Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Agro NPA dips in Maharashtra as farmers improve their credit behaviouredit
The Indian Express – Online
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, agriculture was the only sector which has seen consistent positive growth. Two years down the line, agricultural finances in Maharashtra have actually seen an improvement with banks reporting lower Non Performing Assets (NPA). Bankers and agri finance experts said this was a combined reflection of the state government’s loan waiver scheme, better returns and improved credit behaviour among farmers. Short-term and long-term finances are extended to the sector by banks to help farmers in their farming activities. Short-term finance refers to the money extended to farmers at 7% rate of interest for 11 months. Called crop loan, farmers get an interest subvention from both state and central ...
How the Russia-Ukraine Crisis Could Affect Food Prices in Indiaedit
The Wire – Online
Have you been thinking that the Ukraine-Russia crisis is distant and doesn’t effect your home? Think again, because the odds may be stacked against you. The recent increase in fuel prices is only the appetiser, very soon your favourite foods – and your favourite vodka – may too be the victims of inflation. Alarmist? See for yourself. The world calls Ukraine the ‘breadbasket of Europe’ for a reason. It is blessed with fertile black soil, also known as “chernozem”. Apart from being among the world’s leading producers of sunflower oil, this region is also a major producer of corn (sixth largest), barley (sixth), rapeseed (seventh), wheat (ninth), poultry and meat too. Russia isn’t far behind ...
Women in agriculture still subjected to discriminatory practicesedit
Devdiscourse – Online
Despite their overwhelming participation in agriculture, women are still subjected to discriminatory practices. These were the remarks of Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane during a dialogue session with women farmers in Limpopo. “Historically, women farmers experience socioeconomic barriers including a lack of access to financial services that assist in sustaining their farm expenses. This is despite women farmers using environmentally conscious practices in comparison to their counterparts,” the Minister said on Tuesday. Nkoana-Mashabane noted that women, who end up in the agricultural business, often do so through the support of other women farmers. “They create and are part of organisations and communities that assist women in all things ...
Govt. Policies
Agri Ministry ready with new Rs 2,500 cr plan to boost natural farmingedit
Business Standard – Online
The Agriculture Ministry is ready with a new central scheme to promote natural farming in the country with an estimated outlay of Rs 2,500 crore, a senior government official said on Tuesday. The proposed new scheme on natural farming will soon be placed before the Cabinet for approval, the official added. The new scheme has been designed months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need to keep looking at alternatives for existing fertiliser and pesticide-based farming while addressing a national conclave on natural farming in Gujarat in December last year. Modi had also said natural farming offers much better products with no side effects. “After several rounds of consultations with stakeholders, a draft scheme ...
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Rain goes soft on delta dists, coastal regions see moderate showersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Delta districts received light to moderate rainfall on Monday. Coastal delta districts such as Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts received high rainfall compared to other districts. There were sporadic showers in Tiruchy district with an average of 2mm recorded in a day. No crop damage was reported – thanks to the advisory of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department to fasten up the harvest process and take precautionary measures. Although harvest was put to halt for the day, some farmers in Pullambadi area were seen stepping into their fields and carrying out harvest works. The Monday rain did not deter them. Speaking to TNIE, M Murugesan, Joint Director of Agriculture Department said, “Harvest was ...
Agricultural dept starts assessing crop losses due to sudden unseasonal rainsedit
The Times of India – Online
The Joint director of the agricultural department (Nashik Division), Sanjiv Padwal, has directed all the district officials to assess the crop damage due to sudden unseasonal rains in parts of North Maharashtra and submit a report in a day or two. Padwal said that parts of Jalgaon, Dhule, Nandurbar and Nashik district received light rains and we are assessing the crop losses. A primary report about the losses is expected in a day or two. Parts of Nashik district, particularly Satana, Deola and Sinnar talukas also received light rains. Ready to harvest wheat crops have been damaged on 25 acres in a village in Satana taluka. The Rabi crops like wheat and gram ...
Stubble Burning
‘100% farm paddy utilisation, zero farm fires’: CAQM lists key agri measuresedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Officials of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Tuesday said that ex-situ and in-situ utilisation of paddy stubble can lead to zero farm fires in the national capital region (NCR). Speaking on the second day of the two-day Dialogue Towards Clean Air initiative organised in Gurugram by the CAQM and Union environment ministry, Arvind Nautiyal, member-secretary, CAQM, suggested several measures for farm management, including diversification to other cash crops, cultivation of early-maturing varieties of paddy, promotion of biomass in industries and power generation, and the extended use of biomass decomposers. “The Commission has developed a framework and is working further to promote in-situ crop residue management (managing straw on field itself through machinery) ...
Do not go for short-cuts: MoS Environment to farmers on stubble burningedit
Business Standard – Online
Against the backdrop of the hazard posed by stubble burning to air quality in the national capital region, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Ashwini Kumar Choubey on Tuesday urged farmers not to go for shortcuts as such measures fail to help. He also called upon people to work for the betterment of air quality, saying it is everyone’s responsibility as citizens of the country to look after “mother nature”. Choubey was speaking at an event, organised by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) in association with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to brainstorm on the issue of amelioration of air quality in ...