Deccan Chronicle – Online

In a bid to determine the exact area of land under cultivation in the state, the government has taken up field-wise crop booking. Agriculture department officials are working towards completing the survey by September 5. Earlier, officials would take on register the claim of the farmer regarding cultivation. This time, they are conducting the survey based on the land survey number. Agricultural extension officers (AEOs) are registering the extent of cultivation of crops in a given survey number under their cluster.

The News Minute – Online

Telangana has over four lakh SHGs supervised by the Department of Rural Development and Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP). According to some estimates, there are over several lakh women in these SHGs, cutting across sections which include Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC) and others. Several rural women who are members of SHGs from different districts say that their financial condition was affected by the pandemic, even pushing them further into debt. Most of them either work as daily wage earners or as agriculture workers. In several districts, they are also employed as beedi workers.

Hindustan Times – Online

Farm unions protesting three agricultural laws passed last year are broadening their agenda to oppose the Modi government’s major economic policies, including the new asset monetization programme, which, they claim, will impact the farm sector directly. A key farm union leader, Gurnam Singh Charuni, accused the Union government of harbouring a secret agenda to “kill farmers and their leaders” by unleashing brutal police force — an allegation that follows a bloody put-down of a farm protest in Haryana’s Karnal on Saturday. Rakesh Tikait, a leader representing the Bharatiya Kisan Union, said “sarkari Taliban and their commanders” had been identified, referring to the government and bureaucrats as “Taliban”.

News18 – Online

The pandemic-induced demand disruption and the resulting loss of jobs in both manufacturing and services have led to a migration of workers from cities to villages. State governments are just becoming aware of this pressure on rural households. Agricultural households have thus far survived because one or more members usually is a salaried worker in the city; with this support missing, agriculture household incomes are further depressed. It is thus important to revamp and revive the functioning of the rural employment schemes. Synergies and efficiencies need to be created and improved to boost rural incomes so that demand can be back at pre-pandemic levels.

The Indian Express – Online

Punjab, which is a major rice-producing state of the country, has seen a decline of 83,000 hectares this year under this water-guzzling crop, as per a survey report of the state agriculture department. However, this is the sixth year in a row that the state has had over 3 million (over 30 lakh) hectares area under rice (Basmati and non-Basmati) against the need to curtail it to just 2 million hectares. The Punjab agriculture department and director, Punjab land records, under the revenue department, conduct their own surveys to record the actual area under any crop during both Kharif and Rabi seasons in the state. Agricultural department surveys happen earlier.

The Times Of India – Online

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has urged the farmers to benefit from certified seed distribution, crop demonstrations, improved agricultural implements and irrigation facilities during the Rabi season under foodgrains through MahaDBT (direct benefit transfer) system. Vikas Patil, director, agriculture, commissionerate of agriculture, has appealed to the farmers to submit their applications. As mentioned in the press release issued here, since the crop demonstrations will be conducted by the farmer group, the groups with an area of 10 hectares should register by contacting the concerned agricultural assistant while applying for the crop demonstrations.

Krishi Jagran – Online

We live in a world where agricultural practices are very advanced. However, we started with collecting wild grains more than 10,50,00 years ago and then planting them around 11,500 years ago. A lot went between when nascent farmers began gathering seeds and when modern farmers started using ultra-modern technologies to cultivate their lands. The Atlantic came up with a panel of eminent figures who compiled a list of 50 innovations which have been most important to the agricultural sector. In this blog post, we tell you about 6 of these great breakthroughs in agriculture that changed the world.

Jagran – Online

Basmati paddy cultivation will double the income of farmers: Basmati rice is not purchased at government procurement centres. But, its demand abroad is increasing. The quality of Basmati can improve if there is no excessive use of insecticides. Exporters have also suggested to improve the quality to double the income of farmers by increasing the export of Basmati. The government has started working in this direction. Under the Amrit Mahotsav, Uttar Pradesh is working to make farmers aware of Basmati exports. In this regard, a workshop will be held on August 31 in the Panchayat Bhawan auditorium. In this, tips will be given to the farmers to improve the quality of rice. Efforts are to be ...

Loksatta – Online

The policy of our government at that time was strange. While there was a scarcity of foodgrains in the country, the government was advocating for the use of improved and hybrid seeds, while the government was planning to treat the traders of such seeds as capitalists and profiteers. As a solution to this, Bonn had registered a charitable organization called Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in 1968. The Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute received invitations from agricultural universities in Maharashtra and outside Maharashtra to participate in their workshops and agricultural fairs. Having the opportunity to share our research there, Bonn became known as Nimbkar, not just a for-profit businessman, but a scientist who did something good for the ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

The 11th Meeting of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) Agriculture Ministers was headed by Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar. Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa’s agriculture ministers met digitally to discuss the theme “BRICS Partnership for Strengthening Agro Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition Security.” BRICS brings together the world’s largest rising economies, which account for 41% of the global population, contribute 24% of global GDP, and account for over 16% of global commerce.

Telangana Today – Online

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture Minister said that farmers should get inspiration from Sathi Reddy and try to get more profits through cultivation. He said that food processing units would be set up in Nalgonda district to provide marketing facility to the crops produced by the farmers. He reminded that the State government has earmarked over Rs 60,000 crores in the budget for agriculture sector and welfare schemes of the farmers. The cost of crops produced in the State has increased to Rs 93,000 crores in 2021 from Rs 40,000 crores in 2014, recording 113 per cent increase. The State government has been extending investment support to 63.2 lakh farmers for a total 1.5 crore ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

According to a statement issued by the Food Ministry, paddy purchases reached a record high, surpassing the record 773.45 lakh metric tonnes of procurement during the Kharif 2019-20 marketing year. n the current Kharif marketing season, approximately 129.03 lakh farmers have been benefited from the acquisition at the price of MSP and received a remuneration of Rs.1,64,951.77 crore. The release said purchase of paddy in the Kharif season 2020-21 is going smoothly in its selling states. It is further stated that as of August 23, 2021, more than 874 lakh metric tons of paddy were purchased as compared to 763.01 lakh metric tons of paddy purchased in the same period last year.

The News Minute – Online

Usha Shetty’s bare feet are buried in the sticky mud but she shows no signs of slowing down. Wading through the dirt, she reaches the edge of a paddy field and climbs the bund. Until two months ago, the lush green fields around her were barren stretches, lying fallow for decades. “The whole area was covered in weeds and there were no irrigation canals,” Usha says, pointing to the fields in front of her. In June, a group of people approached Usha, 55, about cultivating paddy in the fallow lands near her home in Kadekar village in Udupi district of Karnataka. The group was part of the ‘Hadilu Bhoomi Krishi Andolana’, a paddy farming ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday launched a national food and nutrition campaign for farmers. “Efforts are also being made to make agriculture and farmers connected with new technology. We have expertise in production, but it is also important to manage this abundance. It is the responsibility of the farmers along with the government to ensure that our products should be of better quality, meet global standards. Farmers should be attracted towards costly crops,” Tomar said at the launch.

The Times Of India – Online

For a handful of paddy farmers in Chellanam panchayat, the future of their vocation looks rather bleak. The area is famous for its pokkali farming where the crop alternates between rice and shrimp. However, with the saltwater intrusion into their farmlands, these paddy farmers have to go through an annual fight with the fish farming groups that control the management of the Maruvakkad padashekaram here. Every year, these few farmers led by the pokkali samrakshana samithi run from pillar to post seeking district administration’s help in getting the land released for paddy cultivation.

Hindustan Times – Online

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the state government will form two committees and a second directorate for agriculture to supplement efforts in fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of doubling farmers’ income. The Karnataka government has set itself a deadline between 2023-24 to achieve this feat by implementing the new changes and schemes. “Karnataka is taking a lot of interest in this and wants to be the first to achieve doubling farmers’ income,” Bommai said. He added that the state will set up two committees, one involving farmers, and the other with the help of agricultural universities to help implement the programmes.

Money Control – Online

The Centre has procured a record 873.68 lakh tonnes of paddy so far in the 2020-21 marketing year ending September for nearly Rs 1.65 lakh crore. Paddy procurement has reached at an all-time high level, surpassing previous high of 773.45 lakh tonnes in KMS (Kharif Marketing Season) 2019-20, an official statement said. “About 129.03 lakh farmers have already been benefited from the ongoing KMS procurement operations with MSP value of Rs 1,64,951.77 crore,” it said. Paddy procurement in the ongoing KMS 2020-21 is continuing smoothly in the procuring states. Kharif marketing season runs from October to September.

Scroll – Online

Unemployment had been a problem even before the first lockdown. In December 2019, about 48% of India’s workforce was self-employed and by August 2020, this number rose to 64%, indicating declining job opportunities, IndiaSpend reported in January. Sixteen million jobs were added in July, but all the additional jobs were of “poor quality”, noted an August 5 report by the Centre for Monitoring of Indian Economy, a think-tank. Nearly 70% of the jobs were in the agriculture sector, owing to the monsoon sowing season. In 2020-’21, the demand for work by Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme workers increased by 43% to 13.3 crore people compared to 2019-’20, of which 84% were provided with some ...

Scroll – Online

India does not collect any gender-disaggregated data on land ownership, but the agricultural census comes close: it provides gender-wise data on operational land holdings, a term that refers to pieces of land that are operated as units, irrespective of legal ownership. While the population census of 2011 found that 77.3% of working women in rural India were engaged in agricultural work, the last agricultural census of 2015-’16 found that women operate just 13.9% of India’s operational land holdings – that is, they manage and make key decisions about these holdings. This was a marginal increase from the 12.8% recorded in the 2010-2011 agricultural census. Gujarat fared slightly better than the national average. Even though the population ...

Telangana Today – Online

Telangana is likely to become the largest producer of paddy in the country yet again. With paddy being cultivated in about 55 lakh acres during the ongoing Vaanakalam (Kharif) season, the paddy production estimates are pegged at 1.48 crore tonnes. Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy instructed the officials to create adequate godown space for storing the paddy. While the Food Corporation of India (FCI) had already agreed to procure 60 lakh tonnes of paddy, the State government has decided to urge the former to purchase another 15-20 lakh tonnes of paddy additionally. The issue will be taken up with Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao before writing to the Central government.

Krishi Jagran – Online

According to data released on Sunday by the Agriculture Ministry, in the current Kharif season of the 2021-22 crop year (July-June), the sown area of summer crops like paddy was lagging behind by 1.55 percent at 1,043.87 lakh hectare so far. Farmers planted summer crops (Kharif) on 1060.37 lakh hectare in the previous year. The planting of Kharif crops begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. The ministry said, “Monsoon rainfall fell by 8% between June 1 and August 20.” The amount of stored water available in 130 reservoirs in the country accounted for 96% of the water stored in operation during the corresponding period last year and 99% of the average water ...

BW BusinessWorld – Online

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, has appointed Priya Ranjan, Indian Forest Service (IFoS) of the Rajasthan Cadre from 1998 batch as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Priya Ranjan, Indian Forest Service (IFoS) of the Rajasthan Cadre from the 1998 batch, has been appointed as joint secretary for a combined tenure of five years from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or until further orders. As per the official statement, “Priya Ranjan, IFoS (RJ:1998) appointed as Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for a tenure of five years from the date of assumption of the charge ...

Deccan Chronicle – Online

Farmers cultivating paddy in Khammam district are in distress for more reasons than one. There is little scope to make paddy a profitable option in the country’s ‘rice bowl’. The returns are demotivating considering that a tenant farmer’s income through paddy cultivation per acre is less than what a farm labourer earns in a month. Paddy cultivation has become a curse for small and marginal farmers because of increasing input and overhead costs and exploitation by market forces. Though the state government has been paying the minimum support price (MPS) that has been announced by the Union government, paddy farmers in Telangana remain unhappy.

Mint – Online

Summer-sown crop planting in India has been lagging as the country received below-normal rainfall, the government said, raising concerns about food grain production in Asia’s third biggest economy. India is the world’s biggest exporter of rice and top importer of edible oils. A drop in production could not only limit rice and cotton exports, but also boost imports of edible oils such as palm oil, sunflower oil and soyoil.

The New Indian Express – Online

It is bumper sowing in Karnataka this year, with crops being cultivated in 70.04 lakh hectares, which is 90.96 per cent of the targeted 77 lakh hectares of agricultural land.The big spurt in farming activity is due to good rainfall and also Covid restrictions, which have made many people from cities return to villages. While officials are hoping for a bountiful yield, farmers are sceptical about getting good returns for their produce as the demand and price goes down when the markets are glutted with foodgrains. This is the first time since the 1990s that the State has seen sowing operations in over 70 lakh hectares. In many intervening years, it has been ...

Deccan Chronicle – Online

Farmers expressed displeasure over paddy procurement being undertaken by some primary agriculture cooperative societies. They said that the hand-in-glove tactics of some societies and rice millers are adversely impacting the procurement process. To ensure minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, the state government roped in government agencies. Primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) and women self-help groups play a key role in the procurement process.

Krishi Jagran – Online

Every living thing needs food, and we rely on plants and animals to provide it. People began growing food in a limited area and utilised specific techniques for managing and improving it. This practice of cultivating crops is called agriculture. In India, agriculture is one of the most important fields. We can’t conceive how the world would be without agriculture. It is critical to understand the significance of agricultural techniques in India. Farmers are the world’s agricultural industry’s backbone.

Daily Excelsior – Online

Dr. Parveen Kumar ‘Tryst with Destiny’ considered being one of the greatest speeches of 20th century; delivered by Pt. Jawaharlal Lal Nehru on the eve of independence, the late Prime Minister had said, ‘At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us, but so long as there are tears and ...

Deccan Chronicle – Online

Paddy farmers in old Adilabad district who suffered huge losses due to pest attack on their crops shifted to commercial crops like cotton and soya during kharif season. Many paddy farmers cultivated the fine paddy variety Telangana Sona Masuri promoted by the state government in Khanapur, Kadam and Nirmal areas. Paddy cultivation is less in Adilabad district and more in Mancherial and Nirmal districts where irrigation facility is available.

The Times Of India – Online

One hectare of paddy production releases 30,671 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions into the atmosphere and impacts climate change, states a new study by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) conducted in Telangana. The study further said that the harmful methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N20) emissions are part of CO2 equivalent, according to international standards. A tonne of CO2 contains 32 tonnes of methane and 300 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide (N20). Researchers said the study is important in the wake of recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which said CO2 emissions must be reduced by 50% by 2030 from now to decrease the pace of climate change.

Business Standard – Online

Area sown to summer crops like paddy was lagging behind by 1.55 per cent at 1,043.87 lakh hectare so far in the ongoing kharif season of the crop year 2021-22 (July-June), according to data released by the agriculture ministry on Sunday. Sowing operation is still underway and planting of summer (kharif) crops can be continued till the end of August, it said. Farmers had planted summer (kharif) crops in 1,060.37 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

The New Indian Express – Online

For five years, 13,039 farmers across Punjab have been into agroforestry, which has emerged as one of the viable alternatives for diversification from the paddy-wheat cycle. In half a decade, 1.50 crore saplings have been planted, for which farmers have been given financial assistance through direct benefit transfer via Aadhar-linked accounts. Each farmer received the aid based on saplings planted by him in his fields. Survival of saplings was ascertained by geo-tagging. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare began the Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) in 2016-17 under the umbrella of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture. The mission’s focus is to enhance the income of farmers and also diversify land use from ...

The Statesman – Online

The idea of village was one of the core categories through which India was imagined by the British colonial rulers and the nationalist leadership during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Andre Beteille, an Indian sociologist, aptly remarked, “… the village was not merely a place where people lived; it had a design in which were reflected the basic value of Indian civilization.” So, after Independence from colonial rule in 1947, it was in the rural setting that programmes for development were initiated by the Indian state. Though the initial programmes of rural development initiated by the Government of India did not succeed as expected, they created conditions for social and economic change, which came in ...

Business Standard – Online

Voltaire said, “If you wish to converse with me, define your terms.” Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, there has been a sustained effort from certain segments in India to equate the Indian right, particularly BJP ideologues, with Islamic fundamentalism. I wonder what else could trigger a journalist like Vir Sanghvi to write such an article (“Searching for the Indian Right”; August 18). We at the BJP have accepted ourselves as being called right wing, meaning it in a particular way. Right wing has both economic and social connotations. Our right-to-centre ideology has clear economic content. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly spoken about less government and more governance. He has extensively spent his political capital ...

Financial Express – Online

Farmers in Maharashtra have completed sowing on 139.10 lakh hectares for the current kharif season, which adds up to 92% of the total sowing operations, according to the latest sowing report of the Department of Agriculture. The average area under kharif crops in the state is 151.33 lakh hectares along with sugarcane. Last year, the state had completed sowing on nearly 137.23 lakh hectares by August 10. Excluding sugarcane, the sown area was around 136.01 lakh hectares, accounting for nearly 95.80% of the total sowing operations. According to the report, crops have been damaged in Konkan, Kolhapur, Amravati, Pune and Nagpur divisions. Due to long breaks in monsoon and subsequent heavy rains, there have been ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Agriculture in Karnataka is one of the fundamental attributes of the state’s economy. Karnataka’s topography, such as its soil and climate, greatly supports agricultural activities there. The majority of Karnataka’s population is also engaged in crop production, especially in rural areas. Karnataka agriculture occupies approximately 12.31 million hectares, accounting for 64.6% of the total area. The main agricultural season in Karnataka is the monsoon, as the irrigated area accounts for only 26.5% of the total cultivated land area. Karnataka also has great potential for horticultural production, ranking second in India in this regard.

Telangana Today – Online

Film actor and director R Narayana Murthy on Thursday said the farm laws enacted by the Centre would severely impact the interests of farmers in the country. Narayana Murthy met Energy Minister G Jagdish Reddy in his camp office at Suryapet and thanked him for watching “Rythanna” produced by him. The Minister watched the premier show of the movie at a local cinema theatre. Speaking to the media after the meeting, Narayana Murthy said the new farm laws will turn farmers into agriculture labourers and benefit corporate forces. “Farmers have been staging protests near the capital for the last eight months opposing the new farm laws of the Centre. Farmers in Bihar where the new ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Chandigarh With the Centre pushing for mandatory land record integration with food grain procurement from this kharif season (October and November), the Punjab government has, to date, completed this process for only 60% of 10.5 lakh farmers in the state. Compilation of details of the remaining 40% farmers is a challenge, as clear and authentic data on farmers engaged in agriculture on leased land is not available. “From September, we will start camps in mandis along with the arhtiyas to get the remaining data. There are 33,000 arhtiyas in the state and all farmers are linked to them. We want data to be matched before the start of (kharif) procurement,” said an officer of the ...

The New Indian Express – Online

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday slammed the Centre over demonetisation, GST, and farm laws saying that they are designed to weaken the informal structure of the Indian economy. The Congress leader was speaking at the inauguration of Karassery Panchayat and felicitation of farmers at Karassery Bank Auditorium in Kerala’s Thiruvambady. “Demonetisation, GST and now the farm laws are designed to weaken the informal structure of the Indian economy. A consequence of these actions will be that India will simply not be able to give employment to its youth,” said Rahul Gandhi in his address. He said that farmers intelligence, resourcefulness, spirit require a level playing field but they do not have that.

Devdiscourse – Online

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said in Jammu today that many Start-Up avenues of self-employment are more lucrative than government jobs and the need is only to change the mindset which is inclined to prefer a small-time government job with a meagre salary instead of a self-employed Start-Up initiative which could comparatively beget manifold returns from the beginning itself. During interaction with Agriculture Start-Ups, young entrepreneurs and farmers after inaugurating the one-day awareness cum training programme for farmers under CSIR- Aroma Mission Phase-II at CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM), Dr Jitendra Singh was told by a young entrepreneur that by using modern technology in cultivation, he had started earning Rs. 3 lakhs per annum ...

The Times Of India – Online

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday announced to undertake a 100-day tour across 100 constituencies starting from Wednesday from Zira to expose the ‘corrupt and scam ridden Congress government’. He also released a charge sheet against Congress and AAP leaders, besides launching a party campaign, ‘Gall Punjab Di’, including dedicated website www.GallPunjabDi.in. Sukhbir said he would hold 700 public meetings and address each and every section of society during his tour, during which SAD workers would go to each and every village and ward in the state. The purpose of this exercise is to expose the alleged corruption by chief minister Amarinder Singh’s government and to gather people’s feedback about their expectations ...

The New Indian Express – Online

With paddy saplings in hand, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Shobha Karandlaje joined farmers in Mandya to plant the crop as part of the party’s Jan Ashirwad Yatra. The nationwide campaign launched by BJP to introduce the new Union Ministers took off on Monday with all four newly inducted Ministers of States from Karnataka travelling to various parts of the state. MoS for New and Renewable Energy, Chemicals & Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba held a roadshow in Bidar. He also visited Ramakrishna Ashram in Bidar. Karandlaje highlighted the welfare schemes introduced by the Narendra Modi government for agriculture and farmer welfare in a press conference in Mandya before kickstarting her campaign.

DT Next – Online

The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department for the merger as per the recommendations of the Board of Directors of PAGREXCO and PAJL and the officers’ committee headed by the Chief Secretary. The merged entity would be called Punjab Agri Export Corp Ltd, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting, which also authorized the Managing Director, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (PAIC), to perform all such acts and deeds which are necessary for the implementation of the merger scheme and to make the merger scheme effective.

Times Now News – Online

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has allowed 10 organisations including state governments to use drones for a year. The Karnataka government has been allowed to do aerial surveys to create property ownership records in Bengaluru. Mahindra & Mahindra has been allowed to use drones for agricultural trials and precision spaying on paddy as well as hot pepper crops in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh respectively. Bayer Crop has also got the green light, and it’s for agricultural spaying and research. SAIL can use drones for perimeter surveillance of its plant in Burnpur in West Bengal.

The New Indian Express – Online

Even as the world and the rest of India was living in isolation and trembling in fear in the wake of the first wave of Covid-19, those in Kerala were pitched into another nerve-wracking situation: the inter-state borders were sealed off; truckloads of cereals, grain, grocery and vegetables from the neighbouring states were stopped from moving to the state. For the first time, it was shockingly brought to the imminent danger of its blissful consumerism—what had been common knowledge for decades was now felt at the pit of the stomach.

The Hans India – Online

Telangana State secured the first place in yieldsfor cotton, mirchi and paddy crops, informed the Minister for Agriculture S Niranjan Reddy On Saturday. Along with Minister for Transport Puvvada Ajay Kumar, he participated in various programmes in the district. Speaking in one occasion, Niranjan Reddy said the government is giving importance to develop the Agriculture sector in the State. Nearly Rs 6,000 crore was spent for development of agricultural sector, he added. He said nearly 50%mirchi cultivated in the State and it is a big achievement in the State. He said the Telangana State cultivated three core metric tones’ of paddy and secured first place across the country.

Financial Express – Online

India’s relatively sluggish performance raise doubts about its flawed democratic structure that makes economic reforms and policy implementation more challenging, unlike China. The first lesson to learn for India@75: It will take decades to catch up to the US standards, but if we target Chinese standards over the next decade or two, perhaps India can do better. Remember, China’s reforms started with agriculture, and India, till date, has been avoiding reforming its agriculture. For manufacturing sector to grow sustainably, we have to increase the purchasing power of rural people, which has to be done by raising their productivity and not by distributing freebies. It requires investments in education, skills, health and physical infrastructure, besides R&D ...

DT Next – Online

He claimed that many states are approaching Telangana government to follow and implement its policies. “They are studying our schemes and our programmes,” he said while speaking after unfurling the national flag to mark 75th Independence Day at historic Golconda Fort here. KCR said Telangana, which once was synonymous for drought and distress, has witnessed unprecedented development. In 2020-21 agricultural year, it achieved agriculture yield of 3,40,00,000 tonnes, which stood at the pinnacle of the entire country. “Agriculture sector contributes about 20 per cent to State GDP. This is an ample proof that Government transformed Agriculture which was earlier considered a waste. Telangana carved itself as crops growing state and achieved agricultural prosperity,” he said.

Business Standard – Online

BRICS nations have pitched for closer ties in strengthening agro-biodiversity to ensure food and nutrition security, the government said on Saturday. The issue was discussed in the working group of agriculture represented by top agriculture officials from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) virtually on August 12-13. The group stressed on having closer ties in strengthening cooperation and research in the field of agriculture, an official statement said.

DT Next – Online

“Most people living in the cities have no inkling about real agriculture, hence it is necessary that they gain knowledge about this sector,” said Panneerselvam in his budget address. The museum will showcase varieties of paddy, native agriculture implements including millstone of ancient times, pounder, milling machine and pictures of traditional cattle, sheep, goat, poultry, birds and dogs, and paintings on agriculture in literature. Videos on folk songs and transplantation songs will also be played there. He said a special centre for jackfruit at Panruti block in Cuddalore district will come up at a cost of Rs 5 crore, wherein a gene bank will be developed.

Telangana Today – Online

The Telangana State Dairy Development Cooperative Society Federation (TSDDCSF) chairman Loka Bhuma Reddy on Thursday urged farmers to adopt innovative and modern agriculture techniques that would fetch them high returns. Speaking after unveiling posters and a video of various schemes introduced by the federation for the welfare of farmers here, Bhuma Reddy said a slew of schemes were conceived and were given nod by the board of the federation during a recent meeting as per the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao. As part of the initiatives, a farmer would be given a subsidy of Rs 1,000 on the purchase of cattle and a gift of Rs 5,000 when there is a wedding of ...

The Economic Times – Online

Government efforts to boost manufacturing through production linked incentives or liquidity support to medium and small scale enterprises have not been effective in stemming the decline of manufacturing in India as there is a steady increase in the share of agriculture in total employment, the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy said. CMIE data from the consumer pyramid household survey shows the share of agriculture in total employment has gone up from 35.3% in 2017-18 to 36.1% in 2019-20

The Statesman – Online

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sought investments in the state when British Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Fleming called on him on Tuesday at his camp office. “The British team expressed interest in investing in health, energy, electric vehicles, agricultural technology and climate change sectors,” said an official statement. Fleming is leading a delegation to the southern state, which includes the head of British Trade and Investment, Varun Mali.

The Times Of India – Online

Exporters will directly deal with paddy farmers at the Nagina-based Krishi Vigyan Kendra this year. More than half of the 57,000 hectare where paddy was sown in Bijnor district is made up of basmati. According to sources, last year due to Covid and farm protests, the farmers could not get a fair price for their produce and were forced to sell at government centres at Rs 1,888 per quintal whereas normal rates in the private market are over Rs 3,000. The basmati is sent to Punjab from where it is exported to Gulf nations and Europe. This time, agri authorities are making efforts to bring exporters among farmers so that they can decide ...

Daily Excelsior – Online

With the world’s population expected to increase by 2 billion people in the next 30 years, it has now been widely recognized that simply producing a larger volume of healthier food more sustainably will not ensure human and planet well-being. The world today stands at crossroads with multiple challenges that need to be addressed urgently. These challenges include achieving zero hunger, poverty reduction, social inclusion, access and availability of health care to all, biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation. The deadline for achieving SDG 2030 is also approaching fast. This cannot be achieved without involving youths.

DT Next – Online

“In Tamil Nadu, only those who own farmlands are recognised as farmers and all benefits such as kisan credit card are extended to them. Our association has more than 20,000 women members, but only less than 10 per cent of them own lands owing to the large chunk of women who undertake farming are not recognised. The state should recognise us and should provide land for farming for long lease and to provide benefits to women farmers,” said Ponnuthayi, president, Kalanjiam women farmers association, while addressing reporters in Chennai.

Hindustan Times – Online

The Centre onTuesday told Parliament that recommendations from chief ministers of Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, and West Bengal were taken into account before the three farm laws that have triggered protracted protests were passed last year. It added ministers of 10 states were part of a committee formed in 2010 and they recommended that the “monopoly” of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees or corporate licensees should not be allowed.

Financial Express – Online

The government has revised upwards country’s food grains production by more than 3 million tonne (MT) to record 308.65 MT for 2020-21 crop year (July-June), which is 3.75% higher from the previous year. With current kharif acreage seen to be 1% lower than last year by the end of season, the pressure will be on rabi season to match last year’s food grains output in 2021-22 crop year. According to the third estimates released for 2020-21 in May, the food grains output was estimated at 305.44 MT in the current year.

The Times Of India – Online

The agriculture sector recorded the highest 103 per cent growth in new business registrations at 12,368 in FY2021, compared to 6,107 in the previous fiscal, according to a paper released by Dun & Bradstreet on Wednesday. The white paper on ‘Business Dynamism in India’ showed that the manufacturing sector witnessed 39,539 registrations in FY21 compared to 26,406 in FY20, a growth of 50 per cent. In FY21, a total of 1,95,880 businesses were registered, which is a record high, it said.

The New Indian Express – Online

The value of agricultural produce in the State has grown from Rs 40,000 crore in 2014 to Rs 94,500 crore this year, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy said during the Cabinet subcommittee meeting on agriculture held at Marri Channa Reddy Human Resource Development Centre in Hyderabad on Tuesday. The Agriculture Minister also stated that Rs 1,450 crore was released to the Life Insurance Corporation of India for the insurance coverage of farmers under Rythu Bhima scheme. Addressing the participants, IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao suggested that the subcommittee members visit the agricultural museum at Iowa in the United States and also take suggestions from Professor MS Swaminathan, Jayati Ghosh, P Sainath ...

Telegraph India – Online

The Centre on Tuesday tried to spring on the Rajya Sabha what the Opposition described as a “mischievous” discussion on agriculture, prompting a foiling operation that saw an MP clambering atop a table and another throwing a file at the presiding officer’s vacant chair. The purported ambush and the retaliation came a day ahead of the scheduled tabling of a bill to privatise the General Insurance Corporation (GIC). The Opposition, which wants to send the bill to the select committee, feels that Tuesday’s provocation was intended at dividing them ahead of the insurance bill foray.

Telangana Today – Online

The Cabinet sub-committee on agriculture will explore and identify the measures to be taken to transform the agriculture sector into an industry that would facilitate farmers reap the benefits of farming besides ensuring a high growth rate. It will come up with recommendations to promote alternate crops and farm mechanisation, among other factors, that will lead to accelerated growth. Participating in the Cabinet sub-committee meeting headed by Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy here on Tuesday, Industries Minister K T Rama Rao said the agriculture sector had the potential to improve the economy of the State with more than two crore population directly or indirectly dependent on the sector.

Hindustan Times – Online

Changes wrought by the climate crisis will have economy-wide repercussions in India if not mitigated, shrivelling both agriculture and industry, experts have warned. Poverty could rise, they said. A bleak report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Monday on the “science of climate change” said the impacts of global warming were intensifying and widening. Some changes were “irreversible”, it added. The next climate negotiations, known as COP26, are scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November.

Hindustan Times – Online

Punjab has decided to go with the Haryana model of farmland record integration for paddy procurement under its new system, which will come into place from October. Mandi board secretary Ravi Bhagat said that three state departments: revenue, food and civil supplies and mandi board will work together on a common digital platform. The departments will integrate a database of an estimated 10 lakh farmers and cultivators in the next one-and-half months.

DT Next – Online

In Mayiladuthurai district, in 4 talukas of Mayiladuthurai, Kuthalam, Tharangambadi and Sirkazhi, more than 70,000 acres have been cultivated by farmers through ground water and river irrigation. Currently, farmers are actively involved in the harvesting process. It is customary to open more than 100 purchasing centers in the Mayiladuthurai district annually for the purchase of paddy. But this year the procurement center has been opened in only 30 villages including Konerirajapuram and Sivanagaram. Farmers take the harvested paddy bundles to various government direct purchase outlets in the district for sale and store them. The farmers have therefore petitioned the District Collector Lalita that the government should immediately open direct paddy procurement centers.

The New Indian Express – Online

In a unique gesture, the foresters from the Kali Tiger Reserve in Joida taluk of Uttara Kannada district helped the farming families in their agricultural activities. Amidst rains, about 20 men from the Kumbarwada wildlife division of the Reserve toiled an entire day at the agricultural fields. Two families were benefited in Mainold and Kalasai village that is part of Tiger Reserve and the foresters say this is one among several outreach programmes to ensure good relationships with the locals.

The Times Of India – Online

The Kolkata-headquartered conglomerate has forged 83 Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) with several state governments and government bodies, 24 technical collaborations with national and global organisations, and is working with 82 NGOs apart from thematic experts for village-based institutions and other partnerships. ITC is also working with NITI Aayog to improve agriculture and allied sectors in 27 aspirational districts of 8 states and has till date covered 2.5 million farmers. Additionally, it has institutionalised major agriculture practices in several states with the aim of reducing water use and cultivation costs and improving productivity to make agriculture more sustainable and climate-resilient.

The Times Of India – Online

Even as the state finances went through rough weather for more than a decade, agricultural sector provided some saving grace, registering steady growth in the past 15 years, but it is nothing great to rejoice, says the white paper on state finances released by finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Monday. He went on to say that industrial growth rate dipped between 2011 and 2016 and later climbed in the past five years. Services sector, on the other hand, has been steadily declining from 11.23% to 7.44% and later to 6.03%. The sectoral growth pattern reveals that overall, the services and secondary sectors recorded higher growth rates than the primary sector.

The Times Of India – Online

The UP government expects to set a new record in paddy production for a second year in a row this year, the state government said in a statement on Sunday. This comes in the backdrop of the area under cultivation of paddy increasing from 58.92 to 60 lakh hectares, favourable weather conditions, better rains and the measures taken by the state government. The state government expects the paddy yield to increase by one million tonnes in the current Kharif season. Last year, the production of paddy had crossed 257.04 lakh tonnes. Notably, the agriculture department had set a target of cultivating paddy on 60 lakh hectares of land out of 96.03 lakh hectares ...

Telengana Today – Online

Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy on Saturday said the State government has revived the past glory of the agriculture sector and had put an end to migration of people from the rural areas to urban areas in search of livelihood. After inaugurating the new building of Soil Test Centre and Rythu Vedika at Miryalaguda, he addressed a meeting of farmers from surrounding villages. Explaining the schemes taken up by the State government for the benefit of the farmers, the Minister said Rythu Vedikas and Rythu Bandhu schemes were not being implemented anywhere in the country except for Telangana State.

Telangana Today – Online

Northern Telangana, especially Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Nizamabad, Adilabad and Warangal districts, has witnessed widespread migration to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Beginning from the second half of the 1980s, people from the Telangana region migrated to the Gulf as a response to the perpetual droughts, lack of irrigable water and the resultant agricultural distress, as well as the heightened naxalism and police encounters. The Gulf oil boom of the 1970s and the tremendous infrastructural development in the region spurred the demand for labour that acted as a pull factor. Since then, the migration of people of all ages, classes and skill levels from the Telangana region to the ...

The New Indian Express – Online

Emphasising the need to adopt modern techniques in the field of agriculture, Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao, on Thursday, said that the State government is spending crores of rupees for the development of the farm sector. Dayakar Rao, along with Station Ghanpur MLA T Rajaiah, other public representatives and farmers from Warangal, visited Sathupalli and Aswaraopet Assembly constituencies in Kothagudem district. They were welcomed by MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah and local TRS leaders. During the visit, they observed paddy cultivation in the two constituencies and interacted with local farmers. They observed the new farming system of Kari Vetha. Speaking on the occasion, Dayakar Rao stated that adopting such new techniques will help ...

Devdiscourse– Online

The role of agriculture in sustainable development is often overlooked. This is surprising because it is the most important activity that human beings undertake for their survival in addition to the agriculture sector being among the largest greenhouse gas emitter. So how to course correct? Watch the video to discover.

Geospatial World – Online

Perhaps that is why, the agri-tech sector has been witnessing tremendous growth globally in the last few years. According to a report by Accel Partners and Omnivore, investments in the sector grew from $45.8 billion in 2015 to a whopping $430.6 billion till March 2020. In India too, the agri-tech sector has been rapidly expanding, growing at a rate of 25% annually. Experts believe that this growth can be attributed to increased digitization, government initiatives, and growing investor interest. Reports suggest that the agri-tech market in the country will be worth $24 billion by 2025. According to a Nasscom study, India currently has more than 450 start-ups in the agri-tech sector that have received over ...

The Times Of India – Online

The Uttarakhand government on Wednesday announced a hike of Rs 72 per quintal in the paddy procurement price. The minimum support price of paddy in the hill state is now Rs 1,960 per quintal, as against Rs 1,888 per quintal earlier. Uttarakhand’s food and civil supplies minister Bansidhar Bhagat has asked the department officials to complete all the formalities before October 1, when the paddy procurement process is set to start in the state. The minister has asked the officials to procure paddy from government departments between October 1 and 15. Thereafter, paddy will be procured from farmers through commission agents.

Hindustan Times – Online

Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said Centre’s three farm laws, which, he claimed, were illegal and unconstitutional, will not be implemented in the state. “The Congress is committed to the cause of farmers. We will not let the three black laws be implemented in Punjab. These central farm laws are a direct attack on the federal structure of India and against the spirit of the Constitution as agriculture is a state subject,” Sidhu said.

The Times Of India – Online

The government should devise a method to make people engaged in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation (MGNREG) scheme work in agricultural fields during important seasons so that the labour demand of the sector is met, say farmers. Periyar-Vaigai Irrigation Ayacut Farmers Associations secretary K Thirupathy said the hundred-day work scheme was implemented to help people overcome drought situations, when there was no agricultural activity. “But they were instead made to do alternate work and paid for it. Now, as it is implemented during the agricultural seasons also, it is causing much hardships,’’ he said.

The Indian Express – Online

AS PART of the state forest department’s pilot project to stop wild elephants from entering villages, the Chhattisgarh government has set aside paddy acquired in 2019-2020 for “elephant management” in nine districts. “For management of elephants, it has been directed to provide paddy of 2019-2020 to the forest department at the cost of procurement in Gariyaband, Balod, Sarguja, Raigarh, Surajpur, Korba, Dhamtari, Kanker and Mahasamund,” the Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Marketing Federation said in a letter to the Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) dated July 22.

Hindustan Times – Online

As per figures collected from the state agriculture department till date, paddy has been sown on around 12.25 lakh hectare and may go up to around 12.50 lakh hectare as the transplant in some areas is still on. This is around 18% less than last year’s 15.27 lakh hectare and nearly 20% below the 15.59 lakh hectare of 2019, when the state had the highest percentage of area under paddy cultivation, showed the government figures. Area under bajra, another major Kharif crop, and procured on MSP has come down to 3.40 lakh hectare against 5.69 lakh hectare of the last Kharif season.

Business Standard – Online

Share of crops in gross value of output for agriculture and allied activities has dropped to 55.5 per cent in 2018-19 from 62.4 per cent in 2011-12. Within the crop group, cereals in 2018-19 commanded a lower share in value of output as compared to fruits and vegetables, which had the largest share at 28.3 per cent, the latest data from the MoSPI showed. Fruits and vegetables have less state intervention in terms of their marketing and sale as compared to cereals.

Telengana Today – Online

Telangana State has emerged as a major food grains supplier in the country, noted Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar. The State has produced an unprecedented quantity of three crore tonnes of paddy this year, he said speaking after inaugurating a Rythu Vedika and Vaikuntadhamam at Vallabhi village in Mudigonda mandal in the district on Monday. Ajay Kumar along with Zilla Parishad Chairman, Lingala Kamalraj inaugurated Rythu Vedikas at Mudigonda, Chirumarri and Pammi villages in Madhira Assembly constituency. The minister said that aiming to unite the farmers, Rythu Vedikas were built in all clusters in the district. The Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao has been introducing innovative programmes to increase the State’s wealth and to spend ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Farmers under the banner of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) continued the siege of toll plaza and Reliance filling stations in Punjab, particularly Sangrur and Barnala districts, to oppose the corporate houses over the three agriculture laws. The protests are being organised simultaneously when the farmer unions have been holding indefinite protests at the Delhi borders to oppose the farm laws. In Barnala, the protesters staged dharnas at the Badbar toll plaza on the Bathinda-Chandigarh national highway and Mehal Kalan village on the Barnala-Ludhiana road since October 1.

The New Indian Express – Online

At a time when the agriculture sector is facing shortage of workers due to the Covid pandemic, several farmers in Nellore district have started spraying fertilisers and pesticides in their fields using drones. Farmers in Kodavaluru, Kovur, Vidavaluru and Dagadarthi mandals have started using drones, which are available on rent. And guess what, farmers are happy with the outcome as they could save time and around 30 per cent pesticide by using the drones. 

A team of officials led by agriculture officer Anitha have conducted demo classes on the utilisation of drones for spraying fertilisers and pesticides in the fields to farmers especially in villages of Kovur, Kodavaluru, Vidavaluru and Dagadarthi mandals in ...

The New Indian Express – Online

Chakawara, home to about 1,000 people in Bihar‘s Vaishali district, is an example of how a village can prosper through self-sufficiency.

About 20 years ago, Chakawara was a poor place. Its youth had no jobs. But fast forward to 2021, residents of the village have most modern comforts at their disposal and a handsome amount in the savings bank.

So, what’s behind the Chakawara success story? The path to prosperity was laid after the villagers took up cauliflower seed cultivation.

Hindustan Times – Online

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kicked off its much-hyped ‘Tiranga Yatra’, a 40-kilometre journey on tractors from Bhiwani’s Behal to Loharu town, on Sunday.

The yatra received a massive response, especially from BJP’s youth workers. It is for the first time since November last year that the saffron party, which has been facing protests from farmers agitating against the Centre’s farm laws, managed a show of strength in the Jat-dominated belt.

The farmers decided against staging a protest against the BJP for fear of being labeled as anti-national, and instead decided to counter it with a mahapanchayat in Behal, the town where the BJP started its rally from.

Free Press Journal – Online

In 2016, the government led by Prime Minister Modi said that farmers’ incomes would be doubled by 2022. It was meant to convey an ambitious target. It was also a departure from targeting production to income. To this end, a committee was set up in April 2016, under the chairmanship of Dr Ashok Dalwai, an IAS officer who was additional secretary in the ministry of agriculture and farmers’ welfare. That committee submitted its massive 14-volume comprehensive report in September 2018. Popularly known as the DFI (doubling farm income) report, the entire report and related documents can be accessed at: https://agricoop.nic.in/en/doubling-farmers-income. The aim was to reach double income for farmer households by ...

The New Indian Express – Online

As a part of its efforts to conserve energy on all fronts, the state energy department is in the process of introducing energy efficiency farm motors with the latest and globally acclaimed Permanent Magnet Brushless Direct Current (PMBLDC). AP State Energy Efficiency Development Corporation (APSEEDCO, a joint venture of power utilities, has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Andhra University for preparing the design document, manufacturing and operational protocol, simulation, and a prototype to demonstrate the technology. 

Herald – Online

As part of their vision and the revival challenge the CYFC decided to cultivate a total of 20,000 sq. mtrs field stretch.

The Revival challenge itself was met with tough challenges like ploughing, tilling and levelling during incessant stormy rain. Through the dwindling numbers of the youth, the determination and self-confidence of few members, CYFC rose against all odds that in a short period of time things materialised. From toiling in the sun and soil to getting drenched in the rain, and from calling out for help from parishioners, friends and family, the youth did all they could to complete the field preparations so that they could make the field stretch ready for cultivation as the ...

Yahoo News – Online

Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Minister Tage Taki has advocated for a policy with fencing provision regarding area expansion for large scale crop cultivation in the state.

Speaking at a webinar conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), Taki on Saturday said that the state has limited fund and cannot afford large-scale fencing.

‘The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is aware of our state’s financial condition, we have limited funds and cannot afford large-scale fencing,’ he said while highlighting the dearth of grazing land due to which animals have started to encroach farms.