Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Punjab, Haryana witness alarming dip in groundwater level: Studyedit
The Economic Times – Online
Groundwater level in northwest India has dipped to alarming levels, especially in Punjab and Haryana, according to a new study. The research paper published by IIT Kanpur has used more than 4,000 groundwater well data from northwest India to demonstrate that groundwater levels in the states of Punjab and Haryana have fallen to alarming levels in the last four-five decades. India is the largest user of groundwater in the world for irrigation, domestic and industrial needs. The total annual groundwater abstraction in India is about 245 km3, out of which about 90 per cent is consumed for irrigation.
Karnataka: Low market prices, transport hurdles distress farmersedit
The Times Of India – Online
Though the agriculture sector was largely exempted from stringent Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and this year, new and long-standing problems — labour shortage, fluctuating demand, poor price realisation, transportation hurdles and inadequate government support — left farmers in many parts reeling. Moving produce to markets in and outside the state has been particularly difficult because of general disruptions caused by Covid lockdowns. Mango farmers, for instance, struggled to shift stocks on time. In Udupi, farming costs have gone up. Farmer Ajith A said that the daily wage of women workers had increased from Rs 300 to Rs 350 and that of men from Rs 500 to Rs 550. “The cost of renting a ...
Focus on e-cropping, CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directs officialsedit
Hans India – Online
Chief MinisterYS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the authorities to pay close attention to e-cropping as this is a one-stop solution for every welfare scheme like input subsidy, insurance, interest-free loans, and many more. He discussed with district collectors and SPs on a wide range of issues, including Covid, e-cropping, housing, and other welfare schemes, during the Spandana video conference, here on Tuesday. He said that farmers must be given a receipt along with digital acknowledgment listing out all e-crop details, as this receipt could come in handy for the farmer to claim when something goes wrong. He said that the government is also bringing the Rythu Bharosa Unified Digital Platform app and doing geofencing for ...
Technology in Agriculture
ELAI – An Agri-tech Startup to Provide Free Precision Farming Advices to all Farmersedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Small and marginal farmers can now avail free precision farming advisory based on remote sensing & satellite imagery and country level inputs provided by cultivators. ELAI, an Agritech startup will provide free precision agriculture advices to farmers, such as weather updates, when to do irrigation, measures to combat disease and pest attacks and nutrient management. Farmers who grow high value crops have enough resources to get precision farming tips, which is usually expensive but now all the farmers – big or small – will be able to make use of these services and get to increase their productivity.
Govt. Policies
Maharashtra govt introduces 3 bills to counter Centre’s farm lawsedit
Business Standard – Online
The Shiv Sena-led MVA government in Maharashtra on Tuesday introduced three amendment bills in the assembly related to agriculture, co-operation, food and civil supplies, in a move to counter the new farm laws enacted by the Centre that are facing stiff opposition from a section of cultivators. The bills have provisions for higher than MSP rate for produce in farming agreement with traders, timely payment of dues, three-year jail term and Rs 5 lakh fine or both for harassment of farmers. They also have provisions to give power to the state government to regulate and prohibit production, supply, distribution and impose stock limits on essential commodities.
Centre to bear 90% crop insurance for northeast farmersedit
The Times Of India – Online
Union minister Parshottam Rupala today said the Centre will share 90 per cent premium subsidy for the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for the northeastern states. The Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers welfare said this after attending a review meeting of central sector and centrally sponsored schemes held at the Administrative Staff College here. Taking forward the ongoing crop insurance awareness campaign for Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) during the Crop Insurance Week across the country, Rupala said PMFBY aims to provide security cover to each farmer. He added that the central government will share premium subsidy for PMFBY upto 90 per cent for the northeastern states from ...
What The New Ministry Of Cooperation Can Shape Up Toedit
Swarajya – Online
In a surprise move ahead of the planned Cabinet expansion and reshuffle on 7 July 2021, the Narendra Modi government announced the creation of a new Ministry of Cooperation. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) note which made the announcement stated that “this ministry will provide a separate administrative, legal and policy framework for strengthening the cooperative movement in the country.” The PIB note talked about the importance of Cooperatives in general to the Indian economy and also specifically called out the need to develop Multistate Cooperatives (MSCS). These MSCS are societies operating on either sides of state borders, taking deposits and extending credit and are governed today by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperatives and Farmers Welfare ...
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Monsoon plays truant, kharif farming affectededit
The New Indian Express – Online
With the State receiving deficit rainfall in June this year, agricultural activities have been affected during the current kharif season in Mayurbhanj leaving farmers worried. The district received 177.30 mm rainfall last month, 33.29 mm less than the normal 265.8 mm. While farmers had begun sowing on a few patches in the low-lying areas, large areas of land lay without any activity awaiting rains. The district had witnessed good rainfall in May (around 295.66 mm which was almost double than the normal 101.2 mm) aiding farmers in preparing the soil. June, crucial for paddy sowing and transplantation of kharif crops, saw grossly deficit rainfall forcing some farmers to opt for medium or short ...
Tractor industry
Distribution of mini tractors among women farming groupsedit
Live Hindustan – Online
On Tuesday, mini tractors and agricultural machinery were distributed among three women farming groups on behalf of JSLPS and Land Conservation Department. In the function organized by Torpa Mahila Sangh in the block premises, the chief guest MLA Koche Munda gave the key of tractor to the women farmers. After getting the key of the tractor, the trained women themselves took it by driving the tractor. Earlier in his address, MLA Koche Munda said that earlier women were not allowed to plow in the fields. Now women will be able to plow the field with tractor. This is a revolutionary step of the government in the field of agriculture.