Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Growth rate of agricultural emissions picking up since 2015, shows dataedit
Business Standard – Online
Although India refrained from signing the COP26 Action Agenda on Sustainable Agriculture at the climate summit in Glasgow though it was part of the negotiations, data suggests it needs to move fast in addressing the issue of agricultural sustainability. A Business Standard analysis of Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) data from 1990-2018 shows that even though India ranks third in terms of total greenhouse gas emissions, it has the top rank in terms of agricultural emissions. It accounted for over 12 per cent of the global greenhouse emissions from agriculture and related activities.
CoP26 report card: Agriculture continues to remain subterranean even in Glasgowedit
DownToEarth – Online
Unlike forest, finance and transport — that got the feted ‘title of a day’ at the 26the conference of Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change — agriculture was taken up as part of ‘Nature Day’ on a Saturday. Outside the venue, thousands protested against a gamut of things, including step-motherly treatment to food systems that have been a major source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. By this time, CoP26 had already witnessed two major pledges — on deforestation and reduction of methane emissions — with intimate linkages to the industrial food systems in terms of clearing forests and also leading to increased methane emission. Agriculture, forestry and land use are responsible ...
Competition
Swaraj Tractors leads the way for mechanising horticulture farmingedit
ConstructionWeek -Online
Swaraj Tractors, part of the Mahindra Group, has launched CODE, a revolutionary new multi-purpose farm mechanisation solution to transform horticulture farming in India. An indigenously designed farm mechanisation solution, CODE is conceived with the idea of eliminating drudgery of labour involved in horticulture farming. The narrowest and the lightest ride-on machine, CODE will revolutionize horticulture farming in India allowing farmers to carry out inter-culture operations in narrow rows for various vegetable & fruit crops. Additionally, the shorter turning radius of this machine provides better maneuverability in smaller farms cultivating horticulture crops. Talking about the launch of CODE in the horticulture segment, Hemant Sikka, president, farm equipment sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “With horticulture’s growing share in ...
Technology in Agriculture
How agritech startups are boosting agricultural economy by employing AI and Data Science – Expert explainsedit
Zee Business – Online
India’s agricultural revolution, or agriculture 4.0, is being driven by the rapid adoption of deep-tech solutions across the country. The emerging agritech space has slowly but surely captured the eye of visionary entrepreneurs, investors, businesses, governments and most important of all, farmers. According to the latest Bain & Company report, the agritech sector received $1 billion dollars in funding from 2017-2020, and is projected to grow to a $30–$35 billion market by 2025. With increasing penetration of technology and rising opportunities for innovation in the agricultural ecosystem, the agritech sector is poised to transform India’s agricultural economy. Subrat Panda, Chief Technology Officer, AgNext, shares his knowledge on agritech and explains how agritech startups are ...
Govt. Policies
Booster for organic farming put on the backburner?edit
The New Indian Express – Online
Recognising the importance of organic farming, the State government released a policy note in August which stated that a separate wing would be created in the agriculture department to focus on the sector. Farmers, however, allege that no steps have been taken in this direction. Tamil Nadu Banana Growers Federation state general secretary G Ajeethan said, “Organic farming is a system of cultivation which requires pre-sowing practices and ensures that there are no chemical residue on the land. North-East monsoon brings copious rains in many districts. The State government could have encouraged farmers to prepare the soil for organic farming. However, no such notifications have been issued till now.” Saying that the government ...
Harvest Machine
Dhankatni: Combine harvester owners will have to take pass from Agriculture Departmentedit
Hindustan – Online
In the harvesting of paddy from this year, combine harvester owners will have to get a pass from the Agriculture Department. Along with this, an affidavit will also have to be given to the effect that they have installed SMS (Extra Management System) in the combine harvester. Only then will the permission to harvest paddy in the fields be obtained from the Agriculture Department. Otherwise his pass will not be issued. Action will be taken against the combine harvester owners who harvest without permission from the Agriculture Department. The department has issued this guide line for crop residue management implemented to save the environment from the danger of pollution. In the light of the order of the department, the DAO has directed ...
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Heavy rains drown crop hopes of Odisha farmersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Unseasonal rains since the last two days have drowned the hopes of Kendrapara farmers of harvesting a bumper autumn (biali) paddy crop. The low pressure-induced rains have damaged crops in vast tracts of agriculture field in many parts of the district. Complaints of crop damage have been pouring in from many villages of Aul, Mahakalapada, Rajnagar, Marsaghai, Rajkanika and Garadapur blocks. Paresh Sahoo (54), a farmer of Aul, said paddy crops are in the harvesting stage and the next two weeks are crucial. Now, farmers are worried that the paddy quality will deteriorate with the soaking of crops. “The recent rains have dealt a severe blow to many farmers by washing away ...
Paddy in India
Aid likely to salvage damaged paddy crops in Thanjavur, Tiruvaruredit
The New India Express – Online
A team of ministers led by Minister for Cooperation I Periyasamy on Friday inspected the areas in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur where paddy fields are inundated. After holding a review meeting with officials of various departments, the ministers visited Andami in Madukkur block, where crops are under water. Talking to reporters, Periyasamy said, “As crops in Madukkur area have been under water for the last three days, the roots have started to rot. Once water completely drains out, Agriculture Department officials will advise the farmers on rejuvenating the crop, wherever possible. Farmers will be given fertilisers and other inputs. Though there were rains over the last few days, water level rose significantly after the ...
‘Many in Purnia forced to sell paddy much below MSP’edit
The Times of India – Online
The state government had announced paddy procurement on November 1 through PACS (primary agriculture cooperative societies) at the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs1940-Rs1960 per quintal, but the farmers are forced to sell their produce at a throwaway price in several blocks of the district. “Before the Chhath holiday, two PACS centres were opened under Banmankhi and Dhamdaha subdivisions of the district for the procurement of paddy at the MSP fixed by the state government. But, it remained a formality as procurement has not started at the two centres yet,” said Nyaz Ahmad, the coordinator of Kisan Sangharsh Samanvay Samiti as well as Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, Purnia unit. “The delay has forced ...
TRS cadre raises war cry against Centre on paddyedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
The rank and file of the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) hit the streets across Telangana State on Friday to step up pressure on the Centre to procure paddy from the state during the rabi season. Bringing back memories of Telangana statehood agitation, all key leaders of the TRS, including ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other elected representatives, staged a three-hour-long dharna from 10 am to 1 pm in their respective constituencies in all districts demanding the Centre to make a clear announcement to purchase the entire paddy yield from the state. The ruling party leaders also demanded the Centre to educate farmers on what prompted the TRS to come onto the roads after ...
Stubble Burning
Ending rice-wheat monopoly can ease Delhi woesedit
The Times of India – Online
Most of the fields along the road to Jalaldiwal village, 42km from Ludhiana, are ashen black, some still smoking. Amid such sombre scenes of farm fires, one runs into a hillock of sunny bales of straw. Tractors loaded with this paddy stubble line up before busy men who unload, pull, push and sort the bales. Dr Harminder Singh Sidhu, a 54-year-old farmer who also runs an agri help centre, inspects the quality of straw and shouts out instructions to his workers. “We are collecting hay bales from over a thousand acres in 33 villages. It will be processed into fodder,” smiles Sidhu. “We have been doing this for five years and encouraging ...
Stubble burning: Bihar plans to ‘name and shame’ violatorsedit
Hindustan Times – Online
In a bid to discourage the practice of stubble burning during the upcoming harvesting season for kharif crops, the Bihar government has decided to “name and shame” violators and has made it mandatory for farmers hiring combine harvestor machines to furnish an affidavit that they would not burn crop residue in their fields, officials familiar with the matter said. On Friday, all district magistrates in the state were given detailed instructions on management of crop residue during the harvesting season ahead of rabi crop by development commissioner Amir Subhani and state’s agriculture secretary N Saravana Kumar. “Stubble burning causes air pollution and soil erosion. This time, we will be strict in our approach towards ...
Haze thickens, Delhi inches towards emergency modeedit
The New Indian Express – Online
A thick blanket of haze enveloped the city on Friday, as pollution levels soared to the deep end of the ‘severe’ zone – the highest for this season and even worse than the post-Diwali spike. In a review of the worsening air quality, the Central Government’s pollution watchdog has advised people to limit outdoor exposure and reduce private vehicle usage by at least 30 per cent. The advisory has come, as there is no change likely in the current meteorological conditions at least till over the next five days. Low surface winds allowing no dispersion and an increased share of smoke from farm fires in neighbouring states has led to the spike. The ...