Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Officials estimate losses at 20%, farm leaders say actual loss more than 50%edit
The Indian Express – Online
Officials of the Haryana agriculture department have estimated a loss of nearly 20 per cent in the production of wheat owing to untimely rains and hailstorm. Officials had earlier estimated 110.75 LMT (lakh metric tonnes) production of wheat in the state this year, which is likely to be less by 20 per cent because of untimely rains. As many as 59.10 lakh acres is under wheat cultivation in the state this year, which is ready for harvesting. The area under mustard was 18.15 lakh acre this year and production of 14 LMT was estimated for this year.
Crop flattened, shortage of manual labour adds to Haryana farmers’ woesedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Rain-battered farmers in Haryana are facing a fresh challenge: How to harvest the flattened wheat crop. As lodged crop cannot be harvested with machines, experts advise the use of manual labour for the task. But there isn’t sufficient labour available for the job. Though at least 70% of the crop is ready for harvesting and even government agencies have started procurement operations (from April 1), the shortage of labour and weather vagaries have left wheat growers in a fix. ‘Conditions not ripe for harvest’ As per ground reports, at least 60% of the wheat crop has been lodged and farmers are struggling to harvest their crop without incurring a considerable loss.
Farm Mechanization
Harvesting wheat crop another challenge for rain-hit Punjab farmersedit
Hindustan Times – Online
With at least 14 lakh hectares (40 per cent) of 34.90 lakh hectares of wheat sown in Punjab impacted by rain, high-velocity winds and hailstorm, another challenge that farmers face now is difficulty in harvesting the crop According to experts and farmers, flattened crop cannot be harvested using a combine harvester machine and due to shortage of labour, getting the work done manually is also not an option. “A combine harvester machine can’t be used on flattened crop as it is a time-consuming process. We have to hire labourers for the job, which is also not feasible,” said Amandeep Singh, a farmer of Raipur Frola village near Jalandhar. He said he cultivated wheat over a ...
Govt. Policies
Telangana Agri Minister Niranjan Reddy Calls for Farmer-Friendly Government at National Leveledit
Krishi Jagran – Online
According to Agriculture Minister S Niranjan Reddy, a pro-farmer government at the federal level is required in order to apply the Telangana model of agriculture throughout the country. On Monday, Niranjan Reddy spoke at the BRS Athmeeya Sammelanam at Beerapalli, Vemsoor mandal. The Telangana government’s and Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s objective was to provide water for every acre of land and employment for every individual, he said. Although if the Center offers no support, Telangana spent a significant amount of money on that purpose to give irrigation, free 24-hour electricity, Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bima, and to purchase agricultural products from farmers.