Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Wheat purchases by govt at 25.4 mn tonnes, 1.5% lower than last yearedit
India has bought 25.4 million metric tons of new-season wheat from domestic farmers to shore up its depleted reserves, a 1.55% decline from last year, government sources said on Wednesday. Wheat purchases by the government-backed Food Corporation of India (FCI) got off to a slow start last month, but procurement picked up in recent weeks, said the sources who didn’t wish to be named as they are not authorised to talk to the media.
Monsoon + Indian Agriculture
Rain after prolonged dry spell brings cheer, farmers hope to salvage rabi cropedit
Decent spells of rain across the state over the past week ended a prolonged dry spell that prevailed for over six months, and while it brought down soaring temperatures, it has also offered farmers a glimmer of hope. The met department has forecast more rain over the next few days before the weather stabilises. While it may not compensate for the acute deficit, it does bring much cheer.
Double whammy: Drought or rain, it’s only loss for farmers in Karnatakaedit
On the one hand, farmers in Karnataka are facing distress due to severe drought, and on the other, sudden thundershowers are bringing fear of losing standing crops and death of cattle due to lightning. Since the last week of April, heavy rain has been reported in many parts of the state, damaging crops.
Paddy in India
Agri officials asked to curb sale of counterfeit paddy seededit
Fearing sale of counterfeit seeds of the government-recommended PR-126 paddy variety — a short-duration variety that saves water, the department of agriculture has already ordered the chief agriculture officers (CAOs) to take proactive steps in this regard. The CAOs are learnt to have been asked to conduct raids on the premises of private seed dealers, distributors and producers so as to nip the sale of duplicate seeds.