Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Agriculture paying heavy price for missing the economic reforms busedit
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 ...
India’s New Agricultural Bills – An Assessmentedit
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 ...
Technology in Agriculture
5 Indian Data-Driven Agritech Startups To Watch For In 2021edit
Entrpreneur – Online
The Indian agriculture sector over the years has gradually opened its arms and embraced technology. Considered one of the most backward and technology-resistant sectors of this country, farmers have now brought down the wall of skepticism towards technology post understanding what cutting-edge technology has to offer. Though the government and big corporates have done their share to equip farmers with technology, it is the startups which have been the driving force of technology penetration in farming.
From farm to fork, agritech startups have been trying to solve pain points at various levels, which conventional farming failed to address.
Four Agri-Tech Startups that Empowering Indian Farmers in Their Job Roleedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Agriculture industry has always been a backbone of the country. Though India is making rapid progress in other sectors as well, agriculture still remains on the top. Recently the bills have been passed by Rajya Sabha where it is asked to end the monopoly of the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Mandis.
We have witnessed that the majority of the farmers community is against the complete removal of the middlemen system. AS per them, farmers are not equipped to deal with corporates.
Keeping in mind the importance of agriculture and the ones producing it, there are various startups that are trying to change the landscape of agriculture by using technologies for business models.
The technologies not only ...
Hyderabad Couple Builds HiTech Farm, Can Produce Upto 8000 Kgs of Veggies Per Dayedit
The Better India – Online
Born and brought up in Hyderabad, Sachin Darbarwar is a software engineer who spent close to 18 years in New Zealand and Australia before making the move back to Hyderabad.
“I had a very beautiful childhood in India and somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to come back home. The only question was about what I would do here,” Sachin tells The Better India. Though, it took a while to arrive at his next venture, Sachin, along with his wife Shweta, setup Simply Fresh in 2013 in Hyderabad’s Shamirpet. True to its name, the brand aims to provide nutritious food that’s free of chemicals and pesticides.
What got Sachin interested in ...
Stubble Burning
Curbing Stubble Burning Could Reduce India’s Hypertension Rates, Other Pollution‑Related Health Problems: Reportedit
The Swaddle – Online
Alternatives to stubble burning, a common agricultural practice in northern India, can reduce the prevalence of high blood pressure residents in the regions. This reduction in hypertension can save up to 91,000 lives and $2.25 billion (Rs. 16.5k crores) over five years, according to research published in SSM – Population Health.
The practice of stubble burning involves burning fields to remove crop residue from previous harvests. It is an economical means to help with weed removal and pest control, but its negative effects include severe air pollution, loss of soil nutrients, and potential forest fires. It is therefore regulated by governments.
Tractor industry
Escorts Report Rise in Tractor Sales to 11,230 units in Februaryedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Escorts Agri Machinery reported a whopping 30.6% rise in tractor sales. They sold 11,230 units in the month of February 2021. This is a huge volume as compared with just 8,601 units in February last year.
According to Escorts, their domestic tractor sales in January was 10,690 units. It was 8,049 units in February last year. As per company officials, demand of tractors is anticipated to be on the rise due to strong cash flows in the rural areas and positive macroeconomic factors.
Mahindra & Mahindra share price up 3%, February tractor sales up 25% YoYedit
MoneyControl – Online
Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) share price gained 3 percent intraday on March 1 after the company declared its sales figures for February.
The auto major’s total sales were down 11.4 percent at 28,777 units against 32,476 units (YoY), while monthly figures were down 26.5 percent at 28,777 vehicles against 39,149 units in January.
Passenger vehicle sales jumped 41 percent at 15,391 units against 10,938 units (YoY). Three-wheelers were down 39 percent at 2,357 units against 3,843 units (YoY).
Exports were down 1 percent at 1,827 units against 1,839 units (YoY). Total auto sales was down 26.5 percent at 28,777 units against 39,149 units (MoM).