Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Excess agri labour shifts to low-wage employmentedit
Financial Express – Online
Excess agricultural workers are getting into less-privileged, less-wage employment as maids, cooks or security guards, failing to find their usual way, during this time around of the year, into the construction and manufacturing sectors, Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said. “Excess or seasonal labour released from agriculture usually finds its way to construction sites. In better times, this is part of the transition from farms to factories. But, the construction industry itself shed over half million jobs in August. And, manufacturing also shed nearly a million jobs. In the circumstances, labour seems to have found employment in the household sector as maids, cooks, gardeners, security guards and the likes, a transition that could be ...
Centre to raise farmer database from 5.5 cr to 8 cr by Dec with help of states: Narendra Singh Tomaredit
The Indian Express – Online
The Centre has created a database of 5.5 crore farmers, which will be increased to 8 crore by December this year, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Monday. Addressing the chief ministers’ conference on initiatives and schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoAFW), held via video conferencing, Tomar asked the states to create their own database using the federated farmer database prepared by the Centre, and allow linkage to state land record data.
Digital agriculture to get a push in UPedit
The Times Of India – Online
In a bid to increase farmers’ income and improving efficiency of the agriculture sector, the state government plans to promote digital agriculture in the state. The move is being claimed to offer proactive and personalised services to farmers. According to a state government spokesperson, the plan is expected to be launched as a pilot project in Mathura, Mainpuri and Hathras. Under the concept, the data of farmers in around 10 villages of these districts will be collected.
Competition
Mahindra Announces Krish-e Champion Awards – Rabi 2021 Editionedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector, India’s leading tractor manufacturer and part of the Mahindra Group has announced the winners of the second edition of the Krish-e Champion Awards. The Rabi 2021 edition of the award celebrated farmers and institutions who adopted Krish-e practices in the last Rabi season, showcasing visible impact in their farmlands and their lives, thereby improving their income per acre.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Rains damage crops in 12,000 acres across Andhra Pradeshedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
Rainfall under the influence of southwest monsoon in the last few days has affected several crops across 12,000 acres following inundation of fields. Based on a preliminary estimate, crops like cotton, paddy, greengram, red gram, groundnut and others were submerged. If the rainfall continues for the next few days, the crops may suffer substantial damage. Guntur district suffered a lot as cotton crop in about 8,000 acres located in Amaravati region has been inundated as local rivulets overflowed. Kadapa, Anantapur and other districts also bore the brunt of inundation.
Stubble Burning
Editorial: Clear the airedit
The Telegraph – Online
Times change; so do the challenges they bring with them. This is why India is set to update its national ambient air quality standards, which would consider more pollutants, including ultra-fine particulate matter. Interestingly, experts would also factor in India’s geographical position and meteorological conditions. This is particularly relevant in light of a recent report, Air Quality Life Index, by the University of Chicago, which shows that India’s air pollution levels have expanded geographically over time.
Center again active for prevention of stubble burning, information about preparedness sought from statesedit
Jagran – Online
As the season of stubble burning approaches, like every time, the central government has become active again. The round of virtual meetings with the states has started regarding this, although looking at the experiences of the past years, it is difficult to say that there will be relief from the toxic fumes of stubble. Despite this, the Union Forest and Environment Ministry has sought information from the states about the preparations made to prevent stubble burning.
Kudos, IIT, Hyderabad! Researchers develop bio-bricks that can solve rural housing crisisedit
Financial Express – Online
A new development by researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad, could bring cost-effective living solutions in the country. The central institute recently inaugurated the country’s first building made completely of bio-bricks from agricultural waste. IIT, Hyderabad, Director B.S. Murthy called it a perfect illustration of wealth from waste and said the institute would submit to the Ministry of Agriculture a proposal to promote its wider application in rural communities.
Delhi to get second smog tower today to fight air pollutionedit
Money Control – Online
Delhi’s second smog tower will be launched on September 7 near the Anand Vihar metro station. The inauguration of a second smog tower comes a month before the pollution level increases in Delhi due to stubble burning by the farmers in neighbouring states. Delhi’s pollution is a widespread concern for overall pollution levels. For years now, Delhi’s air pollution has been a matter of worry. Many attempts have been made by governments to control it. The pollution begins in Delhi in October and it lasts for the whole winter season.
Tractor industry
Tractor sales to rebound in the coming months after the fall in Augustedit
Business Standard – Online
A steep decline of 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in August sales – the first in 18 months – has failed to dampen the spirits of tractor makers. Despite a deficient monsoon, they are expecting sales to rebound in the months to come. Their confidence stems from higher reservoir levels, government incentives for the agriculture (agri) sector, and a high minimum support price. Cumulative tractor sales of the top five tractor makers – Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Tractors and Farm Equipment, John Deere India, Sonalika, and Escorts – have skidded 17 per cent to 47,630 units in August, from 57,727 units in the corresponding month a year ago.