Media Monitor
| Category | Stories |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Industry | 22 |
| Balers | 1 |
| CLAAS Global Mentions | 4 |
| Competition | 2 |
| Events | 2 |
| Farm Mechanization | 2 |
| Technology in Agriculture | 5 |
| Govt. Policies | 20 |
| Monsoon + Indian Agriculture | 7 |
| Paddy in India | 29 |
| Stubble Burning | 31 |
| Tractor industry | 3 |
| Uncategorized | 1 |
Agriculture Industry
Subsidy delays, no incentives force farmers to set stubble afire: PAU studyedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Absence of incentives for small farmers, misconceptions about high input costs for stubble management machinery, lack of training and delays in subsidy disbursal are among the reasons why the state government’s drive against farm fires isn’t producing expected results, a study conducted by the economics department of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has found. The report titled ‘Impact assessment study of central sector scheme for promotion of agricultural mechanisation for in-situ paddy stubble management in Punjab’, funded by the state department of agriculture and farm welfare in 2020- 21, studied 110 villages in 22 districts of the state.
Punjab govt suspends four agriculture officers for dereliction of dutyedit
Business Standard – Online
The Punjab government on Sunday suspended four officials of the Agriculture Department in the wake of stubble burning incidents in their areas, according to an official release. The development came as the share of stubble burning in Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution rose to 26 per cent, the highest this year, with forecasters saying that slow wind speed and an increase in stubble burning, especially in Punjab, may make it worse. Following directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal placed four agriculture officers under suspension with immediate effect for dereliction of duty, the release stated.
Total Horticulture production estimated to be 342.33 million tonnes in the year 2021-22edit
Krishi Jagat – Online
Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India has released the 3rd Advance Estimates of the area and production of various horticultural crops for the year 2021-22. According to this estimate, a record 342.33 million tonnes are estimated to be produced in an area of 28.08 million hectares. The Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar has congratulated the farmers, scientists and officers of horticulture for this achievement.
Rural revitalisation: The key enabling factor for the overall development of Indiaedit
The Times of India – Online
India is aspiring to be a US$5 trillion economy by 2025. Among the key enablers of India’s ascend are its demography and democracy. However, for India to sustain its progress, it should place inclusiveness at the heart of its policies and investments, and make sure that it has a win-win case for both urban and rural India. Taking along villages and facilitating rural India to contribute to nation-building is important, and ‘rural revitalization’ is the way forward. Rural revitalisation is about positively transforming rural areas for present and future generations and improving people’s quality of life and economic well-being. In the Indian context, it is about transforming agriculture & allied sectors, and ramping ...
Wheat MSP hiked by 5.5% amid depleting stocksedit
The Financial Express – Online
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved increases in the range of 2-9.1% in the minimum support prices (MSPs) of six rabi crops for the 2023-24 (July-June) marketing season. The MSP for wheat, the key winter crop, has been hiked by Rs 110 (5.5%) to Rs 2,125 per quintal, which will fetch the farmer returns over cost of 100%, the government said in a statement. The MSP hikes, which are neither steep nor modest, come at a time when food inflation is elevated. Consumer price index for “cereals and products” category soared to a 105-month high of 11.53% in September. Of course, among the rabi crops, MSP procurement is the most ...
Farmers eat puffed rice, bananas in unique protest in Karnatakaedit
The New Indian Express – Online
In a unique protest over the delay in procurement of their green gram produce, farmers in Gadag ate puffed rice, snacks and bananas in front of Ron Tahasildar’s office entrance. Many village farmers had come to Ron Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) to sell their green gram produce on tractors and lorries, but the manager has been delaying the process and cited various reasons like shortage of storage space. Farmers waited for three days and slept on their tractor to protect the crop. On Friday evening, they held a rasta roko protest at the APMC and went to the Tahsildar’s office to stage a protest. They sat on a dharna and ate puffed ...
Republic Economic Summit | Nitin Gadkari Reveals Plan To Transform Agri Sector; ‘Working To Make Farmers Urjadaata’edit
Republic World – Online
Delivering a key address at Republic Economic Summit, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said that the central government is working towards enhancing the role of the country’s farmers as ‘urjadaata’ by making them contribute towards creation of ‘alternative fuel’. “In the agriculture sector, we are calling our farmers ‘annadaata’ (food provider). Enhancing their role, the Government of India is working towards making them ‘urjadaata’ (fuel provider) as well. The policy of the government is to make the farmers contribute for ‘alternative fuel’,” the Union Minister added. Further, Gadkari stated, “Presently, we are making fuel like ethanol from sugarcane juice, ethanol from sea molasses and ethanol from foodgrain. We also have a ...
There is need to intensify agricultural research: Ministeredit
Livemint – Online
There is a need to intensify research and development in agriculture and ensure it reaches farmers, said Union minister of state for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhary on Friday. Addressing the inaugural session of the meeting of ICAR Regional Committee-II, the minister said to increase farmers‘ income, “we must decrease their loan burden, provide developed seeds, create market linkage and storage facilities…States need to work proactively at the field level, the Centre is always there to provide assistance.” Choudhary added that there was also a need to shift from chemicals, fertilizers-based farming. “Technology needs to be extended to our farmers. Only research can’t do it alone, the end product of the research needs to reach ...
Action plan to provide farmers seed minikits gets Cabinet nodedit
The Indian Express – Online
The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved an action plan to distribute seed minikits containing seeds of lentils and gram to help out farmers whose crops were destroyed due to delayed monsoon and the excessive rain that lashed the state recently. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to set aside a corpus of Rs 32 crore for the plan under the category of subsidy for certified seeds. According to the approved plan, the government will distribute 1 lakh seed minikits of gram (16 kg seeds per kit) and 1.5 lakh seed minikits of lentils (eight kg seeds per kit) among the farmers of the state. Government sources said under the scheme, 25 per cent ...
Many districts of Bihar, Jharkhand and Bengal may go for early rabi plantingedit
The Economic Times – Online
Several districts in Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal where sowing of kharif crops was less than 75% due to deficiency in rains during the monsoon season, are likely to go in for early rabi planting, said a senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. “West Bengal has provided alternative seeds to over 1,00,000 farmers. Now the state would go for early rabi crops,” said the official, who did not want to be named.
Need To Transform Agriculture To Advanced Farming: Tomaredit
BW Disrupt – Online
The Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that there is a need to transform agriculture to advanced farming and maintain continuity as agriculture has such strength that India can easily overcome even adverse situations. While speaking at an Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) event, he said that the agriculture sector is the backbone of our country and our rural economy. Tomar said that the Indian agriculture sector has shown this during the Covid-19 pandemic. “Today we are in the first or second place in the world in terms of most of the agricultural produce. Despite this, there are some challenges for the agriculture sector,” he said. Tomar said that ...
NABARD launches Agri Export Facilitation Centre at Jodhpuredit
Krishi Jagat – Online
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned an agri-export facilitation centre (AEFC) at Jodhpur under its Farm Sector Promotion Fund to create an ecosystem and facilitate export of agri commodities from Rajasthan. AEFC will be implemented by South Asia Biotechnology Centre, Jodhpur in collaboration with local organization, FPOs, aggregators, processors and agri exporters from Rajasthan. The AEFC was inaugurated by Shri Baiju N Kurup, Chief General Manager of NABARD, Rajasthan RO, Jaipur in the presence of Shri B. K. Tripathy, General Manager of NABARD, Rajasthan RO, Jaipur and Shri Manish Manda, District Development Manager (DDM), Jodhpur; Dr MY Honnur, Deputy Director of the Spices Board of India; Drs D Kumar, Bhagirath Choudhary ...
“Rajasthan has progressed in the Field of Power Generation, Like No One Else,” Ashok Gehlot at Invest Rajasthan Summitedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
As per reports, top industrialists and nearly 3,000 delegates from India and abroad participated in the Invest Rajasthan Summit. The NRI conclave, Future Ready Sectors conclave, Start-up conclave, Tourism conclave, and the Agribusiness conclave were covered today i.e., the Day one of the Summit, whereas the MSME conclave will take place on Day two (October 8). Vedanta Group Chairman Anil Agarwal, ArcelorMittal Chairman and MD L N Mittal, Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, Tata Power CEO and MD Praveer Sinha, Mahindra & Mahindra CEO and MD Anish Shah, DCM Shriram Chairman Ajay S Shriram were some of the industrialists that attended the inaugural ceremony.
Tamil Nadu: 60 per cent of seed distribution target achieved but Tiruchy farmers not happyedit
The New Indian Express – Online
With Samba cultivation kicking off in most parts of the district, the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department under the Union government’s Seed Village Programme (Beej Gram Yojana) has achieved about 60 per cent of the annual target of — distributing at a subsidised cost — 440 metric tonnes of paddy seed of different varieties to farmers this season. ADVERTISEMENT Ads by Farmers, however, say the seeds distributed do not match their expectations of returning a high yield, and being pest resistant, among others. While an agriculture department official mentioned the distribution of 20-kg worth of certified seeds of rice varieties such as Trichy-3, KO-r50, TKM 13 and VGD1 per farmer under the scheme, ...
India Becomes World’s Largest Producer & Consumer of Sugar: Food Ministryedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
During the Sugar Season (October-September) 2021-22, the country produced a record of more than 5000 Lakh Metric Tons (LMT) sugarcane, of which approximately 3574 LMT was crushed by sugar mills to produce approximately 394 LMT of sugar (Sucrose). 35 LMT sugar was diverted to ethanol production, while sugar mills produced 359 LMT sugar. As a result, India has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest producer and consumer of sugar, as well as the world’s second largest exporter of sugar. The season has proven to be a watershed moment for the Indian sugar industry. During the season, all records of sugarcane production, sugar production, sugar exports, cane procured, cane dues paid, and ethanol production ...
To promote moong and maize crops, processing & dryer plants to come up in Jagraon: Punjab ministeredit
The Indian Express – Online
Punjab agriculture and farmer welfare minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal announced Tuesday that the AAP government will set up processing and drying plants for moong and maize in the Jagraon sub-division of Ludhiana. Dhaliwal said that these plants would increase the profitability of farmers by adding value to the crop. He directed the officials to make separate proposals so that work could be initiated at the earliest. Dhaliwal expressed hope that these plants will encourage more farmers to opt for moong and maize and will reduce the area of paddy and wheat crops. Besides, the cultivation of these two crops will also increase the groundwater level in the state.
We must modify and transform our agri-food systemsedit
Hindustan Times – Online
We live in a world full of competing interests and disagreements. Yet despite this, there is one underlying, unifying interest that we all share. It is in all our interests to have access to safe, affordable and nutritious food at all times. The question is, will there be enough food for all in the not too distant future, and will it be produced sustainably? The answer is not so affirmative without immediate action. Despite our common interest, this region is backsliding into greater hunger and malnutrition. According to one recent UN report, Asia and the Pacific is so off track, it would need an additional 35 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals – in ...
Agriculture Ministry calls upon states to chalk out action planedit
The Print – Online
The Union agriculture ministry has called upon state officials to chalk out a comprehensive action plan at the micro level for effective control of paddy stubble burning during the ensuing season. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare attended a farm demonstration on crop residue management at village Rangian in Kharar tehsil, Distt SAS Nagar, Punjab and interacted with farmers. The objectives of the Crop Residue Management (CRM) Scheme include protecting the environment from air pollution and preventing the loss of nutrients and soil micro-organisms caused by the burning of crop residue, a government press release read. It also included promoting management of crop residue by retention/incorporation into the soil or collection ...
Serve farmers sincerely: Minister to agriculture officialsedit
The Hans India – Online
Agriculture Minister K Govardhan Reddy urged the agriculture officials to support the farmers and others in the sector as 65 per cent of the population relies on the sector. On Sunday, he participated in a blood donation camp in the city organised by the Agriculture Officers’ Association and garlanded the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his birth anniversary. The Minister said officials should work hard for the welfare of those depending on the agri sector. He said Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was guiding the Ministers to work for the welfare of the farmers and introducing various welfare schemes for them. Now, he said, Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) are ...
Bihar agriculture minister & RJD leader Sudhakar Singh resigns from Nitish Cabinetedit
The Print – Online
Bihar Agriculture Minister Sudhakar Singh resigned Sunday from the Mahagathbandhan Cabinet, with many seeing this as a result of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav’s insistence to not repeat the mistake done in the previous government which faced attacks from leaders of his party. Sudhakar is the second minister to quit the Nitish Kumar Cabinet after law minister Kartikeya Singh exited in August following his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case. Both the ministers are from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). On Sunday, Sudhakar submitted his resignation letter to Tejashwi. “It’s a sacrifice he [Sudhakar] is making for the cause of farmers. He wanted to avoid being the cause of bitterness between the RJD and the ...
Rice sowing down by 4.7%, kharif crop sowing marginally lower than last yearedit
The Financial Express – Online
Recent rainfall over Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, have expanded paddy sowing thus bridging the overall deficit in sowing of the key kharif crops. According to agriculture ministry data released on Friday, overall paddy sowing area in the kharif season was reported at 40.2 million hectare (mh) which was 4.7% less than year ago, while deficit in sowing was 5.6% a week ago. “Rains in the one week or so have helped expand some areas under paddy,” an agriculture ministry official said. Officially kharif sowing ended on Friday. Decline paddy sowing is mainly because of deficient rainfall received in the key rice growing states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Area ...
MP Has Emerged as One of the Leading States in Agriculture, Thanks to Our Agri Scientists: Tomaredit
Krishi Jagran– Online
Today was the 59th Foundation Day of Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur, which was held online. The Chief Guest, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, stated on the occasion that if Madhya Pradesh has emerged as one of the leading states in agriculture today, it is due to the role of Agricultural Universities, Krishi Vigyan Kendras, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. Tomar stated that the Jabalpur Agricultural University is known throughout the country as an Institute of Excellence, which is a source of pride for the state’s agricultural workers. Since its inception in 1964, this university has made significant contributions to the advancement and improvement of the state’s agricultural sector.
Balers
Punjab farmers shifting to sustainable ways of getting rid of crop residueedit
Business Standard – Online
A handful of farmers in Punjab have started disposing crop residue — which is usually burnt and causes air pollution — in a sustainable manner, either by using it as natural fertiliser or selling it for fuel production. These farmers have not only reduced consumption of fertilisers by mixing crop residue in the soil but have also begun to monetise the practice by managing the stubble of other growers. Bhupinder Singh (59), who cultivates 30 acres of land in Badarpur, the last village of Mohali district, has not been burning paddy stubble since 2018. Instead, he mixes it with soil using an MB plough, a tillage equipment. “After which the land is ready for sowing ...
CLAAS Global Mentions
Balers for 2023: Claas introduces Variant 500-series balersedit
The Scottish Farmer – Online
Larger tyre options to minimise soil compaction, easier routine maintenance access and a fresh appearance are among the changes embodied in the latest Claas Variant round balers, covering bale sizes from 0.9m to 1.6m and up to 1.8m. But the most significant enhancement is a new density control arrangement that brings greater adjustability within the core and outer layers of the bale, as well as a higher density potential overall. The Variant 500 series replaces the current 400 series with two non-crop chopping models using the Roto Feed single-tine spiral intake rotor and two crop slicing versions with the twin-blade Roto Cut rotor and 17 retractable knives – up from 14 on 400-series balers.
Big stubble, no trouble!edit
Rural News – Online
German manufacturer Claas has released the world’s first corn picker with an integrated stubble buster for one-pass harvesting and mulching. The Stubble Cracker was developed for the Claas Corio four, five, six and eight-row corn pickers. It features one rotating plate per row, each equipped with two specially developed mallets with a special coating, which crush and splice any stubble below the first internode. The unit is attached to the frame of the harvester via a threepoint linkage. This allows three-dimensional ground tracking, via a skid plate that ensures a constant distance between the flails and the ground in all operating conditions. This also helps optimise performance and reduce wear. Designed to be operated at ...
Ultimate guide to buying a round baler 2023edit
Farmers Weekly – Online
Packing more material into every bale and increasing amounts of automation are common themes among the new and improved machines featured in our Ultimate Guide to round balers. Out go the most basic-spec Claas Rollant 520 Rake model with its feed-in tines, the New Holland Roll-Bar BR6090 and top-spec Automate versions of the Kuhn FB3135 baler and baler-wrapper. But there are newcomers from Case IH, Claas and New Holland, uprated machines with new features from Fendt, Massey Ferguson and McHale, and the return of the baling and wrapping version of Wolagri’s diminutive R500 mini round baler.
Ultimate guide to buying a combine 2023edit
Farmers Weekly – Online
New and improved models at the top and bottom end of the performance spectrum characterise the changes in this year’s Ultimate Guide to combines – along with the arrival of the first £1m machines. While Case IH, Claas and New Holland have hit the £750,000 mark or thereabouts with their flagship models, the John Deere X9 1000 on tracks with a 12.2m HDX header and both wheeled and tracked versions of the X9 1100 with a 13.7m header carry a list price of more than a million pounds. Not a price that growers will pay, of course, given the “discounts” available to get a deal price in the right ballpark, but a landmark nonetheless.
Competition
धनतेरस को लेकर जॉन डियर ट्रैक्टर की बुकिंग शुरू : नीतीशedit
Hindustan – Online
शहर के चक-रसलपुर मोड़ बाईपास पर स्थित अनुकूल एग्रो एजेंसी जॉन डियर एजेंसी लगातार 10 वर्षों से बिहार में टॉप सेलर रही है। संचालक नीतीश कुमार बताते है कि जॉन डियर ट्रैक्टर के 15 मॉडल एक से बढ़कर एक है। धनतेरस की अग्रिम बुकिंग शुरू हो गयी है। खासकर 5050 डी, 5045 डी, 5039 डी, 5405 ई मॉडल ट्रैक्टर की डिमांड सबसे ज्यादा है। उन्होंने बताया कि जीरो फ़ीसदी ब्याज पर फाइनेंस, वह भी आसान किस्तों पर ग्राहकों को दिया जाता है। अनुकूल एग्रो एजेंसी के शेखपुरा, बरबीघा, राजगीर, इस्लामपुर व हिलसा में पांच सेंटर पूर्णरूपेण संचालित हैं। शोरूम में विश्वस्तरीय वर्कशॉप के साथ-साथ स्पेयर पार्ट्स प्रचुर मात्रा में उपलब्ध हैं। अनुकूल एग्रो एजेंसी जॉन डियर ...
Sonalika Tractors records highest ever monthly overall salesedit
The Financial Express – Online
Sonalika Tractor recorded the highest ever monthly sales of 18,619 tractors and 15 percent market share (est). This robust sales feat includes staggering 26.2 percent growth, thereby beating industry growth (est 18.9 percent). Sonalika has also recorded the highest ever monthly production of 15,563 tractors. These are customised as per farmer’s region specific requirements and will enable companies to keep pace with the festive season demand. The company said, this production feat also includes the highest ever daily production of 702 tractors rolled out during the month. Sonalika’s advanced tractors are now trusted by 14 lakh farmers across 140 countries and are globally known for delivering spectacular performance across the fields.
Events
Agri-Startup Conclave and Kisan Sammelan 2022 to be inaugurated by PM Modiedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
Agri-Startup Conclave and Kisan Sammelan is scheduled to be held at New Delhi on 17th and 18th October 2022 and will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the occasion, PM Modi will also be releasing the 12th instalment of PM-Kisan farmer welfare scheme. The event is based on the theme “Badalta Krishi Paridrishya Aur Takneek” and will showcase the role played by Agri-startups in different segments of agriculture including agri-machineries, agri-inputs, Innovation in agri technologies and various farmer friendly practices to the farmers. Around 1500 startups and 13,500 farmers will participate in the event. The event is organised by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under Ministry of Agriculture & Famers’ Welfare, ...
ICAR hosts Kisan Mela looking to ensure wider outreach of new technologiesedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (ICAR-CIPHET) organised an industry interface fair on agro-processing along with a Kisan Mela on Monday at its premise. The event, aimed at showcasing new technologies to various stakeholders including industry, entrepreneurs, farmers and students for wider outreach, coincided with the institute’s 34th Foundation Day. ICAR-CIPHET director Dr Nachiket Kotwaliwale briefed the attendees on activities held at IIFA and Kisan Mela 2022. Live demonstrations of different technologies including machines, plastics structures were provided to visitors at more than 40 stalls, along with display and sale of different value added products like vegan dairy analogues, gluten free bakery products, extruded snacks and some innovative ...
Farm Mechanization
Agriculture Machinery Subsidy: अब किसानों को इन फर्म से मिलेगा कृषि यंत्र खरीदने पर अनुदान, वजह जानकर हो जाएंगे हैरानedit
Krishi Jagran Hindi – Online
रबी सीजन शुरू हो चुका है. ऐसे में किसान भाइयों ने खेत में रबी सीजन की फसलों की बुवाई करना शुरू कर दिया है. लेकिन फसलों से अच्छा उत्पादन प्राप्त करने के लिए किसानों को बेहतरीन और मजबूत कृषि यंत्रों की आवश्यकता होती है. जैसे कि आप जानते हैं बाजार में खेती-किसानी से जुड़े कृषि यंत्र बेहद महंगे आते हैं. इसी क्रम में किसानों की मदद के लिए सरकार की ओर से कृषि यंत्र अनुदान योजना भी उपलब्ध करवाती है. आपको बता दें कि अबतक देश के किसान सरकार की कृषि यंत्र अनुदान योजना से कहीं से भी यंत्र खरीदकर अनुदान प्राप्त कर सकते थे. लेकिन सरकार ने अब इस प्रक्रिया में बड़ा बदलाव ...
Need farm mechanisation atmanirbhartaedit
The Financial Express – Online
India is one of the largest agricultural economies in the world with low levels of mechanisation due to factors like affordability and accessibility of expensive machinery, being a deterrent to the use of such technologies. Hence mechanisation on farmlands holds the key, for sustainable and efficient development of this sector, as well as that of the rural economy. So far growth of India’s agri sector has been on account of several positive factors related to the rural economy, including progressive policies towards agriculture, also leading to growth of the domestic tractor industry. Farm mechanisation in India may have made strong strides in recent years, with India as the largest tractor market in the world, ...
Technology in Agriculture
Drones to boost India’s GDP by $100bn, create 5 lakh jobs: WEFedit
Fortune India – Online
Drones will give a $100-bn boost to India’s GDP and will provide jobs to lakhs, according to the latest World Economic Forum (WEF) report. The WEF report, ‘Using Technology to Improve a Billion Livelihoods’, says India’s push for tech-led transformation in agriculture, with support from emerging business models like digital financing, precision agriculture, will lead to a 1%-1.5% boost in GDP. The new industry is also expected to create at least 5,00,000 jobs in the coming years. The report, written by the WEF’s Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution, India, with Adani Group, was launched in Gandhinagar today. It highlights studies that say there’s an immense potential for improving agricultural outcomes for farms through precision agriculture ...
Farmer with a passion for innovative methods in Telanganaedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Seventy-year-old Nagolla Chinna Gangaram, a paddy farmer of Chintaloor of Jakranpally Mandal in the district, has carved a niche for himself by adopting innovative farming methods and standing as a role model for other cultivators besides igniting interest in agriculture among schoolchildren and teachers. Gangaram, well known as Chinni Krishnudu in the district, owns 10 acres of land in his village. Since he no longer is dependent on agriculture for a living, he has leased eight acres of his land to tenants in his village and cultivates paddy on the two acres according to his own innovative ideas. He has leased a half acre of land from a farmer at Goopenppally, which is ...
Manipur initiates process for digitisation of agriculture; CM sets Dec targetedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Thursday said the state has initiated a process for digitisation of agriculture and the preparation to start the Agriculture Census of 2021-22 is complete. Singh was highlighting the initiatives while attending a video conference chaired by union minister of home affairs Amit Shah on natural farming and digital agriculture from the chief minister’s secretariat in Imphal. “Door to door enquiry will be conducted using tablets/smart phones to collect all relevant information of farmers and we are targeting to complete this by December this year, “ he said. “Considering the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers, we are encouraging natural and organic farming. The locations where cattle are utilised in ...
Use of drones in agricultural sector set to gain currencyedit
The Financial Express – Online
With the civil aviation ministry relaxing the relevant rules, a clutch of firms, including IoTechworld Aviation and Garuda Aerospace, have firmed up plans to manufacture and sell such drones for farming. IoTechworld , the first company to get approval to manufacture drones for farming, is planning to sell 1,000 drones in the current financial year, Deepak Bhardwaj, director and founder, told FE. So far, the company has sold around 300 drones in 2022-23. Garuda Aerospace is in the process of manufacturing more than 2,500 drones for the farming sector in the next two years, Agnishwar Jayaprakash, founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace, recently said.
India Mobile Congress: How 5G technology can boost agriculture production?edit
Hindustan Times – Online
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally introduced 5G services in India last Saturday. Promised to transmit high-speed internet like never before, with low latency and more stability, this new age technology is set to bolster the digital revolution of India. One such application of 5G is smart farming solutions, displayed in the ongoing India Mobile Congress, the event where 5G was launched on Saturday. A joint initiative of telecom major Airtel, along with a leading manufacturing firm L&T Smart World and Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (CDAC)-backed AgroW Smart, is working to raise the yield of agricultural produce by integrating smart sensors and controllers in agricultural fields. These sensors sense the crop and soil conditions. ...
Govt. Policies
Gujarat CM announces ₹630 cr assistance for crop lossedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday announced an assistance package to the tune of ₹630 crore for farmers to recover from financial losses incurred due to crop loss due to heavy rainfall in the Kharif season this year. “The state is committed to stand with its farmers. The assistance package will help more than 8 lakh farmers whose crops have been damaged in an area of about 9.12 lakh hectares of land,” CM Patel said in a tweet on Friday. This year, due to heavy rains in 14 districts, there was widespread loss of agricultural crops. Reports of crop loss in 2,554 villages of a total of 50 talukas of Chhota Udepur, Narmada, Panchmahal, ...
AAP govt betrayed paddy farmers on ₹2500 cash incentive: LoP Bajwaedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for betraying the paddy growers in Punjab on ₹2,500 cash incentive, which was announced to stop them from burning the paddy stubble. In a statement, Bajwa said that due to the AAP’s failure to keep its promise, the paddy growers are forced to burn the residue which has deteriorated the Air Quality Index in major cities of Punjab. “The state has crossed 12,000 cases of stubble burning with above 8000 cases taking place last week. The AQI in some major cities including Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar Patiala, Bathinda, and Chandigarh has reached from moderate to poor,” he said.
PM Kisan Tractor Yojana: इस दिवाली आधे दाम पर घर लाएं ट्रैक्टर, मोदी सरकार ने किसानों को दिया तोहफाedit
MoneyControl Hindi – Online
Government to Start Rs. 500 crore Accelerator Programme for Agri Startups: Tomaredit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Tomar said that a high-level steering committee would be formed under the chairmanship of Agriculture Minister for overall guidance of the Agriculture Startup ecosystem. A Rs. 500 crore accelerator programme for taking forward and popularizing the successful initiatives of Agri Startups will also be started. The minister announced that an Executive Committee will be set up under the chairmanship of Secretary Agriculture, comprising of concerned agencies such as DARE, DPIIT, agricultural incubators and knowledge partners, agricultural universities, research institutes, top investors and other stakeholders. In addition, a separate Division will be created under the chairmanship of the Joint Secretary for Agriculture Startups in the Ministry of Agriculture. A cell will also be created to work ...
Committee on MSP to hold 3rd meeting on October 31 in Bhubaneswaredit
Zee Business – Online
The government’s committee on the minimum support price (MSP), natural farming and crop diversification is scheduled to hold its third meeting on October 31 in Bhubaneswar. In the first meeting held on August 22 in the national capital, the committee — headed by former Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal — had formed three internal sub-groups to deliberate on the mandated topics. The second meeting, held on September 27 in Hyderabad, deliberated on organic farming. The panel has 26 members including the chairman, while three membership slots are kept aside for representatives of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM). But the SKM has rejected the committee and decided to stay away from the meeting.
Time to decide whether farmers want electricity meters or free power: KTRedit
Telangana Today – Online
TRS (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao wanted farmers to decide whether they wanted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was fixing electricity meters to their water pumps, or Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who was supporting them with free power, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima and other schemes. He wanted the farmers of Munugode constituency to deliver their verdict in the form of votes in the Munugode by-poll on November 3. In a teleconference with farmers from Munugode constituency on Tuesday, Rama Rao urged farmers to compare their condition before the formation of the State and during the TRS regime in the last eight years. He reminded that Telangana was the only State to spend Rs ...
Delhi govt begins spraying bio-decomposer in fields to prevent stubble burningedit
India Today – Online
The Delhi government started spraying bio-decomposer on agricultural fields across the capital to prevent stubble burning. This year, the government aims to spray bio-decomposer over 5000 acres of agricultural land and the development department has formed 21 teams for the same. The government will spray bio-decomposer free-of-cost on all Basmati as well as non-Basmati agricultural fields. The farmers have already filled the form expressing interest in spraying bio-decomposer on their agricultural fields. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “The Delhi government has prepared a 15-point Winter Action Plan to fight pollution. This also includes tackling the issue of stubble burning, one of the biggest factors in the increase in pollution during winters in Delhi.”
National Logistics Policy Could Minimise Agri & Allied Produce Lossesedit
News 18 – Online
India’s agriculture and its allied adequate produce are not sufficient to ensure food security. Not all food produced is consumed and an enormous amount is wasted due to the unorganised and inefficient logistics sector. The losses impact farmers with reduced income and consumer with increased costs. As per the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, about 33% of India’s agriculture and allied productions are wasted, which would be enough to feed 195 million hungry people. Maximum food loss happens during transit from farm to fork at various stages of the supply chain. It is hoped that the recently launched National Logistics Policy (NLP) will be cost-effective and efficient to limit the losses of perishable commodities ...
How PM-Kisan transfers are easing farmers’ cash crunchedit
The Indian Express – Online
The farm economy has distinct features compared to usual household economic behaviour. About two decades back, when I was working in the farm sector, I observed the dire need for cash for the procurement of agriculture inputs and allied activities every year. Most farmers were short of liquidity and faced issues in the timely purchase of the required resources. Crop loans are available but if an earlier loan is due, it is difficult for the farmer to get a new loan. This forces him/her to take loans from non-institutional sources. The feeling of going and asking someone for petty cash for the purpose of pre-sowing operations causes mental distress and hardship. It is exactly ...
3 big announcements for agriculture sector and farmers made by PM Modi todayedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the PM Kisan Samman Sammelan & Agri Startup Conclave and Exhibition 2022. On the occasion, he made 3 big announcement for the agriculture sector and Indian farmers. PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Scheme 12th Instalment PM Modi released the 12th PM Kisan Samman Nidhi instalment at Kisan sammelan organised at New Delhi today. This instalment of 16 thousand crore was credited to more than 8 crore farmers in India and this was also the biggest event of direct bank transfer (DBT) in history in India. Since the launch of this scheme, more than Rs 2 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of farmers. For small farmers who are ...
PM Kisan: Modi to transfer 12th instalment tomorrowedit
The Financial Express – Online
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will release the 12th instalment under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme worth Rs 16,000 crore to farmers at the inauguration of a mega agriculture conclave in New Delhi on Monday. Since the launch of PM-Kisan in February, 2019, more than Rs 2 trillion have been transferred to 113.7 million farmers’ bank accounts through 11 equal tranches of Rs 2,000 each. Farmers are provided financial assistance of Rs 6,000 annually through three equal installments under the scheme. With the release of the 12th instalment on Monday, the total amount transferred to farmers since the launch of the scheme would be Rs 2.16 trillion. Currently, financial assistance under PM ...
Atmanirbhar agriculture key to becoming self-reliant India: MoS Kailash Choudharyedit
The Print – Online
Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Kailash Choudhary on Friday said there is a need to intensify research and development activities in agriculture for the betterment of farmers at the grassroots level. According to him, India needs to be Atmanirbhar in ‘krishi’ for it to become Atmanirbhar or self-reliant. Minister Choudhary made the remarks at an event organized by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. “In order to increase the farmers’ income, we need to decrease their loan burden, provide developed seeds, create market linkage and storage facilities. States need to work proactively at the field level, the Centre is always there to ...
Bihar agrarian crisis: Why crores in diesel subsidies may not be the answeredit
Down To Earth – Online
The agriculture department of the Bihar government has proposed allocation of Rs 100 crore in diesel subsidy October 6, 2022 to help distressed farmers get diesel subsidy. The plan announced in a public address by the newly appointed agriculture minister of the state, Kumar Sarvajeet, is in line with the state’s action plan to help alleviate the financial burden of the farmers in the wake of the agrarian crisis since June. Under the plan, Rs 700 per acre of land will be transferred to farmers to buy diesel for agricultural purposes, including irrigation. The state’s farmers, however, called this move an eyewash and a stop-gap arrangement that is not enough to improve the situation. ...
Centre announces rules for grant to establish paddy pellets plantedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The union environment ministry on Thursday released guidelines for grant of one-time financial support for establishment of pelletisation and torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy stubble in thermal power plants and industries. The ministry has earmarked ₹50 crores for the scheme which is generated from the environment protection charge being collected by the Central Pollution Control Board following a 2016 SC order which directed that a charge of 1% of ex-showroom price be imposed on every diesel car with 2000 cc and above capacity in Delhi NCR. The 2016 SC order in MC Mehta Vs Union of India case said the tax will be deposited with CPCB as an ‘environment protection charge’ for causing ...
Unseasonal rains impact small farmers; govt’s crop insurance scheme provides protection: Tomaredit
The New Indian Express – Online
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said unseasonal rains in some parts of the country have affected small farmers and are getting compensation under the government’s crop insurance scheme. At a conference on ‘Enhancing Agricultural Productivity: Integration of Improved Seeds and Agri Inputs’, the minister also said the Indian agriculture sector as well as profit or loss in farming are dependent on nature. “You all must be experiencing now that unseasonal rains have caused losses to small and marginal farmers,” he said. According to him, farmers have security cover as they get compensation under the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The scheme provides protection to farmers from crop ...
Lend more to agriculture sector, AP Finance Minister Buggana urges bankersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Asserting that the government is giving top priority to agriculture sector, Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath urged bankers to lend more to farmers. He also said the government laid special emphasis on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and urged the bankers to encourage industrialists. Chairing the 220th meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Buggana reviewed the progress of various banks in implementation of the Annual Credit Plan for 2022-23 and also sector-wise targets. He said banks are playing a key role in the comprehensive development of the State and hailed the support of banks in the effective implementation of several development and welfare schemes.
Stubble burning: Haryana govt working on plan to buy paddy straw at MSP, says CM Khattaredit
PTI – Online
The Haryana government is working on a plan to buy paddy straw at minimum support price in a bid to find a permanent solution to the issue of stubble burning, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday. He was speaking at a meeting chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on crop residue management and air pollution control in the Delhi-NCR region. “Working in the direction of finding a permanent solution for stubble management, the state government is also making a plan to buy paddy straw at MSP. This will directly benefit the farmers along with giving them an option of earning additional income,” Khattar said, as per an official ...
Agriculture Department Modifies the Guidelines for Crop Insurance Schemeedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
According to a department order dated September 24 indicating the changes to the scheme rules, farmers must mention their nominations when applying for membership in the scheme. The nominee is eligible to apply for and receive the money in the aforementioned situations. No other situation will be covered under this provision. According to a government order from October 27, 2017, crop damage to insect attacks on paddy has been taken into consideration in the scheme. An official said that this is already in effect. In the case of crops other than paddy, the following individuals have the authority to recommend crop loss compensation: Administrative Committee (above 5 lakh), Principal Agriculture Officer (Rs 50,001 and 4 ...
Agriculture ministry, NAFED sign MoU to boost international year of millets 2023edit
Hindustan Times – Online
The department of agriculture, farmers welfare and the national agricultural cooperative marketing federation of India signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday to boost the initiative to promote millets towards the celebration of the international year of millets 2023. Both organisations will work together for the promotion and marketing of millet-based products, keeping in view the initiative of the international ear of millets (IYOM)-2023, according to the statement by the agriculture ministry. As India gears to bring millet back on the global map, they will build support and organise, promote, market, and forge effective market linkages for millet-based products to maximise the value capture and millet-based commodities across the country, the statement added.
PM-Kisan scheme: Kerala told to recover Rs 31 crore from ‘ineligible’edit
The New Indian Express – Online
The Union finance ministry has handed the Kerala agriculture department a daunting task: Recover Rs 31.05 crore accessed by 30,416 “ineligible” beneficiaries in the state under the PM-Kisan Scheme, and that too at the earliest. Under the PM-Kisan scheme, income tax payees and others such as farmer families holding constitutional posts, serving or retired officers and employees of state or Central government as well as those working in public sector undertakings and autonomous government bodies are ineligible to access the funds. Those earning a monthly pension of over Rs 10,000 are also ineligible for the PM-Kisan scheme. As per the scheme, the Centre transfers Rs 6,000 to the farmers in three instalments every ...
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Crop losses due to unseasonal rain may keep food prices elevated: Reportedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Indian rice farmer Ibrahim Shaikh says he looked up at the sky daily and prayed for unseasonal rains to stop. His prayers unanswered, he says he started harvesting the wet crop earlier this week. “The crop was ready for harvesting 10 days back and twenty to thirty percent of the grains have been lost because of heavy rains. If I don’t harvest now, I won’t get anything,” Shaikh said, as he dried harvested paddy on a plastic sheet in Kadadhe village, 110 km (70 miles) east of Mumbai. The crop losses for Shaikh and farmers across the country mean that food prices, already at their highest in over two years, could stay elevated, instead of ...
Crops damaged due to unseasonal rain, waiting for reports from states: Narendra Singh Tomaredit
The Indian Express – Online
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Saturday that unseasonal rain in several parts of the country affected kharif crops and that the Centre is waiting for reports from states to assess the extent of damage. “Definitely, crops have been damaged due to unseasonal rain. A survey is underway, and we are waiting for reports from the states to assess the extent of damage,” Tomar said at press conference, adding that state governments can use the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to provide support to farmers. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would release Rs 16,000 crore under the PM-KISAN scheme as the 12th instalment during the ‘PM Kisan Samman Sammelan ...
Crop losses in Uttar Pradesh: Nature’s double whammy leaves farmers reelingedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The double whammy of scanty rainfall during the monsoon in about 50 districts and now widespread excessive rain and floods post-monsoon has left farmers in Uttar Pradesh with massive crop losses, people aware of the situation said. The latest spell of rain, which continued for more than a week across Uttar Pradesh, is said to have widely damaged standing crops like paddy, maize, pulses, oilseeds and potato as fields were submerged. “The drought during monsoon delayed plantation of paddy already causing losses and now unprecedented rainfall in October has flattened standing paddy and other crops,” said Mahesh Verma, a small farmer of Lakhimpur village in Kasganj district. “The government must make a fair assessment of ...
Heavy showers ahead of harvest season could fuel food prices, spur rate hikesedit
The Economic Times – Online
Food prices are likely to surge in the coming months with India witnessing heavy showers ahead of the harvest season for summer-sown crops such as rice, soybean, cotton and pulses. Rains have damaged the crops right before the harvest, prompting expectations of higher food prices. This may add to India’s pre-existing inflation worries. The increased food prices may eventually add pressure on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to go for another rate hike in order to bring inflation back to its comfort level. In the latest policy review, India’s central bank had left its inflation forecast unchanged at 6.7% for Asia’s third largest economy for this fiscal year that ends Mar. 31, as ...
Why late rainfall may lead to more intense farm firesedit
Hindustan Times – Online
An unexpected drop in temperatures caused by unseasonal rainfall may have reduced pollution levels in the national capital and the northern plains, but it will further delay maturing of paddy, leaving a shorter window for farmers in Punjab and Haryana to sow the next crop, forcing cultivators to resort to burning stubble, and leading to a more intense pollution spike in the region. The Punjab government has deputed 50,000 volunteers and employees from the departments of revenue, agriculture, and rural development to reach out to each farming household in the state, and ask them not to burn stubble. Though Haryana has witnessed a considerable fall in incidents of farm fires so far this year, officials ...
Shift in monsoon’s pattern calls for new cropping strategies: Expertsedit
The Financial Express – Online
The pattern of southwest monsoon in recent years has necessitated a shift in cropping strategies by taking into account the change in the progress of the annual phenomenon across the country, according to experts. The monsoon this year was marked for various changes from the conventional trend. The rains hit the Kerala coast earlier than usual and then came in a lull in its progress towards the rest of the country. This resulted in deficient June rainfall and then surplus downpour during July-September period. Also, the spatial distribution of rains was uneven and particularly patchy in the eastern region. Stating that this year’s was not a ‘classical’ advancement of monsoon, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director general, ...
Heavy rains in October will risk India’s rice, wheat cropsedit
Livemint – Online
Agriculture supports half of India’s population and accounts for nearly 15% of the country’s nearly $3 trillion economy. Monsoon rains are critical for India’s farm-dependent economy because nearly half of the country’s farmland is irrigated. But, this year excessive monsoon rainfalls in October may prove costly to the farmers as it may pose risks for summer-sown crops such as rice and the plantation of wheat. Heavy rains in October could seriously damage crops such as rice, pulses, cotton, and soybeans. It may also cause wheat planting to be delayed in parts of India, which is the world’s leading producer of a variety of farm goods.
Paddy in India
Over 10 million MT paddy procured in Punjab, 5.2 mn MT from Haryanaedit
Business Standard – Online
More than 105 lakh metric tonnes (MT) paddy arrived in marketing yards in Punjab, out of which 104 lakh MT paddy was procured till Saturday. In neighbouring Haryana, a record 52 lakh MT paddy has been procured and Rs 10,000 crore paid to farmers. Punjab Food Civil Supplies Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak said timely purchase, payment and lifting is going on smoothly in each ‘mandi’. All arrangements of ‘bardana’, labour and transportation have been made. As of now, the marketing yards are witnessing an arrival of nearly 7.5 lakh MT in a day, and almost all paddy is purchased by the end of the day. About the minimum support price (MSP) payment, Kataruchak said nearly ...
Kharif paddy procurement nightmare haunts TS govtedit
Deccan Chronicle – Online
The state government is facing a severe financial crunch to purchase paddy grown in the recently concluded kharif season. As against the requirement of nearly Rs 20,000 crore, the Civil Supplies Corporation has only Rs 3,500 crore, according to official sources. Every year the government borrows from banks to purchase paddy and repays the money after the Food Corporation of India (FCI) reimburses the amount. This year, the banks are unwilling to lend loans as the state government is yet to repay Rs 34,000 in loans from 2014-15. The government has set itself a target to procure one crore tonnes of paddy for kharif, as the crop was sown in around 65 lakh acres, the ...
80% paddy procured at Ambala mandis: ACS agricultureedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Around 80% paddy crop has been procured from the grain markets in Ambala district, agriculture and farmers department welfare additional chief secretary Sumit Misra said on Thursday. “Crop is being lifted within 48 hours and 98% of it has been lifted from mandis in Ambala, against which ₹701 crore has been transferred into the accounts of farmers concerned. There is no overcrowding in markets and the process is going on smoothly. Moreover, there has been a drastic fall in farm fires in the state, the incidence of which has halved,” Misra said. Misra was in Ambala to meet farmers, commission agents at the district grain market. Later, she also met the officials concerned, and instructed ...
85% paddy area in Punjab yet to be cleared of stubble; late spike likelyedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Only 15.26% or 0.46 million hectares of the 3.028 million hectares of land on which paddy has been cultivated this year in Punjab was cleared till October 14, according to a satellite analysis by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), pointing to a coming spike in farm fires in the region, at the cost of Delhi’s air. The analysis shows that paddy on 0.36 million hectares has been harvested and the stubble managed (or cleared), and that farm stubble was burnt on only 92,624 hectares. Experts say delayed rains, that, in turn, delayed sowing, may mean later-than-normal harvests this year.
‘Poor’ AQI in Haryana’s 3 major paddy districts as farm fires riseedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The air quality in Haryana’s three major paddy growing districts of Kaithal, Karnal and Kurukshetra was on Wednesday recorded as ‘poor’ due to surging farm fires as they have till date contributed 64 per cent of the total 586 incidents of stubble burning reported in the state. As per the air quality bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board, the AQI of Kaithal Kurukshetra and Karnal was recorded at 269, 206, 216 respectively on Wednesday, falling in the ‘poor’ category. The districts have reported 161, 124 and 102 farm fires respectively till date, the highest in the paddy belt. With rise in the stubble burning cases in the state, the air quality index (AQI) of ...
Paddy Purchase In UP: खाद्य मंत्री सतीश चन्द्र के निर्देश, धान बेचने वाले किसानों को 48 घंटे में करें भुगतानedit
Jagran – Online
Paddy Purchase In UP खाद्य एवं रसद राज्य मंत्री सतीश चन्द्र शर्मा ने न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य (एमएसपी) पर धान बेचने वाले किसानों को 48 घंटे के अंदर भुगतान सुनिश्चित करने का निर्देश दिया है। उन्होंने धान खरीद में 15 से 20 क्विंटल तक धान बेचने वाले लघु व सीमांत किसानों को प्राथमिकता देने के लिए कहा है। यह भी सुनिश्चित करने का निर्देश दिया है कि किसानों को क्रय केंद्रों पर धान बेचने में कोई कठिनाई न हो। दो लाख से अधिक किसानों ने धान खरीद के लिए कराया पंजीकरण पश्चिमी उप्र में जहां पहली अक्टूबर से धान खरीद शुरू हो चुकी है, वहीं पूर्वी उप्र में एक नवंबर से धान खरीद चालू होगी। उन्होंने कहा ...
Paddy straw: A hurdle in the clean air dreamedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The annual air pollution season has begun in the National Capital Region (NCR). Participating in the parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment, forests and climate change’s first review meeting of air pollution control measures, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that the area under paddy cultivation in Haryana and Punjab increased this year and the generation of paddy straw is expected to be higher than 2021. But stubble fires this past month have been lower than 2021, possibly because of spells of rain in early October.
Temporary truce over paddy procurement to be effective soon in Keralaedit
The New Indian Express – Online
The impasse over paddy procurement of the first crop of the season could end within a day or two as a temporary truce is on the anvil between Supplyco and the Kerala State Rice Mill Owners Association on the issue. “We had held talks with Supplyco general manager Sriram Venkataraman in which it was agreed that if the High Court orders in its final ruling that the ‘out-turn’ quantity (the paddy that must be returned to the government after milling it) should be retained at 68% instead of 64%, then the government will compensate for the loss sustained by the mills,” said V R Pushpangadhan, president of the Palakkad District Rice Mill Owners ...
Paddy straw formation to be higher than last year: CAQMedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The area under paddy cultivation in both Haryana and Punjab has increased this year and hence the generation of paddy straw is also expected to be higher than last year; however, the number of stubble fires during the past one month has been lower than the number during the same period last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) informed the Parliamentary standing committee on science and technology, environment, forests and climate change headed by Congress leader and former union environment minister Jairam Ramesh, which held its first meeting to review air pollution control measures in Delhi-NCR on Monday.
Crop cycle, quick field turnaround continue to be burning issuesedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Many of the farmers in this Punjab village admit that they are going to burn the paddy stubble left after the harvest — the main source of pollution in the National Capital Region in October and November. Most are also desperate to move out of the paddy-wheat cycle of cropping. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has warned them that they have groundwater left for 15 more years — at a stretch. As they prepare to harvest their nearly mature paddy crop, they say they have realised that farming has become unsustainable for several reasons: a water table that has fallen to the “red”, or “overexploited” category; rising costs of pesticide and other inputs; extreme ...
Paddy Price Increase: पीआर धान के भाव में आई तेजी, 2300 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल तक पहुंचे दामedit
Jagran – Online
कैथल अनाज मंडियों धान का सीजन चला हुआ है। मौसम साफ होने के बाद आवक भी तेज हो गई है। जहां शनिवार को पीआर धान के भाव 2200 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल थे, वहीं रविवार को 100 रुपये तक का उछाल आया है, अब भाव 2300 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल तक पहुंच गई है, वहीं 1509 के भाव 3300 रुपये तक मिल रहे हैं। मुच्छल किस्म का धान भी 3100 से 3200 रुपये प्रति क्विंटल तक बिक रहा है। इस सीजन में शुरुआत से ही धान के अच्छे भाव किसानों को मिल रहे हैं। पिछले साल पीआर धान के भाव एमएसपी से भी कम मिले थे, लेकिन इस बार तो एमएसपी से भी 300 रुपये तक ज्यादा भाव ...
Paddy Farmers in Tamil Nadu Incur Huge Losses After Heavy Pre-Northeast Monsoon Showers Rattle the South Indian Stateedit
The Weather Channel – Online
Heavy showers in several parts of Tamil Nadu have impacted the Kurvai paddy farmers of the state. With the farmers in harvest mode and storing the grains, heavy rains before the advent of the northeast monsoon season by October-end have led to huge losses to the farmers. Kumaresan, a paddy farmer from Erode district of Tamil Nadu, told IANS: “We are in harvest mode now, and the harvesting machines cannot be used in the fields inundated by rainwater. This is going to be our waterloo as the District Procuring Centres will also not take our products as the moisture content is high due to the rains.” It may be noted that if the paddy ...
Telangana govt to procure 1 crore tonnes paddy this Vaanakalam seasonedit
Telangana Today – Online
Telangana is expected to produce a massive 1.41 crore tonnes of paddy during the ensuing Vaanakalam (Kharif) crop season. Of this, the State government is making preparations to procure one crore tonnes from farmers. Powered By At review meeting on the preparations to procure paddy in Vaanakalam 2022-23 here on Thursday, Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar directed the officials to ensure paddy procurement from farmers in a planned and phased manner. He said Telangana had set a new precedent in paddy cultivation by increasing the production from 24 lakh tonnes in 2014-15 to 1.41 crore tonnes in 2022-23 in Telangana, after the State formation. He attributed it to the visionary leadership of Chief Minister K ...
Haryana likely to achieve 55 lakh MT paddy procurement target: agri deptedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The Haryana government is likely to achieve the target of procuring 55 lakh MT of paddy on minimum support price (MSP) despite yield loss due to unseasonal rains and dwarfing disease, the state agriculture department has claimed, amid talks that arrival of rice from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh could help the procurement agencies to accomplish the number. Earlier, the state agriculture department had predicted an overall loss of 20 per cent in paddy production in the state as, according to the official figures, rains had affected around 11 lakh acres of the total 34.5 lakh acres under paddy in the state. Even farmers in the state have been claiming that unseasonal rains have caused yield loss ...
Haryana: 34 lakh acres paddy area, only 8,600 acres registered for aidedit
The Times of India – Online
As Delhi-NCR tiptoes to that time of the year when smog chokes the region for days at stretch, the Haryana government has said that only a handful of farmers have shown interest in its scheme to offer incentives to those who do not engage in burning stubble. As of Wednesday, less than 1% of the total land where paddy was harvested was registered for the scheme. In absolute numbers, farmers had opted for in-situ and ex-situ activities on only 8,584 acres of 34 lakh acres across the state. Farmers who opt for these modern techniques of cultivation – that are not as polluting as stubble burning – are offered Rs 1,000 per acre ...
Relax norms for procurement of paddy, says Tamil Nadu to Centreedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Days after several farmers’ associations protested across the delta region urging the government to procure paddy with higher moisture content, the State government on Tuesday wrote to the Union government seeking relaxation of the moisture norm from 17% to 22%. The State also assured that paddy procured under the relaxed moisture norm will be hulled immediately and the rice will conform to the Centre’s specifications. Protests erupted after direct procurement centres, citing the Centre’s norms, refused to procure paddy with 19-22% moisture content. Farmers’ associations said kuruvai paddy cultivated on four lakh hectares may get damaged or the grain may sprout if there is no relaxation in moisture content. Any delay in procurement ...
Rain drenches paddy in Haryana mandis, procurement hitedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Light to moderate rain reported in the region has affected the paddy procurement in Haryana leaving farmers high and dry. Millions of tonnes of paddy lying in the mandis got soaked due to early morning showers adding to the woes of farmers, arhtiyas and traders. The rainfall reports from Chandigarh centre of the India Meteorological Department revealed that heavy rains were reported in different pockets of the state in the past 24 hours with the highest 80 mm of rain reported in Radaur of Yamunanagar district, 50 mm in Ambala, 40mm in Ratia of Fatehabad, 30mm in Babain and Shahbad of Kurukshetra district and 20mm in Ladwa, Jhansa and Ismailabad of Kurukshetra. According to the ...
Progressive FPO alleges official apathy in buying paddy in Rupnagaredit
Hindustan Times – Online
One-and-a-half year after scripting a maiden success story last rabi marketing season by venturing into the business of arhtiyas or commission agents, a farmer producer organisation (FPO), PB-12, is now facing a bleak future. Formed by enterprising farmers of Rupnagar district, PB-12, which is the vehicle registration code of the district, has been directed by the Punjab mandi board authorities to stop buying paddy this season. Upset over the official apathy, the FPO urges the chief minister to intervene by either providing them adequate and permanent space in mandi or like three purchase seasons since 2021, allowing them to buy foodgrain from a rented place in the vicinity of Chamkaur Sahib mandi. A mandi board ...
40% paddy still to be harvested in Haryanaedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Inclement weather coupled with unseasonal rains have delayed paddy harvesting and procurement operations in Haryana, leaving a shorter window for farmers to sow the next crop, which the agriculture officials feel could force the cultivators to resort to stubble burning, the cheapest and easiest way to clear fields of crop waste. As per ground reports from major paddy sowing districts of northern Haryana, nearly 40 per cent of the crop is yet to be harvested and farmers are running from pillar to post to reap their produce and take it to the mandis amid spells of rain. “We are facing problems as nearly 50 per cent of the procured paddy is still in mandis and ...
Punjab CM outlines govt’s efforts for paddy straw management as stubble burning continuesedit
The Print – Online
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said that the state government is committed to bailing out the farmers of the state from any sort of natural calamity and efforts are being made for paddy straw management. The Chief Minister, during a meeting with the farmers here at Punjab Bhawan, said that the state government is not leaving any stone unturned for this cause. He also informed the farmers that the state government is making an all-out effort for paddy straw management. “The farmers should support the state government for this noble cause by not burning the paddy straw. It is the need of the hour for protecting the environment of the state,” said CM ...
Govt. to Provide Subsidy on Smart Seeder to Reduce Paddy Residue Burningedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has added the ‘Smart Seeder’ created by Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Ludhiana to the centrally funded subsidy program. The PAU’s Research Evaluation Committee has approved using its smart seeder to sow wheat straight into paddy leftovers. The smart seeder effectively keeps the advantages of both happy seeder and super seeder in a single machine by incorporating surface mulching to manage the paddy residue. The PAU smart seeder plants wheat in combined harvested paddy fields more quickly than the happy seeder and super seeder. Wheat can be sown on 10 to 12 acres in a day using a tractor with 45 to 50 horsepower.
Paddy procurement in Mohali: ₹39 cr paid to farmers so faredit
Hindustan Times – Online
Around 22,615 metric tonnes (MT) of paddy has arrived in district markets, of which 21,658 MT has already been purchased. Mohali deputy commissioner Amit Talwar said 4,421 MT of paddy has been lifted and ₹38.76 crore has been paid to farmers. Pungrain has bought 6,199MT paddy, Markfed 7,771 MT, PUNSUP 2,685 MT, Warehouse 4,059 MT, the Food Corporation of India has purchased 596 MT and traders have bought 348 MT paddy, the DC said, urging farmers not to burn the paddy stubble as it is a major cause of respiratory diseases and it also reduces the fertility of the land.
Rice Rates In UP, Bihar, Jharkhand May Rise Due To Less Paddy Productionedit
BusinessWorld – Online
The prices of rice may increase in the northern plains of the country as there has been a lack of rain, especially in the areas of the Ganges. Due to this, the inflation of food items in these areas may increase in the coming time. Major agricultural states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have recorded less rainfall. There was little rain in the last days of the monsoon, but in the initial days it saw a severe reduction. Because of this, less paddy was planted. Even if transplanted, the yield was killed due to lack of irrigation. Therefore, the price of rice is expected to increase in the coming days. A study by India Ratings ...
Grain glut as Haryana mandis inundated with paddy stockedit
Hindustan Times – Online
With paddy harvesting at its peak and most of the grain markets in rice producing districts of Haryana overflowing with stock, slow pace of procurement by the government agencies has led to a glut, forcing the farmers to line up for hours outside the mandis to unload their produce. The officials monitoring the procurement operations said that efforts were being made to speed up lifting of the procured paddy to make space for more stock. The government agencies have announced that there will be no procurement on Wednesday and the focus will be on lifting. Farmers have also been advised not to bring their produce in the mandis on Wednesday. Paddy is mainly produced in ...
Odisha set for another bumper paddy harvestedit
The New Indian Express – Online
With monsoon still active and overall crop condition being normal, the State is all set for another bumper paddy crop this kharif season. Reports received by the Directorate of Agriculture and Food Production from districts said that early, medium and late duration paddy crops are in excellent condition barring a few pockets reporting pest attack of moderate to low intensity. Autumn paddy (early variety) is in maturity stage, harvesting of which will start within a week. Medium and late duration paddy are in panicle and tillering stage respectively. Further rainfall as forecast by the IMD will hugely assist the crop, said a senior officer of the directorate. There was a 13 per cent ...
12,000 tonnes of paddy purchased in Punjab on Day 1 of procurementedit
Hindustan Times – Online
On the opening day of the 2022-23 kharif marketing season, Punjab grain markets saw arrival of 29,000 tonnes of paddy of which 12,000 tonnes was purchased. Of the total crop procured, 66% was purchased by private players, said officials. Patiala district recorded the maximum arrival with more than 5,000 tonnes of paddy reaching the mandis. According to the Punjab Mandi Board data, private players bought 8,000 tonnes of paddy whereas the government agencies procured the remaining 4,000 tonnes. About 17,000 tonnes of paddy remained unsold on the first day of the official purchase of the major kharif crop. Of 22 districts, eight, including Bathinda, Pathankot and Sangrur, did not report any arrival on Saturday. Patiala, ...
Farmers in Odisha opt for oilseeds, pulses cultivation on leftover paddy landedit
The New Indian Express – Online
As delayed monsoon in the rain-fed Sundargarh district affected cultivation on about 4,500 hectares (ha) of rice fallow land in the ongoing Kharif crop season, the affected farmers have started opting for oil seeds and pulses in the pre-rabi season to compensate for the loss. The pre-rabi crop season starts in October in which the affected farmers have been advised to cultivate pulses and oilseeds utilising the existing soil moisture. Sources said the district in June and July had received 153.86 mm and 117.2 mm deficit rainfall respectively as agriculture operations for paddy farming including transplantation and inter-cultural operation were held up on vast areas giving rise to fear of crop loss. However, ...
Punjab | A decomposer that gets rid of paddy residue in 24 hours!edit
Hindustan Times – Online
In a major scientific breakthrough, the ICAR- Central Institute of Post- Harvest Engineering and Technology (CIPHET) claimed to have developed a revolutionary decomposer that gets rid of paddy residue within 24 hours and also helps fix nitrogen, to the extent of 50 kg per acre, in the soil. ICAR experts said that they racing to get the formula patented. They said that field-based lab trials, carried jointly along with an agri start-up and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), were successful and soon a field demonstration will be carried out in the post harvesting season of paddy – by the last week of October. The innovation comes close on the heels of the central government’ directions to ...
Paddy Variety: पूसा का एक और सफलता भरा कदम, विकसित की धान की 3 उन्नत किस्मेंedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान द्वारा पूर्व में विकसित और प्रचलित धान की पूसा बासमती किस्मों में सुधार कर उन्हें रोग रोधी बनाकर विकसित किया गया है. इसी कड़ी में पूसा बासमती 1885, 1886 तथा 1847 उन्नत किस्में विकसित की गई हैं. यह जानकारी शुक्रवार को नई दिल्ली में पूसा संस्थान के लाइब्रेरी सभागार में आयोजित एक प्रेस वार्ता के दौरान भारतीय कृषि अनुसंधान संस्थान निदेशक डॉ अशोक कुमार सिंह ने दी. इस दौरान उन्होंने कहा कि पूसा बासमती की इन किस्मों में झुलसा और झोंका रोग प्रतिरोधक क्षमता को विकसित किया गया है. किसान सम्पर्क यात्रा से मिली ये जानकारी जानकारी देते हुए निदेशक डॉ अशोक कुमार ने बताया पंजाब व हरियाणा के किसानों के ...
Stubble Burning
Raging farm fires leave 9 Haryana cities with ‘very poor’ AQIedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Haryana on Friday reported 123 fresh incidents of farm fires, taking the total number of stubble burning cases in the state to 1,701 and leaving nine cities with ‘very poor’ air quality. The highest 32 cases of farm fires were reported in Kaithal, followed by 30 in Fatehabad, 21 each in Ambala and Jind, 6 in Kurukshetra, 4 in Karnal 3 each in Sirsa and Yamunanagar. As per the daily report, the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) has till now detected the highest 474 incidents of stubble burning in Kaithal, 267 in Kurukshetra, 234 in Karnal, 221 in Fatehabad, 134 in Ambala and 94 in Yamunanagar. The surge in the number of farm fires has ...
Farmers in Jalandhar Honoured for Not Burning Paddy Stubbleedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
For not burning rice stubble for more than five years, Jalandhar district administration on Friday presented appreciation certificates titled “Vaatavarn De Rakhwale” to more than 100 farmers from various blocks. Progressive farmers were recognized for their efforts to maintain the environment pollution-free from the following blocks: Adampur, Bhogpur, Jalandhar East and West, Lohian, Nakodar, Nurmahal, Phillaur, Rurka Kalan, and Shahkot. In the greater interest of the environment, soil health, and the future of subsequent generations, they urged other farmers to adopt “zero burning.” Farmers said it was high time that automated management of stubble in fields must be started, which would lead to a clean, green & pollution-free environment. Additionally, they pledged to educate others ...
Punjab has 80% of stubble burning cases in North India: Central bodyedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Punjab has once again achieved the notorious distinction of having the highest number of stubble burning cases in North India. Data compiled by the commission for air quality management in national capital region and adjoining areas shows that out of the 15,461 cases recorded in the North Indian states and Madhya Pradesh, so far this season, Punjab logged 12,112 (nearly 80%) cases. It was followed by Haryana with 1,813 cases, Uttar Pradesh 705, Madhya Pradesh 599, Rajasthan 227 and Delhi five. Meanwhile, Punjab also saw a major spike in stubble burning cases on Saturday with 1,898 fires being detected by the remote sensing centre’s satellites. The figure was higher than what was recorded on this ...
Prayagraj dist admin intensifies efforts to prevent stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The district administration has made elaborate preparations to prevent air pollution due to stubble burning in the agricultural fields of Prayagraj. For close and constant monitoring, committees have been constituted at different levels — from district to tehsil — for the task. The responsibility of the district-level committee has been entrusted to the additional district magistrate (finance and revenue) Jagdamba Singh. He is also the district nodal officer in charge of all affairs related to natural disasters, said officials. Besides, the sub-divisional magistrate concerned has been appointed the chairman of the tehsil-level committees with the circle officer concerned as its member, they added. Earlier, there was a guideline for registering FIRs for burning stubble in ...
Punjab crosses the 10,000 mark of stubble burning by recording over 2,000 fires on Fridayedit
The Indian Express – Online
While Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Friday said at Nawanshahr that the Punjab government has made available 1.33 lakh agricultural implements to the farmers on subsidy to manage the stubble, to the farmers. On the same day, Punjab crossed 10,000 stubble-burning cases on Friday when in a single day the state recorded over 2000 stubble-burning incidents. The state has recorded a 26.5% increase in burning cases as compared to last year during the same corresponding period. On Friday 2,067 cases were recorded and with this, the sketch stars total cases rose to 10214 against 7503 last year during the same time from September 15 to October 28 year 44 days. On Friday ...
‘Stubble burning problem can’t be addressed unless farmers are taken into confidence, provided support’edit
ET EnergyWorld – Online
The Federation of All India Farmer Associations (FAIFA) a leading non-profit organisation representing the cause of millions of farmers and farm workers of commercial crops in India, has urged state governments to take farmers into confidence and support them with funds and equipment to effectively address the stubble burning problem. The season of farm fires in northern India has already begun and incidents of stubble burning are going to increase sharply in the coming weeks months of October and November. The decades old post-harvest practice of burning of paddy crop stubbles is a major contributor to air pollution in the region at this time of the year. Owing to heavy rainfall and low count of ...
CNH Industrial celebrates 5 years of preventing crop stubble burning at Kallar Majri in Punjabedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
CNH Industrial today celebrated five years of its “Prevention of Crop Stubble Burning/Straw Management” initiative in India. Thanks to this project Kallar Majri in Punjab has been near smoke-free for five years. CNH Industrial congratulated the village’s farmers for opting for a sustainable solution – baling instead of burning crop stubble. Following the project’s success, this initiative has been introduced to 10 additional locations in Haryana, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. It has raised farmers’ awareness of the benefits of baling versus burning, with more villages adopting this environment-friendly solution. Cumulatively, from 2017 – 2021, this initiative has saved approximately 14,000 tons of paddy straw from being burnt, reducing CO2 emissions ...
Centre, states meet to discuss check on stubble burningedit
The Indian Express – Online
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday chaired an inter-ministerial meeting with the states on the issues of crop residue management. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala. “The three ministers held intense discussions with the states to check the burning of stubble,” the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. According to the statement, Tomar said there is a need for the state governments to fix accountability of the Collectors in the districts affected by stubble burning. Rupala stressed on proactive steps, especially for the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, the statement ...
Punjab govt: Stubble burning incidents down from last year, better air quality in stateedit
India Today – Online
The Punjab government has claimed that owing to its efforts, the incidents of stubble burning in the state have seen a sharp decline from last year and it has also resulted in improved air quality of the state. Citing data from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), state Science Technology and Environment Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Tuesday said that 1,847 cases of stubble burning were reported across the state from September 15 to October 17 this year as compared to 2,389 and 5,562 cases in corresponding period during the year 2021 and 2020. The minister claimed that in many districts, the incidents of stubble burning have been negligible, with Rupnagar and Pathankot reporting zero ...
CAQM regularly monitoring stubble burning incidents in NCR and Punjabedit
Livemint – Online
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) is regularly reviewing the position to contain the problems arising out of farm fire incidents in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab, said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in a press release on Monday. The Commission has been actively monitoring paddy residue burning events from 15th September 2022 onwards in the states of Punjab, Haryana and 8 NCR Districts of U.P. The current year has seen a reduction from 3431 to 1695 fire counts as compared to the corresponding period of last year. The review meetings with 23 District Collectors / District Magistrates (DMs) of Punjab, 22 DMs/ DCs of Haryana, ...
Tales from the farm: ‘Officials don’t care how their solutions hit the sowing cycle’edit
Hindustan Times – Online
Hira Singh and Gurlal Singh, from a prosperous farming family in Sirsa’s Begu village are preparing to harvest their 17-18 PUSA Basmati paddy crop towards the end of this month. They will have to then sow wheat during the 15-day window between November 1 and 15. The brothers will set fire to the paddy stubble as soon as the crop is harvested. The brothers are among the majority of farmers in Punjab and Haryana that will set fire to paddy stubble later this month after the late sowing paddy varieties are harvested. The drive from Haryana’s Hisar to Sirsa and onward to Faridkot district in Punjab is flanked by green, young paddy crop interspersed with ...
Stubble burning: Centre to offer financial assistance for torrefaction, pelletisation plantsedit
The New Indian Express – Online
The central government has said a one-time financial assistance will be given to individuals and companies to set up torrefaction and pelletisation plants to ensure a regular supply of paddy straw for co-firing in thermal power plants and industries. The setting up of these plants will help resolve the problem of stubble burning and generate income for farmers, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said at a workshop on “Guidelines for grant of one-time financial support for establishment of pelletisation and torrefaction plants to promote utilisation of paddy straw” on Thursday. Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is a major reason behind the alarming spike in air pollution ...
Punjab farmers shun machines to treat stubbleedit
The Economic Times – Online
Barely one-third of the crop residue management machines deployed by Punjab government to discourage farmers from burning stubble have been used. As farmers harvest paddy and ready their fields for rabi crops, Punjab government has prepared an intensive month-long action plan to prevent stubble burning, which contributes to pollution in northern India. At the core of the action plan is behavioural change of Punjab farmers who have been shunning mechanisation of harvesting and crop residue management.
Govt has taken steps to tackle stubble burning: Bhupender Yadavedit
Livemint – Online
Government has taken various steps to tackle the issue of stubble burning and a large quantity of paddy straw is being managed through in-situ and ex-situ management options, said Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav on Thursday. Addressing a workshop to start an initiative to tackle stubble burning, the minister said that statutory directions have been issued to thermal power plants to co-fire biomass-based Pellets, Torrefied Pellets/Briquettes (with focus on paddy straw) with Coal (up to 5-10%) and to industries operating in NCR other than GNCT of Delhi to switch over to PNG or biomass fuels during 2022. “These have led to a large demand for biomass-based pellets, though supply is on ...
Paddy stubble management: Farmers prefer super seeders, not keen on buying other machinesedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Failing to secure sanctions for the sought-after super seeder management of stubble and other machinery of choice in the draw of lots, a big chunk of applicants being awarded subsidised paddy straw management machines and equipment have steered clear of the purchases. Out of the total successful applicants, only 41% purchased the machines before the end of the deadline. The state agriculture department has sanctioned 2,230 machines, having previously earmarked ₹18 crore for the district to award subsidies to individual farmers. Of the 2,230 machines, only 925 found takers. Super seeder, one of the big draws for farmers, helps plough the standing paddy residue and sow seeds for the next wheat crop, in a single ...
Rains delayed harvesting, expect clustering of stubble burning incidents: Expertsedit
The Print – Online
Two prolonged spells of rain — in late September and October — have delayed paddy harvesting by a week in parts of Punjab and Haryana which could lead to a spike in stubble burning incidents, experts said on Wednesday. They said the delay could result in farmers racing against time to prepare their fields for the next crop and hence, a sharp increase in farm fires was possible. Though the Centre and the Punjab government have made serious interventions to reduce the number of farm fires this year, officials said the shortening of the window for sowing of Rabi crops could mean more stubble burning in the days to come. Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, ...
How Punjab is trying to manage stubble burningedit
Daily News Post – Online
Management of paddy straw, which has become the biggest environmental problem in Punjab, has started changing the picture of the state. Though the state is yet to get rid of this problem completely, but the aware farmers of the state have started making alternative use of stubble instead of burning it. Seeing its bad effects on the environment, Amarjeet Singh, a farmer who grows crops on more than 100 acres of land, instead of burning the stubble, is selling it to a nearby factory which converts it into fuel. He along with some other farmers give machines like Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Plow, Mulcher to prevent polluting the environment. Avtar Singh of Theri village ...
Farmers caught burning stubble to be dealt with an iron fistedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Days before the Prime Minister Office’s October 14 review meeting on air pollution in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), Uttar Pradesh chief secretary (CS) Durga Shankar Mishra has issued a slew of directions to officials and asked them to strictly curb the incidents of stubble and garbage burning in the state. In a government order issued to all divisional commissioners, district magistrates and district police chiefs on Monday, the CS has asked the officials to ensure legal penal action is taken against farmers found burning crop residues, and also create awareness among them about the negative impact of stubble burning on the environment. “The chief secretary’s directions come only a few days before the ...
Ludhiana breathes easy as winds keep stubble smoke at bayedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Despite rampant stubble burning in the region, the city is breathing easy thanks to windy weather conditions and rainfall in neighbouring districts, which have acted as bulwarks against air pollution. At 76, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Monday was ‘satisfactory’, an improvement from the ‘moderate’ air quality on the same date (October 10) over the last two years. An AQI reading between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”. On October 10, 2021 and 2020, the city had registered an AQI of 123 and 152, respectively. Despite the state government’s efforts to ...
Stubble burning: More than 700 farm fires recorded in Punjabedit
The New Indian Express – Online
More than 700 farm fires have been recorded so far in Punjab despite the state authorities making several efforts to curb the practice of stubble burning. According to data from the Ludhiana-based Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the state witnessed four farm fire incidents—two in Amritsar and one each in Ludhiana and Kapurthala on Monday. From September 15 till October 10, a total of 718 farm fire incidents have been recorded, as per the data. On the same day in 2020 and 2021, the state had witnessed 244 and 150 farm fires, respectively, according to the data. The farm fires continued despite the state government assuring more crop residue management machines and launching massive ...
How some farmers in Punjab are cashing in on stubble instead of burning itedit
Hindustan Times – Online
A handful of farmers in Punjab have started disposing crop residue — which is usually burnt and causes air pollution — in a sustainable manner, either by using it as natural fertiliser or selling it for fuel production. These farmers have not only reduced consumption of fertilisers by mixing crop residue in the soil but have also begun to monetise the practice by managing the stubble of other growers. Bhupinder Singh, 59, who cultivates 30 acres in Badarpur, the last village of Mohali district, has not been burning paddy stubble since 2018. Instead, he mixes it with soil using an MB plough, a tillage equipment, after which the land is ready for sowing the next ...
Can halting kiln operations during the stubble burning period in Punjab check pollution?edit
The Indian Express – Online
When the stubble burning cases have already begun in the state with the harvesting of paddy, the Punjab government can control the pollution level to a large extent during paddy harvesting followed by stubble burning by halting the operations of brick kilns in the state. Can stopping the operation of kilns for a couple of months is possible without harming the interests of the kiln businesses and how can it contribute to keeping the Air Quality Index (AQI) under control, The Indian Express explains. Why closing brick kilns during paddy harvesting season will not affect their businesses Normally the kilns remain operational for 6-7 months in a year except for some exceptional cases where ...
Stubble burning: Fire counts over Punjab and Haryana start to increaseedit
The Indian Express – Online
The stubble burning counts in Punjab and Haryana have increased recently, after the withdrawal of the southwest monsoon last week. According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute’s (IARI) Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space, the paddy residue burning events have been on the rise in Punjab from October 1. The number of burning events in Punjab rose from zero on September 29 to eight on September 30, and 45 on October 1. On October 2, the number of events rose further to 83. The highest figure was recorded on October 5, when there were a total of 130 paddy residue burning events. The system recorded 85 such burning events on ...
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann asks farmers to support fight against stubble burningedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Punjab chief minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said his government is making all-out efforts for paddy straw management to curb stubble burning in the state, appealing to farmers to support this noble cause. Mann, who held a meeting with representatives of farmer unions from across Punjab, said the state government is making available 1.22 lakh stubble management machines and an app has been developed by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to facilitate them in using these machines. “It is the need of the hour for protecting the environment of the state,” the CM said on being asked about the unions’ demand for incentive of ₹6,000 per acre to farmers for the management of paddy ...
Slow start to delivery of in-situ stubble management machines in Punjab even as farm fires pick up steamedit
Hindustan Times – Online
With the paddy harvest season kicking off in full swing in Punjab, the state agriculture department has started delivering machines for in-situ (mixing in the soil) management of stubble. So far, 7,300 machines have been delivered against a target of 32,100 in the current season. Officials say the delivery of machines got off to a slow start but would pick up pace once farmers have completed the sale of their kharif produce and have cash to pay the non-subsidised part of cost of machines. With the delivery of machines to farmers, the state government and Centre plan to control farm fires, construed as contributory factors in the formation of smog, a health and environmental hazard ...
Will take 4-5 years to properly resolve stubble burning issue: Punjab pollution control boardedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Crop diversification is not a long-term solution to the problem of stubble burning and it will take four to five years to properly resolve the issue, a senior official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has said. Crop diversification and using short duration varieties of paddy are among several initiatives proposed by the Centre and experts to resolve the stubble burning issue in Punjab and Haryana. At a workshop organised by the Delhi-based Climate Trends in Chandigarh on Monday, PPCB member secretary Krunesh Garg said counting the number of farm fires is an inaccurate measure of ascertaining the scale of stubble burning and that the acreage of land being put on fire is the ...
Stubble fires rising in Punjab, may impact Delhi after Oct 10edit
Hindustan Times – Online
Farmers have started burning crop stubble across the northern plains, with Sunday recording this year’s highest single-day fire count of 130, data collated from satellite images showed. As in the previous years, Punjab is again the primary culprit with the state accounting for 83 fires on October 2 (Sunday); Haryana had seven fires and Uttar Pradesh 36. Data compiled by the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space (CREAMS), a centre under the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), shows that between September 15 and 30, 147 farm fires were recorded in Punjab. Compared to that, in just the two days of October 1 and 2, the state recorded a total fire count ...
Stubble burning cases see a spike in Punjab, 350 cases recorded so faredit
Hindustan Times – Online
As many as 350 cases of stubble burning have been reported from Punjab over the last two weeks, with majority of the incidents being reported two border districts of the Majha belt – Amritsar and Tarn Taran. As per the data provided by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), with 284 cases, Amritsar has reported the maximum number of farm fires so far while Tarn Taran, with 39 cases, stands at the second place. On Monday alone, the state witnessed 75 cases out of which 54 were reported from Amritsar and 12 from Tarn Taran. Ferozepur, Patiala and Gurdaspur districts reported two cases each on the day. On October 2, Amritsar recorded 64 cases while ...
Centre asks Punjab to chalk out detailed plan to control paddy stubble burningedit
The Indian Express – Online
The Centre on Monday asked the Punjab government to chalk out a comprehensive action plan at the micro level for effective control of paddy stubble burning during the ensuing season. Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Secretary in the Union Agriculture Ministry, told state officials to chalk out a detailed plan while attending a farm demonstration on crop residue management at Rangian village in Kharar tehsil of SAS Nagar district in Punjab, an official statement said. The states were also told to establish a mechanism to ensure effective utilisation of machines, promote the use of bio-decomposer in a complementary mode with the Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines, and promote ex-situ utilisation of straw by way of mapping ...
Farmers burning stubble to face punitive action: UP officialsedit
The Economic Times – Online
Farmers burning stubble would face punitive action since it not only pollutes the environment but also releases methane, sulphur dioxide and other toxic gases causing skin disease, heart problems, cancer etc, a senior official said. In a crusade against stubble burning, the district administration here has adopted a double-prong attack to counter the menace by adopting cohesive measures including felicitating the farmers donating stubble to cow shelters, the official said. “While an awareness programme including familiarising the farmers with the nutritive value of stubble has started on September 26. It is going on in a geometrical progression in the district as the farmers themselves are educating other farmers. The violators have been warned of ...
Magnitude of stubble problem grows larger: Govt reviewedit
The Economic Times – Online
Stubble generation in 2022-23 will increase by nearly 1.37 million tonnes (mt) in states adjoining the Delhi-National Capital Region and well over 6 mt may go up in smoke despite numerous measures planned for stubble management, as per the latest government review. Stubble burning is considered a key contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Paddy straw burning is practised widely in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to clear the field for the next crop sowing, especially during October-November. In the review held on Friday, environment minister Bhupender Yadav singled out Punjab, expressing his ‘dissatisfaction’ with the state’s preparedness.
Tractor industry
PVs, tractor sales see strong growth during festive season: BNP Paribas India researchedit
The Financial Express – Online
BNP Paribas India has done extensive research on the Indian automotive industry during the festive season that tracks festival demand weekly. Based on registration data collected from 95 per cent of all regional transport offices (RTOs), which likely cover more than 90 per cent of total new vehicle registrations in the country. Highlighting the trends during the fourth week of the festive season, the research shows that the automotive industry continued to witness double-digit YoY sales volume growth in the final week of this festive season, with the growth profile improving WoW. Compared with the fourth week of the 2019 festive season, all the segments showed a double-digit CAGR.
India’s pre-owned tractor market a $10 bn opportunityedit
The Financial Express – Online
The Indian agricultural sector contributes nearly 18-19% to the GDP. The sector and its continuous growth are important as it is the largest employment creator in the country. There are roughly 13 crore farming households in the country but the total tractor population is only around 80 lakhs. This comparison gives a sense of how low the penetration is, and also on the other hand indicates the expected growth potential in this segment. The government on its part has been working on ways to improve the farm output and thereby doubling the farmers’ income. A stable and steadily rising output will help make farming a profitable business. It is pertinent to mention the role ...
India Auto Inc clocks 11% retail growth, 1.46m units in festive Septemberedit
Autocar Professional – Online
The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) today released the all-India retail sales numbers for September 2022 and the data reveals that the industry is poised to record sustained growth going ahead. With 1.46 million units (14,64,001) sold last month across the two-, three-wheelers, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and tractor segments, India Auto Inc has notched good double-digit growth of 11% over September 2021’s 13,19,647 units. Except for tractors, which is down by 1.5%, all other categories are in positive territory – two-wheelers (9%), three-wheelers (72%), passenger vehicles (10%) and commercial vehicles (19%).
Uncategorized
There are no poor people, only people in poor placesedit
The Indian Express – Online
Chile’s recent rejection of a draft utopian constitution — it made free housing the job of government, gave glaciers constitutional rights, legislated digital disconnection, and would have exploded government debt — was an act of considerable civic maturity. The verdict creates optimism about the wisdom of crowds over the madness of mobs. The “Nirvana Fallacy” — a concept that compares existing, pragmatic and second-best solutions to idealistic, imperfect, and unrealistic ones — is a form of perfectionism that led to the economic decisions causing the current pain in Punjab, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Mexico, and Bolivia. We agree that a modern state is a welfare state, ...