj also found that the need for these chemicals had increased over the years. “Massive amounts of chemicals were being sprayed on vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, capsicum, ...

OpIndia – Online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in one of his speeches explained the dire need for Farm laws. He explained how the division of land or low landholding, lack of modern technology, lack of investment, and high-interest loans have plagued the agricultural sector of India. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to remove barriers for our farmers, create an open market for them, and encouraged investment in the agricultural sector by enhancing logistics and technology.

However, the Indian Agriculture sector is now witnessing an increased interest from the startups who are working on multiple fronts to enhance the sector. From developing the farm to fork model, to offering advanced logistics to consulting the farmers on various fronts, Indian agri-startups are ...

The Kathmandu post – Online

It has now been many months that Indian farmers from the surrounding states of Punjab and Haryana have camped outside the capital New Delhi to force the government’s hand on the farm bills. Multiple rounds of talks between farm leaders and the government have proven inconclusive. While the government has gone so far as to postpone the implementation of the laws by 18 months, farm leaders have been adamant on repealing them.

The three laws in question were hurried through Parliament by the government in what has now become the norm. There was little prior discussion, no scrutiny by parliamentary committees, and little effort at building consensus with other stakeholders. The job of manufacturing opinion ...

Outlook India – Online

The seed industry on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the Centre”s “regressive decision” to not allow scientific field trials of genetically modified crops, including Bt Brinjal, without considering the recommendations from states and Union Territories.

In his written reply to a query in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had said, “It has been decided that proposals of field trials of GM crops, including Bt Brinjal, will not be taken for consideration in the GEAC without recommendation of the concerned state/UT government.”

Krishi Jagran – Online

The Delhi University alumnus, Master of Arts from Hansraj College  has emerged as a Change Agent in  Samastipur district in Bihar is leading the country  by advocating and practicing many Innovative Tools and skills of Modern Farming. He holds out hope for farmers across the country especially Bihar. Raising the productivity of his Mango orchard from mere ten thousand to nine lacs in a period of three to four years is not a simple task.

Experimenting Innovative Modern   techniques to improve the litchis in his orchard is also worth mentioning. He has painstakingly transformed his farm and orchards to be the most technologically advanced in the state of Bihar. He started micro irrigation in his orchards  10 years ago. He also started a completely automated Fertigation  system in his orchards  and was inaugurated by the present Chief Minister of Bihar in 2019.

The Times of India – Online

In deciding to consider proposals for GM crop field trials only upon the recommendation of state governments, Centre has signalled a retreat in another arena of farm reforms. Last year, central regulator Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) allowed biosafety field trials of two new transgenic Bt Brinjal varieties in eight states. RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh asked the Centre and these states to deny no-objection certificates for the field trials. GEAC’s decision to initiate trials, a compulsory prelude to commercial release, was a completely scientific decision based on long-term ICAR studies.

Unfortunately the dogmatic opposition to transgenic crops rejects such findings, nor do they appreciate that the two Bt Brinjal varieties were developed indigenously. Field ...

News Today – Online

Agriculture sector in India helped in the speedy recovery of the economic growth post the pandemic, said Shivendra Bajaj, executive director, Federation of Seed Industry of India.

According to him, India’s agriculture and allied sectors helped the farm sector clock a growth rate of 3.4 percent in the financial year 2020-21.

It is lower than the last year’s growth but is the best when compared with other sectors during pandemic.

Despite the disruptions in the supply chain during the Covid-19-led lockdowns, Indian agriculture is set to perform better.

According to the first advance estimates issued by the Agriculture Ministry, food grain production is expected to be 144.52 million tonnes in Kharif 2020-21 as against 143.38 million ...

LiveMint – Online

Agriculture and allied sectors account for about 18% of the Indian economy, but around 40% of employment. How do we reconcile this with the reports we hear of shortages of farm labour? What is the true extent of farm employment in India and how does it differ in states which have traditionally been agriculture- focused vis-à-vis others?

Economic Times – Online

IT firm Cisco India on Wednesday said 25 agri-tech startups have been selected as semi-finalists in the ‘Cisco Agri Challenge’ hosted in partnership with the government. The startups were selected from 844 entries received in the challenge. About 25 contestants shortlisted as semi-finalists will start the user-testing of their solutions on the ground beginning April, the company said in a statement.

Cisco Agri Challenge is an initiative aimed at mobilising agri-tech startups to innovate solutions that have the potential to positively impact at least 10 million lives.

Financial Express – Online

In some respects, India’s government is following a bolder reform agenda than ever before. On the input side, reforms in land and labour markets are making progress, in different ways. In terms of sectors of the economy, the government has pushed its Make in India agenda for industry, albeit supported by a somewhat backward-looking trade regime of higher tariffs. It has focused on the technological frontier with its Digital India initiative, and encouraged foreign direct investment, which can bring in knowhow as well as financial capital. It has normalised privatisation of public sector firms that have subpar performance. All this is good.

But, as I argued in my last column, the agricultural market reforms illustrate a weakness in the reform ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Because our economy is based on primary agriculture, Indian farmers are the backbone of our nation’s economy. According to a poll, India is one of the best countries for agriculture and cultivation. However, despite their significant contribution to the nation’s economy, Indian farmers have been a neglected community for decades.

Harassment of Indian farmers is a daily occurrence. India is the world’s largest producer of wheat, rice, pulses, and spices, with plenty of room for expansion in the agricultural industry. Farmers’ financial situation will improve if they receive a guaranteed minimum support price for their produce, if trading becomes digital or online, and the middle person who exchanges products from farmers to factories or from manufacturers to farmers is ...

BrettonWoods Project – Online

For more than 100 days, thousands of farmers in India have been in the streets protesting three new farm laws introduced in parliament. The new laws open the agriculture sector to reforms advocated by international financial institutions (IFIs), particularly the World Bank and IMF. Farmer organisations have slammed the bill for its neoliberal orientation, which will result in the destruction of existing wholesale markets and the corporatisation of agriculture. They have organised unprecedented opposition to demand a repeal of the laws.

In January 2021, farmers marched to Delhi with a rally of more than 100,000 tractors.  They continue their protest in the Delhi outskirts where a satyagraha (passive resistance) is taking place. The government claims the new laws will bring more choice ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Parshottam Rupala while addressing the celebrations of “World Water Day – 2021” virtually organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) said,  “We cannot think of practicing agriculture without water”.

Rupala underlined many facets of water in human life along with the significance of rivers like Ganga, Yamuna etc., in Indian Culture. The Minister also highlighted the role of women in water management and emphasized on the need to incorporate water as part of school level education.

Secretary (DARE) & DG (ICAR), Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra emphasized on the importance of Rivers in human civilizations. He urged for water harvesting & storage, selection of right methods for ...

The New York Times – Online

The farmer sat in the house his grandfather built, contemplating economic ruin.

Jaswinder Singh Gill had plowed 20 years of savings from an earlier career as a mechanical engineer into his family’s nearly 40-acre plot in the northwestern Indian state of Punjab, just a dozen miles from the border with Pakistan. He has eked rice out of the sandy, loamy soil with the help of generous government subsidies for 15 years, in hopes that his son and daughter may someday become the sixth generation to work the land.

Then India suddenly transformed the way it farms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year pushed through new laws that would ...

The Indian Express – Online

The minimum daily wages paid to agricultural labourers in Gujarat have been raised by 82.1 percent to Rs 324.2 per day, Dilipkumar Thakor, minister for labour and employment told the state legislature on Monday.

“The minimum wages paid in the agriculture sector was Rs 178 per day. Every five years it is reviewed. On January 1, 2021, we released a new notification according to which the minimum wages was raised to Rs 268 and a for the first time in Gujarat we started paying a on-hand allowance of Rs 56.20 per day“, the minister said In response to a question asked by Congress MLA Imran Khedawala who pointed out that the highest minimum wages in ...

The Tribune – Online

The state government has extended the subsidy scheme on anti-hail nets to agriculture. Until now, the scheme was available only for horticulture. “Under this scheme, the farmers will get 80 per cent subsidy on hail nets for 5,000 square meter area,” said agriculture subject matter specialist KK Singh.

He said the farmers doing multi-cropping, including both horticulture and agriculture, too, could avail the scheme. In the absence of anti-hail nets, many crops such as peas, cabbage, tomatoes and cauliflower etc suffer huge losses in the event of inclement weather, said KK Singh.

The farmers would need to apply to the department along with documents related to land and their Aadhaar Card. “Farmers should not purchase the ...

The Assam Tribune – Online

Water is vital for life on Earth and yet the value of this finite resource is perhaps the least considered. It is easier to visualize the trauma of one gasping for breath, for obvious reasons, but not the slow agony of those without adequate water. Our citizens remain oblivious to the significance of a ‘water value’ even though India ranks among the most water scarce countries. Worse still, a majority are unaware of conservation protocols in the face of an impending crisis of water in areas of current abundance.

The theme for the World Water Day 2021 is ‘Valuing Water’. The UN has elaborated that water means different things to different people. In households, schools ...

Hindustan Times – Online

The Nagaland government has begun work on an innovative model of cluster agricultural development, Naga Model Integrated Settled Farming (NISF).

The pilot project was launched at Boke-Botsa under Kohima district, where eight departments and a public undertaking – agriculture, sericulture, horticulture, animal husbandry and veterinary science, water resources, fishery and aquatic resources, land resources, soil and water conservation, and the Nagaland beekeeping and honey mission – are converging for the first time to work with the village community.

OpIndia – Online

The same old rhetoric of ‘farms will be sold to 4-5 big conglomerates’, ‘farmers will be rendered landless and exploited at the hands of few private players’ is being pushed forward by the kisan andolan leaders. The farmers agitating and holding Punjab and parts of Haryana and UP to ransom seem to be upset with farmers income doubling through open market and formalized contractual farming.

The fear mongering has made the farmers to believe that the private companies will take over their land. So let’s understand which section of the Farm Laws allows a company to buy a farmers land. Well the answer is none. There is no such provision in the Laws which enables a company to own ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Small farmers having less than 2-3 hectares of land cannot depend solely on farming for income. They depend on labour supply from their household members, and other works too. Another option they have to increase their income is contract farming, but it is not possible for every small farmer to get the opportunity of contract farming.

Then comes the livestock sector for increasing the income. The livestock sector alone can provide alternative livelihood options to over 70 million small and marginal farmers.

We have resources, we have facilities but still, India’s agricultural exports are hardly $40 billion per year. We can boost our annual farm shipments and dairy shipments in the near future.

The Pioneer – Online

At the Trade Policy Review (TPR) meeting held at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in January, India insisted that a permanent solution for public stockholding to serve the food security objective special safeguard measures (SSMs) to prevent import surges and elimination of unfair farm subsidy entitlements of some members should be taken up on a priority basis for any farm deal that may be worked out at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC-12) scheduled to be held from November 29.

For about two decades, India has been taking up at the WTO these core agriculture issues that are of concern to developing countries, under what has come to be known as the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). However, it ...

Tribune – Online

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is expected to be signed by the end of March for a loan agreement of Rs 1,010 crore under the phase II of the HP Crop Diversification Promotion Project (HPCDP) said Agriculture Minister Virender Kanwar.

Presiding over the governing council meeting of the HP Agriculture Development Society (organisation executing the project), last evening, he said it would be implemented in all 12 districts of the state to boost the socio-economic status of farmers’ families as had been achieved in the phase I of the project being implemented in five districts — Mandi, Kangra, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and Una — since 2011.

Kanwar asked the department and the project authorities to complete the ...

Business Standard – Online

Fertiliser subsidy accounts for second highest subsidy in India at around 22% of overall subsidy burden amounting to Rs 79.5 thousand crores. Given the high fiscal outlay, it is crucial to responsibly design and implement an efficient, effective and environmentally sustainable architecture for the distribution system of fertiliser.

The government has introduced several path-breaking reforms laying a strong foundation for this endeavour. These include introduction of the Fertiliser Management System to monitor operations across the value chain, neem coating of urea to prevent pilferage into non-farm uses, gas-pooling to increase production efficiency of domestic urea, Direct Benefit Transfer System enabling capture of real time movement from plant port to retail and also thr sale of fertiliser ...

AgWeb – Online

Water shortages threaten to devastate India’s food security, driving down winter harvests by 20 percent nationwide and by as much as 68 percent in key regions, according to a new study.

As we approach World Water Day on March 22—an annual observance by the United Nations—we should focus our minds on the limited resource of freshwater. If Indian farmers like me lose access to it, we’ll also lose our ability to produce the food that we all need.

India is home to more than 1.3 billion people. Nearly one in five of the planet’s people live here: We’re the second most populous nation, after China. Yet we have only 4 percent of the world’s groundwater.

The Free Press Journal – Online

Rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions in Maharashtra is likely to have a serious impact on your food plate, says a Baramati based professor and researcher. A recent study conducted by Rahul Todmal, an Assistant Professor of Geography at Vidya Pratishthan’s ASC College in Baramati has predicted that warmer and extreme weather conditions post 2033 are likely to hit the production of agricultural food grains as well as cash crops in the state.

In his research study titled ‘Future Climate Change Scenario over Maharashtra, Western India: Implications of the Regional Climate Model for the Understanding of Agricultural Vulnerability’, he has indicated that the annual mean minimum temperatures are expected to rise significantly across 80 ...

The Pioneer – Online

The ongoing farmers’ agitation is not a spontaneous event. It is one of the consequences of decades old discontent emanating from paradigm shift in agriculture beginning with the Green Revolution in 1960s.  It would be wrong to think that only the new farm bills are at its roots. At its core, there are seeds of the Green Revolution which have enslaved farmers in various ways. And, above all, these poison-laden seeds have shattered the life base with which the society is nurtured and on the strength of which we dream of a safe future. A natural resource that has been most whipped off by our modern farming is the groundwater of the earth.

Now, a study ...

The Sentinel – Online

Since 1993 onward the World Water Day is celebrated every year on March 22 across the world. This is really an essential and appreciable step initiated by the United Nations for the greater interest of human civilization and its declared 22nd March of each year as the “World Day for Water”. This was first observed in 1993 as an International event with a theme “Water, Sustainable development, Sustainability”. This year’s theme for World Water Day is – Valuing Water. Thus it can be interpreted as the true value of water is much more than its price and it must be valued appropriately for different uses and for different users and due emphasis and actions should be ...

Greater Kashmir – Online

World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater. The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. Water is the foundation of life on earth. From nourishing all living organisms to supporting the cultivation of food, water is crucial for our survival. 75 per cent of the earths surface consists of water, yet only two per cent of it is freshwater. Agricultural production consumes almost 70 per cent of the worlds freshwater supply. As the worlds ...

News Click – Online

Movements and struggles to protect small and medium farmers from the onslaught of big business are going on in many countries. These struggles have uncovered a hidden enemy of farmers everywhere—it is the rules that underpin international trade agreements. Their clauses favour big business interests at the cost of farmers.

The problems exist on two planes—in the World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and the Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).

The WTO has interlinked agricultural issues with international trade. This was not the case under earlier trade arrangements. What is more, this has been done mainly based on the self-interest of the United States and the European Union. However, the average farm size in these countries, for farming, ...

The Logical Indian – Online

Vidhan Soudha Chalo! This is the war-cry of Kannadigas across the state right now. A joint coalition of farmer-worker-Dalit groups, student organizations and women organizations with people from across Karnataka are set to storm Bengaluru on March 22, Monday. National farm leaders including Rakesh Tikait, Dr Darshan Pal Singh and Yaduveer Singh of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha have already arrived in Karnataka, to protest.

Inventina – Online

The farmer’s protests have been retaliating against the contentious farm laws for quite a few months. India has been in the midst of constant protests from the farmers against the farm bills proposed by the Government since November 2020. The protests are withstanding, as the farmers are set to urge an embankment on constructing brick houses at the Singhu Border. But what has turned the tide so drastically that the matter got to the levels where there is an extreme distortion to people’s interests.

Krishi Jagran – Online

A lot of focus has been put on growing farmer income in order to improve the country’s agricultural sector. Several agricultural reforms were announced as part of the budget presentation, and the government reiterated its commitment to the welfare of farmers as well as the growth of agriculture and related sectors. Agriculture and its subsidiaries have shown exceptional resiliency. Despite the covid-19 pandemic, the economy expanded at a rate of 3.3%, while other economic sectors suffered.

Despite various advertisements due to Covid-19, which included a lockdown, the country’s total food production is expected to be 296.45 million tonnes in 2019-20. Excellent agricultural outputs and a nearly 20% share of GDP for the first time in the ...

Down To Earth – Online

It was believed that agri-market reforms would improve the economic conditions of farmers in Bihar by enhancing competitiveness. But this proved to be untrue. The real income level of farm households declined during the post-reform period in Bihar.

The monthly real income of agricultural households in Bihar was Rs 1,810 during 2002-03. This declined by 6.85 per cent (Rs 1,686) during 2012-13. In Punjab, where such agri-reforms had not occurred, the monthly real income of farm households improved by 72.56 per cent to Rs 8,559 from Rs 4,960 during this period.

The real income of farmers at an all-India level also increased by 39.43 per cent during this period. This shows that Bihar remains one of the poorest states of ...

The Times of India

Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait on Friday attended a ‘Chasi Mahapanchayat’ at Chandikhole in Jajpur district and said the fight against farm laws will continue in the entire country.

He said Panchayats and Mahapanchayats are being conducted in different states and it will be held across the country. “The Centre will definitely face the heat of our movement. The government has to come up with a law to guarantee the minimum support price (MSP) of agricultural produces. It has to withdraw the three farm laws,” he added.

Orissa Diary – Online

Mr Parshottambhai Rupala, Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India today said that our farmers are registering an all-time high record production. “When we talk about India, we cannot leave the agriculture sector. When we talk about agriculture, we should be compelled to talk about pesticides, as it plays a very important role in ensuring the growth of agriculture in India,” he added.

Addressing the second day of ‘India Chem 2021’, organized by FICCI, jointly with the Department of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Govt of India, Mr Rupala said, “We need to devise methods and policies to increase farmer’s awareness regarding spraying of pesticides. They need to be made aware of its cost ...

News Patrolling – Online

The agricultural sector in India is changing rapidly with new technologies introduced. These new technologies are also offering job opportunities to people with skills. Geo Informatics is one such technology used in agriculture. Innovation in technology and geospatial technology is creating dynamic and competitive agriculture to be protective for nature and capable of providing nutrition to consumers. Geo informatics is certainly changing the face of agriculture. NABARD Grade A  exam offers geo informatics job opportunities to aspirants who want to work in this new age technology. However, to get this job opportunity, you need to undergo the entrance exam.

Hindustan Times – Online

Keeping in view a bumper production in 2020 and no major pest outbreak in the crop for the last five years, the Punjab agriculture department has decided to add 50,000 hectares under cotton cultivation in the Malwa region this year.

This will be an increase of 10% over the current area of 5 lakh hectares. The sowing for the major cash crop in eight semi-arid districts of the region will start from next month.

Experts say as farmers received good rates for their produce and global and domestic demand of raw cotton is increasing, more growers will be motivated to diversify towards the cash crop. If the state authorities manage to achieve the set target, it ...

The Indian Express – Online

Officials of the National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD), while presenting the state focus paper for Gujarat on Thursday, expressed concern regarding the decreasing credit flow in the agriculture sector.

In the state focus paper unveiled by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, NABARD has projected a target of Rs 2.25 lakh crore for 2021-22 for financing by banks under agriculture, MSMEs and other priority sectors of the state which is 20.32 per cent higher than last year’s Rs 1.87 lakh crore.

“Whatever potential we asses each year usually comes close to the actual credit flow in the state. Banks need to work more in the agricultural sector, because there is a gap between the ...

Livemint – Online

The roots of the continuing farmers’ agitation go back over 50 years to the origins of the Green Revolution. Following the disastrous droughts of 1965-66 and 1966-67, the government adopted a new policy for food grain production, distribution and pricing to achieve food self-sufficiency. Foodgrain farmers were provided high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, and subsidized water, power and fertilizers, while assuring them of remunerative prices. This also entailed a hefty food subsidy, since the Minimum Support Price (MSP) at which Food Corporation of India (FCI) procures rice and wheat (plus cost of storage, etc.) is much higher than the price at which foodgrains are provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Rural Marketing – Online

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India has recently appointed three agritech companies; Leads Connect, Agriwatch and IAR to conduct Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) in 100 districts across India. This is a part of Government of India’s flagship crop insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) under which the agencies will be conducting large-scale pilot studies for technology-based gram panchayat level yield estimates.

Leads Connect, a Noida based agritech company, with its cutting-edge technologies such as remote sensing, GIS, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics frameworks, will co-observe the CCEs conducted by state government for PMFBY. In addition to this, Leads Connect will conduct few additional CCEs for wheat in various districts ...

The Times of India – Online

The SC appointed committee on farm laws may consider backing protection for MSP in its report with several unions, including those not agitating against the farm laws, pitching for stronger protection of a floor price.

There are indications that the three-member SC-appointed panel may in its report speak favourably on the demand on MSP as most unions who appeared before it or submitted their views called for a legal guarantee to MSP to procure all crops.

 Though these unions had not objected to central farm laws, in their representations they are learnt to have told the panel that any decision pertaining to giving legal guarantee to MSP may end the agitation as the protestors ...

Daily Excelsior – Online

Indian farmers are the backbone of our nation’s economy, as Indian economy is Primary agriculture based. According to a survey India is one of the top countries in cultivation and farming. But Indian farmers stayed neglected community for decades , despite their huge contribution in economy of the nation. Indian farmers are constantly subjected to harassment. India is the largest producer of wheat, rice, pulses and spices and has more scope for growth in Agriculture sector. If farmers get an assured minimum support price for their produce, if the functioning in trade becomes digital or online and the middle person is eliminated , who is exchanging goods from farmers to factories or from factories to farmers ...

The Sentinel News – Online

his report titled as “Global Non-Agriculture Smart Irrigation Controller Market”, gives a brief about the comprehensive research and an outline of its growth in the market globally. It states about the significant market drivers, trends, limitations and opportunities to give a wide-ranging and precise data and also scrutinizes its growth in the overall markets development which is needed and expected.

The Non-Agriculture Smart Irrigation Controller Market research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically-supported and industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. It provides analysis and information by categories such as market segments, regions, and product type and distribution ...

The Hindu – Online

East Godavari Joint Collector G. Lakshmisha on Wednesday said that 1,094 groups comprising local farmers had been constituted to run the agricultural machinery centres set up at the Rythu Bharosa Kendras in the district by April.

According to Agriculture Minister K. Kannababu, the State government has framed a policy, providing agricultural machinery on rent to local farmers to minimise the input cost.

Mr. Lakshmisha and other district officials on Wednesday held talks with the companies dealing with agricultural machinery to decide price, models of machinery and types of machinery required for farming in various sizes of land holdings.

The Tribune – Online

Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) chief Ranjit Singh Brahmpura condemned the centre for its alleged anti-farmers policies to favour corporates in the country and called all the sections of society to come forward and fight such policies.

Brahmpura was addressing his party workers, besides farmers, commission agents and shopkeepers at his native village.

He said the three controversial agri laws were not only affecting the farming sector, but would also ruin small scale industrialists and shopkeepers.

The Tribune – Online

A team of experts of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, SAS Nagar (Mohali) after visiting various fields in the district have observed that some farmers are unable to differentiate between beneficial and harmful insects. Wrong identification of insects and the amount incurred on insecticides to control these insects will lead to heavy economic loss to the farmers. “Keeping record about life cycle of the harmful insects is the first step for their effective management which requires important information regarding appearance of particular insects and their numbers. This record keeping will help the farmers to effectively plan and manage the target insect in the coming years. Insect attack on the crop depends upon crop variety, crop cultivation practices and ...

IndianWeb2 – Online

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture has appointed Leads Connect Services Private Limited, a Noida based Agri-tech company, along with two other independent private agencies — Agriwatch and IAR Insurance Surveyors & Loss Assessors Pvt Ltd, to conduct the Crop Cutting Experiments (CCE) in 100 districts across India. This is a part of Government of India’s flagship scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) under which the agency will be conducting large-scale pilot studies for technology-based Gram-Panchayat level yield estimates.

Leads Connect, with its cutting-edge technologies such as Remote Sensing and GIS, artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics frameworks, will co-observe the CCEs conducted by state Government for PMFBY. In addition to this, Leads Connect ...

Daily Excelsior – Online

Women in India are the backbone of the society and important human resource. They play a significant and crucial role in agriculture and allied operations and household activities. Economic well being of India depends on the agricultural development since the livelihood of 60 per cent of the population is based on Agriculture and allied occupation. Women workers make a mammoth contribution in agricultural development but their socio economic condition is not quite appreciable due to cultural and political reasons. India as one such country is highly depending on agriculture resources, where the majority of its agriculture workforce is dominated by women. In India, adult population of women consists of nearly 50 per cent and about 77 ...

The Hindu Business Line – Online

India’s agricultural imports are mainly dominated by vegetable oils, pulses, cashew nuts, fresh fruits and spices

Artvalley cross culture – Online

In a country with over 600 million farmers, most of them small or very small, of which 150 million are landowners, India’s goal of greater agricultural efficiency is predominantly implemented through agricultural mechanization.

Mechanization is used for preparing the soil, sowing high-quality seeds that multinationals — such as Syngenta and Monsanto are introducing to the market — for haymaking and agricultural residue management as well as irrigation, etc. It also integrates the vast world of fertilizers and bio-stimulants to increase crop yields and environmental sustainability.

These are all technological fields in which Italy provides an important contribution. And, Italy is already well positioned in India both as an exporter and as a producer in various ...

Scroll.in – Online

Indian women are left behind on farms to make ends meet as more men migrate from rural areas to cities, seeking higher incomes and better jobs.

Nearly 75% of the full-time workers on Indian farms are women, according to the international humanitarian group Oxfam. Female farmers produce 60% to 80% of the South Asian country’s food.

So it is little surprise women are playing a visible role in the monthslong nationwide protests against agricultural reforms passed last September by the Indian government.

Small farmers are particularly vulnerable to three new laws, which deregulated the agricultural market and weakened the government-established minimum sale price for crops in ways that, demonstrators say, could pit small farmers against big agribusiness firms.

And women, as ...

Financial Express – Online

No political intent, but I shall start by saying Indian agriculture is at a crucial juncture. Covid-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of our economy. Unfortunately, the coverage and impact of the pandemic were so colossal that every segment of our economy bore its brunt. It was the farmers of India, in particular, who could not only resist the blitz of the pandemic but also proved that agriculture can remain the most dependable segment of the Indian economy.

The pandemic, however, has also opened up new opportunities in agriculture, which, if tapped early, can not only make our economy more buoyant but also can contribute to doubling the farmers’ income. Sensing the immense potential of Indian ...

Straight.com – Online

Millions of Indian farmers have been protesting in India’s many states since September 2020 against three laws passed by the Indian government. These laws are:

Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Ordinance, 2020 The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020

Before discussing what these laws mean to the Indian government and the farmers, let’s look at some statistics about India’s population and poverty. According to the World Bank figures in 2019, 66 percent is rural and 34 percent is urban of the total population of approximately 1.38 billion.

The Times of India – Online

Since green revolution, food production has been growing at 2.3 percent, more than the population growth rate, disproving the Malthusian theory of population, that while population increases by geometric progression, food production increases at arithmetic progression. And Agricultural Extension has played a crucial role in this regard.

None who lived through the phases of green revolution can ever forget the Training and Visit System integrating the research and development from State Agricultural Universities with the agricultural extension efforts of the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture through the grass root Grama Sevaks (Village level Workers) in convincing farmers of the role of modern technology,  farm laws, policies in achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture. In Karnataka, the ...

The Times of India – Online

Announcing the different schemes beneficial for farmers and technology being used to make lives of the farmers easier, state agriculture minister Lalchand Kataria said in the Assembly that in the upcoming years, policies of the state government will yield good results. Addressing the Assembly, Kataria said that farmers in Rajasthan have been doing diverse farming which has been beneficial for the state. The state is first in India in the production of bajra, mustard, isabgol and other crops, and in cumin and fennel seeds, it is on the second position.

The Standard – Online

India has over the recent months witnessed one of the largest protests in world history, with farmers resisting plans by the government to overhaul the country’s agriculture sector.

Towards the end of last year the Indian Parliament debated and passed three sets of laws aimed at radically changing the agriculture sector, particularly liberalising the industry that is still largely government-controlled.

The three legislations signed into law by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi are set to give farmers a free hand to sell their produce to buyers of their choice, away from the current system where they have to sell to government-run wholesale markets.

The Better India – Online

Shankar Jaat from Salera village Rajasthan is a traditional farmer, growing tomato, beans and wheat on his 1.25-acre land. However, the 45-year-old marginal farmer never earned more than Rs 60,000 a year, because unlike other fertile regions of India, the state’s harsh weather and arid climate conditions do not allow farmers to get surplus harvest. Shortage of water often limits farmers to only one crop rotation per year. They often rely upon the mercy of the monsoon for a good harvest.

However, over the years, Shankar has adopted scientific techniques that have now aided him in earning Rs 4 lakh a year, with the same crops on the same amount of land.

ANI News – Online

When India became free in 1947, the country’s population was around 340 million. The bulk of the population was involved in agriculture. During the Moghul rule, the land was owned by the emperor and the Jagirdars and Zamindars (/topic/zamindars) appointed by the Moghul controlled vast tracts of land for the purpose of collecting the land revenue. The farmers were virtually landless. I have seen these poor exploited souls walk towards the sheds of these landlords like cattle after the day’s toil to sleep for the night and get some rice and daal for food.

Business Insider India – Online

The Rajasthan government gives priority to the agriculture sector and a new “agriculture budget” will be introduced in the state from next year to fulfill the dreams of farmers, Agriculture Minister Lal Chand Kataria said on Monday.

Efforts are being made to provide all facilities to the farmers online through innovations. Also, the department is working to provide agricultural equipment on rent, Kataria said.

He was replying to the discussion on demand for grants in the state assembly following which the House passed over Rs 37.56 billion for agriculture and Rs 18.29 billion for animal husbandry departments by a voice vote.

YourStory – Online

Between 2017 and 2019, India lost crops grown on nearly 8.5 percent (or 18.16 million hectares) of its total arable land due to floods and excessive rains, according to data shared by the government in the Lok Sabha in February. This resulted in monetary losses to the tune of hundreds of crores of rupees for farmers. Crop loss, and, by extension, financial loss, is the leading cause of farmer suicides in India. And, with the world hurtling towards climate change, crop losses are only going to keep getting worse. In fact, environmental scientists have predicted that climate change can lead to a 1.5 percent decline in India’s GDP in the next nearly 10 years — and the farmer ...

The Indian Express – Online

The farmers’ movement invites us to revisit the trajectory of India’s agriculture so as to understand its real problems. Beginning in the mid-1960s, India and, especially, Punjab experienced a massive productivity boom as a result of widespread adoption of Green Revolution technologies. This transition was driven by public investment in irrigation and market infrastructure. Essential to the system’s success was the minimum support price, which incentivised the cultivation of wheat and rice. Area under paddy cultivation in Punjab jumped from 4.8 per cent of total cropped area in 1960-61 to 39.19 per cent in 2018-19.

Republic World – Online

On Saturday, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh distributed agriculture machinery and equipment to farmers. He also allocated the financial assistance of Rs 10,000 for handicraft tool kits to 1,500 artisans, as part of the North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme. Sharing the pictures from the event, the Chief Minister tweeted, “Immensely glad to distribute financial assistance for handicrafts tool kits under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme to 1500 handicrafts artisans through DBT, and Agriculture Machineries and Equipment under Sub-Mission of Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) Scheme to farmers of different districts today.”

Financial Express – Online

Efforts made by the concerned stakeholders in the agri-supply chain in the last decade have resulted in increase of exports from $7,343.98 million in April 2009-10 to $16,133.28 million in 2019-20. In the first 10 months of the current fiscal, we achieved exports worth $15,566 million—an increase of over 20% compared to same period in 2019-20. In rupee terms, the agri-export realisation was Rs 1,157,82 crore during April-January 2020-21—more than 25% compared to the previous fiscal. The key factors for this are efforts made towards strengthening backward linkage, setting up of post-harvest infrastructure, strengthening of logistics infrastructure, and market promotion efforts for taking the agri-produce to global markets.

Tribune India – Online

THE seeds of the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the farm laws were, ironically, sown with the advent of the Green Revolution in Punjab, and subsequently in Haryana and Western UP, in the 1960s and 1970s. The wheat-paddy crop rotation assiduously promoted by the Central and state governments through robust institutional support, public-funded R&D in high-yielding varieties of seeds, assured irrigation and subsidised fertilisers, ably backed by field-level extension services and the initiative of Punjabi farmers made the Green Revolution a great success, paving the way for ensuring the food security of the country. The Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime and the procurement policy of the government, together with free electricity, sustained the boom and Punjab was ...

The Indian Express – Online

The centrality of agriculture in India goes much beyond its immediate employment contribution, where it engages close to 42 per cent of the country’s workforce. The sector not only feeds the large and growing Indian population but with its close interlinkage with poverty, it is best positioned to alleviate problems of malnutrition and hunger. In addition, agriculture supplies inputs for other industries and is critical for triggering a multiplier effect in the economy, where a financially empowered farming community triggers a demand-led growth, particularly for manufactured products and services. There is no doubt that the sector needs to grow not just for those employed in it but also for the economy as a whole.

The Times of India – Online

The BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is continuously working to double the income of farmers and has increased budget for agriculture many times, said Union minister of state for agriculture and farmer welfare, Kailash Choudhary on Sunday. Addressing a seminar as chief guest during Kalanamak Mahotsav in Siddharthnagar virtually, Choudhary said, “The Union Government led by PM Modi is continuously making efforts to double the income of farmers. Previous governments used to allocate Rs 23,000 crore for agriculture, but now Rs 1,23,000 crore has been allocated of which Rs 75,000 crore is going directly in the accounts of farmers.”

“Both Union and state governments will take steps to promote Kalanamak rice ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh distributed agriculture machinery and equipment to farmers and financial assistance of ₹10,000 for handicraft tool kits under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme to 1,500 artisans in Imphal on Saturday.

“Immensely glad to distribute financial assistance for handicrafts tool kits under North East Region Textile Promotion Scheme to 1500 handicrafts artisans through DBT, and Agriculture Machineries and Equipment under Sub-Mission of Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM) Scheme to farmers of different districts today.” the Chief Minister tweeted on Saturday.

According to an official release, the distribution function was jointly organised by the Manipur government’s Department of Agriculture and Directorate of Handlooms and Textiles. Speaking at the occasion, Chief Minister Singh said that agriculture ...

Tribune India – Online

With farmers agitating for over 100 days, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar today allocated an outlay of Rs 6,110 crore for agriculture and economic wellbeing of farmers in the Budget, an increase of 20.9 per cent from the revised estimate of last year.

This includes Rs 2,998 crore for agriculture and farmers welfare, Rs 489 crore for horticulture, Rs 1,225 for animal husbandry and dairying, Rs 125 crore for fisheries and Rs 1,274 crore for cooperation.

The Indian Wire – Online

For better or for worse, the game of sustainability has changed altogether. It can not just be achieved by restricting oneself to inflict less harm to the very soul of Nature, rather we need to focus more on doing good to the very environment we live in.

We have realized that lately and consequently, most of the countries are trying their best to discover ways to achieve the same. The pandemic may have shaken our systems to the very core and have woken us from the deep slumber.

Sustainability talks of the extension of environmental benefits to our future generations those may be deprived of its inherent benefits but here the onus is not just ...

The Indian Express

Green Gold, as bamboo is often known, is found everywhere in India. It is one of those rare, naturally-occurring resources agnostic to climatic conditions, soil conditions and precipitation levels available in 136 species. Millions of Indians rely on bamboo for a part of their entire livelihoods.

Despite this vast bamboo habitat in India, which is also the second-largest bamboo growing country in the world, the grass remains woefully under-utilised. The perception of bamboo as “poor man’s timber” and a law that had designated non-forest bamboo as a tree prevented it from making inroads into the consumer goods and lifestyle products segments where it otherwise holds tremendous scope.

Inventina – Online

Getting grocery from the market seems like a quick task. We have got so used to the supermarkets and grocery stores near our houses that we do not think about the larger aspect of their availability. If today we are capable of getting the fruits and vegetables and other edible stuff it is all a credit portion to the months of involved hard work. A farmer needs to undergo a vast process to manage the food to be delivered to us. The agriculture companies have been, for years unknown doing efforts to keep the supply of edible things constant to us. The process is a long one that needs involves tedious days of production of the crops, ...

The Print – Online

Indian women are left behind on farms to make ends meet as more men in India migrate from rural areas to cities, seeking higher incomes and better jobs.

Nearly 75% of the full-time workers on Indian farms are women, according to the international humanitarian group OXFAM. Female farmers produce 60% to 80% of the South Asian country’s food.

Common Dreams – Online

As natural disasters multiply across the world, the race to fix our broken climate is proclaimed far and wide. Climate change turns up on the agenda of most international fora. And for no small reason: weather and natural disasters directly related to the climate crisis caused USD $232 billion of economic losses across the world in 2019. Asia and Oceania alone accounted for nearly half of that total, with USD $107 billion in losses. But, as urgent as the situation is, some of the solutions to the climate crisis being promoted from above are misleading. Not only are they not putting us in the right track, they are also exacerbating an array of other problems ranging from poverty ...

Philippine information agency  – Online

Department of Agriculture – Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering (DA-BAFE) Director Ariodear C. Rico recognizes the important role of women and the significant number of female agricultural and biosystems engineers who are leading the country towards the mechanization and modernization of the agriculture sector.

Women’s role in agriculture needs to be sustainable because “women together with men are of equal importance,” Dir. Rico said.

As part of the celebration of International Women’s Day 2021, DA-BAFE in collaboration with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) gathered key stakeholders in the agricultural sector in an online meeting held on March 9 to discuss timely topics surrounding women in agriculture.

Dubbed as “Creating equal opportunities for women ...

Eurasia review – Online

As the global population grows, the demand for food increases while arable land shrinks. A new University of Illinois study investigates how rice production in India can meet future needs by adapting to changing climate conditions and water availability.

“Rice is the primary crop in India, China, and other countries in Southeast Asia. Rice consumption is also growing in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world,” says Prasanta Kalita, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at U of I and lead author on the study.

“If you look at where they traditionally grow rice, it is countries that have plenty of water, or at least they used to. They have tropical weather with ...

Manila Bulletin – Online

The Philippines, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar, has a strong bilateral connection with Israel and India in the field of agriculture. This 2021, DA aims to achieve a 2.5 percent growth through the strategies that fall under its major components: consolidation, modernization, industrialization, and professionalization.

“Precision agriculture, digital agriculture, and resilient agriculture will always be the main innovation system that will trigger higher levels of productivity today and in the future. The DA will also amplify the climate change adaptation and mitigation measures that will help our farmers in the future,” Dar added. As part of this development, Dar emphasized the expansion of e-Kadiwa, a digital marketing application that links farm ...

The conversation US – Online

Indian women are left behind on farms to make ends meet as more men in India migrate from rural areas to cities, seeking higher incomes and better jobs.

Nearly 75% of the full-time workers on Indian farms are women, according to the international humanitarian group OXFAM. Female farmers produce 60% to 80% of the South Asian country’s food.

So it’s little surprise women are playing a visible role in the monthslong nationwide protests against agricultural reforms passed last September by the Indian government.

Al Jazeera – Online

Raghbir Singh Bhangala often stands looking at his fields beyond the barbed-wire fence that marks the border between India and Pakistan. He stands on five acres of his own farmland in the Tarn Taran district of India’s Punjab state, while the remaining eight acres is on the other side of the fence.

Bhangala, now 78, has spent more than 25 years of his life fighting for the right to till his land, ever since it was declared a restricted area because it falls between the fence and the so-called “zero line” – the international border between India and Pakistan.

Krishi Jagran – Online

Climate Change in India has always been about increase in temperatures, rise in sea level and burning of fossil fuels but seldom do we discuss its impact on the Agricultural sector, which employs more than 10 percent of the nation’s population.

The rise in global warming is expected to hit the sector hard but what impacts will it have and what does the future hold for us?

Dr. Soumyajit Bhar is a faculty member at Terra.do who is currently teaching on the flagship course, Climate Change: Learning for Action. He is also currently working as a Visiting Assistant Professor with Krea University and Statistical Consultant with Gradright shares his views about the growing impact of climate change ...

Sambad English – Online

Over a hundred days have passed since farmers from every corner of India came together protesting against the new Farm Laws introduced by the Government. With stern belief among the protesters that the new laws would only cause serious damages to the Indian farms and their farmers, the protest still continues.

Apparently, the current situations in India are suggested to have resonance with the agricultural crisis that the United States of America suffered in the 1980s. As this happens, a team of four friends, including one Sristy Agarwal from Sambalpur, have made a documentary about the aftermath of the U.S. Agricultural Act of the 1990s.

YourStory – Online

Around the world, businesses are shifting away from a narrow focus on profit to an inclusive approach that benefits the planet and the people. In India, some of these entrepreneurs are looking toward the land, which has suffered from decades of degradation. Their mission is to heal this damage and build strong rural economies. The opportunity is big: 42 percent of land in India could benefit from protecting forests and restoring the land. By growing trees and helping farmers produce more sustainably, these entrepreneurs are creating jobs for women, marginalised people, and forest dwellers. But these leaders need help accessing finance, networks, and technical know-how to scale up their work and benefit more people.

Science Daily – Online

“Rice is the primary crop in India, China, and other countries in Southeast Asia. Rice consumption is also growing in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world,” says Prasanta Kalita, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at U of I and lead author on the study.

“If you look at where they traditionally grow rice, it is countries that have plenty of water, or at least they used to. They have tropical weather with heavy rainfall they depend on for rice production. Overall, about 4,000 liters of water go into production and processing per kilogram of rice,” he states.

Climate change is likely to affect future water availability, and rice farmers must implement ...

Outlook – Online

Madhya Pradesh is one of the progressive States for agriculture in India. The Government of Madhya Pradesh has launched the NAVAAS initiative for developing self-help technologies that benefit the small and marginal farmers. It focuses on development of tools and techniques suitable for small and marginal farmers, ensuring livelihood security, improving productive value of yield, generating value from crop residue, reducing weather change vulnerability, and conservation of natural capital. The Outlook team spoke with Shri. Arvind Singh Bhadoria, Honourable Minister, Cooperatives, Public Service Management, Government of Madhya Pradesh, regarding this initiative. Following are the excerpt from the interview.

MediaNama – Online

The government has constituted a task force for its ‘AgriStack’ project which will deliberate the contours of a Unified Farmers Service Platform (USFP), it said in replies to Parliamentary questions.

The question raised by Indian National Congress Member of Parliament Pradyut Bordoloi, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Task Force is only working a framework document and Digital Blue Print for the UFSP. The database will be built only once the Ministry approves the Task Force’s recommendations, after involving the relevant organisations.

Diary Reporter – Online

On March 10, the National Dairy Producers Union of Russia (SOYUZMOLOKO) and the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare of India held a video conference meeting of the IRSED Coordination Committee on the agriculture and agro-processing sectors. Participants discussed the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture, restoration and preservation of soil fertility, as well as trade in agricultural products. Smart Farming hardware and software platform for bovine cattle monitoring was introduced by the Russian side.

LiveMint – Online

India’s farm subsidy policies came under the scanner at the World Trade Organization (WTO) during the country’s trade policy review (TPR), with members such as Canada, the US and Australia complaining that India has not declared its agriculture export subsidies for more than eight years, while Brazil held that India’s longstanding support measures for sugar have suppressed global prices by up to 25%.

Summarizing members’ concerns against India’s farm subsidy policies, WTO chairperson Harald Aspelund said the high level of government intervention in the agriculture sector was a sore point for members. “Members recognized the importance of the sector in supporting livelihoods and food security; however, they urged India to reform its agricultural policies that continued to ...

Agriculture Post – Online

The Promotion and Stabilization of Farmer Producer Organizations (PSFPO) project today commenced its operation with the registration of its first farmer producer organisation, Divya-Loka at Banmalipur village under Balipatna Block in Khordha district of Odisha. Celebrating, International Women’s Day, the FPO setup was inaugurated by SK Swain, Director, Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in the presence of representatives from the community of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).

PSFPO works to increase the profitability and sustainability of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) in Odisha, India. This three-year project will work in close collaboration with the Government of Odisha to leverage government resources and expertise to achieve impact. PSFPO will work with farmers and FPOs to develop the FPO ecosystem in the state, improve the implementation of policies and interventions for FPO strengthening, streamline ...

Media India – Online

On March 10, the agricultural negotiations committee of the World Trade Organisation will undertake yet another round of discussion on numerous contentious issues that have been lined up for discussions by the Geneva-based trade regulator. These talks are significant for several reasons. First, they concern agriculture, which is the largest source of livelihood for an overwhelming majority of humanity as close to 70 pc of people, mainly in the developing nations, depend solely on farming for survival.

Second, these talks would be the first ones since the WTO has a new director-general who brings with her two radical elements, marking a first in the history of the WTO. On March 1, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria became ...

The Hindu – Online

Change is needed as Indian farmers face constraints, and as world agriculture will now rely on middle-income countries

The intense debates around the recently enacted farm laws have brought to…

APN News – Online

One of India’s fastest growing agri-commerce companies, WayCool Foods has signed a 3-year umbrella MoU with National Design and Research Forum (NDRF).  The collaboration will help WayCool in its pursuit to re-imagine the agri-supply chain with the introduction of solutions aimed at constantly enhancing efficiency and reducing food wastage. For NDRF, WayCool’s farmer connect and distribution excellence will help expedite field trials of its unique, sustainable agricultural products such as naturally developed bio-fertilizers. Further, WayCool’s network will also be leveraged to ensure these sustainable innovations reach the fields.

ZDNet – Online

You may have noticed that India has been engulfed by unprecedented, massive protests against its government.

Hundreds of thousands of farmers have been amassing across the country to say no to the country’s three new farm laws that, farmers say, threaten their livelihoods. Even global celebrities Rihanna and Greta Thunberg have taken notice and tweeted their support of the protests.

But this has only enraged the government and its band of vocal celebrity supporters across the Bollywood film industry and cricket establishment. A few weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government did something to further terrify the ordinary Indian — it arrested and jailed two twenty-something, innocent, and relatively unknown women for supporting the farmers.

Forbes India – Online

The gap in agricultural productivity between countries is vast: the richest nations perform about 50 times better than the poorest, which has implications for global income inequality.

Clearly, part of the problem in low-income countries is a lack of money for farmers to invest in better seeds or equipment. But there are other issues at work, too. In a new study, Jacopo Ponticelli, an associate professor of finance at Kellogg, and colleagues suggest that lack of information about agricultural technologies and practices is a major barrier. And, importantly, their research showed that offering farmers on-demand advice over the phone can help remedy this.

The Times of India – Online

Women are the backbone of the Indian agriculture sector and their contribution is pivotal in making the sector self-reliant, according to the government. Addressing a virtual event organised by Indian council of agricultural research (ICAR) to commemorate the International Women’s Day on Monday, two Union ministers of state for agriculture – Parshottam Rupala and Kailash Choudhary – spoke about women’s contribution in every sector including agriculture. Rupala highlighted the central government’s various schemes that are aimed at empowering women in every aspect of life, while Choudhary lauded women’s contribution in agriculture and farming sectors.

The Print – Online

Women farmers, until now, were working in the shadows of our food systems. However, the recent farmer protest and their global coverage has changed this. The voices of our distressed women farmers can be easily heard in vast numbers, expressing, as TIME magazine quotes it “Who are we, if not farmers?” Therefore, on this International Women’s Day, it is important to acknowledge the ongoing phenomenon of feminisation of Indian agricultural workforce that has been in play since the past few decades.

In 2011, India had about 481 million people in its workforce (as per Census 2011); about 31 per cent or about 150 million of these workers were women. This share was about 14 per cent in 1981. Multitudes of women ...

The Wire – Online

In a speech last September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted that 85% of India’s farmers own small tracts of land.

The timing of the address was crucial. Modi was defending the new controversial farm laws and trying to make a larger point on why collective contract farming – which one of the three laws seek to allow – would be beneficial for India’s farmers.

But, if one was ever able to ask the Prime Minister the absolute number of farmers that the 85% he mentioned would translate to, you would be lucky to get a response. This is because the Indian government doesn’t quite know how many farmers there are in India, or indeed, who really is a ...

The Hindu – Online

Award-winning farmer Mavuram Mallikarjun Reddy’s journey from software to agriculture

If bad loans, crop failures and low yields hover like dark clouds over agriculture, organic farmers like Mavuram Mallikarjun Reddy are the silver lining. A native of Pedda Kurumapally village in Karimnagar district of Telangana

Truthout – Online

The world has been riveted for months now by the mass farmers’ strike in India against Narendra Modi’s neoliberal agriculture reforms bills. The passage of these deeply unpopular laws has overlapped with the Modi regime’s intensified crackdown of any and all dissent at home.

But one big part of this story has gone unnoticed: the complicity of Google and other tech platforms in propping up the repressive Modi-BJP government through their huge investments in the regime’s closest allies and biggest beneficiaries.

In particular, Google’s multi-billion dollar investment in the telecommunications company owned by oil and gas billionaire Mukesh Ambani shows how US Big Tech will stop at nothing to make a bigger profit, even if this includes legitimizing a ...

Daily Excelsior – Online

Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir are officially recognized as marginal farmers because of very small agricultural land holdings estimated at 0.55 hectares during the agriculture census 2015-2016. Unofficial sources say that land holding is much smaller (around 0.45 hectares ). In Kashmir valley, the size is even smaller. During the 2010-2011 agriculture census, the average size of operational land holdings in India was 1.15 hectares. This figure was lower, at 0.62 hectares in Jammu and Kashmir. Districts in Kashmir valley had even lower landholding sizes than the state as a whole. Kulgam 0.39 hectares Anantnag 0.39 , Shopian 0.56, Pulwama 0.48, Srinagar 0.31, Budgam 0.43, Baramulla 0.51, Ganderbal 0.37, Kupwara 0.51, Bandipora 0.48. This figure again ...

Times of India – Online

The state government has set up an integrated call centre for agriculture and farmers in allied sectors to address their grievances. Experts would provide assistance to farmers on their farm-related issues over phone as well as via text messages. The centre will be available from 7 am to 7 pm on all working days.

Agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu said that the farmers could seek guidance on all agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, sericulture and marketing issues from the call centre. “Experts in all the sectors would be available to share their knowledge and guide the farmers with the right inputs. The decision to open the dedicated call centre with experts is another step to take the government ...

The Hindu – Online

According to the Muzaffarnagar administration estimates, more than 40% of the district’s population is engaged in agriculture with sugarcane farming topping the chart

As thousands of farmers lay siege to Delhi borders for over 100 days demanding the repeal of three contentious farm laws, those staying back in Western Uttar Pradesh have to endure a different kind of long wait.

LiveMint – Online

Biren Bahardar thinks he is too small to raise his voice. Local traders can fleece at will while purchasing his harvest. The ration shop owner can deduct a few kilos of subsidised grains from his family’s quota every month. But Bahardar does not complain—he is well adjusted to being squeezed from all sides.

Foreign Policy – Online

Indian farmers, many of whom have been engaged for more than six months in protests against new agricultural laws passed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, are angry. Some have referred to their protest as the largest such mobilization in human history. That may be a stretch, but their movement certainly poses the most potent challenge yet to Modi, India’s most popular leader in more than three decades.

The protests, which began with sit-ins and road and railway track blockades in Punjab and Haryana, have now gained global attention for their size; the largest march on Jan. 26, India’s Republic Day, involved hundreds of thousands of farmers driving into New Delhi in tractor convoys. Despite ruthless attempts by the Indian government to crush them, the protests have ...

The Times of India – Online

In 2012, Mittal Patel of Borsad taluka’s Kavitha village ventured into dairy business with just one cow. She along with her husband and brother-in-law increased cattle holding by taking loans. Now, this 38-year-old is a proud owner of Sargam dairy farm, having nearly 200 cows including 75 calves. The farm alone supplies around 1,700 litres milk directly to Amul Dairy on a daily basis. Women dairy entrepreneurs like Mittal are the backbone of the dairy industry in Gujarat – the cradle of India’s White Revolution . A study carried out by research scholars of the Verghese Kurien Centre of Excellence (VKCoE) of the Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) highlights women’s pivotal role in ...

Times of India – Online

The Saurashtra Vepar Udhyog Mahandal (SVUM) will organised a farmers’ convention on March 20 as part of its three-day trade show that begins March 19 in Rajkot. At the convention, those who want to invest in the agriculture sector in African countries will be facilitated. Several farmers have already signed MoUs for cultivation using Indian technology in African countries.

Last year, 150 farmers had participated in the convention, however, the projects could not be materialised because of the world-wide lockdown.

Parag Tejura, president of SVUM said, “We are expecting more participants than last year. Several business delegations have confirmed their participation and their visas have also been approved. This is a good opportunity for Indians, ...

The Economic Times – Online

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Friday stressed the need to increase private investment in the farm sector and asked entrepreneurs to set up food processing units. The minister was addressing a summit on ‘Agriculture and Food Processing Opportunities in Madhya Pradesh’ organised by the Ministry of Food Processing, in partnership with ASSOCHAM and Invest India through video conference, according to an official statement.

Down To Earth – Online

For the past three months, Indian farmers and agricultural workers have been in the middle of a difficult struggle against the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tens of thousands of them have gathered around the capital city of New Delhi; they say that they will not disband unless the government repeals three laws that negatively impact their ability to remain economically viable.

The government has shown no sign that it will withdraw these laws, which provide immense advantages to the large corporate houses that are close to Prime Minister Modi. The government’s attempt to crack down on the farmers and agricultural workers has altered the mood in the country: those who grow the food ...

The Indian Express – Online

India has been witnessing variable monsoon for the past few years. The last year was marked by surplus rain in June, deficit rain in July, and surplus rain in August and September, as reported by the Ministry of Earth Sciences. This inconsistency in the monsoon rainfall pattern is an indication that extreme weather events might become the norm, rather than the exception, in the coming years. The Global Climate Risk Index 2020, released recently, puts India seventh in the list of countries worst hit by extreme events. This doesn’t augur well for the farming community, especially small and marginal farmers, and the agricultural yield in general.

Keeping the increased frequency of extreme weather events in mind, Google announced ...

The Wire – Online

The farmers’ agitation against the three controversial laws entered its hundredth day this week. While farmers’ unions have stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of the laws, the Centre, too, hasn’t budged, despite agreeing to make substantial amendments to the laws.

A few experimental, but progressive farmers, who feel that the agricultural trade may take a beating amidst the stalemate, believe that the farmers’ unions could come up with alternative models for agricultural reforms and the government could to consider it with the aid of agriculture scientists, policy experts and other relevant agencies in a calibrated manner.

One such army veteran-turned farmer Colonel (retired) Subhas Deswal spoke to The Wire on issues related to problems afflicting ...

News18 – Online

The agriculture and allied activities sector in Maharashtra is expected to grow at 11.7 per cent in 2020-21 owing to overall good monsoon this year, the Economic Survey 2021 tabled in the state Legislature on Friday said. Monsoon this year was 113.4 per cent of the normal in the state.

According to the survey, the state’s economy is expected to see an 8 per cent negative growth during 2020-21 and estimated to be Rs 19,62,539 crore with industry and services sectors bearing the maximum brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown.

However, the agriculture sector was the only sector that was least impacted by the pandemic as the government had ...

Greater Kashmir – Online

Scientific knowledge when put to routine use for the benefit of humankind is called technology. Technology transfer is actually a structural process of learning, and requires a careful, well thought out plan, clearly communicable ideas and a range of formal and informal co-operation between technology developer and technology recipient. Acceptance of any new technology depends upon its ability to bring about economic benefits at all levels of a society while maintaining eco-friendliness, self-sustainability of the system, and social and cultural compatibility.

FNB News – Online

Agri-tech startup Harvesting has launched HFNMandi.com to help Indian farmers directly market and sell their agri-products to wholesale buyers. It is a free online service for farmers to connect and transact with genuine buyers across India and internationally. This journey of providing market linkage to farmers started less than a year ago when founder and CEO, Ruchit Garg, started a Twitter account to help distressed farmers across the country sell their crops during strict Covid lockdown. Within days of the launch, it logged close to 15,000 followers as they started sharing key details like name, type and quantity of the product, and location/phone number for the buyers to call the farmers directly to purchase their harvest. ...

The Telegraph – Online

Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu has stressed on developing and extending need-based, low-cost, system-responsive farm technologies for small and marginal farmers who constitute over 80 percent of in the state.

Inaugurating the three-day eastern region regional Agrotech-2021 Mela at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) on Friday, she said a major part of the state’s arable land remained fallow during the rabi season due to the prevalence of rain-fed farming amid inadequate irrigation facilities. She clalled for focussed research on developing early maturing crop varieties with low water requirement.

“Integrated farming,  incorporating animal husbandry, poultry, fishery and forestry in to the system, should be promoted for minimizing losses and insyances of crop failure due to aberrant weather conditions,” she said.

Agriculture Post – Online

Government of Odisha is collaborating with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to strengthen management of natural resources for the benefit of the state’s Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups that are dependent on agriculture. Accordingly, ICRISAT will undertake capacity building initiatives, water harvesting, recording of hydrological parameters and crop productivity in addition to monitor land-use as well as land-cover through remote sensing and GIS in 12 districts of the state.

“The main objective of this collaboration is promoting sustainable integrated natural resource management through capacity building and monitoring. The period of agreement is for three years and the area of intervention is spread over 12 districts,” said PK Jena, Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Odisha, ...

Outlook – Online

An agriculture census will be conducted in Gujarat this year as part of a pan-India exercise to collect various data related to the key sector, Agriculture Minister RC Faldu informed the legislative Assembly here on Thursday.

Faldu said data regarding farmers” land holdings, collected from the periodic exercise, is crucial for formulating policies for the agriculture sector.

“An agriculture census is conducted (across the country) every five years. It was first conducted in Gujarat and in the country in 1970-71 and the last one was conducted in 2015-16, which was the tenth edition of the census.

“Results of the last census were released in 2020,” Faldu informed the House during Question Hour.

He said results are usually ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Fiji was authorised by the Union Cabinet, which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The MoU between India and Fiji calls for collaboration in a number of ways, including the promotion of joint projects between the two countries’ private sectors.

The arrangement also calls for the sharing of research staff, scientists, technicians, and technical trainees, as well as technological transfer and infrastructure advancement.

Businesswire – Online

a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery and precision ag technology, today announced its farmer-first strategy designed to maximize value creation for its key stakeholders.

During its 2021 Virtual Analyst Briefing, Eric Hansotia, AGCO’s Chairman, President and CEO introduced AGCO’s new Purpose and Vision statements that, when combined, offer powerful insight into the role AGCO intends to play for farmers and within the agriculture industry. AGCO’s Purpose is to deliver “Farmer-focused solutions to sustainably feed our world” and its Vision is to be the “Trusted partner for industry-leading, smart farming solutions.”

IndiaPost – Online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday gave a call to make concerted efforts in the farming sector in the country to find a comprehensive technological solution from “irrigation to sowing, till harvesting and earning”.

The Prime Minister also stressed on the need for more private sector contribution towards Research and Development in the agriculture sector, saying “increased private sector participation will boost the confidence of the farmer”.

“Now we have to give such options to farmers in which they are not limited to growing wheat and rice. We can try from organic food to salad-related vegetables. There are several crops,” Modi said during a webinar on effective implementation of Budget provisions regarding agriculture and farmers’ welfare through ...

Outlook – Online

Agritech firm Arya on Tuesday said it has entered into a partnership with Canara Bank to help farmers and food processing units get finance against their agri-produce stored in warehouses managed by the startup.

Canara Bank will be able to leverage the reach of Arya to over 3,50,000 farmers through the 450 FPOs, which the startup works with.

Arya said in a statement it has entered into a “strategic partnership with Canara Bank for collateral management and warehousing services to help farmers with effective market linkage.”

The objective of the partnership is to extend finance to farmers, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), processors, and various depositors stocking their agri-produce in warehouses managed by Arya across the country, a ...

Times of India – Online

After the economic liberalization which began in 1991 in India, with devaluation of Rupee to encourage exports relative to imports, the next shift was after 1995, when India joined the World Trade Organization. Prof MD Nanjundaswamy in the decade of 2000 made significant contributions towards TRIPS through development of sui generis system for India under WTO. However, the same zeal did not penetrate in trade of agricultural produce which affected the domestic market reforms, farmers and consumers severely. The farmers continued to be under the clutches of middleman and merchants in the APMC markets and with local village traders who continuously exploited farmers through undercover sales, illegal deductions for their produce, charging usurious interest rates ...

Khmer Times – Online

The recent international outcry on three agricultural bills is based on half-truths and lack of understanding about the urgencies of Indian agriculture sector which is facing a plethora of problems due to lack of reforms. Gita Gopinath has emphasized that agriculture is one of the areas where India needs holistic reforms. The same has been highlighted by many eminent economists as well. In fact in the process of economic reforms that started in 1991, Indian agriculture sector lagged behind and first ever time India announced its new agricultural policy of India in the year 2000. The new agricultural policy 2000 had talked about giving industry status to agriculture and taking initiatives for corporate farming for achieving ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Global food prices rose for an eighth consecutive month in January to their highest level since July 2014, latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s food price index showed, likely benefiting farmers but could also stoke domestic inflation. Higher food prices could complicate the country’s nascent economic recovery, analysts said.

Higher international prices of food commodities are spurring India’s food exports, but they will make India’s food imports costlier. The country, for instance, relies on imports to meet 70-74% of its vegetable or edible oils requirement.

FAO’s food price index, which measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and sugar, averaged 113.3 points in January 2021, 4.7 points ( ...

The Tribune – Online

Indian agriculture is passing through a critical phase. Farmers are facing problems related to crop production, marketing and profitability. The new farm laws may enhance farm productivity, but these are bound to change the prevailing system. The ownership farming system is prevalent in Punjab, Haryana and other states as owned land forms a major part of operational landholdings. The model of the Green Revolution (GR) improved the economy of the farmers, but later their economic condition started deteriorating, along with the depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation. Capital-intensive technologies reduced work opportunities on the farm for labour. Globalisation policies pushed farmers into debt, depeasantisation and suicide. Every day, 28 farmers/farm labourers commit suicide (according to ...

Financial Express – Online

Addressing stakeholders of agriculture, dairy and fisheries from both public and private sectors (including cooperatives) at a webinar on Budget provisions related to this segment of the economy, Modi said: “Today, it is the need of the hour that the farmer’s produce in the country gets more and more options in the market.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stressed that new laws governing agriculture marketing would enable farmers to access more avenues to sell their crops, and said that time was ripe for a food processing revolution. Stressing the need to make the country’s agriculture sector globally competitive, he said farmers would be able to realise better prices from global market for processed food.

Modi said ...

The Hindu Business Line – Online

Joint cooperatives, Bharat Bandh on the agenda of the meet

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha and the ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) belonging to the Opposition camp will hold a joint meeting on Monday to devise the future course of the ongoing protests of farmers and workers. The meeting, according to leaders of the CTUs and SKM, will be significant as this is for the first time that they are meeting for jointly strategise the next course of the agitations.

The leaders said earlier they held two joint meetings in support of each other’s protests. “We would like to give some joint calls. We will discuss the possibilities of worker-peasant producing cooperatives ...

NewsClick – Online

Given that women have had lower mobility, even in terms of employment, due to the manner in which social constraints unequally impinge on them, their participation in the farm protests now may be attributed to their perception that the three farm laws will not only adversely aect employment and income, but will also increase food insecurity for women.

A striking facet of the ongoing farmers’ movement is the large-scale participation of women. Women, both farmers and otherwise, from dierent parts of the country have been actively participating in these protests, both at Delhi’s borders as well as in the various protests in a number of states. The estimated number of women participants at the protest sites at ...

NewsFirst – Online

The livelihoods of dairy farmers have fallen from bad to worse with the destruction of the forests in Rambakan Oya.

These Farmers in the area have no place to herd their cattle.

The main livelihood of the residents of the Mahaoya Divisional Secretariat is dairy farming.

According to these people, the dairy farmers of the Mahaoya divisional Secretariat contribute the highest amount of milk to the local dairy industry.

The Hindustan Times – Online

Global food prices rose for an eighth consecutive month in January to their highest level since July 2014, latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s food price index showed, which is proving to be a boon for farmers but could also stoke domestic inflation. Higher food prices could complicate the country’s nascent economic recovery, analysts said.

Higher international prices of food commodities are spurring India’s food exports, but they will make India’s food imports costlier. The country, for instance, relies on imports to meet 70-74% of its vegetable or edible oils requirement.

Policy Forum – Online

India could be an agricultural giant, but its investment landscape needs a makeover – while contentious, its new laws provide that change, Raghbendra Jha writes.

Since November last year, ongoing protests have rocked India. Thousands of people, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, have blocked three major road entry points to the national capital, Delhi.

This has made going about their daily business onerous for people living in the region who normally need to work in Delhi, and essential supplies to the capital have had to be re-routed, causing considerable difficulties for those living in and around the city.

These difficulties reached a peak on 26 January – India’s Republic Day – when protestors entered Delhi on tractors and ...

The Tribune – Online

Indian agriculture is passing through a critical phase. Farmers are facing problems related to crop production, marketing and profitability. The new farm laws may enhance farm productivity, but these are bound to change the prevailing system. The ownership farming system is prevalent in Punjab, Haryana and other states as owned land forms a major part of operational landholdings. The model of the Green Revolution (GR) improved the economy of the farmers, but later their economic condition started deteriorating, along with the depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation. Capital-intensive technologies reduced work opportunities on the farm for labour. Globalisation policies pushed farmers into debt, depeasantisation and suicide. Every day, 28 farmers/farm labourers commit suicide (according to ...

YourStory – Online

In India’s much-talked-about startup ecosystem and its relatively new innovation-driven economy, if the late-2000s and early 2010s were about the rise of consumer internet and poster boys in ecommerce, foodtech, and mobility in India, and the mid-to-late 2010s, especially post-demonetisation, about fintech explosion, then surely this decade could be about the rise of tech-enabled agriculture.