Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Pricing water, a bitter pill to swallow?edit
The New Indian Express – Online
A similar tragedy could follow due to our disregard for the pricing of water. To be fair, water is essential for survival, which makes it slightly different from electricity (although some may even argue that electricity is a necessity to sustain life in the 21st century). However, the question is not about the pricing of the minimum amount of water needed by an individual. Instead, it pertains to the pricing of water consumed in excess of this. But even before we get to the pricing issues pertaining to water supply by state governments, the more challenging issue is regarding the use of groundwater. Indeed, in several parts of the country, groundwater is the ...
Battling inflationedit
The Indian Express – Online
India’s annual consumer food inflation in May, at 5 percent, stood way below the corresponding global rate of 39.7 percent. India was lucky last year with the monsoon, which enabled the farm sector to grow even amid a pandemic-induced economic contraction. The bumper harvests also ensured that soaring international food prices from around October didn’t translate into higher domestic inflation, barring in import-dependent commodities such as edible oils and, to an extent, pulses. India’s annual consumer food inflation in May, at 5 percent, stood way below the corresponding global rate of 39.7 percent. This year, however, looks to be different. While rainfall was 74 percent above normal in May and 33 percent in the ...
Ensuring 8-hour power supply to farmers: PSPCLedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) on Sunday said it was ensuring eight-hour power supply to agriculture tubewells for paddy sowing in spite of steep increase in demand across domestic sector. In a statement, chairman-cum-managing director (CMD) of the corporation A Venu Prasad said the PSPCL’s priority was to fulfil the requirements for the agri sector in view of ongoing paddy season and farmers across the state are being provided minimum of eight hours of uninterrupted power supply.
Hikes in diesel price putting huge burden on crop cultivationedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
The steady hike in diesel price is putting a huge financial burden on the farming community and increasing their hardships in these Covid times. Farmers are already troubled with meagre prices for their produce and due to other farm-related issues in the 13 districts of AP. The diesel price rose to 99.12 per litre and could touch100 any time. The use of machinery in farming activities became inevitable — from land tilling to transportation — and the frequent hikes in diesel price are turning cultivation into a costly affair. The price was 65.25 per litre in 2018 and it doubled by July 2021 to 99.12.
Dams and Indian Agriculture
AP to lose crores if Krishna water supply is delayededit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
Andhra Pradesh may suffer losses running to thousands of crores in case farmers fail to get timely water supply to raise crops like paddy, red chillies, horticulture crops and vegetables in command areas falling under Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar and Pulichintala irrigation projects. This is imminent as the Telangana state government has started drawing water from the three projects, thereby depleting the water in reservoirs. From the Nagarjunasagar right main canal (RMC), nearly 110 tmc ft of Krishna river water used to be supplied to its command area located in parts of Guntur and Prakasam districts from the dam.
Govt. Policies
Maharashtra: Uddhav government to present proposal to reject Centre’s agricultural laws in monsoon sessionedit
Amar Ujala – Online
One of the three resolutions approved by the Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday relates to the repeal of three central agriculture laws that will be tabled in the monsoon session of the state legislature beginning Monday. Sources gave this information. The Maharashtra cabinet also gave its nod to another proposal requesting the Center to take a decision on restoring reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education. In another proposal approved by the Cabinet, the Center will be asked to furnish population data of OBCs based on the 2011 Census so that political reservation for members of other backward classes in local bodies is maintained.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Haryana: Electricity consumption increased due to indifference of monsoon, paddy transplantation was done in two lakh hectares onlyedit
Amar Ujala – Online
Due to the severe power crisis in Haryana due to the indifference of monsoon, the planting of paddy has been badly affected. Even after half the transplanting season has passed, so far only two lakh hectares of paddy has been planted in the state. While the Electricity Corporation is claiming 8 hours power supply for agriculture, the farmers are talking about getting electricity only for four to six hours. If this situation of electricity and monsoon continues, then it can have an impact on the large area of paddy. The Agriculture Department has set a target of planting paddy on 12 lakh hectares of land in Haryana in the season. To save groundwater, the government ...
Kharif sowing picks up as Gujarat stays rain deficitedit
The Indian Express – Online
After many parts of the state experienced showers early last week, Kharif sowing has picked up the pace with total area planted so far this season going up to 25 lakh hectare (lh), more than three times higher when compared to last week’s figure of 6.89 lh. However, 25 of the state’s 33 districts recorded deficient rainfall during June, and the forecast of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts dry weather to continue in most parts of the state till July 9. As per the latest data with the Directorate of Agriculture (DAG) of Gujarat, farmers have completed sowing in 25.02 lh, which is 29.25 percent of the past three year’s annual average Kharif ...