Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Increased Rural Electrification & Positive Farm Sentiment to Drive up Agricultural Pumps Demand: CRISILedit
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 ...
Kharif sowing nears to end; paddy acreage down by 5.51%: Agri Ministryedit
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. ...
Govt. Policies
Retail prices of rice to remain under control, says governmentedit
The Economic Times – Online
The government on Friday said retail prices of rice in the domestic market will remain under control, helped by a ban on exports of broken rice and sufficient stocks in its godowns. The statement by the food ministry came a day after its factsheet alluded to a pricing pressure and rates of rice rising in the near term. By imposing the ban on export of broken rice, the government has “successfully ensured domestic food security, availability of domestic feed for poultry and cattle feed, while keeping a check over inflation as well as domestic price of rice”, the food ministry said in the statement on Friday. With effect from September 9, the Centre imposed ...
Paddy in India
Farmers lift blockade after government agrees for immediate paddy procurementedit
Livemint – Online
A group of farmers that had blocked National Highway-44 near Shahdabad for their demands of immediate paddy procurement has lifted the blockade after getting assurance from the district administration on Saturday. “We had talks with the district administration & they’ve ensured that paddy procurement will start immediately. As our demands have been met, we have decided to lift the blockade on the road”, said Gurnam Singh Chaduni, the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union. It is worth noting that more than 700 farmers joined the protest to block the highway from Friday for their demand for an immediate beginning of paddy procurement.
Silage
Ludhiana: Silage harvester worth ₹3 crore a crowd-puller at Kisan Melaedit
Hindustan Times – Online
A ₹3 crore silage-making harvester became the cynosure of all eyes during the first day of Kisan Mela held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Friday. Air-conditioned tractors costing ₹15. 5 lakh drew the attention of young farmers. However, among the biggest crowd pullers were stalls dealing in tractor accessories similar to which slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala used on his iconic HMT 5911 tractor. Out of the 350 official stalls at the mela ground, tractor companies booked space for over 50 stalls, said director, extension, PAU, Ashok Kumar. Davinder Singh, a representative of the company, said the first such silage-making machine, which is on display, has been purchased by the Punjab government. “We ...
Stubble Burning
Haryana takes new approach to check stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Taking a “big turn” in its approach to contain incidents of stubble burning in Haryana, the state government has launched a massive awareness drive in the hinterland to sensitise the cultivators and focus more on “prevention” of farm fires during the ongoing paddy harvesting season. “By preventing (farm fires), we want to nip the problem in the bud… It has to be a community driven movement involving people from all walks of life, including religious institutions and also involving everybody from students to teachers in this movement…” said Sumita Misra, additional chief secretary (ACS), agriculture and farmers’ welfare department. “This year our whole focus is on prevention of farm fires instead of enforcement,” she said, ...