Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Exports of agri and allied products posted over 20 pc jump in FY21, FY22edit
The Economic Times – Online
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed the Parliament that the export of agricultural and allied products witnessed a significant increase during the last few years. During 2019-20, the export of agricultural and allied products was valued at Rs 2,52,400 crore which increased to Rs 3,10,130 crore in 2020-21 and showed an increase of 22.87 per cent. Exports of agricultural and allied products touched an all-time peak of Rs 3,74,611 crore during the last one year i.e. 2021-22, an increase of 20.79 per cent, according to a statement released by the ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare on Friday evening.
Punjab not to allow commercial cultivation of GM mustardedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The agriculture department Punjab has decided not to allow commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard (sarson) in the state. Also, the department is not responding to the proposals for permission mooted by the private companies for its commercial cultivation. However, the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) is conducting field trials of the GM seeds, initiated by the Indian council for agricultural research (ICAR) – India’s top agricultural research body. The biotechnology department of the Delhi University has produced the GM-mustard.
Budget
No ray of hope for farmers in the Budgetedit
Free Press Journal – Online
We wonder whether the outlay for agriculture announced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her 2023-24 budget was for agriculture or industry. Agriculture Accelerator Fund for agri-startups, PPP for extra-long cotton fibre, expansion of local storage capacity: these are schemes that are going to directly benefit agribusinesses. Agricultural credit of Rs 20 lakh crore, assistance to farmers to adopt natural farming and alternative fertilisers, Rs 60,000 crore for PM-Kisan fund: these are schemes that are going to benefit agribusinesses indirectly, for the farmers will use the money to buy their products and services.