Page 63 - Agriculture
Rabi, fruit farmers in Himachal stare at losses amid prolonged dry spell
Further, the apple orchards are also getting deprived of the required moisture and chilling hours
 "Rabi, fruit farmers in Himachal stare at losses amid prolonged dry spell")
No proposal to lift export curbs on wheat, rice, sugar, says Piyush Goyal
India had banned wheat exports in May 2022, non-basmati rice exports from July 2023 and extended curbs on sugar exports beyond October 2023, as part of measures to control rising domestic prices
 "No proposal to lift export curbs on wheat, rice, sugar, says Piyush Goyal")
Masur production may touch record 1.6 mn tons this Rabi season: Govt
The country's masur (lentil) production is estimated to touch an all-time high of 1.6 million tonnes in the 2023-24 rabi season on higher acreage
 "Masur production may touch record 1.6 mn tons this Rabi season: Govt")
India set to become largest lentil producer in 2023-24 crop yr: Official
Says pitching for self-sufficiency in pulses, but imports will have to continue for sometime
 "India set to become largest lentil producer in 2023-24 crop yr: Official")
Non-GM mustard yield only a little higher than GM mustard: Coalition
The coalition said that the Union of India presented a new paper with regard to the Centre of Origin of Brassica juncea being outside India
 "Non-GM mustard yield only a little higher than GM mustard: Coalition")
GM Mustard: Why reports of panel not considered by GEAC, SC asks Centre
The attorney general said being a statutory body, the GEAC is not supposed to go into these reports but has considered every relevant scientific finding before giving the go-ahead for the release
 "GM Mustard: Why reports of panel not considered by GEAC, SC asks Centre")
Sugar firms seek court help against ban on use of cane juice for ethanol
The distillery in its petition to the Karnataka High Court said that as it produces only ethanol and not sugar from cane
 "Sugar firms seek court help against ban on use of cane juice for ethanol")
Jeera prices halve after sowing increases on 2023 hopes, shows data
Experts are saying the slump could be due to expectations of a bumper crop this year. Farmers had sown the crop in a larger area after prices hit multi-year highs last year
 "Jeera prices halve after sowing increases on 2023 hopes, shows data")
SC starts hearing pleas challenging commercial release of GM mustard
The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol asked the petitioners how much time they would take to argue the matter
 "SC starts hearing pleas challenging commercial release of GM mustard")
Slow purchases in some states drag rice procurement for central pool
Rice procurement for the central pool remains sub-par for the 2023-24 season starting in October due to slow purchases in Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh
 "Slow purchases in some states drag rice procurement for central pool")
Farmers' bodies organise 'mahapanchayat', demand MSP guarantee law
The gathering of farmers from across north India also announced a "Delhi Chalo" march to the national capital on February 13
UN's world food price index ends 2023 around 10% below 2022 levels
The Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 118.5 points in December, down 1.5% from November
 "UN's world food price index ends 2023 around 10% below 2022 levels")
OMCs hike procurement price of ethanol produced from maize by Rs 5.79/ltr
In sugarcane it is either through sugarcane juice or syrup, then B-heavy molasses and C-heavy molasses, while in grains it is mostly damaged foodgrains or maize
 "OMCs hike procurement price of ethanol produced from maize by Rs 5.79/ltr")
Rajasthan farmers rejoice at cold weather, say it's a boon for rabi crops
Commodity traders also feel that the production of Rabi crops will increase due to severe cold conditions
 "Rajasthan farmers rejoice at cold weather, say it's a boon for rabi crops")
Chhattisgarh government achieves over 50% of paddy procurement at MSP
The BJP government has increased the cap and is procuring 21 quintal/acre of paddy from farmers
 "Chhattisgarh government achieves over 50% of paddy procurement at MSP")
Amit Shah to launch procurement portal for tur dal growing farmers
The portal will be launched at a national symposium on 'self-reliance in pulses' to be held here in the capital
 "Amit Shah to launch procurement portal for tur dal growing farmers")
Truckers' protest impacts vegetable supply in Delhi wholesale markets
The full blown impact of truckers' strike on the wholesale markets of the city will be yielded by Tuesday night, vendors said
 "Truckers' protest impacts vegetable supply in Delhi wholesale markets")
Govt procures 25,000 tonnes of kharif onion so far for buffer stock
The government is procuring onion to maintain a buffer stock and use it for market intervention to boost domestic availability and keep prices in check
 "Govt procures 25,000 tonnes of kharif onion so far for buffer stock")
OMCs hike procurement price of ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses
After the hike, the procurement price of ethanol produced from C-heavy molasses would be Rs 56.28 per litre as against Rs 49.41 per litre in 2022-23 procurement season
Wheat sowing improved, acreage nears last year's level; chana still down
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest weather update said that till January 4 there is no possibility of major cold wave in any part of the country
 "Wheat sowing improved, acreage nears last year's level; chana still down")