Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Despite monsoon concerns, foodgrains target set 3% higheredit
The Financial Express – Online
The government on Wednesday set a marginally higher target of 332 million tonne (MT) of foodgrains production for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) against the estimated output of 323.5 MT in the current crop year. The target was set at the national conference on agriculture- kharif campaign-2023 organised by agriculture ministry despite the possibility of a deficient monsoon due to likely El Nino conditions developing at the later part of the monsoon months (June-September).
Two failed crop seasons hamper cotton sowing ops in Punjabedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Two failed seasons in 2021 and 2022 have left the cotton growers in a quandary. With inclement weather also playing its part, cotton has been sown in only 8% or around 20,000 hectares of area in south Malwa, where the crop is considered an economic lifeline of the region. As per the advisory of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), cotton sowing should be completed between April 15 and May 15 and with just 12 days left the farmers are racing against time to complete the sowing operations of the key kharif crop.
Govt. Policies
Odisha govt hikes relief amount to Rs 6 lakhedit
The Times of India – Online
The state government on Wednesday increased the compensation amount in case of death in attacks by animals from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh. The victim’s family members can claim the ex-gratia compensation of Rs 6 lakh if he or she succumbs to injuries caused by an attack by wild animals such as elephant, leopard, tiger, wild boar, bear, crocodile, bison, hyena and wild dog. The government also increased the compensation amount for those suffering injuries in such attacks. In attacks causing less than 60% disability, it increased the compensation from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh and in case of more than 60% disability, the injured victim will receive Rs ...
WTO needs to look at farm subsidy issue with open mind: FM Sitharamanedit
The Financial Express – Online
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) should look at the issue of farm subsidies with an open mind as it impacts the food security needs of emerging economies in the backdrop of Covid pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Wednesday. Speaking at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Governor’s seminar on ‘Policies to support Asia’s rebound’, Sitharaman said sooner a solution is found out by the WTO, the better it would be for the world.
Paddy in India
Govt will directly procure paddy from farmers, assures Minister Venkata Nageswara Raoedit
The Hans India – Online
Minister for Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Karumuri Venkata Nageswara Rao has said the paddy farmers need not worry about the sale of rice and the government would directly procure the paddy from the farmers. He said there is no role of rice millers or the brokers in the paddy procurement and the government would directly purchase the paddy from the farmers. Speaking to the media in Bhimavaram on Wednesday, Minister Nageswara Rao said the farmers have to register their names in the Rythu Bharosa Kendras and hand over the rice. He made it clear the farmers need not go to the rice mills even if the rice millers ask them to come to ...
Procure wet paddy: Andhra Pradesh CM directs officialsedit
The New Indian Express – Online
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday directed the Civil Supplies Department to initiate immediate measures to procure paddy that got wet due to unseasonal rains that lashed the State for the past few days. Taking stock of the rains in the State and the resulting crop loss at a teleconference with district collectors on Wednesday, the Chief Minister directed the officials to take steps to save the harvested crop on a priority basis. The officials were instructed to shift the harvested paddy from the fields to warehouses and other government buildings. The agriculture officials should complete the enumeration of crop damage at the earliest, he said.