Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Chhattisgarh Paddy Farmers are Now Converting Wastelands into Lemongrass Farmsedit
News18 – Online
hawani Pal Shah was among the first graduates in his remote village in Chattisgarh. He passed out in 2000 – the year the state was formed – and went looking for greener pastures in Rajasthan. After fifteen years of working in an agri firm there, he decided to return to his village, Gudma in Bijapur district, and take up farming. This was a better alternative, he thought, to sweating it out in the desert state. Besides, at his job, he had learnt about modern farming techniques for better yields that could be practised at his farm.
Shah faced little success with paddy, which is predominantly grown in the state, as it requires a lot of water. ...
Far Away From Media Attention, Rural Punjab Keeps Farmers’ Protest Aliveedit
The Wire – Online
“Sannu saal ho chaleya, Modi da pit syapa kardey” (‘We’ve been crying against Modi for over a year now but we won’t stop’), exclaimed Gurpreet Kaur, a woman in her late thirties who is the movement in-charge at Baras village in Patiala district. Her two children and her husband accompany her everywhere. “We have just come back from Delhi. Right now I am at a morcha near my village and our next trip to Delhi will take place after May 30,” she speaks loudly over the phone. A nearby loudspeaker at the protest site she was at kept drowning her voice.
Gurpreet leads a village-level committee for her union, Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan). She mobilises ...
Direct sowing of paddy reduces the cost, enhances the productivity: Harishedit
Telengana Today – Online
With an objective to help the farmers earn more profits in paddy cultivation besides reducing cost on cultivation, Siddipet district administration led by Finance Minister T Harish Rao has decided to sensitise the farmers to opt for direct sowing of paddy in place of raising nursery and then transplanting of the saplings. During a meeting with the farmers at a farmer’s field at Peddalingareddy Pally in Siddipet rural Mandal on Tuesday, the Finance Minister sensitised the farmers saying that the direct sowing will cut the cost of paddy cultivation besides increasing the productivity which would eventually enhances profits to the farmer.
Provide power connections to farmers expeditiously: CM Ashok Gehlot to DISCOMSedit
Elets – Online
During a DISCOMS’ performance review meeting, the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, on May 30, asked the state’s power distribution companies (DISCOMS) to expeditiously provide agricultural power connections to more farmers to aid the country’s agriculture sector. The CM asked the DISCOMS to prepare special plans for the cause. Highlighting the importance of farmers and the agriculture sector, CM Gehlot deliberated that the agriculture sector has kept the economy from falling during the critical time of the COVID pandemic outbreak. For this, farmers should be encouraged and supported.
Dairy Farming
World Milk Day: Purabi Dairy’s focus towards sustainable dairying practicesedit
The News Mill – Online
On the occasion of World Milk Day on June 1, Guwahati-based West Assam Milk Producers’ Cooperative Union Ltd (WAMUL), popularly known as Purabi Dairy, announced its focus on ‘sustainability in the dairy sector’ while taking into account the environmental, nutritional and socio-economic aspects of dairying. The theme for this year’s World Milk Day, set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, was ‘sustainability in the dairy sector’. It aims to re-introduce dairy farming to the world, by helping to create a low-carbon future for dairy. To mark the occasion, WAMUL shared various initiatives taken by the cooperative for the dairy farmers of Assam.
Technology in Agriculture
Rise Hydroponics tasting success as India’s fastest-growing agritech startupedit
Mint – Online
Waking up to a hearty breakfast that’s fresh and tasty, is the best start, Indians look for every morning. But there’s a lot that goes into these foods that make it to Indian kitchens and are served daily on the plates – Pesticides and growth enhancers that literally steal the nutritional value from the vegetables and fruits consumed by people.
In April’2020, right after the whole nation went into lockdown, due to COVID-19, they understood the importance of nutritious, pesticide-free, healthy food & to support the economic situation of farmers in the country, all 3 partners viz., Meet Patel, Tusshar Aggarwal, and Vivek Shukla joined hands to form an organization – RISE Hydroponics to provide complete ...
TN Agriculture Minister harps on developing new technologies in farmingedit
Yahoo News – Online
Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister M R K Paneerselvam on Tuesday laid emphasis on developing new varieties, technologies for increasing farm productivity, income and improved food production in the state. Speaking at the launch of the Golden Jubilee Year of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) through virtual mode, he exhorted scientists at the university to continue new research in frontier areas to suit farmer-oriented technologies in various crops in order to help farmers get higher monetary benefit. He spoke about the need to develop new varieties, technologies to help increase farm productivity, income and also improved food production, a TNAU press release said.
SaaS-based Agriculture- Revolutionising the Agricultural Sector with Cutting-Edge Software Solutionsedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Revolution requires meeting the problems of the past and present using the resources which are of the future. To link agricultural revolution and technology, let us see the basic relationship between the two. Modern farms and agricultural operations work far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of various advancements in the field of technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology.
Today’s agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as Artificial intelligence, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, satellite imagery, machine learning, climate-smart advisory and GPS technology. These modern appliances paired with precision agriculture allow businesses to increase their profitability, efficiency, safety, while enhancing their environmentally friendly nature as well.
Govt. Policies
Covid impact: Karnataka reduces foodgrain production target to 135 lakh tonnesedit
The Times Of India – Online
The Karnataka government has reduced the food grains production target from the already achieved 153 lakh tonne in 2020-21 to 135 lakh tonne for the year 2021-22. Citing that the previous year’s production was 10 per cent over and above the previous fiscal of 2019-2020, the government is said to be setting a “realistic” target in light of the Covid-19 second wave hurting rural Karnataka heavily. At a preparatory review meeting for agriculture preparation in light of the ensuing monsoon season, chief minister B S Yediyurappa directed officials to ensure there is enough and more fertilizer stock for farmers and prepare for any eventuality of flooding. The agriculture department also said that as ...
Rs 14cr allotted for installing micro irrigation systemsedit
The Times Of India – Online
The district has been allotted Rs 14.32 crore for installation of micro irrigation systems in 2,155 hectares of agricultural crop lands. The funds can be acquired for installing or reinstalling drip irrigation, changing spare parts, sprinklers and rain guns in the case of farmers who practice intercropping. Farmers interested may contact their block’s assistant director of agriculture or deputy director of agriculture. While small and marginal farmers can avail 100% subsidy under the scheme, others can avail a 75% subsidy for a maximum of five hectares or 12.5 acres.
To include more beneficiaries, the department has also informed that farmers can avail this scheme to even replace their drip irrigation systems installed ...
Andhra Pradesh: Agriculture Infrastructure projects put on fast trackedit
Hans India – Online
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials to focus on developing fishing harbour at Vishakapatnam. He asked them to prepare an action plan for setting up a fish landing centre at Kothapatnam in Prakasam district and development of fishing harbour at Kakinada as part of Agri Infra Fund projects. During a review meeting held on Tuesday, the Chief Minister said the coordination between Village Secretariats and Rythu Bharosa Kendras should be effective and National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme works should be expedited.
As part of the projects, multipurpose facility centres are being set up near RBKs to support farmers in all aspects. There are 16 types of projects, including dry storage, drying platforms, ...
Agriculture key for self-reliant, digital India: Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomaredit
The Times Of India – Online
The dream of a self-reliant and digital India will only be realised by taking along the farm sector, Agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Tuesday. The ministry has taken concrete steps for digitisation of the agriculture sector. Tomar was speaking during a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony of the agriculture ministry with four institutions, an official statement said. These institutions are — Patanjali Organic Research Institute, Amazon Web Services (AWS), ESRI India Pvt Ltd, and Agribazar India Pvt. Ltd. The MoUs have been signed with these organisations for pilot project of using Kisan Database as Aadhaar within a period of one year.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
How important is monsoon for India’s agriculture sector?edit
Money Control – Online
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has already announced that the southwest monsoon will be delayed this year. The IMD is the principal government agency responsible for meteorological observations and weather forecasting. The monsoon’s onset over Kerala is now likely to take place only on June 3, the IMD said. The normal date for its arrival over the Kerala coast is June 1. The onset of monsoon in Kerala is important for the country’s economy and the agriculture sector, as it brings 77 per cent of annual rainfall.
While the country receives around 116 centimetres (cm) of rain every year, the monsoon contributes to around 89 cm out of this. The South-West monsoon is considered vital ...
Tractor industry
Mahindra & Mahindra sells 22,843 tractors in May 2021edit
Business Standard – Online
Mahindra & Mahindra announced its tractor sales numbers for May 2021, which indicate a clear growth path in the upcoming season. Domestic sales in May 2021 were at 22843 units, as against 24017 units during May 2020. Exports for the month stood at 1341 units. Commenting on the performance, Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra said, We have sold 22843 tractors in the domestic market during May 2021. In May, COVID spread in rural markets led to stringent lockdowns, leading to deferment of tractor purchase and limited operations at dealerships.