Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Surge in demand pushes Basmati prices to ₹6,500 in Haryanaedit
Hindustan Times – Online
A global surge in the demand for Basmati has caused the prices of the aromatic and long-grained variety of rice to increase in both the international and domestic market, raising exporters’ hopes of harvesting a bumper profit after five years. As much as 21.57 lakh tonne of Basmati was shipped between April and September against 19.45 lakh tonne in the corresponding period last year. As per the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the price of Basmati rice touched 1,057 USD ( ₹86,050) per tonne in September from 1,019 USD ( ₹82,956) per tonne in May in this fiscal against 853 USD ( ₹69,442) per tonne in September in the last financial ...
Rabi sowing up 70% in Gujaratedit
The Financial Express – Online
Favourable weather conditions, availability of water and higher prices of wheat and other commodities have translated into almost 70 % higher sowing in Gujarat for the current winter (rabi) season compared to previous 2021-22 season by the end of November. As per the latest data of the state agriculture department compared to previous year’s sowing of 1.5 million hectare by the end of November, already acreage across crops has crossed 2.5 million hectare for the rabi season 2022-23. “Generally, winter sowing starts in Gujarat from the last week of October and continues till the first week of January. Higher prices of cereals including that of wheat and availability of water have encouraged farmers to ...
Govt. Policies
Punjab to roll out new agriculture policy by Mar 31: Agri Min Dhaliwaledit
Business Standard – Online
Punjab Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Sinh Dhaliwal on Monday said the state government will roll out a new agriculture policy by March 31, 2023. The new agricultural policy will be prepared focusing the geographical situation, soil health, availability of crops and water, and consultations are being held with renowned agricultural scientists, experts and farmers’ organisations. Dhaliwal was speaking during a ‘Kisan Goshti’ organised by the Punjab State Farmers and Agricultural Workers Commission on the theme of ‘Agricultural Development Model of Punjab – some policy issues’, a release said. Announcing the creation of a separate policy for natural farming, the minister said, people are facing health problems due to excessive use of fertilisers, chemicals, weed killers and ...
Tomar inaugurates integrated ‘Agriculture Investment Portal’edit
Mint – Online
Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar inaugurated the integrated ‘Agriculture Investment Portal’ on Monday. Speaking at a meeting with the co-chairperson of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Melinda French Gates, the minister said that the government has full focus on promoting women farmers in the country. Tomar added that there are many challenges in the agriculture sector. “The number of small farmers is more in the country. The government believes that if their strength increases, as a result, the agriculture sector will improve and production will also increase.”
Paddy in India
Delay in paddy purchase leads to distress saleedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Delay in paddy procurement is forcing farmers of Ganjam district to sell their produce at throwaway prices to traders from Andhra Pradesh. While paddy cultivated at Jagannathprasad, Polasara, Kodala, Khallikote and Seragada blocks have already been harvested, mandis for procuring the produce are slated to open from December 12. Secretary of Rushikulya Rayat Mahasabha Simanchal Nahak said taking advantage of the delay in procurement and absence of storage facilities, traders from the neighbouring state are buying paddy from the farmers through local brokers at prices much lower than that fixed by the government.
Stubble Burning
Stubble burning events drop by 31.5% from September to December: CAQMedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Overall paddy crop residue burning events between September and November saw a reduction of 31.5% since 2021 in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) districts in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Monday. “According to the figures based on Standard ISRO Protocol for monitoring paddy crop residue burning events, the total paddy crop residue burning events from September 15, 2022 to November 30, 2022 in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, have come down from 78,550 in 2021 to 53,792 in 2022 – a reduction of 31.5%,” the CAQM said in a statement.