Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Indonesia approves Indian labs to end stalemate on agriculture exportsedit
Business Standard – Online
Indonesian authorities have granted a blanket license to most Indian food testing labs for three years, ending an imbroglio over import of agriculture produce from the South Asian nation. The Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency (IAQA) said the agriculture ministry has issued a decree for registering labs in India—a document valid for three years starting April 13 and that can be renewed further. Indian consignments already bound for Indonesia can be accompanied by a Certificate of Analysis (COA) issued on March 24 or earlier. Indian agriculture imports halted last late March after Indonesian authorities barred the approval given to certification agencies based in India. These agencies or labs issued certificates that are mandatory for exporting ...
Foodgrain production in Bihar looks positiveedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Bihar’s total foodgrain production in kharif and rabi seasons in the financial year 2021-22 stands at 162.22 lakh tonnes, of which wheat production is estimated at 62.22 lakh metric tonnes and paddy at 71 lakh metric tonnes, as per the third estimate of foodgrain production compiled recently, which indicated that the state continues to be food sufficient, agriculture department officials said. Third estimate figures for FY 21-22 were positive and indicate the total foodgrain production in kharif and rabi seasons this time could surpass the figures of FY20-21, which was 179 lakh metric tonnes, as per fourth and final estimates released last year. Prolonged winter, better seed distribution and inputs to farmers through financial assistance ...
Technology in Agriculture
Watch | ‘Farmers Want Technology and to Be Able to Sell Produce at Good Rates’edit
The Wire – Online
In this episode of ‘Krishi Ki Baat’, Indra Shekhar Singh interviews agri-economist and Infosys Chair Professor, Agriculture- ICRIER Ashok Gulati. Starting from the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the episode discusses the various impacts of the rising fuels and fertiliser costs. MSP, climate change, and Punjab agriculture are also discussed. Gulati concludes by commenting on the Indian agriculture policy and discussing potential solutions.
Govt. Policies
Cotton Imports Attract 5% Basic Customs Duty, 5% Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cessedit
BW Businessworld – Online
The government’s decision to waive customs duty on cotton imports will help boost exports of value added products of textiles, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said on Thursday. The move, he said, will promote exports of apparel and made-ups sectors significantly by softening the prices of yarn and fabrics as well. The finance ministry on Wednesday waived customs duty on cotton imports till September 30, a move which will benefit the textile industry and lower prices for consumers. Currently, cotton imports attract 5 per cent Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and 5 per cent Agriculture Infrastructure Development Cess (AIDC). The industry had been demanding a duty waiver to lower domestic prices. The ...
Paddy in India
Only 10 per cent of paddy purchase centres open in Khammam districtedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
State government has opened only about 10 percent of its proposed 236 paddy procurement centres in Khammam district on Thursday. But because of tussle between state and centre over who will procure paddy produced during Rabi season, farmers have already sold 30 percent of their produce to millers and traders. Procurement of paddy by state government in Khammam district formally commenced with transport minister P. Ajay Kumar inaugurating the purchasing centre at Manchukonda in Raghunathapalem mandal on Thursday. Paddy had been raised over 98,000 acres in Khammam district against 2.29 lakh acres in the previous Yasangi season after state government discouraged people from cultivating paddy, as centre would not procure the same. As a result, ...
Kerala’s paddy cultivation sees drastic decline in last 15 yearsedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Claims by changing governments of a revival in paddy cultivation are half-truths and misleading, if one goes by official data. The area of cultivation and total yield registered a drastic decline in Kerala between 2005 and 2020. The decline in area of cultivation and total production were 84,692 hectares (30.71%) and 43,089 tonnes (6.84%), respectively, according to ‘Agriculture Statistics 2005-2020’ published by the Department of Economics and Statistics. The area of cultivation that was 2,75,742 hectares in 2005 dropped to 1,91,051 hectares in 2020 while the total production dropped from 6,29,987 tonnes to 5,87,078 tonnes during this period. “The area under paddy cultivation from 2005-06 to 2019-20, shows a normally decreasing trend, though ...
Telangana govt paid over 5,000 crore interest on loans for paddyedit
The Times of India – Online
Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation has 4,000 crore in its kitty to begin paying for paddy procurement and is seeking a bank guarantee from the state government to raise an additional 10,000 crore. The state government has paid 5,357 crore as interest on the loans raised for the purpose of making payments to farmers due to increased procurement in the last four years. According to Telangana’s regular procedure, the state government would purchase paddy from farmers, pay them the minimum support price (MSP), which is 1, 960 per quintal this season. After custom milling, rice is supplied to Food Corporation of India (FCI), and the Centre reimburses the state government for the payment ...
Paddy Purchasing Centers Launched in Telanganaedit
The Hans India – Online
The paddy procurement has started in the Telangana State. Minister of Transport Mr. Puvvada Ajay has inaugurated the paddy procurement center in Raghunathapalem Mandal in Manchukonda in Khammam district. The government has established as many as 236 paddy purchase centers in the district. The government may procure 1.70 Metric Tonnes of paddy through these centers. The minister opening these centers said that the government would install the additional paddy purchase centers if required. Furthermore, he added that only KCR had taken the responsibility to help the farmers in the state. He also said that the BJP government is not bothering the Telangana farmers. After protesting against the BJP in Delhi, this move by the ...
Telangana: The Politics Behind KCR’s Flip-Flops on Paddy Procurementedit
The Wire – Online
More than three years into his second term as the chief minister of Telangana, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) appears to be recalibrating his strategy – to grab the bull by the horns and take the BJP head on. The Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS) suffered a series of setbacks in the by-polls in Dubbaka and Huzurabad, where the saffron party won. Besides, the BJP also made massive inroads in elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). These events have seemingly served as a wake-up call to KCR, the undisputed leader of Telangana. The people of Telangana, which was formed in 2014, rewarded KCR as he spearheaded the long-drawn statehood movement. In 2018, when elections were ...
Tractor industry
Making India Global Export Hub For Tractorsedit
Financial Express – Online
In the last few years, India has become an export hub for global carmakers and the potential is unlimited. Looking at the statistics, tractor sales have gone up, hinting at the opportunity that India can become a global export hub for tractors. Speaking on this, Industry leaders such as Gaurav Saxena, Director & CEO – International Business, Sonalika Tractors, Raunak Varma, Managing Director and Country Head, CNH Industrial India and SAARC, Bhartendu Kapoor, President Sales & Marketing, TAFE, and Rohit Saboo, President & CEO, National Engineering Industries Ltd, discuss their views during the FE AgriTech Summit 2022.