Farmers Guardian – Online

The new scheme, launched by the Chhattisgarh Government in July 2020, aims to increase income of farmers and cattle ranchers, promote organic compost, reduce chemical fertiliser usage and improve soil health.

Another state, Odisha, which introduced an organic farming policy in 2018, is now on the cusp of launching an organic mission.

Odisha recently decided to promote organic farming in seven districts, with the state government eager to make 30 model organic clusters.

Odisha, which had earlier initiated a special programme to promote millets in tribal areas, has covered about 23,000 hectares currently, with farmers encouraged to adopt organic farming practices to produce millets.

The Standard – Online

Millions of Indian farmers will benefit from the country’s new farm laws, an Australian scholar, who has been encouraging Delhi to stay the course of reform, has said. Salvatore Babones, an adjunct scholar at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, says in an article published in the Foreign Policy magazine that India’s rich farmers are frustrating the reforms that are designed to help the poor. Mr Babones described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to offer farmers limited price support even as he holds the line on loan waivers as pragmatic and forward-looking. Opposition Indian National Congress has countered Mr Modi’s reform proposal with a promise to “waive all farm loans” across the country — an expensive solution ...

The Hans India – Online

Union Agriculture Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft  for a pilot project in 100 villages of six states. This project will carry out various tasks for the betterment of farmers in the selected villages, which will enhance their income. This will also reduce the input costs for farmers and make farming easy.

These states are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. Microsoft will develop a farmer interface for smart and well-organized agriculture, including post-harvest management and distribution.

PHYS – Online

Women’s increased agricultural labor during harvest season, in addition to domestic house care, often comes at the cost of their health, according to new research from the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition (TCI).

Programs aimed at improving nutritional outcomes in rural India should account for the tradeoffs that women experience when their agricultural work increases, according to the study, “Seasonal time trade-offs and nutrition outcomes for women in agriculture: Evidence from rural India,” which published in the journal Food Policy on March 24.

India Education Diary – Online

In its endeavour to reach the farming community living in the farthest corners of the valley, the Department of Agriculture Wednesday kick started the Kharif Campaign from Ganastan Sumbal in Bandipora.

Joint Director Agriculture extension Kashmir Mohammad Qasim Ghani inaugurated the campaign in presence of Chief Agriculture Officer Bandipora Rafiq Ahmad Kakroo Sub Divisional Agriculture Officer Sumbal Mr. Farooq Ahmad Sofi.

The Joint Director Agriculture(Extension) Kashmir Mohammad Qasim Ghani on the occasion initiated a ‘Kharif Campaign 2021-22’ from Ganastan The campaign was started with the sowing of Sweet corn maize Transplanting of red cabbage and Broccoli in presence of farming community of village Gansatan Sumbal.

The Times of India – Online

The agriculture ministry has selected 100 villages in six states — Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh — for pilot projects on digital farming, leveraging the use of technology, data and artificial intelligence (AI) in supporting farmers in multiple activities. It has signed an MoU with Microsoft India to develop farmers’ interface for post-harvest management and distribution.

 “This project will reduce input costs for farmers and make farming easy. It is proposed to undertake similar pilot projects with other public and private players to create a vibrant digital agro-ecosystem in the country,” the ministry said.