Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Farm machinery, other steps will keep air pollution in check this season: Agri Secyedit
Lokmat – Online
The Rs 235 crore and Rs 141 crore for Punjab and Haryana respectively for crop residue management and the other measures taken by the Central government will solve the problem of air pollution to a large extent, according to Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal. Including this year’s allocation, under the central sector ‘Promotion of agricultural mechanization for in-situ management of crop residue’ scheme, the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers’ Welfare has allocated Rs 1050.68 crore for Punjab and Rs 640.9 crore for Haryana since 2018-19 for crop residue management machines on subsidy to the farmers and for undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) activities for mass awareness. These machines ensure that the crop residue is weeded ...
The structural shift in Indian agriculture is worryingedit
Hindustan Times – Online
In an authoritative official study of the transformation in Indian agriculture, the National Statistical Organisation (NSO) has published a report — Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Holdings of Households in Rural India — based on a survey conducted in 2019. The headline numbers seem attractive. Farm incomes have risen by 57% between 2012-13 and 2018-19, at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The share of agricultural families in debt has decreased from 51.9% to 50.2% in the same period.
Amazon & Indian Agriculture, what’s this all about?edit
Mid-day – Online
Now it has turned its attention to things which are highly beneficial to the Indian market. There’s no doubt that agriculture in India can influence markets not only in India but across the globe. It has been the case all along if you have read the modern history of the world and how most of the agricultural base existed in India and China. But what’s Amazon really trying to do here? How is India’s agriculture going to pave ways for Amazon to succeed further in this group and solidify it’s business?
Centre assures support to agriculture sector in Telanganaedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
Union minister of state for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, Shobha Karandlaje, said that the Centre would work closely with the Telangana government to promote agricultural exports in order to double the income of farmers within a reasonable time-frame. The union minister reviewed the implementation of Central schemes in the agricultural sector in Telangana at BRKR Bhavan here on Monday. State agriculture minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy, chief secretary Somesh Kumar and senior officials of agriculture department were present in the meeting.
Aakar Patel | Why not do the obvious thing? Repeal 3 laws, end farm stiredit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
The farmers’ movement gave the Union government last year a set of eight demands. First, to repeal the law that allowed the tax-free trade of agricultural produce outside of regulated mandis, stop corporates from entering the agriculture sector and provide a guarantee for the Minimum Support Price. Second, to repeal the law allowing contract farming. Third, to repeal the law amending the Essential Commodities Act, decriminalising the hoarding of agricultural produce. Fourth, to withdraw the amendments proposed in the Electricity Ordinance 2020, which would end power subsidies and replace them with a cash subsidy. Fifth, to eliminate the taxes on fuel to align the price of petrol and diesel to international crude prices. Sixth, to ...
Kharif foodgrain output likely to touch record 150 mn tn this year Agri Secyedit
The WEEK – Online
The country’s foodgrain production is likely to touch a new record of over 150 million tonnes in the Kharif season of the 2021-22 crop year (July-June) due to good rains, Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal said on Monday.Sowing of Kharif (summer) crops like paddy, which begins with the onset of the Southwest monsoon from June, will get over by the end of this month. Harvesting in most of the parts will commence from October.“We have received good rains so far this year. Total Kharif foodgrain production was 149.56 million tonnes last year as per the fourth estimate. As there is likely to be an increase in area under pulses and paddy, foodgrain production will definitely be ...
Coverage
The CLAAS Cultureedit
Times Of Agriculture – E-magazine (Pages 48-50)
Agriculture is one of the most important contributors to the GDP of the country and continues to be the backbone of the country. With the changing times, the practices associated with agriculture have seen reforms but not to the extent where it should be. The pandemic shed light on the opportunities in the field of agriculture especially pertaining to the visible dimension that agricultural machinery can open up in times of labour shortage. The benefits don’t stop at this, but sometimes remain in the shadows of economic plausibility. A deeper delve into the ROI from these equipment is a revelation of the profits that can be reaped from this approach. Some factors ...
Dams and Indian Agriculture
Low reservoir levels coupled with depletion of fertiliser stocks threaten rabi season sowingedit
The Print – Online
The low reservoir levels due to deficit rainfall this year could affect the rabi sowing season from October-November. This crisis is likely to be further aggravated due to the depletion of stocks of Di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) — the second-largest consumed fertiliser in the country after urea — and other major fertilisers. The water level in reservoirs across major agrarian states such as Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra and Rajasthan has plunged due to deficit monsoon rainfall across the country.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Kharif sowing 1.14% lower compared to previous year due to break in monsoon: Reportedit
Free Press Journal – Online
Rural insurtech startup ‘Gramcover’ and weather and agri analytics firm ‘Skymet’ has released The Kharif Crop Outlook report for 2021-22. The report highlights the monsoon performance, reservoir status, flood analysis, soil moisture assessment, normalized difference vegetation index, vegetation condition index, kharif sowing progress and crop wise analysis (cotton, soybean and pulses). As per the data released by the Ministry of Agriculture on September 2 this year, kharif sowing stood at 1081.5 lakh hectares, about 1.14 percent lower this year compared to the corresponding period previous year. The lower sowing across the country is attributed to the break in the monsoon after timely progress till it crossed Uttar Pradesh and afterwards progress over Rajasthan was ...
Excess rain in September leaves Haryana paddy growers anxiousedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The more than normal rainfall in September has left paddy farmers worried about the impact on the yield at this stage. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Haryana received 113.3mm rain from September 1 to 13 – 124% more than 50.7mm considered normal in the month. More rain has also been forecast till September 16 in most of parts of the state. Farmers, who grew early varieties, are troubled as the crop was ready for harvest, but was now left ridden with higher moisture content.
Stubble Burning
Farmers happy with new technique to tackle stubble burning, others states should use too: Kejriwaledit
The Indian Express – Online
The bio-decomposer developed by the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) has been successful in decomposing paddy stubble at a quick rate, and is a viable option for farmers who usually set fire to paddy residue, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday. Quoting an audit report, Kejriwal said that 90 per cent of farmers told that paddy stubble decomposed within 15-20 days. The solution was used in fields in Delhi last year in October. Developed by IARI scientists, the decomposer is essentially a fungi-based liquid solution that can soften hard stubble to the extent that it can be easily mixed with soil in the field to act as compost.
Centre releases ₹491 crore to Punjab, Haryana & UP to tackle stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Harvesting of paddy, the main kharif crop, will begin from October onwards. The stubble burning in northern India has long been a major cause of air pollution even as the central government has spent ₹2,245.17 crore to address this issue in the last four years. Speaking to reporters, Agarwal said the states have also been asked to allow gram sabhas to open custom hiring centres so that small farmers can have access to machines and equipment used in the management of crop residue. In the 2021-22 financial year, the central government released ₹491 crore funds to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for tackling the stubble burning issue. Of that, ₹235 crore has been released to ...