Page 6 - Agriculture Sector

On Budget table: 100% MSP for oilseeds, pulses; Centre may tweak PM-AASHA

India's dependence on imports for meeting its domestic demand for edible oils has increased during the last few decades and roughly 60 percent of domestic consumption is met through imports

Govt to review performance of FPOs as support period coming to end

The government will conduct a thorough review of the performance of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) as the three-year support period for these entities coming to an end, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan announced on Monday. Chauhan made the statement after visiting 55 FPOs who displayed their products at a fair organised at Dilli Haat INA here. The FPO Scheme, launched in 2020, is aimed to form and promote 10,000 new FPOs by 2024 with a budgetary provision of Rs 6,865 crore. Under the programme, the government provided financial assistance of Rs 18 lakh per FPO for three years, along with a matching equity grant and credit guarantee facility. However, the minister acknowledged that outcomes have been varied, with some FPOs achieving significant success while others continue to face challenges. "Some FPOs are standing on their feet in three years, while some are struggling. We will conduct a thorough review of all FPOs to understand their progress and identify gaps w

Budget: Farm bodies for higher agri R&D spend, more PM-KISAN allotment

The farmers' groups pitched for the rationalization of fertilizer subsidies and infrastructure development to boost the sector's resilience against climate change

Monsoon rains a fifth below normal so far, raising agricultural concerns

Summer rains, critical to economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy, usually begin in the south around June 1 before spreading nationwide by July 8

Govt revises upwards wheat output to record 112.92 mn tonne for 2023-24

The government has revised upwards wheat production at record 112.92 million tonne for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) in its third estimate. The output, which has been revised upwards by 0.91 million tonne from the second estimate, is also higher than the previous record high of 110.55 million tonne achieved in the 2022-23 crop year, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, has been harvested and over 26 million tonne has already been procured by the central government at minimum support price. In its third estimate, the agriculture ministry has projected increase in rice output to 136.7 million tonne for 2023-24 from 135.75 million tonne in the previous crop year. However, the total foodgrain output is estimated slightly lower at 328.85 million tonne as compared to the level achieved in 2022-23 but higher by 21.1 million tonne from the last five years' average of 307.75 million tonne. Among pulses, tur output is pegged higher at 3.38 millio

New govt needs to fight inflation while bringing back focus on farm reforms

A favourable monsoon in 2024 should keep production worries at bay

In FY23, investments in mining, construction and manufacturing fell

Low capacity utilisation meant firms had less incentive to invest: Economists

Drone Destination partners Iffco for spraying agri products on 3 mn acres

Drone company Drone Destination on Monday said it has signed an agreement with cooperative major IFFCO for spraying agricultural products on up to 30 lakh acres of farm land. According to company officials, under the agreement Drone Destination could get paid in the range of Rs 400 to Rs 800 per acre at prevailing market rates, implying that the deal will fetch a revenue of Rs 120 crore in the lower price band and up to Rs 240 at upper price band. "We have secured a mandate for agri spray over 30 lakh acres. The prevailing market rate of such agri spray is in the range of Rs 400-800 per acre depending upon the region and the crop," Drone Destination managing director and CEO Chirag Sharma said. As part of the agreement, Drone Destination will undertake drone spray in 12 states across the country. These states include Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand. "We are elated to partner wit

Madhya Pradesh farmers struggle to make the most of soaring wheat prices

In poll season, dwindling wheat production is a matter of political debate

Centre orders mandatory declaration of wheat stock position from April 1

The Union government said that the move is in a bid to manage the overall food situation and prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation

BS Manthan: Finding common ground in ideologically divided farm sector

India's farm sector needs a thorough relook as the country marches towards the cherished goal of a developed nation by 2047, which the panel discussions promise to deliver

Vishwas Agri Seeds' Rs 26 crore SME IPO to open Mar 21: Check issue details

The brand "Vishwas" enjoys a strong presence in the market, the company claims, as over the years it has developed a robust network of distributors across states like Gujarat, Rajashtan and MP

BPSC BAO 2024: Answer key released at official website of the commission

BPSC has declared answer keys for Bihar Agriculture Department recruitment exams conducted from March 1 to 4. Applicants can download it from official website of the commission

Stubborn approach of govt proving to be dangerous: BKU chief Naresh Tikait

Bharatiya Kisan Union president Naresh Tikait on Tuesday wondered whether the farmers will always be in the agitation mode, block roads or head towards Delhi? On the proposed February 16 bandh call given by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and various organisations, Tikait said school vans, vehicles carrying patients and military vehicles will be allowed to go. The problems should be resolved through talks, he added. Asked to elaborate on the demands of the farmers, Tikait told PTI Video in Muzaffarnagar, "The demands are different from different states. Will the farmer always be undertaking agitation, block roads or head towards Delhi? "The government also has some (share) of responsibility. What is the problem in taking cognisance in these matters? And, the 'ziddi ravaiyya' (stubborn approach) is proving to be dangerous. The government should think (on these issues) and hold talks with the farmers," he said and asserted that Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) is always with the farmers. On .

Kota teen builds AI robot to help farmers assess soil health, water crop

A teenager in Rajasthan's Kota has built an all-purpose robot to help farmers assess soil and crop health, their water needs, and detect pests. Aryan Singh, 17, built the AgRobot at his school's Atal Tinkering Lab, a central government initiative to help school children hone their building skills. The son of a farmer, Aryan spent four years building the robot which won him the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar under science and technology category. Aryan was the only boy from Rajasthan among nine boys and ten girls from 18 states and Union Territories who won awards. He got the award from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on January 22 this year. "I belong to a farming family, grew up watching my grandparents and parents working in the field. While studying in class 10, I conceived the idea of developing a multi-task device and later developed a prototype that can reduce farmers' labour in the field," Aryan told PTI. The boy sent his proposal to NITI Ayog's Atal Innovatio

UPL Q3 results: Company posts consolidated net loss at Rs 1,217 crore

Sustainable agriculture products and solutions provider UPL on Friday reported a consolidated loss of Rs 1,217 crore during the December 2023 quarter. The company's net profit stood at Rs 1,087 crores during the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year, the company said in a regulatory filing. Its revenue from operations declined 27.72 per cent to Rs 9,887 crore in the quarter under review from Rs 13,679 crore a year ago. "Destocking continued to weigh down the global agrochemical market. Overall, prices remained stable quarter-on-quarter in the crop protection business but came off significantly compared to the high base of the previous year amid intense post-patent price competition. "Given this backdrop, our third quarter performance was significantly impacted by these headwinds in line with the rest of the industry, which is currently experiencing its worst downturn in decades," UPL Corporation CEO Mike Frank said. However, the company did see a pick-up in volumes

Budget 2024: A glance Budget 2023 announcements for agriculture sector

From welfare schemes to infrastructure & digital development, here are the highlights of Budget 2023 for the agricultural sector in India and the expectation for the Interim Budget 2024

China expands imports, planting approvals of additional gene-modified crops

The agriculture ministry approved the domestic production of six more varieties of genetically modified corn, two of soybeans and one of cotton, and another two of gene-edited soybeans

Can allied sectors save agriculture from the blushes in FY24?

The uneven southwest monsoon ensured that production of almost all kharif crops was down in 2023-24

Uttar Pradesh's priority sector lending likely to jump 52% in FY25

Against the aggregate credit flow of Rs 3.75 trillion in FY24, the advances of Rs 5.73 trillion will reflect a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth of 52 per cent