Media Monitor
| Category | Stories |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Industry | 46 |
| Budget | 5 |
| CLAAS Global Mentions | 2 |
| Competition | 5 |
| Dairy Farming | 1 |
| Events | 2 |
| Technology in Agriculture | 3 |
| Govt. Policies | 11 |
| Monsoon + Indian Agriculture | 6 |
| Paddy in India | 12 |
| Stubble Burning | 4 |
| Tractor industry | 2 |
| Uncategorized | 4 |
Agriculture Industry
PAU technique stands tall in the face of adversity, organises field dayedit
The Indian Express – Online
At a time when thousands of farmers faced heavy lodging (flattening) of the wheat crop on around 4-lakh hectares due to heavy rain – which was coupled with hailstorms and cyclonic winds – in the state recently, some farmers were less affected by the harsh weather as their crops stood tall, literally, withstanding the onslaught of Nature’s fury, thanks to the “surface seeding technique” of wheat sowing recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. Lodging is the permanent displacement of crop stems from their vertical position. When the crop falls over, it does not return to standing position.
G20 Delegates Discuss Food Security & Sustainable Farming at Second Agricultural Deputies Meeting in Chandigarhedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The three-day second Agricultural Deputies Meeting of the Agricultural Working Group (AWG) is all set to begin from today and will see the participation of delegates from 19 member countries, 10 invited countries, and 10 international organizations. The highlights of the program are the following: Apart from the discussions, delegates will also get to experience the rich cultural heritage of Chandigarh. At Rock Garden, they will be treated to the millet food festival, taken for an excursion to Sukhna Lake, followed by dinner and a visit to Yadav Indra Gardens in Pinjore.
G-20 Agriculture Deputies’ 2nd meeting in Chandigarh from Wededit
The Week – Online
The second meeting of Agriculture Deputies under India’s G20 presidency will be held here on Wednesday to discuss issues concerning sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition. The event will see the participation of delegates from 19 member countries, 10 invited countries and 10 international organizations. Speaking with reporters here on Tuesday, Ritesh Chauhan, joint secretary, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, said it will be the second meeting of the agricultural deputies of the agricultural working group. The first meeting was held in Indore in February, he said. “It is an important platform for countries to come together and discuss ways to ensure sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition. We …look ...
India’s agritech sector: The current scenario, trends, and budget implicationsedit
The Times of India – Online
As of 2022, India’s population stood at 1.417 billion. The country is projected to become the most populous by 2030, home to more than 1.5 billion people. The growing population means there is now a far greater need for resources than ever before, and one of the most important resources is food. While India is an agrarian economy at its core, with over half of its population engaged in agricultural activities, there are some challenges the agriculture sector has faced for a long time. These include unsustainable practices, lack of tech penetration, limited market access, and, most recently, the threat of insufficient food for ...
How falling farm incomes impact India’s economyedit
Mint – Online
After a period of robust crop prices, farm incomes are likely to take a hit in 2023 following a glut in perishable prices and damage wreaked by unseasonal rains. Coupled with stagnant rural wages, this could delay the recovery in consumption. Mint explains: What’s happening with farm incomes? In 2022, following the Ukraine war, the prices of most agricultural commodities shot up. Now, except for cereals, farm gate prices have softened. Most varieties of pulses and oilseeds are now selling at lower than the minimum support price (MSP). In January and February, prices of perishables like tomatoes, onions and potatoes crashed owing to a supply glut during harvest. Farmers were forced to sell at less than ...
Haryana: February heat & untimely March showers hit crops, say farmers, seek compensationedit
The Times of India – Online
The total yield of wheat and other crops sown in winter might fall behind the target due to untimely showers, along with gusty wind and hail pellets, in March on the heels of an unusually hot February this year, said farmers, claiming the inclement weather conditions have destroyed most of their crops. While the estimated target this year was 112 MMT of wheat, the farmers claimed the March showers flattened nearly 30-40% of their standing crops just before harvest season.
Govt hikes raw jute MSP by Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintaledit
The Economic Times – Online
The government on Friday increased the minimum support price of raw jute by Rs 300 to Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season. The decision was taken at the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP),” I&B Minister Anurag Thakur told reporters. The MSP of Raw Jute (TD-3 equivalent to earlier TD-5 grade) has been fixed at Rs 5,050 per quintal for 2023-24 season.
How India Can Refine Policies To Manage Water Pollution From Agriculture and Livestock Wasteedit
The Wire – Online
It is challenging to quantify and manage non-point sources of water pollution – pollution that does not come from industrial and sewage treatment plants – due to their fuzzy flow, uncertain distribution area and variable pollution load. In rural India, livestock waste, on-site sanitation systems, and agricultural runoff are major contributors. The dry and wet weather flows carry and infiltrate contaminants from these sources and contaminate groundwater and surface water resources. Numerous studies have reported nitrate and faecal contamination above WHO drinking water standards in groundwater and surface water sources in rural and peri-urban India.
Cotton farmers hope for price rise as harvest season picks up paceedit
The New Indian Express – Online
With the cotton harvest picking up pace in the district, the farmers hope that the crop price will surge in the coming weeks. At present, cotton is sold for an average of Rs 65 per kg, while the same season last year witnessed the price rise up to Rs 103 per kg. Being the most widely cultivated crop in the district after paddy and chilli, cotton was cultivated on about 8,800 hectares this year. Usually, cotton is cultivated in two seasons; the first season starts in January-February and lasts till April. Agriculture officials said the acreage for cotton cultivation soared this year owing to the high prices the crop fetched last year. The ...
Worker incomes in India are still signalling tough circumstancesedit
Mint – Online
Most recent estimates of national income present a mixed picture of our post-pandemic recovery. Economic growth in 2022-23 is expected at 7% with gross value added seen rising 6.6%. However, a sectoral break-up of the data suggests unevenness. Manufacturing is expected to increase by only 0.6%. What should also worry us is that this sector has seen a contraction for the second consecutive quarter. Data also suggests weakening in key drivers of demand, such as private consumption and exports. Therefore, any exuberance based on India’s aggregate GDP data may be misplaced. This is also because our GDP data has shown significant fluctuations in provisional estimates compared to final estimates.
Bihar Agriculture University develops two products for reducing farming costedit
The Times of India – Online
The researchers of Bihar Agriculture University (BAU) at Sabour in Bhagalpur have invented two other innovative products for reducing farming cost substantially. The BAU has applied for patent for the two products – ‘Nano Phosphorus’ and ‘Hydro Gel’ – soon. The products increase the soil health and water availability in arid zones. Only recently, the BAU received first ever patent for ‘Multi-Nutrient Nanoclay Polymer Composite (MNCPn iC) and its procedure for the synthesis of the same product from the Controller General of Patients, Designs and Trade Marks, Government of India.
Rabi crops like wheat not much impacted by untimely rains, hail: Agriculture Ministeredit
Zee Business – Online
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said there is not much impact on standing rabi crops like wheat due to the current untimely rains and hailstorm, as per preliminary report. “There is not much impact on rabi crops as per the preliminary assessment. We are yet to receive a ground report from the state governments,” Tomar told PTI on the sidelines of an event. Wheat is the main rabi crop, harvesting of which is underway in some states. Mustard and chickpea are other major rabi crops. For the last three days, many parts of the country received unseasonal rains, hail and gusty winds brought about by Western disturbance.
Better attention by agriculture extension officers on villages raises farmers’ hopesedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Farmers in the delta region welcomed Tuesday’s budget announcement on allocation of fewer villages per agriculture extension officers, as they believed this would increase the latter’s visits to each village to advise them on various aspects, including schemes and saving crops from pests and diseases. Minister for Agriculture MRK Panneerselvam while presenting the budget announced the ‘Uzhavar Aluvalar Thodarbu Thittam-2.0’ (UATT) (farmer-official interacting scheme). Currently, an assistant agriculture officer is allocated eight to 10 panchayats and one horticulture officer 10 to 15 panchayats for providing extension services to farmers like providing department-related information and implementing the schemes. As such the officers can visit the respective village panchayats only once in a fortnight.
G20 Agriculture Working Group delegates to visit Haryana on March 31edit
Business Standard – Online
Delegates of the G20 second Agriculture Working Group will visit Haryana to interact with state officers on March 31, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal said on Wednesday. He said the delegates would be apprised of milestones achieved by the state, especially in the field of agriculture. He also reviewed preparations for the visit of the delegation with state functionalities. According to Kaushal, 100 delegates of the G20 Agriculture Working Group will visit the historical Yadavindra Gardens, which was created in the 17th century by architect Nawab Fidai Khan.
India to harvest record mustard crop in 2022-23, finds SEA’s crop surveyedit
The Economic Times – Online
India is heading for a record Rapeseed-Mustard crop of 115.25 lakh tones in 2022-23 as remunerative prices in the past year encourage record plantings of the oilseed. Conducive weather in most parts of the mustard growing states also aided the highest-ever production, said Solvent Extractor’s Association (SEA) in a release. SEA said that it had carried out a crop survey earlier this month.
Central govt determined to double farmers’ income: Amit Shah in Gujaratedit
The Print – Online
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah on Sunday said that the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined not only to double the income of the farmers but also to increase its manifold in the next 10 years. Amit Shah laid the foundation stone of District Bank Headquarters and inaugurated Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) ‘Kisan Bhavan’ at Krishi Shivir in Junagadh, Gujarat today, informed the government through a release. He said that the Union Cabinet under the leadership of PM Modi has recently taken an important decision and established three national level Multi-State Cooperative Societies.
Pension scheme, crop insurance firm among key demands of TN farmersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Farmers and those working in allied sectors are eagerly awaiting the agriculture budget for 2023 from the Tamil Nadu government. The expectations of farmers are wide-ranging, from a hike in procurement price for paddy and sugarcane as promised in the DMK election manifesto, to a pension scheme for farmers after 60 years of age, and the formation of an exclusive authority for producing and distributing fertilizers. The state government has conducted meetings of all stakeholders in many places across the state and received hundreds of suggestions and demands to be included in the ensuing agriculture budget.
Crop-neutral income support programme can give agriculture a sustainable boostedit
Moneycontrol – Online
To raise the income of farmers, successive Indian governments have been raising minimum support prices (MSP) and ramping up government procurement. Yet, farmers are not happy as profit margins from farming have been declining, even though the government subsidies on chemical fertilisers, electricity and bank credit have steadily risen. On the other hand, steadily rising floor prices of farm produce aid food inflation and create macroeconomic complications that stifle GDP growth. Against this backdrop, a crop-neutral income support programme will incentivise farmers to cultivate crops based on market demand and local climatic conditions, leading to optimal use of inputs, irrigation water and chemical fertilisers thereby reducing the subsidy burden for the government. Therefore, it is worth ...
‘Agri resilience to weather shocks better’edit
Mint – Online
The effect of weather shocks on Indian agriculture is becoming “less and less” because irrigation now covers more farmland, while livestock and fisheries occupy a bigger space in the rural economy, NITI Aayog member Prof Ramesh Chand said. In an interview, Chand also said a faster post-covid bounce-back in the urban economy gives the impression that rural incomes and consumption are lagging behind, arguing that one should not read too much into perceived rural weaknesses. Chand’s remarks about the “resilience” of rural India follow warnings of summer temperatures soaring 2-3 degree celsius higher than normal and El Nino effects disrupting rainfall.
G20 exhibition has a lot to offer farmers of Punjabedit
The Indian Express – Online
The exhibition at Khalsa College Ground, Amritsar, as a part of the G20 Summit had a lot to offer its visitors, especially the farmers, on Wednesday in terms of how to reduce agro-pollution, how to increase farm production and other solutions related to farming. The canopy of Gurdaspur-based Agro Stubble Management is made of drop ceiling tiles which are yet to be launched in the market. Made from paddy stubble, these tiles are still under testing. Company director Parminder Singh is excited to launch the product aimed at reducing stubble burning in the next six months.
Madhya Pradesh: Training conducted to attract rural youth towards agriculture in Dharedit
Free Press Journal – Online
In order to create interest and confidence among rural youth in agriculture, a seven-day training programme was organised at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Dhar under Attracting and Retaining of Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) project. Awareness and skill enhancement was done to the rural youths through training and practical studies under the technical guidance of Dr KP Asati, principal scientist and head, KVK, Dhar. Training in-charge agricultural scientist Dr GS Gathiye said that Dhar district is a tribal-dominated area, where there is a lot of potential for non-timber forest products like Mahua, Khirni, Neem, Sitaphal, Palas, Tendupatta, Chironji, Vilayati Imli, etc. In order to attract ...
How to climate-proof the agriculture sectoredit
Hindustan Times – Online
A spell of spring heat in northern India has once again put the spotlight on the climate crisis and the vulnerability of our food security and livelihoods to climate risks. Last year also, episodes of prolonged and unusually intense heat in February-April impacted wheat production. For now, day temperatures are higher than average, but night temperatures are still within a favourable range. Thunderstorms and rainfall in some states have helped. Therefore, as things stand, wheat production is unlikely to be significantly affected, but if the temperatures soar later this month, we could suffer considerable losses. Such risks are only likely to rise due to the increasing intensity, frequency and duration of climate extremes.
Wheat production for 2022-23 estimated at 112 million tonnesedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
As per Second Advance Estimates for the agriculture year 2022-23, the Wheat production in the country is estimated at 112.18 million tonnes which is higher by 4.44 million tonnes than the production achieved during 2021-22. The details of State-wise absolute increase/decrease in wheat sowing area in the current year i.e. 2022-23 (2nd Advance Estimates) over the last five years (2017-18 to 2021-22) average is given in the table below. At present, there is no proposal for lifting the restriction on the export of wheat before the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) as confirmed by Union Agriculture Minister Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.
Agriculture Ministry returned ‘unutilised’ Rs 44,000 crore in 3 yearsedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
The Agriculture Ministry’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, which couldn’t use its budget entirely over the previous three years, returned Rs. 44,015.81 crore. In a report presented to the Lok Sabha on Monday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee stated that the reason for the funds’ surrender was mostly due to lower requirements under the NES (Northeastern States), SCSP (Schedule Caste Sub-Plan), and Tribal Area Sub-Plan (TASP) Components. In order to ensure that the tangible advantages of the schemes are effectively distributed to the populace, the Committee advised against the practise of fund surrender. The Committee requested that the department analyse the factors that contribute to fund surrender and take action to make sure that the ...
Strong Infrastructure In The State For Research On Milletsedit
Republic World – Online
Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot said that it is our top priority to implement schemes for the all-round development of farmers. The State Government has played its important role in the welfare of the farmers and development of agriculture sector. Rajasthan took a historic initiative in the entire country by presenting separate agriculture budget twice in the assembly. As the result of this, along with farmers, start-ups and entrepreneurs have got opportunities to move ahead. He said that it is our duty to give due respect to farmers and cattle-rearers.
India exports wheat worth Rs 11,728.36 crore during Apr-Jan of this fiscal: Govermentedit
The Economic Times – Online
The country has exported wheat worth Rs 11,728.36 crore during the April-January period of this fiscal year, the government said on Tuesday. In May last year, the government had banned exports of wheat to boost domestic availability and control prices In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said, “At present, there is no proposal for lifting restriction on export of wheat before the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare”. “During the current fiscal year (up to January 2023), Rs 11,728.36 crore worth of wheat has been exported,” he added.
Government to procure 1.5 MT of mustard as prices fall below MSPedit
The Financial Express – Online
With mandi prices of mustard falling below the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 5,450/quintal after staying far above the threshold for over two years, the government has decided to procure 1.5 million tonne (MT) of the oilseed from farmers in Rajasthan, the biggest producer in the country. Sources said the Rajasthan state co-operative marketing federation (Rajfed) is likely to procure mustard at MSP from April 1 under the price support scheme for oilseeds of the agriculture ministry. The procurement will be carried out after a gap of two years. In 2020, against a target of 1 MT, Rajfed purchased 0.34 MT of ...
Too early to speak on impact of high temp on wheat crop: Agriculture Minedit
Business Standard – Online
Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday said there has not been any effect seen so far on wheat crop due to high temperatures and it will be too early to say about the likely impact. On whether there has been any adverse impact seen in wheat crop as harvesting has started in some states like Madhya Pradesh, Tomar said, “Weather-related challenges are always there in front of agriculture.” “Lekin main samjhta hoon ki abhi koi aisi stithi nahi hai. Koi prabhav pada hai, aisa kahna jaldbazi hogi (But I think, there is no such situation as of now. It will be too early to say that there has been any impact),” the minister ...
How temperature forecast can cut losses for farmersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Lalchand Yadav (62) a wheat grower from the Alwar district of Rajasthan, is a worried man. He owns over 4 hectares of land and has sown wheat and mustard this year. The high market price of wheat and good rainfall in October-November last year motivated him to increase wheat acreage. But things didn’t go as well as his expectations. “The untimely heat in February month has affected our crops – both quality and quantity,” said Yadav to this newspaper. Confused and worried, Yadav said that if he had a little idea of the high temperatures in February, he would have recalibrated his irrigation schedule differently. Another farmer Man Singh (36) from Gujarpurkhurd village ...
How the international year of millet could bring nutrition security and propel Indian millets into the world marketedit
ET Hospitality – Online
The year 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets by the United Nations. This move comes following a proposal by India, following Prime Minister’s Narendra Modi’s aim to make IYM 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ and to position India as the global hub for millets. One of the first steps to this movement was in April 2018, when the government launched the National Year of Millets and rebranded the grain as a ‘Nutri Cereal’. The intention was to generate more consumption, and therefore more demand in the country.
Avoid Sowing Moong in Cotton Belt to Prevent White Fly Attack: Advices Agriculture Departmentedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The government has reportedly decided not to buy the summer moong crop in Fazilka and other districts in Punjab because as per the reports, approximately more than 80 percent of the moong that reached the market was bought below the MSP last year in Punjab. The government has decided to discourage farmers from sowing moong in cotton belt districts of Punjab on request that the cultivation of moong is resulting in white fly attacks which also attacked the standing cotton crop and further result in damage to the crops. Swaran Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) said that white fly attacks are eventually leading to the leaf curl disease and resulting in the low yield of ...
Agriculture Ministry couldn’t use, surrendered Rs 44,000 crore in 3 yearsedit
The Indian Express – Online
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, which comes under the Agriculture Ministry, surrendered Rs 44,015.81 crore of its budget during the last three years, as it could not fully utilise its allocation, according to a Parliamentary Standing Committee report tabled in Lok Sabha on Monday. In its report on Demand for Grants (2023-24) of the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing, headed by P C Gaddigoudar, asked the government to “avoid” the “practice” of surrender of funds.
Farmers of Punjab’s ‘climate-smart villages’ geared up to protect wheat from heat stressedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Several farmers in Punjab’s climate-smart villages are confident of a bumper crop even as bulk of the farmers are apprehensive of a drop in production due to heat stress this season for the second consecutive year. Standing in his 22-acre field with wheat in the final ripening phase, Baramjit Singh expresses confidence in a bumper crop even as farmers are apprehensive of a drop in production due to heat stress this season for the second consecutive year.Singh says he has been following farm practices told by the experts under NICRA (National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture) project at his climate-smart village to combat the threat of heatwaves on the crops.
Ban on broken rice exports likely to affect Telanganaedit
Telangana Today – Online
The Centre’s decision to levy 20 percent duty on raw rice exports and ban export of broken rice has put paddy farmers and millers from Telangana in a tricky position. Though the Centre is claiming that the decision was taken to discourage rice exports and ensure availability of adequate stocks domestically, it is likely to have an adverse impact on farmers and millers, especially in Telangana, where a huge quantity of broken rice is expected during the Yasangi (Rabi) crop season. Paddy is being cultivated in a record 55 lakh acres in Telangana during this Yasangi season, which expected to result in an yield of 1.5 crore ...
El Nino phenomenon may impact agriculture sector in India this yearedit
Business Standard – Online
The El Nino phenomenon, which occurs normally after every three to five years, may impact the weather in India this year, thus affecting the agriculture sector. Monsoon rains are impacted the most by the El Nino phenomenon. And as rains are essential for agricultural activities, El Nino is likely to cause worry to India, said an agriculture scientist, requesting anonymity. However at the same time there is a divergent view on this. According to P.K. Joshi, former director (South Asia) of International Food Policy Research Institute, even if there are deficient rains owing to the El Nino effect this year, surplus rainfall areas, especially southern ...
FCI sells 3 MT wheat since February 1edit
The Financial Express – Online
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Thursday sold 5,40,000 tonne of wheat to private bulk buyers such as flour millers and food companies through its fifth e-auction in the current season, taking the total grain sold in open market this year to 2.84 MT. More than 1,000 bidders across 23 states participated in the e-auction and the average price of wheat realised by the FCI has been Rs 2,196/quintal against the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 2,125/quintal fixed for the next procurement season (2023-24) beginning on April 1.
TN farmers meet Odisha Agriculture Minister, seek supportedit
The New Indian Express – Online
A delegation of Tamil Nadu All Farmers Organisation Coordination Committee led by its leader PR Pandian on Thursday met Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment minister Ranendra Pratap Swain at Krushi Bhawan here. The members of the delegation discussed problems confronting the farming community across the country. The delegation is on a journey from Kanyakumari to New Delhi demanding fulfilment of promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during farmers’ protest in 2020. It held wide-ranging discussion on farmers issues with Swain seeking the support of the state government to its demands.
Rural consumption on a decline as farmers’ income continues to remain under stress: Motilal Oswaledit
Business Insider India – Online
An analysis of 12 proxy indicators suggests that rural spending grew 5.3% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) in the first 9 months of FYterms23 versus 0.6% YoY in the first nine months of FY22, according to Motilal Oswal’s EcoScope report. However, rural consumption grew only 4.6% YoY in Q3 FY23 after rising 6.5% and 5.5% in Q1 and Q2 FY23, respectively. Some of the proxy indicators include real agri wages, tractor sales, fertiliser sales and agri export, among others. The slowdown in rural consumption in Q3 FY23 was primarily led by a four-quarter-low growth in real agriculture Gross value added (GVA), a continued fall in non-agricultural wages, and a sharp slowdown (nine-quarter-low growth) in two-wheeler sales, the ...
Seed-rich tribal farmers preserve rare millet treasureedit
The Times of India – Online
While the world celebrates International Year of Millet, the humble flat bread made of the flour of only single largely accepted millet, wheat, is a staple in Indian household irrespective of regional diets. However, there a few green tribal crusaders who have understood the value of millets much in advance and have amassed it in bulk in their own seed banks. Meet Kishore Gavit and Krishna Gavit who acknowledged the importance of variety of food grains and have each collected more than 500 seeds of various food grains, a majority of which comprise millets. This saving is a zealous effort of around two decades for which the duo also has travelled across the ...
Centre fixes wheat procurement target at 34.15 million tonnes for 2023-24edit
Business Standard – Online
The government has fixed a wheat procurement target of 34.15 million tonnes for the 2023-24 marketing year starting April, higher than 18.79 million tonnes purchased in the previous year. The target was fixed in the meeting of state food secretaries held alongside state food ministers’ conference here to discuss procurement arrangements. The meeting was chaired by Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra. Out of the total wheat procurement target for the 2022-23 marketing year (April-March), Punjab will aim to procure 2.5 million tonnes wheat, Haryana 1.5 million tonnes and Madhya Pradrsh 2 million tonnes, the food ministry said in a statement. Wheat procurement had declined last year due to a fall in domestic production and higher exports. ...
Amid chances of heatwave, govt says wheat crop conditions are normaledit
The Print – Online
Conditions of wheat crops in major growing states in India are normal as of date, said the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on Thursday. A meeting of the committee constituted by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) to monitor the situation of wheat crops was held recently at ICAR – Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research, Karnal. The wheat crop condition was presented and discussed in detail by the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, which account for more than 85 per cent of wheat acreage in the country.
Sizzling heat wave puts India’s farm sector and economy at riskedit
Hindustan Times – Online
India’s thriving farm sector — the only bright spot in its slowing economy — has become a hostage to warnings of a heat wave, muddling the outlook for policy makers already grappling with sticky inflation. The nation’s economic growth unexpectedly slowed to a three-quarter low of 4.4% in three months to December, data showed Tuesday. The weather office’s prediction of a hotter summer compounded the concerns, throwing a fresh challenge before the central bank that’s already struggling to keep a lid on prices. “If these weather forecasts do play out then I would think the farm sector output will certainly get affected,” Radhika Rao, senior economist at DBS Bank Ltd, said in an interview to ...
Karnataka Govt Seeks Rs 197 Crore to Research & Control Yellow Leaf Disease in Arecanut Cropedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Arecanut, also known as betel nut, is an important cash crop in Karnataka and provides livelihood to around 50 lakh people in the state. The disease outbreak has caused significant damage to the crops and has resulted in farmers taking extreme measures such as committing suicide due to financial losses. The situation highlights the urgent need for scientific research and effective measures to prevent and control plant diseases. The expert committee set up by the Union Ministry of Agriculture that visited the disease-hit areas in the state has suggested that in-depth research is required to control the yellow leaf disease. This indicates the complexity and severity of the issue and the need for long-term solutions ...
Mustard prices tumble under weight of heavy arrivals, cheap imported oiledit
Business Standard – Online
Mustard seed prices are tumbling down under the weight of a bumper harvest and availability of cheap imported edible oils thus putting growers under stress just when the new crop is being harvested. To stem the free fall, the Central government recently abolished the zero tariff import of two million tons for sunflower oil which it had permitted during the Russia-Ukraine crisis, but trade sources feel that it isn’t enough. Earlier, a similar zero duty quota on import of refined soybean oil was also abolished. Data sourced from various agencies show that mustard seed prices in the benchmark Jaipur market in Rajasthan has dropped by almost 10 per cent in the last one month starting ...
Farm sector to grow 3.7% in Oct-Dec on kharif output: 2nd advance estimatesedit
Business Standard – Online
The Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture and allied activities is projected to clock its best growth in FY23 during the October-to-December quarter, at 3.7 per cent, on the back of a strong kharif harvest, according to the second advance estimates of national income. In the third quarter of FY22, GVA in the sector was 2.3 per cent at constant prices. At current prices, the growth in the third quarter of this financial year is projected at 8.6 per cent, which is almost at the same level in the corresponding quarter of FY22. This translates into an inflation impact of 4.9 per cent, the lowest in FY23. The inflation impact came down in the third ...
Sort out power issues: Odisha farmers demand free electricity for agricultureedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Hundreds of farmers under the banner of ‘Jay Kisan Andolan’ on Monday took out a rally and held a meeting in front of the tehsildar’s office at Sohela in Bargarh district demanding free electricity for agriculture. In a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik through Sohela tehsildar Hari Om Bhoi, the farmers demanded the government waive off the pending electricity bills, ensure uninterrupted power supply, resolve low-voltage issues and take steps for repair of transformers within 24 hours after they go defunct. General secretary of ‘Jay Kisan Andolan’ Hari Bania said in the absence of irrigation facility, the farmers in the state have no other option but to rely on deep bore ...
Budget
TN promises ₹14k-cr crop loans to farmers in agriculture budgetedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Several long-term schemes implemented during 2021-22 after the DMK formed the government in May 2021 has resulted in 193,000 hectare of additional land being brought under agriculture resulting in a crop coverage of 6.348 million hectare, said Panneerselvam The Tamil Nadu government will provide cooperative crop loans of ₹14,000 crore to farmers in the state during 2023-24 and interest-free cooperative loan of ₹1,500 crore for goat rearing, dairying, poultry and fisheries, agriculture minister M R K Panneerselvam said on Tuesday while presenting the budget exclusively for the agriculture department in the assembly.
Agriculture policy: Punjab govt open to ideas till March endedit
The Times of India – Online
The Punjab government has sought suggestions from the general public for the new agricultural policy being drafted to chalk out a roadmap for making farming a more profitable vocation. Agriculture minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the policy would suggest ways to make farmers debt-free and teach them innovative techniques. For feedback, an interaction was organised with farmers, which was chaired by the chief minister, he said. The government had sought suggestions from the general public, especially the farmers, FPO groups, self-help groups, kisan associations and agro-industrial associations till March 31, to include the feedback in the agricultural policy, he said.
TN: Ahead of Budget Session Agri Workers Hold Protests, Demand Minimum Wageedit
News Click – Online
To address the issues of agriculture workers, AIAWU has demanded a separate department under the state. The All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) held protest demonstrations in front of district collectorate offices across Tamil Nadu on March 16. They demanded a separate department to be set up for agricultural workers in the state. “There are departments for various sections of society, but there is no space to raise the issues of agriculture workers. So we demand a separate department,” V Amirthalingam, Tamil Nadu secretary, AIAWU told NewsClick.
Punjab Budget 2023: No new tax, focus on education, health, agricultureedit
The Statesman – Online
No new tax was imposed in Punjab government’s Rs 1.96 lakh crore budget for 2023-24. The budget was presented in the state assembly on Friday Presenting the first full budget of the Aam Aadmi Party Government which came to power last year with a thumping majority, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said education, health, and agriculture are among the priority sectors for the government. “Total Budget size has been increased by 26 per cent to Rs 1,96,462 crore for 2023-24 over the previous year,” the minister said.
Punjab Budget: AAP govt proposes over Rs 13,000 crore for agri welfare, Rs 350 crore for stubble managementedit
CNBC TV18 – Online
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema proposed Rs 13,888 crore for agriculture and farmers in the state budget on Friday. Rs 350 crore was allotted for stubble management in the state in a bid to combat air pollution caused by stubble burning. The Rs 1,96,462-crore state budget is the first full budget under the Aam Aadmi Party government which was elected in March 2022. The budget includes provisions for free power to households, assistance to the horticulture sector and investments in technical and medical institutes.
CLAAS Global Mentions
Claas Appoints Jan-Hendrik Mohr as New CEOedit
Farm Equipment – Online
The Claas Group Shareholders’ Committee has appointed Jan-Hendrik Mohr as the new CEO effective April 1, 2023. The outgoing CEO, Thomas Böck, has decided to step down as CEO of the Claas Group to pursue new endeavors. While the Shareholders and Group Executive Board have acknowledged Böck’s decision, they were excited to be able to find an experienced successor in Jan-Hendrik Mohr. Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of the Claas Group, had this to say about the new appointment. “Jan-Hendrik Mohr is highly respected at Claas and in our industry. He knows Claas like no one else and has proven his worth. He shaped the company during his many years in various management ...
How European Businesses Survived the Ukraine War and Last Year’s Energy Shockedit
The Wall Street Journal – Online
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin was counting on soaring energy prices and falling confidence to sink European companies, undermining the West’s support for Kyiv. One year on, many European companies have overcome the blow after slashing energy use and pivoting to a friendly and booming U.S. market. Such resilience has helped shore up political and popular support in Europe for Ukraine. Nowhere has the dynamic surprised as much as in Germany, a hub for energy-hungry manufacturers that had long relied on cheap supplies of Russian natural gas. Not only have German companies avoided the crash many economists predicted, but Berlin has also turned from relatively Kremlin-friendly into Kyiv’s third-biggest arms ...
Competition
New Holland Agriculture at World Biogas Expo 2023 in Birminghamedit
Krishi Jagat – Online
New Holland Agriculture is about to return to the World Biogas Expo 2023 in Birmingham, the World leading Global Trade Show dedicated to Anaerobic Digestion (AD) and Biogas. The brand participated in the event in 2019, focusing on the Alternative Fuels concept, then again in 2022 with the production of the T6 Methane Power Tractor. This year, New Holland will return to the Expo together with Bennamann, the UK-based expert in solutions to capture, repurpose and store fugitive methane emissions from manure slurry lagoons for energy use. New Holland’s relationship with Bennamann started five years ago and recently CNH Industrial announced a further investment in the company, taking a majority stake.
Pune: New Holland Agriculture launches mobile medical dispensary in city, surrounding villagesedit
Free Press Journal – Online
New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, has launched a mobile medical dispensary (MMD) in Pune and surrounding villages as a part of a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. The dispensary will provide basic healthcare services to people in need within a 35-40 kilometer radius of Pune. Through this initiative, the brand aims to provide benefits to over 15,000 individuals each year. Operated by Medihelp Foundation, the MMD will offer point-of-care diagnostics, including blood glucose testing. Screening for hypertension and diabetes are also part of the offering. Follow-up checks will be given on a fortnightly basis. Additionally, the MMD will also provide medical ...
New Holland Agriculture opens hi-tech training facility in in Greater Noidaedit
ET Auto – Online
New Holland Agriculture, a brand of CNH Industrial, has opened a new training centre in Greater Noida to enhance the technical skills of employees, dealer teams and customers. The centre offers technical and commercial training for tractors, harvesters, and balers. Currently, it has a capacity to train 75 individuals at a time and will be soon increased to 90 trainees in the coming months, for various training programmes, the company said in a media release. The knowledge centre is equipped with a virtual reality (VR) space with the latest technology to train operators, as opposed to more traditional in field training, to provide a safe learning environment especially for new operators.
Tractor running entirely on Cow manure launched by Italy-based companyedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The New Holland T6 is as powerful as a diesel tractor, but it’s fueled with liquified methane. Its 49-gallon tank spews 62% less nitrous oxide and up to 15% less carbon dioxide, all while running indefinitely on the manure of roughly 75 cows. Trenance Farm sits at the extreme southwest spit of England, six hours from London and a kicked clod from the Celtic Sea. It’s a dairy farm whose owners, Kevin and Kate Hoare, still milk their cows by hand — 120 bovines, twice a day. But the Hoares are also working with some of the most vanguard climate technology on the planet.
Mahindra partners State Bank of India for tractor and farm machinery financingedit
The Financial Express – Online
Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector, the world’s largest tractor manufacturer by volume, has tied up with the State Bank of India (SBI) to provide easy loan options for its tractors and farm machinery products across India. Customers can visit the nearest Mahindra Tractor dealership to avail of financing options on its range of tractors and farm machinery or visit the nearest SBI branch to initiate the application process. Hemant Sikka, President – Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “Financing is crucial to ensuring that farmers are able to choose the right farm equipment for smooth running of their operations, and at ...
Dairy Farming
India needs to find foreign market for large amount of milk it is producingedit
Business Standard – Online
NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand on Thursday said India will have to find market for milk in foreign countries as its production is growing by six per cent every year. Speaking at the 49th Dairy Industry Conference and Expo here organised by Indian Dairy Association (IDA), Chand said there is a need to make supply chains to foreign nations, in a way that has been done in the country. At one time we were producing less milk than the US. Today, we produce double the milk than what the US produces. Earlier in 1960s our milk production growth rate was around 1 ...
Events
Krishi Sanyantra Concludes with Focus on Empowering Farmers with Technologyedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The three-day event “Krishi Sanyantra Mela” was held in the Kuruda Field, Balasore district of Odisha from March 25 to March 27, 2023, where a large pool of farmers participated and received information related to agriculture including the new technologies. Farmers, agricultural engineers, agricultural scientists, and agriculture officials from different parts of the state, especially from different places in Balasore, participated in this event to explore the latest agricultural technology and equipment. In today’s event, the agriculture and allied sectors of Odisha were encouraged along with the expansion of the agricultural sector of the Balasore district.
India’s startup ecosystem shines at grand dairying conclaveedit
The New Indian Express – Online
‘Dung Se Labs’, a material design innovation startup based in Gujarat, showcased its innovation — acoustic dung panels — that use cattle dung to reduce noise in office spaces at the “Grand Startup Conclave on Animal Husbandry and Dairy” held at the Marriott Convention Centre on Tuesday. Sonika Pulluru, a representative of the startup, told TNIE that the acoustic panels can absorb noise, helping reduce it in a corporate or institutional setup. The startup also showcased its dungplastic and dungwood panels. Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala, the chief guest at the event, was all praise for ‘Organiko,’ a startup based in Noida, which sells a variety of beauty ...
Technology in Agriculture
How agriculture and technology are complimenting each other for better prospectsedit
The Times of India – Online
The world is fast becoming a digital ecosystem with transformations penetrating every sphere of human endeavor. In fact, experts warn that organizations and sectors that fail to digitally transform in the coming years may be left to settle for the crumbs that fall off the table of commercial boom in the future. In India, one sector that has enjoyed technology penetration and some level of adoption is agriculture. The last decade has ushered in massive innovation that is leading to the transformation of the sector. India’s agricultural sector has come of age, growing exponentially in recent years to become an important global player.
Digital transformation: Supercharging the Indian economy and powering an Aatmanirbhar Bharatedit
The Economic Times – Online
The digital revolution is well underway in India, and the country is rapidly establishing itself as a major player in the digital economy, with the IT and digital industries at the forefront of enabling seamless digitalization. The industry has grown significantly as a result of the transition from legacy to new-age digitized processes. Over the years, the Indian IT industry has pushed its boundaries and accomplished incredible feats. It has grown at a CAGR of more than 15% from $196 billion to over $225 billion in FY22. If current growth rates continue, the IT industry will be worth approximately $394 billion by 2027.
The Right Farm for Agri-Tech Sector in Indiaedit
Times Tech – Online
Agri-Tech Industry is still in a stage of finding the right farm. Technology is evolving with integrated services and products shaping at a rapid pace. Agri-Tech startups and companies(which are few) are in a fumble of understanding this sector raising a technology-front approach. Though all in this sector is not vehemently distorted or not promising. The ecosystem and sector is getting larger with last counted number of 1,400(thousand) startups already instrumental in this space. The states of Karnataka and Maharashtra and the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) are major hubs for agri-startups in India. From reducing wastage to creating better supply chain, and if not that’s enough, increasing crop quality and productivity, in 2023 Agri-Tech ...
Govt. Policies
‘Panel to find how to wean farmers away from paddy’edit
The Times of India – Online
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday announced to set up a panel led by the chief secretary (CS) to suggest ways to make farmers in the state wean away from widespread sowing of water-guzzling paddy. He added to check whitefly attack on cotton, farmers in four districts would be dissuaded from opting from growing moong as it acted as a natural host for the pest. In a video message in Punjabi, Mann elaborated on the state’s roadmap to promote crop diversity by breaking the wheat-paddy monoculture. He said the CS-led committee will study the issue and take feedback from farmers before submitting a report on how to promote alternate crops.
India to launch Bio E-3 policy to attract ₹10k-cr investmentedit
Mint – Online
The Union government is working on a policy to boost biotechnology-based manufacturing for green growth, a top government official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to announce the policy shortly, Rajesh Gokhale, secretary, department of biotechnology said in an interview. The government aims to reduce dependence on petrochemicals in multiple sectors and attract over ₹10,000 crore investments through the Bio-E3 (biotechnology for environment, economy and employment) policy.
Telangana Government’s Farmer-Friendly Policies Transforming Agricultureedit
Moneycontrol – Online
Agriculture is the backbone of India’s economy, with the majority of the population depending on it for their livelihood. In Telangana, the state government’s farmer-friendly policies have transformed agriculture and brought farmers to the center stage, after years of neglect. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has been a driving force behind the state’s focus on agriculture. He envisioned how farmers can be assisted in various ways by the government, from providing financial assistance to offering advice and marketing facilities. This overall thrust given to agriculture has given farmers the confidence to engage in sustained farming. In Telangana, the farmer is king.
Yogi Adityanath government selects Ayodhya to launch this big projectedit
ET Now – Online
The Yogi Government of Uttar Pradesh has selected Ayodhya for launching the pilot project of the state government to promote production of coarse grains, including millets in the state, according to a IANS report. The state government is planning to spend about Rs 100 crore, as proposed by the agriculture department, to promote production and consumption of coarse grains in the state, according to a spokesperson. The government wants people to include coarse grains in their daily diet and it is preparing a blueprint to release grants and subsidies for setting up of processing units.
Back Centre ensures food security through transparent policy for foodgrains procurementedit
Mint – Online
The Centre is committed to ensure food security through a transparent and uniform policy for procurement of foodgrains at Minimum Support Price (MSP) by government agencies across the country, it stated on Thursday. The Centre has fixed an estimate of 34.2 million tonnes (MT) wheat procurement through Food Corporation of India (FCI) for 2023-24 rabi marketing season. The government in its second advance estimate pegged wheat production in the 2022-23 (July-June) at 112.2 million tonne against 107.7 million tonne predicted last season.
Agriculture Min ropes in Nafed for promotion of govt’s millets initiativeedit
Business Standard – Online
The Agriculture Ministry on Monday said it has roped in cooperative Nafed for promotion of the government’s millets initiative at global scale, including installation of millet vending machines and setting up of an experience centre in Delhi-NCR. Nafed, which has entered into a MoU with the ministry in this regard, will set up a millet corner in Nafed Bazaar Retail Stores, install millet vending machines across Delhi-NCR, an official statement said. It will also establish a millets’ experience centre at Delhi Haat, to promote nutritious millets and create awareness on the rich history of India through millet-based dishes. Nafed will extend marketing linkage to millets-centric startups, it added.
UP to include millets in midday meals in schools, says agriculture ministeredit
Business Standard – Online
Uttar Pradesh agriculture minister Surya Pratap Shahi has said that millets will now be included in the midday meal programme in schools and will also be made available to people through public distribution system. He said that the state government was continuously engaged in the promotion of millets cultivation, production and consumption besides increasing farmers’ income through it. “By including millets in the midday meals, we want to increase the nutrition being provided to children and also help them develop a taste for millets,” he said. The minister also said the government was also working for the betterment of soil health and that of people.
Telangana government will support farmers, assures Niranjan Reddyedit
Telangana Today – Online
Assuring that State government would extend all support to farmers, who suffered severe crop loss due to hailstorm on Thursday, Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy stressed on the need for farmer-centric crop insurance coverage. Following the instructions of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the Minister inspected rain affected fields in Marpally, Mominpet and other neighbouring areas in Vikarabad district on Friday. He was accompanied by Education Minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy, Rythu Bandhu Samithi president Palla Rajeshwar Reddy and senior officials.
Assam Govt Earns Rs 1.51 cr from Agricultural Project in Gorukhuti Eviction Siteedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
In response to a question from Congress MLA Abdur Rahim Ahmed, Agriculture Minister Atul Bora stated that Rs 6.5 crore has been set aside for the Gorukhuti Multipurpose Agriculture Project in 2022-23. He added that of the sanctioned amount, Rs 5 crore was released and Rs 3 crore was spent during the current fiscal year. Previously, the Assam government allocated Rs 9.6 crore in the 2021-22 budget for the implementation of modern farming techniques and scientific animal rearing practises on 77,420 bighas of land in Gorukhuti, Sipajhar.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra pitches for millets cultivation at all levelsedit
The Print – Online
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Thursday pitched for the cultivation of millets at all levels in order to provide nutritious food to the growing population of the world. He said that regular consumption of nutrition-rich cereals strengthens the body’s immunity, so more and more efforts should be made to popularise the products of coarse cereals among the general public. Mishra was addressing the convocation ceremony of Shri Karna Narendra Agricultural University of Jobner from Raj Bhavan virtually on Thursday.
Need to Bring Agricultural Reforms to Attract Youth Towards Farming: Telangana Agri Ministeredit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Telangana Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy spoke at an international seminar on “Developing value chain in Agriculture” held at the inaugural session of VAIGA-2023 (Value Chain Development in Agriculture) being held in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. He emphasized on the need of agricultural reforms to help attract youth towards agriculture. The promotion of crop colonies is of utmost priority, the minister said as it will help establish a sustainable and remunerative agriculture system for farmers. He highlighted the importance of a strong marketing system, the establishment of food processing industries and value addition to crops. He said that having different soils and climatic conditions made a huge impact on the type of crops cultivated in the ...
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Will weak monsoons sap rural demand? Rural sector much bigger than just agriculture, says Jefferiesedit
MoneyControl – Online
Concerns of weak monsoon impacting rural demand are not justified as the rural GDP (40% of economy) is far bigger than the agri GDP (18%), while structural improvements such as better roads, credit, irrigation, and digitisation have reduced the monsoon dependence of the farm sector, brokerage Jefferies said. The comments come amid worries over El Nino (the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean) impacting monsoons this year.
Rains cause damage to wheat crop ahead of harvesting in Punjabedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Intermittent rainfall during the last few days across Punjab has led to lodging of the wheat crop, which is at maturing stage. As per reports Sangrur, Barnala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Patiala, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and the districts in south-west Punjab have reported damage to the crop. The state agriculture department which two days ago had estimated damage to 4 lakh hectares, says the area has expanded to larger extent as the information is being gathered from all the districts. This season, wheat has been cultivated on 34.90 lakh hectares and was heading towards the final stage of maturing till the last week when the rainfall started. The agricultural experts have predicted a yield loss of ...
Rain, hailstorm cause heavy damage to crops in four districts of Telanganaedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Untimely rains and hailstorm have damaged various standing crops spread in one lakh acres in erstwhile Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts, leaving thousands of farmers shattered. The rains were triggered by a sudden shift in weather. Heavy rain on Saturday night caused a major damage to paddy, maize, mango, cotton, chilli and vegetable crops in 82,359 acres in Mahabubabad, Jangaon and Warangal districts. Hailstorm damaged maize, chilli and mango crops in the areas like Narsampet, Duggondi, Nallabelli, Khanapuram, Chennarao Peta, Nekkonda, Geesugonda, Shyampet, Paravathagir mandals in Warangal district, Kesamudaram, Nellikudur, Bayyaram, Thorrur, Gangaram, Guduru, and Kothaguda mandals in Mahabubabad district and Palakurthy, Devaruppula, Zaffergadh, Tharigopula, Narmetta, Chilpur and Station Ghanpur mandals in Jangaon ...
Poor monsoon wreaks havoc on paddy farming in Ramnadedit
The Times of India – Online
Deficient rainfall during northeast monsoon wreaked havoc on paddy farming in Ramanathapuram district as crops on 98,314 hectares out of 1,35,859 hectares were lost. The district administration has sought 132.71 crore grant as compensation to farmers under disaster management fund. The cultivation in Ramanathapuram is predominantly rain-fed except 32,000 hectares irrigated by Vaigai Ayacut and another 21,000 hectares through Gundaru Ayacut. Farmers make use of the 827mm average rainfall to cultivate paddy.
Unseasonal rains, hailstorms damage over 18,000 hectares of agricultural land in Maharashtraedit
Down To Earth – Online
After a devastating crop loss in early March this year, Maharashtra farmers received another blow as heavy rains and hailstorms on March 16-17, 2023, flattened their ready-to-harvest crops. Thousands of farmers have been affected by the unseasonal rains and hailstorms that led to complete harvest losses in Marathwada and the north Maharashtra regions, according to farmers. At least four villages in the Nanded district were affected after hailstorms destroyed wheat, vegetables, gram and other crops. Bharad, Neuga and Mutkhed are other regions affected by the hailstorms, said Sainath Shirmevar, a farmer from Dongargaon village.
Link between monsoon and crop production weakensedit
The Financial Express – Online
The finance ministry last month in a report had stated that the predictions of a return of El Nino conditions in the Pacific could presage a weaker monsoon in India, resulting in lower output and higher prices, but an analysis of data indicates a weakening linkage between the performance of monsoon and foodgrains production. This is being attributed to expansion of irrigation facilities and development of climate resilient varieties of crops which minimised the impact of rains on the crop output. The monsoon and foodgrains data for the decade indicate that despite uneven performance of monsoon rains over the years, its impact on India’s foodgrains production has been ...
Paddy in India
Punjab govt sets up panel to look at alternative crops to paddyedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Describing crop diversification as a critical necessity for the state, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that sowing of the paddy crop over the years has adversely affected the topography of the state in terms of excessive power consumption, depletion of the water table and pollution due to stubble burning. Giving a clarion call for a paradigm shift in agriculture by adopting alternative crops like cotton, basmati and moong, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said he has set up a committee under the chief secretary to look at alternative crops to water-guzzling paddy.
Telangana paddy varieties save water, popular in several statesedit
The Times of India – Online
Telangana is home to maximum paddy varieties in the country which require less water per acre of cultivation. In the last three years, the state has developed seven of the 17 such varieties in India. Experts estimate this has resulted in saving one thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water per season from nearly one lakh acre of paddy cultivation. Telangana Sona, Kunaram 1638, Warangal 962, Jagtial 94423, Kunaram 118, Tella Hamsa and MTU 1010 are some of the popular varieties of paddy developed in the state. Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) has released several paddy varieties after the state was formed, ...
Start paddy procurement for rabi season from April 15: YS Jagan Mohan Reddyedit
The Hans India – Online
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the Agricultural Department officials to ensure that paddy procurement for rabi season begins from April 15 and complete enumeration of crop loss during the recent untimely rains at the earliest. At a review meeting on agriculture held at his camp office on Wednesday, the Chief Minister instructed the officials to ensure that spurious fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides were removed from the market and quality fertilisers and pesticides were supplied to the farmers through RBKs (Rythu Bharosa Kendras).
CM raises paddy purchase cap to 20 quintal per acreedit
The Times of India – Online
Amidst BJP’s attack on the state government for capping the procurement of paddy from farmers on minimum support price (MSP) to 15 quintal per acre in Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has raised capping of per acre yield for procurement to 20 quintal per acre. The chief minister made the announcement during the discussion on the Appropriation Bill in the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly on Thursday late evening. “As soon as our government was formed, we waived the loans of the farmers. The purchase of paddy per acre on the support price is going to be increased from 15 quintals to 20 quintals on the demand of farmers during my bhent-mulaqat programme,” said the ...
Aid period extended to set up plants to use paddy straw in Delhiedit
The Times of India – Online
Delhi Pollution Control Committee has extended the one-time financial support for setting up “pelletisation and torrefaction” plants in the city to promote use of paddy straw. The plants boost the fuel calorific properties of straw and shape them into pellets for co-firing in thermal power plants. The financial support will be funded through the corpus created by the collection of the environment protection charge. DPCC said rice harvest stubble burning contributed almost 58% of the PM2.5 pollutants in 2018. Around 27 million tonnes of paddy straw are generated in Punjab and Haryana.
Bandfoll locals to repair saline lands, sow paddyedit
The Times of India – Online
In an attempt to repair saline soils, Chinchinim villagers will be growing paddy during the upcoming Kharif season. Thirty hectares of land near St Sebastian chapel in Bandfoll, Chinchinim, where the soil has become saline due to the ingress of water from a rivulet of River Sal, will be taken up for restoration using cow dung during the summer, following which paddy seeds will be sown in June. “The restoration of the soil will be organic with no use of fertilisers,” said president of Chinchinim comunidade Agnelo Furtado, who along with Fr George Quadros, is pioneering the mission to revive the village’s uncultivated lands.
Tamil Nadu govt yet to keep poll promise on MSP for paddy, say delta farmersedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Farmers in the Cauvery delta region expressed disappointment over no announcement on an increase in the incentive given over and above the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for paddy, in the agriculture budget. Minister for Agriculture MRK Panneerselvam in his budget speech on Tuesday announced allocation of `500 crore towards incentives at the rate of Rs 100 and Rs 75 per quintal for fine and common (bold) varieties respectively during procurement of paddy next year. The announced incentives, however, is already in effect in the ongoing procurement period (October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023).
Paddy procurement to continue till March 30edit
The Hans India – Online
District officials responded on the story published in The Hans India on Monday on the paddy farmers concern over the unseasonal rains. In a press release here on Monday, Joint Collector M Naveen and AP Civil Supplies Corporation (APCSC) district manager P Jayanthi assured that paddy procurement will be continued till March 30 to collect the remaining produce from the farmers. They further explained that so far 89 per cent of the paddy has been procured from farmers and sufficient space was available for storage of the paddy and procurement of paddy would continue in the district.
Paddy straw management: Pollution control board’s efforts paying off, says Punjab ministeredit
Hindustan Times – Online
Due to efforts of the Punjab Pollution Control Board , Central Pollution Control Board has issued guidelines for grant of one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge funds for establishment of pelletization and torrefaction plant to promote utilisation of paddy straw. Environment minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer on Thursday said that due to the efforts of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines for grant of one-time financial support under Environment Protection Charge (EPC) funds for establishment of pelletization and torrefaction plant to promote utilisation of paddy straw.
Uttarakhand: Paddy ‘never grown’ procured for Rs 1 croreedit
The Times of India – Online
In a large-scale paddy purchase scam in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand’s “rice bowl”, over 6,500 quintal paddy, shown to have been “grown” on 108 hectares of land that was actually part of national highway-74, schools and cemeteries, was procured by the Uttarakhand Cooperative Federation (UCF). UCF, which is one of the four government agencies responsible for purchasing farmers’ produce in the district, “bought” the “extra” 6,500 quintal paddy from around 46 farmers for Rs 1.27 crore at Nakatpura procurement centre in Sitarganj in the last procurement year, 2021-22. A review of the centre revealed the crop was never grown or sold.
Farmers want Rs 3,000 MSP for paddy cropedit
The Times of India – Online
Representatives of various farmers’ associations who attended a public hearing in Mayiladuthurai on Thursday unanimously called on the state government to declare 3,000 as the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy, citing rising input costs. The farmers also emphasised the need for immediate desilting of irrigation channels and waterbodies so that the process can be completed before water is released from Mettur for delta irrigation in the Cauvery. The meeting was convened by agriculture and farmers’ welfare minister M R K Panneerselvam, ahead of the presentation of the agriculture budget in the assembly. Farmers and representatives from Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur and Cuddalore presented their demands and suggestions, in the presence of environment ...
Telangana paddy yield to touch 1.5 crore tonnesedit
Telangana Today – Online
Telangana is all set to witness a record paddy production of over 1.5 crore tonnes during this Yasangi (Rabi) season. However, with uncertainty over the Centre procuring paddy in such huge quantities, this positive development could pose a challenge for the State government, which however is not giving up and is exploring various options to support farmers. Paddy cultivation in Telangana hit a new high this Yasangi crop season with the crop sown in nearly 54 lakh acres, a staggering increase of 160 per cent when compared to the season’s normal cultivation area of 33.53 lakh acres. Paddy was cultivated in 64.54 lakh acres during Vaanakalam (Kharif) season of 2022-23 and 35.84 lakh acres during ...
Stubble Burning
Haryana’s Anti-Stubble Burning Initiative to be Extended to 8 Additional Districtsedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
The programme will now be expanded to Fatehabad, Sirsa, Jind, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Yamuna Nagar, and Karnal, which account for approximately 90% of fires in the state, according to Narhari Bangar, Director, Haryana Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. Deloitte India said in a statement that it has finished its pilot climate leadership project on “Crop Residue Management” (CRM), which had helped minimize stubble burning events and regulate air pollution in the region. The pilot project began in the red zone villages of Karnal district and resulted in a 69% reduction in stubble burning events. It stated that the plan includes mobilizing farmers, communities, and private sector partners.
Achieve zero stubble burning, Haryana toldedit
Hindustan Times – Online
The chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the NCR and adjoining areas MM Kutty has directed Haryana to achieve zero stubble burning during the kharif harvesting season. “You make any plan and take any step but you have to bring stubble burning to zero,” Kutty has reportedly told the deputy commissioners of 14 districts that have maximum crop residue burning cases in the state. Even the Haryana government has claimed that it has successfully achieved 45% decline in farm fires last year from September 25 to November 15 as the state recorded 3,149 incidents of farm fires in 2022, compared to 5,724 in the corresponding period in 2021.
11k Karnal farmers await cash incentive for not burning strawedit
The Times of India – Online
Nearly five months after they adopted the government’s cash incentive scheme and helped in checking the traditional practice of stubble burning, over 11,000 farmers from Karnal district are awaiting incentives for not burning paddy straw on around 1.08 lakh acres. Despite the physical verification conducted by the joint teams of the agriculture and revenue departments, funds worth around Rs 12 crore have not been disbursed yet, upsetting the farmers, who supported the government’s initiative. As per the information, the district agriculture department had received several applications claiming crop residue management on around 1,12,414 acres last year. But after verification, the authority found that claims ...
Deloitte in India hires 50,000 professionals in last 3 years, doubles workforceedit
The Financial Express – Online
Deloitte in India has hired close to 50,000 professionals, nearly doubling the headcount over the last three years. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP, in a statement, said that it plans to continue to invest in people and productive capacity in the country, “with a focus on innovative approaches to support education, digital skills development, and training opportunities”. “I believe, this is India’s century, and the country has a unique opportunity to lead the world in addressing some of the critical issues that we face. India’s future innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders will need new skills to help them meet these challenges,” Punit Renjen, Deloitte Global CEO Emeritus (retired), said.
Tractor industry
Rural economy indicators: The paradox of robust tractor and dwindling two-wheeler salesedit
The Indian Express – Online
Two-wheeler sales are considered a barometer of the health of India’s rural economy. Rural areas account for about 55% of the total sales of two-wheelers in the country, according to UBS Securities. The Swiss investment bank reckons this share at 65% in motorcycles and 30% for scooters, which are sold more in cities and big towns. Nikunj Sanghi, former president of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, estimates entry-level motorcycles (with 100-110 cc engine and costing Rs 65,000-70,000 ex-showroom) to make up 75% of all two-wheeler sales in India. Out of that 75%, around 70% would be in rural areas, which he defines ...
Sonalika Clocks highest ever YTD Feb’23 overall sales of 1 37 344 tractors and highest ever market share of 14.1edit
The Week – Online
India’s No1 tractor export brand, Sonalika Tractors has always been motivated about taking reformative steps aimed at supporting farmers in addressing every day farm requirements. Winning farmer’s hearts with this symbolic outlook, Sonalika has registered its highest ever YTD Feb’23 overall sales of 1,37,344 tractors with highest ever market share of 14.1%. Moving into the final stages of FY’23 with such outstanding accomplishment very well illustrates Sonalika’s consistency in delivering on evolving demands with its advanced tractors and grow together with farmers.
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Reviving plant science for agriculture in the era of climate changeedit
The Times of India – Online
Potatoes, vanilla, and avocados are only three of 10,967 species actively affected by climate change, figuring to IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. Modern farming methods can ensure that we don’t run out of potatoes or vanilla anytime soon, but it is going to become increasingly difficult for farmers to produce these crops “naturally”. Farming climate-sensitive crops demand more resources, and gradually lowers the nutritional quality of these crops over time. Agriculture is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The past few decades have witnessed a stark rise in crop failure rates. On the other hand, the support ecosystem around climate risk is still nascent in most countries. The agriculture sector is in dire ...
India-Russia explore market access in railways, agriculture and pharmaceutical sectorsedit
The Economic Times – Online
India-Russia trade and economic partnership across sectors including railways, agriculture and pharmaceuticals have received a boost with slew of meetings and arrangements held during the past week. Russian Railways Holding remains interested in participating in the Indian projects to modernize the railway infrastructure.
Odisha posts 64 per cent growth in merchandise exports, highest in five yearsedit
The New Indian Express – Online
The unprecedented disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic notwithstanding, exports from Odisha have registered a growth of 64 per cent (pc), the highest in the last five years, surpassing the Rs 1 lakh crore milestone set by the government. Official sources said the state’s merchandise exports have recorded healthy growth in terms of both value and volume in the last fiscal. Although the government had set a target of achieving Rs 1 lakh crore exports by 2025, the outbound shipments rose to Rs 1,32,405 crore in 2021-22 from Rs 80,419 crore in 2020-21.
Agro Food Chamber demands govt to include agriculture subject in a school educationedit
The New Indian Express – Online
In a pre-budget memorandum submitted to Minister of Agriculture M R K Panneerselvam on Thursday, the president of the Agro Food Chamber of Commerce and Industry S Rethinavelu stressed upon various demands, including making agriculture a mandatory subject in school and college curriculum. The forum stated their expectations ahead of the state government’s 2023-2024 budget to be tabled in the assembly on March 20. In the memorandum, the Rethinavelu demanded the government to introduce the ‘Ridgeless Cultivation’, a method in which the ridges of their small land holdings are removed with the latest technology, on a large span of land of at least 100 acres to achieve high productivity.