Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Centre to offload additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market to cut pricesedit
Mint – Online
The Centre on Tuesday announced that it will offload an additional 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market to bring down the prices of wheat and wheat flour. On 25 January, the government had announced sale of 30 lakh tonnes of wheat in the open market from its buffer stock to check rise in prices of wheat and wheat flour (atta). According to Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, the government has decided that state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) will offload an additional quantity of 20 lakh tonnes of wheat in open market under the Open Market ...
In year of millet, agri dept promotes the super food via Carnival routeedit
The Times of India – Online
Amidst the Carnival revelry at Margao on Sunday, one tableau stood out. Even as this tableau produced by the state’s agriculture department grabbed eyeballs on account of its novel theme, the senior-level agriculture officers who accompanied the float, dancing down the parade route, drew loud cheers and applause. Leading from the front was the department’s director, Nevil Alphonso, attired in Carnival costume. He held a placard proclaiming the nutritional value of millets. “Eat nachnea bhakri (millet pancakes) to stay fit,” the placard read, and the message at once seemed to have found resonance among the spectators.
Wheat crisis: High heat in February cause of worry for critical Rabi cropedit
Down to Earth – Online
The month of February has been abnormally warm. For agriculture, it is a reminder of last year’s unusual temperatures in March and its impact on the critical Rabi crop — wheat. Scientists have already started issuing warnings. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research — Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (ICAR-IIWBR) issued an advisory on February 17, 2023, asking farmers to inspect their crops for yellow rust disease, which is a result of high temperatures. India Meteorological Department (IMD) late February 20 issued another advisory on the impact of higher day temperatures on wheat and other standing crops in the north Indian states.
Govt. Policies
Fourth agriculture roadmap to be ready by March-end: Bihar CM Nitish Kumaredit
The Times of India – Online
CM Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that the state’s fourth agriculture roadmap will be ready by the end of March this year and the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will be invited to launch it. Addressing a gathering of over 5,000 farmers at ‘Kisan Samagam’ organized at Bapu Sabhagar here, he said, “The officials have assured to finalize the fourth agriculture roadmap by March 31. We invite the President of India for launching every agriculture roadmap. This year too, we will invite the President of India to launch our fourth agriculture roadmap.”
Paddy in India
Govt’s paddy procurement crosses 700 lakh tonne mark in current yearedit
The Economic Times – Online
The government’s paddy procurement has crossed the 700 lakh tonne mark in the ongoing 2022-23 kharif marketing season so far, according to the Food Ministry. The government aims to procure 765.43 lakh tonnes of paddy in the 2022-23 kharif marketing season (October-September). The actual procurement stood at a record 749 lakh tonnes in the previous kharif marketing season. The paddy procurement is undertaken by both state-owned Food Corporation of India (FCI) and private agencies. The paddy is procured at the minimum support price (MSP) directly from the farmers and is utilised for meeting the demand under several welfare schemes.