Page 15 - Agriculture

PM Modi lauds change in agri export policy, says will boost farmers income

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded recent changes in agricultural export policies, stating that easing export norms on basmati rice and onions, and increasing import duties on some edible oils will boost farmers' incomes and create rural jobs. On Friday, the government scrapped a USD 950 per tonne minimum export price (MEP) for basmati rice and removed a USD 550 per tonne MEP on onions, according to government statements. The government on Saturday raised import duty on crude palm oil to 20 per cent and on refined sunflower oil to 32.5 per cent, aiming to support domestic oilseed farmers and processors. In a post on X, Modi said the government is leaving no stone unturned to support farmers who work tirelessly for the country's food security. "Whether it is reducing the export duty on onions or increasing the import duty on edible oils, many such decisions are going to greatly benefit our food producers. While these will increase their income, employment opportunities

Life sciences major Bayer launches ForwardFarm for first time in India

Worldwide, Bayer has 29 such farms across the globe, and the first one was just launched in India

Lulu Group aiming to up agri sourcing from India to Rs 15,000 cr in 2 yrs

UAE-headquartered retailer Lulu Group is looking to increase the quantum of Indian agri procurements to Rs 15,000 crore in the next two years as it expands its network globally, a top company official said on Tuesday. Its Chairman and Managing Director M A Yusuff Ali told reporters that the company plans to have a special focus on the organic good procurement and sees the value of such goods going up to Rs 2,000 crore in a year. "About Rs 10,000 crore imports (of agri products) we are doing every year. We are looking to increase it to Rs 15,000 crore within two years because we are also expanding our footprint in many countries," he said. The imports primarily include commodities such as fruits, vegetables, rice, tea, sugar, spice and millets, he said, pointing out that the produce goes to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other far-east countries. Ali said his group has tied up with the Indian government-promoted Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export ...

Punjab govt to procure over 11,000 CRM machines to check stubble burning

The Punjab government has issued sanction letters for procuring 11,052 crop residue management (CRM) machines to help farmers manage paddy straw, said Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Tuesday. Khuddian also said 5,534 CRM machines have already been acquired so far by farmers in the state. Of these, 4,640 machines were purchased by individual farmers, 745 by registered farmer groups, 119 by cooperative societies and 30 by farmer producer organisations, he said in a statement. He further said super seeder machine leads the pack among CRM machines, with 4,945 sanction letters issued for this equipment. The minister said the department received 21,830 applications from farmers, cooperative societies and panchayats seeking subsidies for different crop residue management (CRM) machinery during the Kharif season 2024-25. Khuddian also mentioned that 163 custom hiring centres have been established across the state to facilitate small and marginal farmers in accessing CRM ...

Urad, moong sowing area rise during week ended Sept 6, shows data

Overall, kharif crops have so far been planted in 109.23 million hectares of land, which is higher than the 106.92 million hectares planted during the same period last year

Chhattisgarh farmers surpass sowing target hoping high paddy price

Though the state has surpassed the paddy sowing target, it is yet to achieve the overall kharif crop sowing target for the season even as the sowing has come to a halt

Controlling chemical contamination in agri raw materials must: FSSAI

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday asserted that controlling chemical contamination in agricultural raw materials is essential for advancing the food industry. FSSAI executive director Inoshi Sharma said enforcing Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) in crops, fruits, and spices presents a significant challenge. Speaking at an event organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce here, she stressed the need for regular audits and the rejection of non-compliant produce at farm gates. Sharma also underscored the importance of educating buyers about the detrimental effects of excessive pesticide use, which can lead to contamination in raw materials. She announced plans to form a committee with representatives from various ministries and departments to address this issue. Furthermore, Sharma emphasised the necessity for accurate labeling and the avoidance of misleading claims by Food Business Organizations (FBOs). She advocated for a culture of 'Self-Compliance' amo

India key market for Syngenta, focus on innovation for farmers: CEO Rowe

Global agricultural company Syngenta considers India one of its most important markets worldwide with a strong focus on bringing innovation to Indian farmers and enhancing food security, according to CEO Jeff Rowe. In an interview with PTI, Rowe highlighted the unique challenges and opportunities in the Indian market. "The rapid growth of the market is both a challenge and an opportunity. While it brings some hurdles, the opportunities far outweigh the challenges," he said. Syngenta's offerings are tailored to meet the specific needs of Indian farmers. "We have some of the best new products that we are bringing to the market. As a global company operating in over 100 countries, we prioritize bringing our innovations to India early," he stated. The company's expansion plans in India focus on introducing new production practices for more sustainable, effective, and profitable farming. Rowe sees potential across India but noted the northern region's importance as the country's ...

Syngenta may look to increase manufacturing under Make in India: CEO

Rowe talks about Syngenta's strong presence in India for a long time

Centre approves 7 major agri schemes worth Rs 14,000 crore

On September 2, the Union Cabinet rolled out 7 new schemes with a total budget of nearly Rs 14,000 crore to boost the agriculture sector. Watch the video to know the details.

Import dependence: Crop diversification can improve edible oil production

There is a need to adopt improved farming practices and advanced production technologies to raise productivity and output in the long term to be able to reduce dependence on import

Cabinet approves seven agricultural projects worth Rs 13,966 crore

Cabinet approves seven agricultural projects worth Rs 13,966 crore

Plan to diversify in India, abroad: GIC Re CMD Ramaswamy Narayanan

We plan to finish at around Rs 42,000-43,000 crore for FY25, up 15-16 per cent from last year at Rs 37,000 crore, driven by the health segment to a great extent, said GIC CMD Narayanan

How falling farm prices worry BJP ahead of Haryana and Maharashtra polls

Falling prices of agricultural produce are worrisome for the BJP in Haryana and Maharashtra, where elections are due, Sanjeeb Mukherjee reports

Tax reform dilemmas: Taxing agri, adjusting exemptions key to fairness

Any proposed reforms, therefore, need to be analysed from this perspective as well

China proposes new curbs on grain imports in order to boost local prices

The move, ahead of a forecast bumper grains harvest this year, is the latest effort by China to ease domestic oversupply and bolster local prices

Rains likely to spell trouble for kharif acreage in India, shows data

The good news is that the areas under arhar, groundnut, soybean, and cotton are more than their five-year average

Paddy sowing increases 4.29% so far in 2024-25 kharif season: Report

Paddy acreage increased by 4.29 per cent to 39.42 million hectare so far in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif (summer) season, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. In the year-ago period, the area under paddy was 37.8 million hectare. Sowing of paddy, the main kharif crop, begins with the onset of the southwest monsoon in June, and harvesting takes place from October Additionally, the area sown to pulses increased to 12.21 million hectare till August 27 of the ongoing season against 11.55 million hectare in the same period last year, the ministry said in a statement. The coverage of 'arhar' rose to 4.57 million hectare from 4.07 million hectare. Arhar (tur) sowing has been completed. The area sown to 'urad' was 2.9 million hectare against 3.08 million hectare. The area under coarse cereals and 'Shree Anna' (millets) increased to 18.55 million hectare from 17.75 million hectare in the year-ago period. Among coarse cereals, the area under maize rose to 8.72 million hectare against 8

Uttar Pradesh government plans clusters to meet farm exports target

The state government plans to leverage the Centre's Rs 1,800 crore Clean Plant Programme to enhance the quality of horticultural exports

Sugar industry fears new norms likely to bring back old restrictions

Joint meeting of all associations to be convened to form a common response before September deadline