Page 31 - Agriculture

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

Pilot project of residue-free basmati being undertaken: Punjab Minister

The Punjab government has undertaken a pilot project under which residue-free basmati crop has been cultivated in Chogawan block in Amritsar district, state agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Sunday. Residue-free practice entails minimal or no usage of chemicals. The initiative is aimed at promoting organic farming in the state as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, said the minister. The Chogawan block is popular for growing quality basmati rice. "Basmati rice has a great export potential as most of the grains produced in the region are being exported to the European and Middle-Eastern countries," said Khudian, while adding that presently, basmati rice is exported to more than 60 countries. Amritsar district alone contributed rice exports of around Rs 9,000 crore last year, he added. To increase the export potential of basmati rice from Punjab, Khudian stated that the state agriculture department has also launched an awareness campaign to sensitise far

EU ends restrictions on Ukraine's agri exports, Zelenskyy welcomes move

In his nightly address on Friday, Zelenskyy said, "Now, it is important that European unity works on a bilateral level - with the neighbours."

Area under millets except bajra lower than last year this season

Jowar, along with bajra and ragi, constitutes almost 70 per cent of the millets produced in the country

Paddy area up 2.71% so far in kharif season, pulse acreage down slightly

Area sown to paddy rose 2.71 per cent to 409.41 lakh hectare so far in the current kharif season, while sowing is underway in a few places, according to agriculture ministry data released on Friday. Paddy-sowing area was 398.58 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. In the kharif season of the 2022-23 crop year (July-June), sowing begins with the onset of southwest monsoon from June and harvesting from October. According to the data, area coverage of paddy, coarse cereals, and sugarcane remained higher as so far this kharif season from the year-ago period. Acreage of pulses, oilseeds, jute and mesta and cotton lagged behind, it showed. Coarse cereals acreage rose marginally to 183.11 lakh hectare as on September 15 as against 181.48 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. However, area sown to pulses remained lower at 121 lakh hectare so far this season, as against 127.57 lakh hectares in the year-ago period. Area under oilseeds, too, remained marginally lower at 192.20 lakh hectare

Tea cos to witness 8% fall in revenue on decline in exports: Crisil Ratings

The tea industry is likely to witness an 8 per cent year-on-year decline this fiscal due to decreasing export volume following the rise in supply from Sri Lanka, a report said on Friday. The operating profitability of the industry will fall for the second year in a row, shedding 100 basis points (bps) to 5 per cent due to lower realisation, Crisil Ratings said in a report. Profitability had fallen 150 bps last fiscal, primarily because of an increase in wages, the report said, adding that in FY23, wages that constitute 20 per cent of total input cost were hiked by 15 per cent. However, low leverage and negligible capital expenditure (capex) will keep credit profiles stable, the report stated. The tea industry will report 8 per cent year-on-year degrowth in revenue this fiscal, led by a decline in export volume, the agency said. "Domestic demand, which accounts for 82 per cent of sales volume, should remain steady at 1,100 million kg this fiscal. However, exports, which make up 18

Extreme weather turns up the heat on long-term investment in agriculture

Rising global temperatures threaten to damage crops that rely on predictable weather, which will likely lead to higher food prices

Pulses prices stabilise as rains revive over major growing states

Centre tightens stock limit on wheat; says no shortage of sugar stocks

Govt further cuts stock limit on wheat traders, retailers amid price rise

The government on Thursday further reduced the stock limit on wheat traders, wholesalers and big chain retailers to 2,000 tonnes from 3,000 tonnes with immediate effect amid uptick in prices. Announcing the decision, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said: "Keeping in view of recent uptick in the prices, we have had a review of the stock limits and effective today the stock limit on traders, wholesalers and big chain retailers stand reduced to 2000 tonne." Three months back on June 12, the government had imposed a stock limit of 3,000 tonnes on these wheat players till March 2024. The stock limit has been reduced to 2,000 tonnes as the government found there is an "an uptick in the wheat prices on the NCDEX by 4 per cent to Rs 2,550 per quintal in the past one month." "Although there is adequate availability of wheat in the country, I think there are some elements which are trying to create some artificial scarcity," Chopra told reporters.

Tea auction system not helping in optimum price discovery in N India: CTTA

Tea producers have opined that the new Bharat auction system introduced in North India from April this year is not helping in the discovery of optimum prices of the brew. According to Tea Board data, average price realisation in North India from April to July in 2023-24 was lower at Rs 205.10 per kilogramme as compared to Rs 220.74 per kilogramme in the same period of 2022-23, when auctions were conducted using the English system. The Bharat auction system was introduced in Kolkata, Guwahati and Siliguri from April this year replacing old the English auction system. Anish Bhansali, immediate past chairman of Calcutta Tea Traders Association (CTTA), which provides the auction platform in Kolkata, said "the English auction system was better for the users. He said the auction prices have been lower in the current year because of the poor demand conditions. "At the end of the day, the issue boils down to the question of demand and supply. Having said that, I feel the English auction ..

Meet Lahari Bai | India's Millets Ambassador

Meet Lahari Bai, India's Millets Ambassador. From her humble abode in Silpidi, she safeguards a treasure: a seed bank, a 'doomsday vault', protecting over 150 indigenous millet varieties >

Cut in import duty on US apples will ruin J&K's fruit industry: Congress

Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Vikar Rasool Wani on Wednesday said that the cut in duty on apples, walnuts and apricots being imported by India from the US will ruin the fruit industry in the Union Territory. Wani demanded immediate withdrawal of the central government order. "It is a serious concern to all of us that the Modi government has taken a decision to reduce import duty on apples, walnuts and apricots being imported from the United States to India, from 70 per cent to 15 per cent. It will destroy the economy of apple growers of Jammu and Kashmir who will be worst hit along with the apple fruit growers of Himachal Pradesh," he told reporters in Banihal. The Congress leader questioned the Centre's decision which he claimed was taken to detriment of local orchardists of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. He said that fruit growers in both regions have suffered immensely for different reasons in the past and the latest duty cut will spell their doom. Wani said t

India's law on farmers' rights can be a model for the world: Droupadi Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said India's law on protection of plant varieties and farmers' rights can be emulated for the entire world as it gains importance amid the challenges of climate change. Addressing the first ever global symposium on farmers' rights here, the President said India has taken a lead in introducing the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act (PPVFR), which is aligned to the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for food and agriculture to protect farmers. India provides a range of rights to farmers that include use, reuse, save, share and sell the unbranded seeds of a registered variety. Besides, farmers can register their own varieties which get protection, she said. "Such an act can serve as an excellent model worthy of emulation for the entire world," the President noted. She further said this gains importance amid challenges posed by climate change and also to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

685 farmer suicides in Marathwada so far; agri min's home district on top

As many as 685 farmers have committed suicide this year till August 31 in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, according to an official report, with the highest deaths at 186 reported from Beed, the home district of state Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde. The arid region in central Maharashtra consists of eight districts -- Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Osmanabad, Hingoli and Latur. As per a report of the Divisional Commissioner's office here, 685 cultivators have ended their lives between January 1 and August 31, 2023, in the region and 294 of these deaths took place in three monsoon months alone (June to August). Marathwada is currently facing 20.7 per cent rainfall deficit. The region has so far received 455.4 mm of rainfall (till September 11) as against 574.4 mm of average monsoon showers (during period under review), an official said. The highest number of farmer suicides in the region at 186 was reported from Beed district, said the report. Beed is the home ...

Multi-billion dollar India-Nigeria infra deal to boost agriculture, ports

The agreement, signed on Sept. 6 with Invest India, is expected to help the West African country industrialize its agriculture and manufacturing sectors and cut reliance on imports

G20 first spouses see breakthroughs in India's agriculture sector at IARI

As many as 15 spouses of G20 leaders including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's wife, Yoko Kishida, on Saturday visited the 1,200-acre PUSA-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus here -- the seat of India's Green Revolution -- and saw the breakthroughs in Indian agriculture and enjoyed the farm-to-fork millet experience. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's wife Akshata Murty and World Bank President Ajay Banga's wife Ritu Banga were among the delegation of first ladies and spouses of G20 leaders who visited the IARI campus here in the national capital. They were received by Kyoko Jaishankar, the wife of India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. They were welcomed by a grand "millets-rangoli" at the exhibition that showcased the curated millets from 18-odd countries, and the burgeoning startup ecosystem and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in India. "At the exhibition area, 15 #Agristartups showcased innovative tech solutions to address ground-level ...

Basmati rice and humble makhana on global platter for G20 chiefs' spouses

The exhibition will also feature displays on various climate-resistant crop varieties crucial for food and nutritional security

Mohali to Manila: Rice economy faces turmoil as El Nino turns up heat

The agriculture department is coordinating with the state's irrigation and energy departments to ensure optimum supply of water and electricity

El Nino's potential impact on rabi crops overcasts govt's fiscal arithmetic

Food inflation rose to a three and a half year high of 11.51 per cent in July this year, compared to 4.31 per cent in the previous month

Rural demand vulnerable due to higher food inflation, lower income: Report

The country's rural demand is vulnerable and could be further impacted by the "dual blows" of lower income and high food inflation due to an erratic monsoon, according to a domestic rating agency. The upcoming festivities may lead to a rise in consumption demand but such an increase will depend on the extent of the skewed monsoon impact, CareEdge Ratings said in a report released on Tuesday. Consumption, including rural demand, is considered an important factor influencing the overall GDP growth in the country. Some FMCG players have already flagged concerns on the rural demand front. "Rural demand remains vulnerable and can be hit by a dual blow of higher food inflation and lower income," the rating agency said. It said the risk to farm income remains high as uneven distribution of monsoon has affected the sowing of certain crops and can adversely affect yields. The cost of living is also rising due to high food inflation and expected hit to agriculture due to an erratic monsoon,