Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Paddy purchase cap, demand for land records attempt to benefit private players: Farm unionsedit
The Indian Express – Online
Farmer leaders on Saturday alleged that government’s recent actions, like attempt to delay paddy procurement and capping of per acre yield for procurement purpose, points towards an attempt to create space for private players to procure farmers’ paddy instead of government buying it on MSP. State general secretary Bharti Kisan Union (Dakunda), Jagmohan Singh, and president of BKU (Kadian), Harmeet Singh Kadian released a joint statement Saturday that said: “It has been more than 10 months since farmers are protesting on the borders of Delhi. Farmers are fighting for the protection of the public procurement system, regulated markets, MSP and public distribution system, which are facing a big threat under new farm laws. Now ...
Bid to regulate paddy cultivation leads to tussle between state, seed manufacturersedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
The attempt to regulate paddy cultivation had led to a tussle between the state government, seed manufacturers and dealers. The government has decided to discourage farmers from cultivating paddy in the rabi season from November, citing the Centre’s decision not to procure boiled rice from Telangana state for the public distribution system (PDS) through the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Seed dealers allege that agriculture department officials were threatening them with cancellation of their licences if they sell paddy seeds to farmers for the rabi season.
Stubble Burning
Bane to boon? Stubble to boost incomeedit
The Times Of India – Online
Any farmer you talk to in Delhi-NCR region would tell you how bad the practice of stubble burning is for human and soil health, but they would also argue that immediate concerns, including high cost and time-consuming option of better farm practices, force them to opt for burning the paddy harvest remnant. Sensing this dilemma, the central government’s apex farm research body — Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) — has stepped in to devise ways that would directly help farmers in earning money through trade in carbon credits accumulated by adopting sustainable farm practices such as by not burning biomass or opting for crop diversification/methods that lead to lesser methane emission.
How an agritech firm is helping Haryana, Punjab farmers use bio-decomposer to curb stubble burningedit
The Print – Online
“Till last year, we used to burn stubble despite tussle with government and legal action threats. This year we’ve opted to spray solution as it has twin benefits – it helps avoid burning-related repercussions and provides additional manure with stubble decomposed in soil. A day or two after applying decomposer, the farm will be tilled and watered which will initiate rapid decomposition,” Singh said. Farmers across Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh usually harvest paddy in October via mechanised combine harvesters, which leaves behind stubble. The farmers then set fire to the stubble to clear land for the next crop.