Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
2022-23 foodgrain output set to hit record 330MT, 2MT over targetedit
The Times of India – Online
The government has estimated the country’s foodgrain output in 2022-23 crop year to hit a record of over 330 million tonnes (MT), which is 14MT (over 4%) more than the production in the previous corresponding year, despite the unseasonal rains that hit north and west India in March. Such freak weather did not impact wheat crops much and the key cereal of the foodgrain basket reported a record output of 113 MT. The overall estimated output is also 2 MT higher than the target set for the year before beginning of the kharif (summer crops) sowing operations in 2022 that saw good monsoon rains in the country.
The Presence of GM Crops in Indian Agriculture: An Overviewedit
Krishi Jagran – Online
Biotechnology plays a significant role in Indian agriculture, offering various benefits and opportunities for farmers, food production, and the overall agricultural sector. Let’s understand the role of biotechnology in Indian agriculture: Biotechnology has enabled the development of genetically modified (GM) crops with desirable traits such as resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental stresses. Bt cotton, which incorporates a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis for insect resistance, is one notable example that has transformed India’s cotton industry.
Dairy Farming
Dairy sector can take India closer to its net-zero goalsedit
The Times of India – Online
The dairy sector’s contribution to India’s economy is significant, making it a crucial sector for the country’s overall growth and development. It provides employment opportunities to millions of people, particularly in rural areas, and contributes to the country’s food security. However, the sector’s growth has come at a considerable cost to the environment, with increasing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution levels. As India takes significant steps to address climate change and reduce its carbon footprint while moving towards net zero, I believe, achieving this goal will require substantial efforts from all sectors, including the dairy sector.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Rain, hailstrom worry Jammu and Kashmir farmers, damage cropsedit
Hindustan Times – Online
Light intermittent rains lashed Jammu and Kashmir, including hailstorms in north Kashmir, on Thursday as weather office predicted largely wet weather till the end of May. The Kashmir valley experienced rains in major parts in the early morning while Jammu also witnessed showers bringing down the temperatures in the region. In the afternoon, rains as well as hailstorms wreaked havoc on fruit orchards, including apple and agricultural fields, in north Kashmir. “In the past three hours, severe hailstorm was witnessed in many places of North Kashmir, accompanied by rain and thunderstorm,” said J&K meteorological centre (MeT) director Sonam Lotus at 5.35 pm. Agriculture and horticulture officials expect major losses due to the hailstorm.
Paddy in India
Cabinet panel wants more time to finalise plan to advance crop seasonedit
The Times of India – Online
The cabinet subcommittee on crop season advancement and productivity has received a set of recommendations, including a suggestion to choose paddy varieties which produce less broken rice even during high-temperature seasons. On Wednesday, the committee, led by agriculture minister Niranjan Reddy, met and decided to take more time to finalise its recommendations. According to a source, the rabi season, which extends up to mid-April, is facing climatic challenges due to unusual rainfall and high temperatures.
Agriculture department distributes paddy seeds at 50% subsidy to farmersedit
The Times of India – Online
In a bid to ensure smooth and hassle-free sowing of paddy crop during the upcoming Kharif season, the directorate of agriculture has distributed not only several tonnes of Jaya and Jyoti seeds, this season but also the Karjat variant of paddy, at 50% subsidy. “We are all set for the monsoons. We have made arrangements of paddy seeds at different farmers’ societies and the zonal agricultural offices for the Kharif season. Though Jaya and Jyoti are preferred varieties in the state, we are also promoting Karjat,” said agriculture director, Nevil Alphonso.
Stubble Burning
Farm fires in Punjab down 31%, but Centre wants action against two DCs for ‘lapses’edit
The Indian Express – Online
While recording a 31.5 per cent reduction in stubble fires in the 2022 paddy season as compared to 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has written to the Punjab government to take action against the deputy commissioners (DC) of Fazilka and Bathinda for an increase in stubble fire incidents in their districts. Showkat Ahmad Parray was the deputy commissioner of Bathinda during this period, while Himanshu Aggarwal was the deputy commissioner of Fazilka.