Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
State to soon launch agri data exchangeedit
The Times of India – Online
An Agriculture Data Exchange (ADEx) platform using artificial intelligence (AI) processes will be set up by the Telangana government soon. The project in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bengaluru, aims to provide quality and transparent agriculture data easily to give an impetus to research and innovation in the sector. “Whenever we tried to come up with new technology solutions for farmers, researchers and technology companies pointed out the limitations of data availability.
Dairy Farming
No relief on milk price till Diwali: Indian Dairy Association president Rupinder Sodhiedit
Livemint – Online
Milk prices will remain elevated until Diwali but might soften later once the flush season starts and feed prices decline, Indian Dairy Association president Rupinder Singh Sodhi said. Milk prices have shot up 13-15% in the past 15 months amid a global rise in cereal prices. Production suffered due to insufficient fodder following unseasonal rains, and a decline in the number of lactating cattle in a lag effect of fewer artificial inseminations during the pandemic. The trade enters the flush season from October to February when cattle produce more milk naturally and dairy companies typically lower their procurement price.
Govt. Policies
Ensure farmers get seeds, crop loan on time: Maha agriculture minister Sattar to officialsedit
The Print – Online
Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar has directed officials of the Konkan division to ensure farmers get seeds, fertilisers and crop loan on time. He was speaking during a review meeting with the Konkan division officials here on Tuesday ahead of kharif season. The minister said the officials should ensure that benefits and schemes of the government reaches the farmers at their door steps The officials should study the geographical situation of the region and plan the kharif programme accordingly, he said.
Paddy in India
Saving water: 300 acres of agri land saw shift from paddy to other crops in 1 yearedit
The Times of India – Online
Farmers have shifted from paddy cultivation to other crops that require less water on over 300 acres of agricultural land under the crop diversification programme in the district. Those who opted to cultivate other crops have altogether been paid Rs 22 lakh in incentives by the state government. Haryana launched the ‘Mera Pani Meri Virasat’ scheme in May 2020 to encourage farmers to diversify beyond paddy, offering them Rs 7,000 per acre. According to officials, continuous paddy cultivation has led to depletion of groundwater across the state.
AP pays Rs.1,277 cr for paddy damaged by rain to farmersedit
Telangana Today – Online
The AP government has so far paid Rs.1,277 crore in the past five days to farmers whose crops were damaged by unseasonal rains. On Wednesday alone, Rs.474 crore was credited to the bank account of 32,558 farmers in Andhra Pradesh, according to official sources. The payments were made in record time to come to the aid of the farmers who were put to loss due to rains, they said.
Stubble Burning
Ludhiana dist’s stubble burning incidents drop to less than half from 2022edit
Hindustan Times – Online
With the wheat harvest season approaching its end, several farmers have set the leftover residue consisting of wheat straw on fire to clear the farm for paddy sowing. However, as per the figures shared by the administration, this year, Ludhiana district has witnessed a significant 70% drop in stubble burning cases between 2022 to 2023. Between April 1 to May 9, the district recorded 229 stubble burning this Kharif season — less than half of the 772 incidents of crop residue burning that were witnessed in 2022.