Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Govt buys 19.6 mn tonne wheat, more than annual demand for welfare schemesedit
The government has bought over 196 lakh tonne of wheat so far in the ongoing 2024-25 marketing year, surpassing its annual requirement of 186 lakh tonne for all welfare schemes including the National Food Security Act. Now, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) — the government’s nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains — is making efforts to meet its target of buying 310-320 lakh tonne in the 2024-25 marketing year to augment buffer stocks and keep surplus grains for making intervention in the open market, if needed, to control retail prices. Procurement of wheat, a major rabi (winter-sown) crop, is down 11 per cent so far from 219.5 lakh tonne in the same period last ...
Farm Mechanization
Government Extends Interim Approval for Drone-Based Pesticide Applicationedit
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Department of Agriculture & Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (Plant Protection Division), has extended the interim approval for the application of already approved pesticide formulations through drones. The decision comes in response to a request from the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) seeking an extension of the approval.
Paddy in India
Paddy procurement takes a hit as Vaigai water release delayed in Maduraiedit
Cultivation of samba paddy was affected, which ultimately led to a 50% drop in paddy procurement this year, as the release of Vaigai water was delayed in Madurai. Insiders from the paddy and rice trade industry stated that considering the increasing demand for paddy, action has to be taken to increase cultivable areas across the state.