Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Global rise in food prices benefits Indian farmers but domestic inflation could hit recovery: Expertsedit
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 ( ...
Link farming with employment to stem the rotedit
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 ...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for ‘food processing revolution’edit
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 ...
Technology in Agriculture
AI in Hydroponics: The Future Of Smart Farmingedit
Analytics India Mag – Online
For the uninitiated, Hydroponics is a technique for growing a smart farm within a greenhouse. Here, a ‘smart farm’ refers to a soilless, vertical setup that can house a thousand plants and more. A Hydroponics farm may just be our best bet for churning out chemical-free produce in less than half the space of actual farmland.
It’s typically preferable to cultivate salad greens like Lettuce, Parsley, Radish, Pakchoi, etc., in a Hydroponics greenhouse.
Agri-Tech Startups: Future Of Farming In Indiaedit
Businessworld – Online
Being one of the oldest industries in the world, farming industry demands creativity and innovation not only for a better productivity but also for a healthier future. Globally, agriculture industry is a USD 5 trillion industry and to cash in on the growing industry many agri-tech startups have come up to leverage modern technologies including data digitization and data platforms, data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), internet of things (IoT) and many more to yield healthier crops. These technologies are also helping farmers to understand weather conditions and other data required for better yields.
India is among the top six countries where agri-tech startups are changing the face of Indian agriculture. If reports to be ...
Tractor industry
M&M February auto sales fall 11% but tractor sales up 25%edit
CNBC TV18 – Online
Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra’s (M&M) total auto sales for the month of February 2021 fell 11.3 percent to 28,777 vehicles as compared to 32,476 vehicles in February 2020.
In the Utility Vehicles segment, Mahindra sold 15,380 vehicles during the month, compared to 10,675 vehicles in February 2020, registering a growth of 44 percent. The Passenger Vehicles segment (which includes UVs, Cars and Vans) sold 15,391 vehicles, a growth of 41 percent over the same period last year.
“Demand continues to remain buoyant for our range of SUVs and Pick-ups and we have a robust order pipeline,” said Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M&M.
However, the problems oversupply of semiconductors is likely to continue ...
Sonalika tractor sales rise 22.5% at 11,821 units in Febedit
Economic Times – Online
Home-grown tractor major Sonalika has reported 22.49% increase in its total tractor sales at 11,821 units in February 2021.
The company had sold 9,650 units in the same month last year, Sonalika said in a release.
During the April-December period the company reported its highest-ever sale of 106,432 tractors, translating into 35.5% increase from the year-ago period.
Escorts tractor sales up 30.6% at 11,230 units in Februaryedit
Money Control – Online
Farm equipment manufacturer Escorts Agri Machinery on Monday reported a 30.6 percent increase in tractor sales at 11,230 units in February.
The company had sold 8,601 units in February 2020.
Domestic tractor sales during last month stood at 10,690 units as against 8,049 units in February 2020, up 32.8 percent, Escorts said in a regulatory filing.
Escorts Agri Machinery said the tractor demand is expected to continue to be strong on back of positive macroeconomic factors and strong rural cash flows.
The supply-side situation is normal, but rising inflation continues to be a worry, the company added.