Page 17 - Agriculture Economy

Farmers' protest: 'Delhi Chalo' leaders to discuss govt offer, SKM rejects

Farmer leaders taking part in the 'Delhi Chalo' agitation on Monday said they will discuss the government proposal on buying pulses, maize and cotton at MSP but the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which spearheaded the 2020-21 stir, rejected the offer. In the fourth round of talks with farmer leaders, a panel of three Union ministers on Sunday proposed buying of pulses, maize and cotton crops by government agencies at minimum support prices (MSP) for five years after entering into an agreement with farmers. Earlier on Monday, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said farmers will hold a discussion on the Centre's proposal but they will not budge from their demand for a law guaranteeing MSP. However, the SKM rejected the government proposal, saying it seeks to "divert and dilute" the farmers' demand for MSP and they will accept nothing less than the 'C-2 plus 50 per cent' formula for MSP as recommended in the Swaminathan Commission report. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, farmers are also ...

Govt assisting, encouraging farmers to take agriculture on new path: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reiterated his government's commitment to support farmers in exploring new avenues in agriculture. Addressing an event in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, the prime minister emphasized the importance of working towards a common goal of having Indian food products on dining tables across the globe. His remarks came amid a protest by a section of farmers over their various demands such as a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. "We are assisting and encouraging farmers to take our country's agriculture on a new path," he said. He emphasised the focus on natural farming and millets. "This is the right time for investment in superfoods like millets," he said. He cited the emergence of large-scale natural farming along the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, which not only benefits farmers but also helps preserve the purity of sacred rivers. The prime minister appealed to food processing entrepreneurs to prioritise the mantra of "zero .

Farmers will discuss Centre's 5-year MSP proposal, says Sarwan Pandher

The Centre's proposal of buying pulses, maize and cotton by government agencies at MSP will be discussed by farmers, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Monday but asserted that they will not back out of their demand for a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. His remarks came after a meeting between farmer leaders and a panel of three Union ministers on Sunday and amid thousands of protesting farmers camping at the Punjab-Haryana border as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' march. Talking to reporters at the Shambhu border point, Pandher said farmers will hold a discussion on the proposal given by the Centre. Farmers have not backed out of their demand for a law guaranteeing minimum support price (MSP) and never will, he said while replying to a question. Pandher said farmer leaders are going to the Khanauri border point where a farmer died. On Sunday, a 72-year-old farmer, who was part of the protest there, died of cardiac arrest. Earlier, a 63-year-old farmer had

Statsguru: Indian farmer protests mirror similar scenes in France, Germany

Farm protests in Europe include opposition to new laws that seek to limit emissions from agriculture

Fourth round of talks: 'Won't settle for anything less,' say farmers

Urge govt to bring Ordinance on legal guarantee for MSP

India needs new cotton seed varieties for better productivity: House panel

The panel asked the textiles ministry to do a comprehensive study on how to increase cotton production

Farmers' agitation to cause Rs 500 cr loss daily to northern states: Phdcci

Industry body PHDCCI on Friday said it apprehends "severe hit" to trade and industry and loss of employment in the northern states from a lingering farmers' agitation which would result in economic losses of over Rs 500 crore daily. "A lingering agitation will cause Rs 500 crores economic loss daily and will have an impact on Q4 Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of northern states majorly Punjab, Haryana and Delhi," said Sanjeev Agrawal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The industry body looks forward to an early resolution of the issues from both the government and the farmers, with a common consensus for the welfare of all in the country, he added. Agrawal stated that the farmers' agitation is severely impacting the businesses of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan as raw materials of such units are procured largely from other states to execute production processes and to

Unjustified demands

Price guarantee will kill the agri market

Farmers' protest highlights: CrPC 144 in Noida on Feb 16 for Bharat Bandh

Farmers' protest march updates: Catch all the latest updates on the farmers' protest here

Govt making efforts to attain self-sufficiency in pulses output: Munda

A substantial progress has already been made in the domestic pulses production which has increased from 17 million tonnes in 2014 and now a target of 29.5 mn tonnes has been set for this year, he said

Nabard report puts Gujarat's credit potential at Rs 3.53 trn for 2024-25

A National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) report on Thursday revealed that Gujarat's credit potential for priority sectors stands at Rs 3.53 lakh crore. A NABARD release said its annual document 'State Focus Paper 2024-25' was unveiled by Gujarat Chief Secretary Raj Kumar at an event held here in the presence of senior officials, bankers, heads of NGOs and stakeholders. NABARD is an apex regulatory body for overall regulation of regional rural banks and apex cooperative banks in India. "NABARD's meticulous analysis highlighted a credit potential of Rs 3.53 lakh crore for Gujarat, including Rs 1.42 lakh crore, which comes to 40 per cent, for agriculture and allied sectors, Rs 1.80 lakh crore (51 per cent) for the MSME sector, and the remaining 9 per cent for other priority sectors," said the release. The document not only outlines the existing credit-absorption capacity but also proposes strategies to enhance it through strategic partnerships and policy ...

Six farmer members likely in govt-appointed panel to look into demands

Government sources said Union ministers Rajnath Singh and Arjun Munda invited farm leaders for a video-conference on Wednesday evening, which the latter turned down

Rajnath, Munda, other ministers discuss farmers' issue amid protests

Senior Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Arjun Munda, on Wednesday held discussions on the ongoing farmers' protests and ways to address the issues, according to sources. The meeting in the national capital assumes significance against the backdrop of farmers from Punjab marching towards Delhi and Haryana Police using tear gas shells to stop them at the Shambhu border between the two states. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, also a former agriculture minister, deliberated upon various farmer issues with Munda, who is currently in charge of the agriculture ministry. Munda is also one of the ministers who held discussions with farmer groups, the sources said. Details about the meeting could not be immediately ascertained. Thousands of farmers, who are seeking a guaranteed minimum support price (MSP) among other demands, started their 'Delhi Chalo' march on Tuesday. Haryana Police lobbed tear gas shells at farmers from Punjab at the Shambhu border as thousands of protesters

Tractor industry sales likely to dip 5% due to agri activities slowdown

The market leader in tractors in India, Mahindra and Mahindra, felt that the year would end with around 900,000 units in sales compared to 945,000 units sold in 2022-23

Farmers' protest highlights: Mahapanchayat to discuss atrocities on farmers

Farmers' protest march updates: Catch all the latest updates on the farmers' protest here

Farmers protest: Ready for talks with Centre, says Jagjit Singh Dallewal

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Wednesday said they are ready for holding talks with the Centre over their demands, including a legal guarantee to minimum support price. Citing media reports, Dallewal said Union Minister Anurag Thakur has, in his statement, said that the Centre was ready for holding talks and was also ready to resolve the issues of the farmers. "We do not want to give any room to the Centre for saying that it was inviting us, but they did not accept it. That we have accepted and we are ready for talks," he told reporters at the Shambhu border. Dallewal said the farmer leaders have taken the consent of fellow farmers for holding talks. "After taking their consent, we will hold talks," he said. "Our priority is that the talks should take place in Chandigarh," asserted Dallewal, who is the president of Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur). "If they (the Centre) have given an invitation after seeing all this and said they are ready to resolve their issues then w

Efforts to hold positive talks with farmers' union continue: Arjun Munda

Further, the Agriculture Minister urged the farmers' organizations to avoid actions that disrupt daily life

Kisan Morcha condemns police action on farmers; calls for protest on Feb 16

In a statement, the SKM said that it was shocking that drones were used to drop tear gas shells on the farmers by the administration

Delhi march: Farmers attempt to breach barricades, teargas shells fired

The Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border witnessed chaotic scenes on Tuesday as the protesting farmers marching towards Delhi attempted to break police barricades

Farmers' march: Red Fort temporarily closed for visitors, say ASI officials

The historic Red Fort complex has been temporarily closed for visitors due to security reasons, a senior ASI official said Tuesday, amid a massive deployment of police and paramilitary forces in central Delhi in view of the farmers' march. The iconic Mughal-era monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in old Delhi, was "suddenly sealed" late Monday night "due to security reasons", the official said. Heavy security has been deployed there since late last night. "The Red Fort complex has been closed for visitors," the official told PTI. Asked when will the 17th-century monument will reopen, the senior official said, "it will be the call of security agencies". Security in Delhi has been intensified with multi-layer barricades, concrete blocks, iron nails and walls of containers at border points to stop a 'Delhi Chalo' march of farmers from entering the national capital on Tuesday, after talks between farm leaders and the Centre remained inconclusive.