Page 24 - Agriculture Economy

Swaminathan's advice was not to turn Green Revolution into greed revolution

The scientist appealed farmers not to harm long-term production potential for short-term gains

Dr M S Swaminathan deserves to be honoured posthumously with Bharat Ratna

A void has been created by the visionary agriculture scientist's death, writes R S Paroda

Swaminathan brought positive change to food security: Rakesh Tikait

India will always remember the positive changes that MS Swaminathan brought to the country's agriculture and farmers, and his contribution to food security, farmer leader Rakesh Tikait said on Thursday, as he remembered the iconic scientist. Swaminathan (98), also known as the father of Green Revolution in India, passed away at 11.15 am at his Chennai residence, the MS Swaminathan Research Foundation said. "The news of the demise of famous agricultural scientist Dr MS Swaminathan, the father of the Green Revolution, is deeply saddening," Tikait, the national spokesperson for the Bharatiya Kisan Union, posted in Hindi on X. "This country will always remember his contribution to the positive changes to the condition of Indian agriculture and farmers, and for food security. We will all continue this fight for your ideas together," Tikait added. Swaminathan was the driving force behind the nation's Green Revolution of the 1960s. The celebrated agriculture icon was being treated for ..

Era of agri research has come to an end: IARI chief on Swaminathan's death

An era of agricultural research, education and extension marked by disruptive innovations has come to an end with the death of MS Swaminathan, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director A K Singh said on Thursday. Renowned agricultural scientist Swaminathan (98), also known as the father of Green Revolution in India, died on Thursday in Chennai due to age-related illness. He is survived by three daughters. "In passing away of Prof. Swaminathan, ends an era of agricultural research, education and extension that was full of disruptive innovation. If God appears to poor and hungry in form of bread as said by Mahatma Gandhi, that God is Dr. Swaminathan who should be worshipped by every citizen while taking daily meals," Singh said in a statement. The celebrated agriculture icon was being treated for age-related illness for quite some time, M S Swaminathan Research Foundation sources said.

GeM tightens vendor validation, partners with TCS for tech overhaul

GeM's rigorous validation process includes a two-step contactless procedure involving online forms for document submission and mobile-application-based video assessments

Govt seeks partnerships to modernise Mohali's semiconductor lab

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology aims for public-private collaboration to boost local semiconductor manufacturing capabilities

Academic institutions agree to form agri-consortium to boost startups

India's higher educational institutions on Wednesday agreed in principle to create an 'Agri-Consortium' to give a push to startups in the agriculture sector. An in-principle framework in this regard was adopted by participating higher educational institutions (HEIs) during the 'Agri-Entrepreneurship in South Asia' Consortium-2023 that concluded at the Indian Institute of Management, Kashipur, on Wednesday. The two-day event was aimed at providing a common platform for academicians, researchers, students, and industry professionals to interact and deliberate on the latest trends and advancements in technology, research, funding avenues and requirements in the agriculture industry, an IIM Kashipur press release here said. The HEIs agreed to share startup databases among consortium members, disseminate startup support programmes, and networking, and share best practices on the platform. The event was organised by the Foundation for Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development (FIED), an

Explained: Why are Russian export prices roiling the wheat market

In March, sources told Reuters that the Russian government was recommending exporters ensure prices were high enough to cover farmers' production costs

My non-privileged background paved the way for who I am today: Swati Nayak

"All my life I have mostly worked in farm and rural livelihood sectors with direct engagement with men and women farmers", she said

Regenerative cultivation the way to grow India's coffee industry: Report

Environmental and economic concerns are two major challenges threatening India's coffee industry, according to a report released here on Monday. The report titled 'Regenerative Cultivation for Sustaining and Growing India's Coffee Industry' by Firefly Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd, a company that works on soil health and nutrition management, said regenerative agriculture aims to create harmony between the three pillars of sustainability -- economic, environmental and social. The aim is to balance conservation and environmental sustainability alongside the commercial production of crops like coffee. An emphasis is placed on methods like agroforestry, reviving natural ecosystems and managing and replenishing soil health on coffee farms. It extends beyond merely sustaining soil and natural resources, to actively restoring and reviving agricultural land, it said. Founder and Director of Firefly Life Sciences, Nandita Abreo, said, "Drastic changes in climate patterns over the past decade have

SKUAST launches agricultural-entrepreneurship startup training programme

The Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) on Monday launched a skill training programme for creating the next generation of agri-entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has granted 550 skill training programmes to SKUAST for implementation in the current year, officials said. "We have to take our farming community from subsistence agriculture to sustainable commercial agriculture. We have to strive to achieve the goal set by the JK government to double the agricultural GDP in the next five years," Vice chancellor of the SKAUST Nazir Ahmad Ganaie told reporters. Last year the university implemented 66 skilling programmes. He said it is important that the country shifts toward startup culture as India is emerging as a big startup ecosystem in the world. "The universities have a very important role to play in bringing Jammu and Kashmir on the startup ecosystem map of the country," he added. S

India's soybean production may drop due to erratic rain: Industry officials

India uses soybeans to manufacture soyoil, which helps the country cut its hefty edible oil imports, while the by-product soymeal is used for animal feed and exported mainly to Southeast Asia

Odisha CM disburses Rs 900 cr for farmers under income assistance scheme

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday disbursed Rs 900 crore for the state's 44.56 lakh farmers, under an income assistance scheme on the occasion of Nuakhai, an agrarian festival celebrated mostly in the western region of Odisha. According to an official, an amount of Rs 2,000 each was directly transferred to the bank accounts of 43.88 lakh small and marginal farmers and other 68,750 landless farmers in Odisha under the Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA) scheme for Rabi crop. The state government launched the KALIA scheme in 2018, under which farmers are given Rs 4,000 in two equal instalments. So far, the state government has disbursed Rs 12,500 crore to farmers under the scheme. Today, on the occasion of Nuakhai, the farmers are paid Rs 2,000 as KALIA assistance for Rabi crop. Nuakhai is the festival of Mother Earth. Mother Earth blesses us with resources that are made available to us through the hard work of our farming community. They

Onion traders in Nashik district go on indefinite strike, suspend auctions

Trade sources suggest an immediate price hike of Rs 2 per kilogram due to the abrupt disruption in supplies

Govt to link 28 more wholesale mandis with online trading platform eNAM

The government will integrate 28 new wholesale mandis (market yards) with the online trading platform eNAM, taking the total count to 1,389 in the country, Agriculture Secretary Manoj Ahuja said on Tuesday. At present, 1,361 regulated mandis in 23 states and four Union Territories are linked with the electronic National Agriculture Market (eNAM), launched on April 26. "To further strengthen e-NAM, 28 new mandis were approved recently for integration to take the total count of mandis to 1389," Ahuja said at a workshop here on eNAM 2.0. He also emphasised on the importance of providing key information to the stakeholders of e-NAM at the right time. "It is important to remove information asymmetry," he said. Ahuja further said the information pertaining to quality of produce is as vital to the buyer, as the prices of commodities are vital to sellers. "From an economic perspective, the whole value chain must be made efficient and wastage must be reduced," he said. Faiz Ahmed Kidwai,

Agriculture exports dip in first quarter of FY24 on bans and curbs

Data shows that between April and June 2023, agriculture product exports dropped by almost 15 per cent compared to the same period last year

The unfinished job of farm mechanisation

The current level of farm mechanisation in India, reckoned officially at 47 per cent, is far lower than the 60 per cent in China and 75 per cent in Brazil

Farmers' incomes are key for boosting food security

Why enabling small-scale farmers to participate in food value chains can lead to rural prosperity

How plant sensors are improving Indian agriculture, checking waste

Sensors that monitor plant health, irrigation, nutrient use and weather are improving productivity, checking waste at farms and greenhouses

India expands curbs on rice exports with 20% duty on parboiled grade

Last month, India surprised buyers by imposing a ban on exports of widely consumed non-basmati white rice, following a ban on broken rice exports last year