The Financial Express – Online

The pace of procurement of chana, or gram, under the agriculture ministry’s price support scheme for the 2023 rabi season has gathered momentum, but mandi prices have been ruling below the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,335/quintal. Traders say that higher carry-forward stock from the previous year, with farmers’ cooperative Nafed and farmers still holding onto stock in anticipation of higher prices later, is keeping mandi prices below the MSP level. Prices are currently ruling in the range of Rs 4,800-5,100 per quintal.

The Indian Express – Online

WITH peak demand for electricity expected to cross 15,000-MW mark this summer, Punjab with generation capacity of 6600 MW from its own sources, will have to fill the gap in demand and supply by purchasing power and draw it from state’s share in the central pool. On Tuesday, the demand was 6523 MW and it would cross 15,000 MW during the paddy transplantation season, power utility sources say. They predict that while the government will be able to sail through in the current year, the next year would be difficult. The government would have to think on generation line.

Mint – Online

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN has recognized India’s strength in the seed sector which it would be useful to other countries, said a statement from the union agriculture ministry. Earlier in the morning, a bilateral meeting was conducted with FAO. Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR), Himanshu Pathak, who is also the MACS Chair, led the discussions and emphasized that the extension service through KVK to farmers would be a very important area of cooperation. FAO representatives also expressed keen interest in extending cooperation in extension service.

Mint – Online

India requires to increase maize production by 10 million tonnes (mt) over the next five years amid growing demand for ethanol production and to meet demand from the poultry industry, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja said while speaking at the 9th India Maize Summit organied by industry body FICCI.