The Times of India – Online

Generally, when we think about threats to our environment we tend to picture smoking factories, polluting cars. We never think the cause could be the seemingly innocuous, delicious ‘Burger’ we are holding in our hands. The truth is, our need for food poses one of the biggest dangers to the planet. And the sooner we comprehend the severity of this problem (or opportunity), the better served we would be in the years to come. The global population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050. An additional billion people for every decade or so. The critical question that arises & one that needs to be addressed today is – Are we prepared? And ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Food processing is a panacea to alleviate the financial stress of agriculturalists. It transforms agriculture through value addition. It has picked up over the years but is not yet as intense as it should be in food-surplus areas of the country. The food processing industry (FPI) contributes nearly 14% of manufacturing GDP, though only 10% of food is processed. It will reach an estimated turnover of $535 billion ( ₹53,500 crore) in 2025, with an annual growth of 11%. The transformation of agriculture through FPI hastens diversification, creates more jobs, enhances income, and helps retain the next generation in agriculture. It also reduces the burden on the government to procure food grains, with wider choices ...

The Economic Times – Online

The share of crops in India’s agriculture fell to 55.5% in 2019-20 from 62.4% in 2011-12, the ministry of statistics and programme implementation said on Wednesday. In a report on state-wise and item-wise value of output, the ministry said agriculture, forestry and fishing accounted for 18.3% of the gross value added (GVA) at current basic prices in 2019-20, down from 18.5% in 2011-12 but the share of this sector in overall GVA of the country showed a “fluctuating trend over the years”. It was 17.6% in 2018-19 and 18.6 % in 2013-14. “‘Cereals’ and ‘fruits and vegetables’ (two largest groups of crops) together accounted for more than 52% of the sector in 2011-12, and ...

DNP India – Online

The state of Uttar Pradesh will once again purchase maize and millet. In the state’s 24 districts, maize will be purchased, and 18 districts will buy millet. The government set the MSP for millet at Rs 2,350 per quintal and maize at Rs 1,962 per quintal. Farmers should compete to cultivate maize and millet as a result of the government purchasing maize and millet. Surya Pratap Shahi, the minister of agriculture for Uttar Pradesh, stated during a news conference at Lok Bhavan that the state produces an estimated 24 lakh metric tonnes of millet, with actual production being 21.60 lakh metric tonnes In addition to helping farmers earn a fair price for their crops, he ...

Hindustan Times – Online

Agriculture minister and RJD leader Sudhakar Singh on Sunday once again hit out at his own government’s policies by questioning the agriculture road maps, which the Nitish Kumar government has been over the years showcasing as a great initiative to transform the farm sector in Bihar. Singh said that the statistics of the government itself indicate utter failure of the agriculture road maps in achieving their objectives on any count. “These are not my statistics. The figures of the agriculture department point to the failure of the roadmaps and there is no point continuing with them with taking required corrective measures. At least, as agriculture minister I cannot give extension to this road map. The ...

Telangana Today – Online

Telangana secured the top position among all States by registering double growth in Agriculture in a period of five years. As a result, the Net State Value Added (NSVA) by economic activity from agriculture witnessed a cent per cent rise during 2017-2021. According to the latest RBI report “Handbook of Statistics on the Indian Economy 2020-2021”, the NSVA by economic activity from Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing increased from Rs 95,098 crore in 2017-2018 to a whopping Rs 1.81 lakh crore in 2020-2021. Paddy production increased from 62 lakh tonnes in 2017 to 1.23 crore tonnes in 2021. Total food grain production (including pulses) was 1.5 crore tonnes in 2021 as against 94 lakh tonnes in ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Increasing rural electrification, positive farm sentiment, and improved cash flows following a healthy rabi season last fiscal will boost demand for agricultural pumps in the country this fiscal, CRISIL Ratings said on Thursday, resulting in 8-10% revenue growth for their manufacturers. Higher volume-driven growth and stable input prices will result in operating margins rising by up to 100 basis points to 11-12% this fiscal year, while cash accruals will improve. This, combined with stable working capital levels and moderate capex spending requirements, will ensure debt levels remain similar to the previous fiscal year, supporting stable credit profiles. According to a CRISIL analysis of agricultural pump manufacturers, which account for 40% of the sector’s revenue. Traditional ...

Business Standard – Online

As sowing of kharif (summer) crops almost comes to an end, paddy planting continued to lag behind as sown area under this crop fell 5.51 per cent from last year to 401.56 lakh hectare so far, according to the agriculture ministry. Besides paddy, there is marginal lag in sowing of pulses, oilseeds and jute/mesta. Consequently, the total sown area under kharif crops declined 1.24 per cent to 1,097.57 lakh hectares so far this kharif season, as against 1,111.36 lakh hectares in the year-ago period, it said. Sowing of kharif crops had begun with the onset of southwest monsoon from June. Harvesting of some kharif crops has started and will be in full swing from October. ...

Amar Ujala – Online

बासमती के बढ़िया भाव से किसानों के चेहरे खिल गए हैं। पूसा बासमती 1509 प्रजाति के धान का भाव इस बार गत वर्ष की तुलना में करीब एक हजार रुपये प्रति क्विंटल अधिक चल रहा है। इसकी बड़ी वजह विश्व बाजार में चावल की अधिक मांग को बताया जा रहा है। जनपद में करीब 58 हजार हेक्टेयर क्षेत्रफल में धान की खेती हो रही है। इसमें से लगभग 46 हजार हेेक्टेयर रकबे में बासमती धान है। धान की अगेती प्रजाति पूसा बासमती- 1509 की कटाई शुरू हो गई है। बासमती की अन्य प्रजातियों की कटाई में अभी समय है। मंडी में इस समय पूसा बासमती धान का भाव पिछले वर्ष के सितंबर महीने की तुलना ...

The Economic Times – Online

India has defended its decision to ban export of wheat and rice at a WTO meeting even as some member countries have flagged concerns over the country’s stand, an official said. At a meeting last week in Geneva, Senegal, the US and the European Union raised questions over this decision, stating it could have adverse implications on global markets. In May, India restricted export of wheat to enhance domestic availability. This month, it also banned export of broken rice and imposed a 20 per cent export duty on non-Basmati rice except for parboiled rice to boost domestic supplies amid a fall in area under paddy crop in the current kharif season.

The Economic Times – Online

Increasing rural electrification and positive farm sentiment riding on normal monsoon, and improved cash flows after a healthy rabi season last fiscal will boost demand for agricultural pumps in the country this fiscal, leading to 8-10% revenue growth for their manufacturers, said CRISIL Ratings on Thursday. Higher volume-driven growth and stabilising input prices will lead to operating margins rising up to 100 basis points to 11-12% this fiscal, and improve cash accruals. That, along with steady working capital levels and moderate capex spending needs will ensure debt remains at levels similar to last fiscal, supporting stable credit profiles.

The Indian Express – Online

The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare released on Wednesday the First Advance Estimates of production of major Kharif crops for 2022-23 that pegged kharif rice production at 104.99 million tonnes during the current season in wake of uneven monsoon, which is 6 per cent lower than the production of 111.76 mt during the last season. The kharif rice production estimates are lower than the target of 112mt set for the current season and 105.21mt figure of 2020-21. The dip in kharif rice production is significant in view of requirement of rice for distribution under the National Food Security Act 2013. In a statement, the Ministry said, “Total production of kharif rice during ...

Livemint – Online

Rainfall deficit in the North-east could lead to lower production of rice, while erratic monsoons elsewhere could impact some vegetables. However, overall growth in agriculture output in FY23 is expected to come in at 3% or more, compensated by other crops and shoring up rural consumption, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand said. Farm output accounts for about 20% of the economy. Edited excerpts from an interview.

Inventiva – Online

A 6-7 million tonnes shortfall in rice production due to a fall in paddy sowing area is likely to keep rice prices at elevated levels, adding to the inflationary pressure that the slowing economy is already grappling with. Elevated food prices, including that of cereals, had led to retail inflation reversing a three-month declining trend, to touch 7 per cent in August. Similarly, the wholesale price inflation, which declined to 11-month low, also showed price pressures from cereals resulting from wheat output being impacted by severe heat waves in some parts of the country. In addition to this, expectation of a lower paddy output – conservative by government estimates and higher if outside experts are to ...

The New Indian Express – Online

Around one lakh farmers in Prakasam district are unlikely to receive financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM Kisan) scheme this time as they have not completed their eKYC (Electronic Know Your Customer) process, officials of the agriculture department said. There are nearly 3.18 lakh farmers in the district. While all of them have reportedly completed the Aadhaar authentication process (registration) for the scheme, only around 2.20 lakh have completed their eKYC process as well. “The registered farmers will receive Rs 6,000 financial assistance in three equal instalments,” officials said. Stating that the Union government has extended the date to complete eKYC process four times, the agriculture department officials said ...

Telangana Today – Online

With a steep fall in paddy acreage across the country and an estimated reduction in production, Telangana is likely to retain its title as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’ with an unprecedented production of about 1.7 crore tonnes during the ensuing Vaanakalam. Paddy cultivation has been taken up in about 64 lakh acres, an increase by nearly 14 lakh acres over last Vaanakalam. The overall crop sowing area in the State was more than 1.34 crore acres, with a whopping 10 lakh acres growth during the corresponding period. Farmers took up sowing operations in Telangana soon after the monsoon became active across the State. The kharif season contributes to about 80 per cent of India’s ...

The Economic Times – Online

The rice prices are likely to remain elevated for some more time owing to a shortfall in rice production which can be linked to a fall in paddy sowing area. The price rise factor has added to the pre-existing inflationary pressures that the slowing economy is already grappling with. Recently, the retail inflation surged to 7 per cent due to increased food prices, including that of cereals. The increase has led to retail inflation reversing a three-month declining trend in August. Similarly, the wholesale price inflation, which declined to 11-month low, also showed price pressures from cereals resulting from wheat output being impacted by severe heat waves in some parts of the country.

Krishi Jagran – Online

The central government of India today said that India would readily participate in globally expanding efforts to bring down the adverse environmental impact of farming, dairy or global emissions, bearing in mind that the country accounts for about 1/4th of global milk production with the largest cattle population. The annually held IDF World Dairy summit was attended by CEOs and employees of dairy processing companies, dairy farmers, suppliers to the dairy industry, academicians, and government representatives opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by Parshottam Rupala, the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, and Yogi Adityanath, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. The summit was held 48 years after India hosted the International ...

The Indian Express – Online

Punjab needs a long-term agriculture policy to rid farmers of farm debt, to keep them from committing suicides and to improve their financial condition, said Dr Sukhpal Singh, newly appointed chairman of Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers’ Commission. In a conversation with The Indian Express, the eminent agro-economist said the commission would frame an agricultural policy in consultation with the state government and Punjab Agricultural University to enhance the profitability of farming system in the state. Both the Union and the state governments should help farmers grow diversified crops that are suitable for consumers as well as the ecosystem, he added. Dr Sukhpal Singh, who has carried out extensive research on various aspects ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Virendra Kanwar, the agriculture minister of Himachal Pradesh, announced on Wednesday that the state government will spend Rs 1,010 crore to promote crop diversification and improve farmers’ economic conditions. “A special emphasis is being placed on crop diversification. Rs 1,010 crore will be spent in the state under this project to strengthen farmers’ economic conditions,” Kanwar said. The minister was in Dharamsala to lay the groundwork for the additional director of agriculture office, which will cost Rs 247 lakh to build. The minister stated that the Himachal Pradesh government launched the Praakritik Kheti Khushal Kisan Yojana for the benefit of farmers, which has benefited over 1.71 lakh farmers and cost the government Rs 58.46 crore.

The Economic Times – Online

A Finance Ministry report on Saturday underlined the need for deft management of stocks of agriculture commodities in view of lower crop-sowing for the Kharif Season, stressing there should be no room for complacency on the inflation front. Overall, inflationary pressures in India appear to be on a decline with a pre-emptive set of administrative measures by the government, agile monetary policy and easing of international commodity prices and supply-chain bottlenecks, according to the monthly Economic Review released by the Finance Ministry. However, it said, there is no “room for complacency on the inflation front as lower crop-sowing for the Kharif season calls for deft management of stocks of agricultural commodities and market prices ...

The Print – Online

Procurement of new kharif paddy has started in Tamil Nadu from September, a month in advance, and the state government has purchased over 56,900 tonnes so far in the 2022-23 kharif marketing season, a senior Food Ministry official said on Thursday. Normally, the procurement of kharif paddy at the minimum support price (MSP) begins from October. “The Tamil Nadu government has started the procurement in advance with permission from the central government. About 56,903 tonnes of paddy have been purchased so far,” the official told PTI. Other major paddy growing states like Punjab will start procurement from next month. The ministry aims to purchase 518 lakh tonnes of paddy procurement in the 2022-23 kharif marketing ...

Down to Earth – Online

The Maharashtra government announced an increase in input subsidy costs for the upcoming sowing season in a notification September 14, 2022. The decision aims to bring relief to farmers affected by extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, floods, cyclones and other natural calamities. The input subsidy for rain-fed agriculture has been increased to Rs 13,600 per hectare from Rs 6,800 per hectare. The financial assistance for irrigated land has been raised to Rs 27,000 from Rs 13,500. The assistance offered to farmers taking crops throughout the year via canal or other perennial irrigation systems has been increased to Rs 36,000 from Rs 18,000. All financial help for the scheme is limited to two ...

Dainik Bhaskar – Online

ग्रामीण विकास एवं पंचायत, कृषि एवं किसान कल्याण मंत्री कुलदीप सिंह धालीवाल ने कहा कि पंजाब में नए वायरस से धान की फसल को नुकसान हुआ है, उसकी स्पेशल गिरदावरी के आदेश जारी कर किसानों को मुआवजा दिया जाएगा। वीरवार को एडमिनिस्ट्रेटिव कांप्लेक्स में विभिन्न विभागों के साथ मीटिंग के बाद कैबिनेट मंत्री ने वैन रवाना कर पराली जलाने से रोकने के लिए जागरूकता मुहिम की शुरूआत की। उन्होंने कहा कि लंपी वायरस से पंजाब में गौवंश की मौत हुई है, लेकिन सरकार के पास अभी आंकड़े नहीं आए हैं इसलिए सर्वे किया जा रहा है और डाक्टरों की रिपोर्ट के आधार पर मौत का कारण तय होगा। उन्होंने कहा कि पंजाब में 75 लाख ...

The Print – Online

Haryana Congress on Wednesday alleged that farmers are not getting adequate price of bajra in the state, with former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda claiming that the crop is being sold at “throwaway” prices in the mandis once again. “The minimum support price (MSP) of bajra has been fixed at Rs 2,350 per quintal, but farmers are hardly getting the rate of Rs 1,700-1,800. In the last season too, bajra was sold at almost half the rate of MSP,” Hooda, who is Leader of the Opposition, said. At that time, the state government announced that if the crops were sold below the MSP, it will protect the farmers under the ‘Bhavantar Bharpayee Yojana’. “But neither ...

Livemint – Online

Last week, the Indian government imposed several restrictions on rice exports. It banned the export of 100% broken rice, which is predominantly used as cattle feed, and imposed a 20% export duty on several other grades of rice. This was seemingly in response to both a rise in domestic prices and decreased sowing in several key rice-producing states because of a sluggish monsoon.

The Economic Times – Online

India’s food production industry is worth over $400 billion, the primary source of livelihood for over nearly half of the country’s population but the level of food processing across categories is significantly low, said a recent study. India’s share of agri-production is 9.5% globally, while its share in the export of overall food products is 2-3% – with share in export of processed food category even lower at 1-2%, according to a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in association with Federation of India Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI). “We live in an increasingly connected world, where consumers can access products from across the globe. With fundamental shifts in consumer behavior owing to ...

The New Indian Express – Online

The cabinet has approved the setting up of a Value-Added Agriculture Mission aimed at increasing the farmer’s income, enhancing agricultural production and raising the income of agricultural value-added products. The chief minister will be the chairperson of the mission and the agriculture minister is its vice-chairperson. The ministers of Local Self Government, Cooperation, Finance, Water Resources, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Electricity and Food and Civil Supplies will be its members. According to a note from the chief minister’s office, sub-working groups/resource support groups will be formed to submit sub-action plans to the mission. An official from the agriculture department will be appointed as the chief operating officer and sub-working group resource persons will be ...

Livemint – Online

Only a few months after a wheat export clamp threw traders out of gear, scenes of chaos are playing out at India’s ports again. This time, it is our rice traders who have been left holding the bag. As much as 1 million tonnes of outbound rice is estimated to be stuck, as traders grapple with the government’s sudden curbs on exporting this staple. While trade in par-boiled and basmati rice will go on uninterrupted, the Centre last week imposed a 20% export duty on some varieties and a complete ban on broken-rice shipments. Exporters can’t pass on the burden to buyers, who are naturally refusing to pay more. Contracts drawn up months ago cannot be ...

Amar Ujala – Online

अनाज मंडी में धान की आवक पिछले साल की अपेक्षा पहले ही शुरू हो चुकी है। अब तक मंडी में 1509 किस्म का 4681 क्विंटल धान पहुंचा है। हालांकि मंडी में सरकारी एजेंसियां 1509 किस्म की खरीद नहीं करती। निजी फर्मों की ओर से धान की खरीद की जा रही है। मार्केट कमेटी सचिव आशा रानी ने बताया कि पिछले साल के मुकाबले मंडी में इस बार 1509 किस्म का धान जल्दी पहुंचना शुरू हो गया है। पिछले वर्ष 13 सितंबर तक 1509 किस्म का धान मंडी में नहीं पहुंचा था। ऐसे में इस बार उम्मीद है कि गन्नौर में धान की खरीद का निर्धारित लक्ष्य पूरा हो जाएगा। उन्होंने बताया कि 1509 किस्म को ...

Fortune India – Online

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told US President Joe Biden that if World Trade Organization permits, India can supply foodgrain to the world, which is facing serious shortages due to war between leading wheat producers — Russia and Ukraine. Days later, commerce minister Piyush Goyal tweeted: “Egypt approves India as supplier. Modi government steps in as the world looks for reliable alternative sources for steady food supply. Our farmers have ensured our granaries overflow and we are ready to serve the world.” Soon, his ministry announced plans to send trade delegations to Morocco, Tunisia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, Algeria and Lebanon to explore possibilities of exporting wheat amid rising global demand. However, on May ...

The Weekend Leader – Online

Endowed with abundant natural produce, various parts of India often face the challenge of too much stubble. Making proper use of stubble, the country started making biofuels out of it. Biofuels promote greenery and protect nature. These are not only nature friendly but also promotes the contribution of farmers in protecting the environment. This also boosts the use of alternative fuels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a second generation (2G) ethanol plant at Haryana’s Panipat. On one side, India produces abundant paddy and wheat but its stubble is not fully utilised. The bio-fuel plant at Panipat will not only dispose off the stubble without burning it but will have multiple benefits. Dedicating the 2G ...

The Times of India – Online

Uttarakhand is bestowed with natural beauty — mainly, the mountains, its slopes and elevations, perennial rivers, forests and the fertile terai area. In the state, 86% of the total geographical area is mountainous. And about 70% of its population is living in rural areas, depending mainly on agriculture. In addition, only 13% area in hills is under agriculture. That, too, is not fully utilised and about 60% of the agricultural land either has been converted into forest land or lying fallow as grassland. In addition, the hill region has tremendous opportunities to grow indigenous varieties falling under various types of cultivation, like traditional, medicinal, horticultural and agro-forestry in different agro-ecological regions. This needs ...

Telangana Today – Online

The failure of both the UPA and the NDA to fulfil the aspirations of the people and sectors across the country, including agriculture, has created space for the regional parties to emerge with new hope and dimension in the process of development as they focus on local issues and challenges. The political fragmentation and the rise of regional political parties has been one of the most important trends in India’s electoral politics in the last few decades. The regional parties that were marginal players on the national scene helped form national governments in 2004 and 2009. Regionalism is no longer viewed as a negation of nationalism or nation-building. Leaders of the regional parties have started ...

Business Standard – Online

The area under paddy was 4.97 per cent less than last year during the week ended September 9 at 39.37 million hectares, which is almost equal to the normal area covered under the crop in the Kharif season. The normal area is the average area of the past five years starting 2017. This comes to 39.7 million hectares in the case of paddy. The Centre has clamped export curbs on several paddy varieties as it feels that total production might drop by 10-12 million tonnes due to delayed sowing. Overall, till this week, which is almost the fag end of the season, all Kharif crops have been sown on around 108.41 million hectares, a million ...

Business Standard – Online

India’s rice exports could fall by 4-5 million tonnes this fiscal year due to imposition of ban on broken rice as well as export duty on non-basmati rice, except for parboiled grains, exporters said. India, which commands 40 per cent share in the global rice trade, exported 21.23 million tonnes of rice in 2021-22 fiscal as against 17.78 million tonnes in the previous year. Before the COVID pandemic, the exports were 9.51 million tonnes in the 2019-20 fiscal. During April-August period of the current financial year, the government data showed that the country has already exported 9.35 million tonnes as against 8.36 million tonnes in the year-ago period. “The exports may fall to 16-17 million ...

Down to Earth – Online

Acreage for paddy and pulses is lagging far behind last year’s levels even as the 2022 Kharif sowing period is drawing to a close. Paddy plantation is over 2 million hectares less than last year’s. Jharkhand has been affected the most. Paddy plantation has been done in less than half of the target area and most farmers have given up on being able to transplant it this season. Paddy was planted in 1.75 million ha through the first week of September last year in Jharkhand. This year, 0.77 million ha were sown by September 2, 2022 — a deficit of 55 per cent. The state government had set a target of sowing paddy on ...

Business Standard – Online

The nascent domestic drone industry in Uttar Pradesh has received a Make in India shot in the arm with the state planning to deploy drones for agricultural purposes. The drones will be used for spraying pesticides, fertilisers, and farm nutrients in the cultivated land. Considering that Uttar Pradesh is among the top agricultural and horticultural producers with a cultivated area of almost 17 million hectares, there is a huge potential for local drone units, service providers and allied industry. According to reports, India’s drone sector is projected to clock a turnover of Rs 12,000-15,000 crore by 2026.

Patrika – Online

राजस्थान सहित पड़ोसी राज्य हरियाणा में खरीफ की मुख्य फसल बाजरा अब खेतों से कटाई व निकलाई के बाद घरों व मंडियों में पहुंचने लगा है, पर किसानों के सामने दुविधा यह है कि फिलहाल सरकार की ओर से समर्थन मूल्य पर इसकी दोनों ही राज्यों में खरीद की शुरुआत नहीं की जा रही है। ऐसे में किसान मंडियों में ओने-पौने दामों में बेचने को मजबूर है। पड़ोसी राज्य हरियाणा में बाजरा की समर्थन मूल्य पर खरीद 2350 रुपए प्रति क्विंटल निर्धारित है, लेकिन वहां अभी तक सरकारी की तरफ से बाजरे की सरकारी खरीद शुरू नहीं की है। इसके चलते धारूहेड़ा, रेवाड़ी आदि क्षेत्र के किसानों को सस्ते दामों में व्यापारियों को बाजरा बेचना पड़ ...

The Economic Times – Online

Prices of rice have gone up nearly 5% from Friday as Bangladesh further slashed import duty on rice from 25% to 15.25% to increase imports of the staple. Rice from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are exported to Bangladesh. “Prices have suddenly shot up by up to 4% after Bangladesh government announced reduction of duty on import of rice. The neighbouring nation will buy rice from India as well as procure some quantities from Vietnam,” said Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Rice Villa. Bangladesh will import sambha mansoori, sonam and kolam varieties of rice from UP, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Prices of these varieties have already shot up by 3-4% ...

The Indian Express – Online

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the Food Price Index has increased by 30 per cent in the year 2021-22. The last time it had increased in similar proportion was in 2010-11. This phenomenon was one of the factors that led to the Arab Spring. Currently, at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic had already disrupted the food supply chains around the world in 2020, tensions are exacerbated by Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine: Russia and Ukraine represent 27 per cent of the world market for wheat, 16 per cent for corn, 23 per cent for barley, and 53 per cent for sunflower. In peacetime, the Black Sea ports, now blocked, account for ...

Krishi Jagran – Online

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Agriculture Minister, today inaugurated the National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2022-23 at NASC, Pusa, New Delhi. In his address to the Conference, he stated that according to the 4th Advance Estimates (2021-22), the country’s food grain production is estimated at 3157 lakh tonnes, which is 50 lakh tonnes more than the production of food grain in 2020-21. Total pulse and oilseed production is expected to reach a record 277 and 377 lakh tonnes in 2021-22, respectively. Tomar stated that the Central and State Governments are working together to fulfill their agricultural responsibilities. A great deal of work has been done in the country in terms of production, resulting in ...

Republic World – Online

Farmers in Haryana’s Hisar on September 5 protested against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who is on a two-day visit to the state in connection with the launch of his party’s “Make India No. 1 Campaign”. Farmers raised slogans against Arvind Kejriwal at the PWD Rest house and demanded an apology from him for holding farmers responsible for pollution. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo had previously blamed Delhi’s rising pollution levels on stubble burning in neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Arvind Kejriwal also came to talk to the farmers but they were adamant about an apology from him while raising slogans of “Kisan Ekta Zindabad”. Earlier in the day, Kejriwal along with ...

Livemint – Online

The union government on Tuesday raised the existing limit for purchase of Moong and Urad under Price Support Scheme (PSS) during the summer season 2021-22 for farmers in Madhya Pradesh from 25 quintals to 40 quintals per farmer per day. This comes after Farmers Welfare and Agriculture Development Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Kamal Patel met the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar and discussed problems faced by the farmers of Madhya Pradesh. “The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare today relaxed the existing limit of 25 quintals for purchase of Moong and Urad under Price Support Scheme (PSS) during the summer season 2021-22 for farmers in Madhya Pradesh. It has now ...

Hindustan Times – Online

A high-level meeting chaired by agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi on Tuesday discussed suggestions and complaints received from farmers during seminars organized all over the state before the kharif season. Agriculture production commissioner (APC) Manoj Kumar Singh moved a proposal for exemption on levy of 1.5% mandi fee on export of rice from the state, after giving a presentation on the comparative mandi fee on rice in Punjab, Haryana and U.P. The waiver, he said, would promote export-oriented units in the state. Among other UP ministers attending the meeting were energy minister AK Sharma, horticulture minister Dinesh Pratap Singh, sugarcane development minister Chaudhary Laxmi Narayan and forest minister Arun Kumar Saxena, apart from many senior ...

The Economic Times – Online

Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) forecast for world sugar production during October 2021-September 2022 is pegged at 174.6 million tonnes, up 5.1 million tonnes (3%) from the reduced level of 2020-21. The anticipated rebound, after three years of decline, reflects expectations of output increases in India, Thailand and the EU, and will likely more than offset significant declines in Brazil and China. Global sugar consumption is set to recover for a second successive season in 2021-22, but its growth is anticipated to be slower than previous expectations. India, the world’s largest sugar consumer, and African countries are likely to drive the foreseen global rise in sugar consumption.

Rising Kashmir – Online

There are many farmers in Kashmir who are reaping success in maize cultivation and have improved their productivity over the years by using hybrid varieties. Nisar Ahmad Malik, a progressive farmer from Anantnag district, grows different varieties of maize and has always been curious about the latest technologies in agriculture. Hailing from Qamar village of the district, he grows different maize varieties like Kishan Ganga (KG 2), SMC 15 (both local varieties) on a hilly land spread over 20 kanals. “Our area is hilly and the KG 2 variety is preferred as it is wind and rain resistant,” he said. Before he started growing maize, Malik said the land located at the periphery was barren. ...

The Indian Express – Online

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel Thursday said that the adoption of drone technology in agriculture will offer solutions for activities like applying fertilisers and pesticides and thereby address the issue of shortage of labour in the sector. The chief minister said that the state government has earmarked Rs 35 crore for helping farmers purchase drones. “Applying fertilisers is a labour-intensive process. Additionally, farmers have to spray pesticides to protect their crops (from pests). Generally, labourers apply fertlisers and spray pesticides. Drone technology will offer solutions for all such tasks. Additionally, we will find in drone technology the solution to the issue like shortage of labour,” the CM said.

The Print – Online

The World Bank’s food security update of August 2022 flagged how global concerns over the likelihood of a rice export ban by India are rising. It noted that “exporters, concerned that export restrictions will be introduced (as has been done for wheat), are moving quickly to open letters of credit and have signed contracts to export 1 million tonnes of rice from June through September 2022.” But are these concerns real? Is there any cause for worry in the case of Indian rice? Our estimates show that even though there is no palpable threat to India’s food security, the window of Indian rice exports this year may be constrained.

Business World – Online

With India becoming a food surplus country, the Indian farmer needs affordable machinery and technologies to expand production and come up with value-added products with export potential, said Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje. While inaugurating the 7th International Exhibition and Conference EIMA Agrimach India 2022 in Bangalore, she said, “What the country needs now is affordable and quality food processing, Agri-marketing, and Agri-export avenues.” She also noted that with 2023 being the ‘International Year of Millets’, India could step up exports as the country is among the leading producers of millets. According to the ministry, EIMA Agrimach India 2022, running in its 7th edition, is being organised for ...