Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Govt issues new quality specifications for rice, paddy procurementedit
Financial Express – Online
The government has issued new quality specifications for rice and paddy procurement for the coming season. According to a statement, the government has established uniform criteria for fortified rice kernels (FRK) for grade A and common rice in case of purchase of fortified rice stocks, where 1% FRK shall be blended with regular rice. These criteria have been given in respect of paddy, rice, and other coarse grains such as jowar, bajra, maize, and ragi, as is customary practice. These requirements include rice criteria for distribution under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) and other welfare schemes, which are based on the unified rice specifications for Kharif Marketing Season (KMS) 2020-21.
150.5 million tonne kharif foodgrain output projectededit
Hindustan Times – Online
India has projected a record foodgrain output of 150.5 million tonne from summer crops (2021-22) despite an erratic monsoon, up 4% from the previous year, official estimates on Tuesday showed. The government’s first of the four quarterly estimates of food production, a key indicator of the country’s farm sector that employs half of all Indians, pointed to plentiful harvests of rice, coarse cereals, maize, higher pulses, oilseeds, etc. Farm-produce output and agricultural gross domestic product (agri GDP) was robust in 2020-21, too, when the wider economy came to a standstill due to strict Covid-19 restrictions, pointing to resilience of the rural sector.
A farmer becomes a laboureredit
Down to Earth – Online
By next year, India has a promise to keep: To double farmers’ income from 2015-2016 levels. The 77th round of the National Sample Survey, Land and Livestock Holdings of Households and Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households, by the National Statistical Office has some indicators on whether this promise can be kept. The survey covers situations in 2018-2019; before this a similar survey was done in 2012-2013. Thus, this survey is also the first to point out the state of farmers during the tenure of the incumbent government. Monthly income of agricultural households has increased by 59 per cent since 2012-2013. So, it is an annual growth rate of 7.8 per cent. To get a ...
Combine harvester owners must install super straw management systemedit
Jagran – Online
District Magistrate Akhilesh Singh instructed all the combine harvester owners of the district that it would be mandatory to use super straw management system or stripper or stirrer and baler along with the combine harvester to be used during harvesting. He said that if any combine harvester super straw management system, stripper, If found running without straw and baler, immediate action will be taken and the combine will be released only after installation of Super Straw Management System at the expense of owner. He said that all the combine owners should be present in the office of the sub-divisional agricultural extension officer of their tehsil within a week and obtain a no-objection certificate from the agriculture ...
Competition
Here Are Some Of The Best Companies To Work For In Indiaedit
India Times – Online
The world of work is transforming. As we continue to navigate our way through once-in-a-generation global pandemic, the new shift to remote work have all reshaped what our professional lives look like — and what we’re expecting from our employers. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. is one of India’s largest automotive company and world’s largest tractor company by volume. Employees at Mahindra & Mahindra Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors are given ample freedom at work and opportunity to innovate. What makes Mahindra and Mahindra Auto and Farm Equipment sector an organization that is one of India’s best companies to work for, is the fact that it inspires trust among the employees, instilling pride in them, creating ...
Technology in Agriculture
Why Farmers Need To Embrace AgTech Start-Upsedit
BW Disrupt – Online
Today, several AgTech startups are taking on Indian agriculture’s most challenging problems. While the country has progressed and rapidly adopted technology in almost all walks of life, its most elementary breadwinner stands neglected. Especially the smallholding and marginal ones who own less than 2 hectares of farmland but represent more than 86% of all farmers in India. This lack of investment in the continuous development of the Indian farmer has cost them – by way of degradation of soil, depletion of underground water resources, low yields, and low incomes. Indian farmers need to be guided, informed and directed towards adopting sustainable agricultural practices and linked to better markets and post-harvest services to ensure better yields ...
Govt. Policies
Odisha Govt, Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation Ink MoU To Support Sustainable Agriculture Transformationedit
Pragativadi – Online
he Government of Odisha, through the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation today signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) to advance their partnership to support sustainable and inclusive agriculture transformation. This will improve the lives and livelihood of small and marginal farmers in the State. With this signing, the Department envisages strengthening its programmes by accessing expertise, technology, and high-impact innovations. There will be endeavour to bring sustainable production, food quality improvement, reduce vulnerability to drought, pest, and other climate-related risks through advanced soil and water resource management.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Sow some green!edit
The New Indian Express – Online
Cashing in on favourable weather, padashekhara samitis around Kochi and its suburbs are buzzing with activities these days. Preparing for the new farm season, areas like Aluva and Nedumbassery are ploughing their field with tractors and sowing saplings. “For more than two decades, this has been our routine. We have several farmers who turned to agriculture after quitting other professions. We have also managed to bring back many paddy fields that were not being farmed. Now, there are more than three samitis in Karumaloor area, Aluva, alone, with over 1,000 acres of paddy fields,” said S Chandrashekharan Nair, president, East Veliyathunadu Padashekhara Samiti, Karumaloor, Aluva.
Stubble Burning
To cut coal, thermal plants told to use paddy straw pellets tooedit
The Indian Express – Online
The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has told the commission that the fuel change move would not require any design tweak in boilers. “NTPC has confirmed that it is technically feasible and implementable to co-fire bio-moss pellets with coal in proportion up to 5-10% in thermal power plants without any modifications in the boilers,” read the direction. Haryana and Punjab generate 20 million tonnes and 1.2 million tonnes of paddy straw a year. Experts said that unless the seamless supply of crop residue from fields to end-users, including power plants, was ensured, the direction would have no impact.
Ludhiana administration to hold 76 camps to create awareness about stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
In view of the upcoming paddy harvesting season, the department of agriculture and farmers’ welfare is set to launch a massive awareness campaign in the district to persuade the farmers to shun stubble burning and adopt crop residue management for making Ludhiana free of this menace. The department will organise as many as 76 awareness camps and farmers’ meetings in October. Various teams comprising experts will sensitise the farmers. Exhibitions of ultra-modern equipment useful in effective paddy straw management would also be held in the fields.
Stubble burning: Central commission directs thermal plants around Delhi to co-fire biomass pelletsedit
Mint – Online
The central commission for air quality management has directed all the 11 thermal power plants within 300 km radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass pellets with coal to address the issue of stubble burning, reported news agency PTI. As per the panel, the measure has the potential to utilise millions of tonnes of biomass and reduce air pollution. Paddy straw burning is a matter of grave concern in NCR and adjoining areas. Ex-situ utilisation of paddy straw is an important strategy amongst various means of prevention and control of paddy straw burning, the panel said. “The commission directs all the 11 thermal power plants within 300 km radius of Delhi to co-fire biomass-based pellets/torrified pellets. This ...
Do farmers want bio-decomposer sprayed in fields to prevent stubble burning in Delhi? | Ground Reportedit
India Today – Online
Ahead of the winter in north India, farmers are focused on harvesting their crops and the Delhi government is focused on preventing air pollution due to stubble burning. Last year, the Delhi government introduced a bio-decomposer spray in association with Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa. The solution was sprayed in fields to eliminate the need for stubble burning, which severely impacts the air quality in the national capital. About 2,000 acres of farmland were sprayed with the bio-decomposer last year.