Page 33 - Agriculture

G20 agriculture ministers' meet in Hyderabad from June 15-17: Kishan Reddy

The crucial G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting would be held in Hyderabad from June 15 to 17, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday. Talking to reporters here, he said three meetings of the agriculture working group were held earlier in Indore, Chandigarh and Varanasi. The final meeting is in Hyderabad. Besides India, 29 other countries will participate in the three-day event. G20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Canada, South Africa, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, USA and UK would attend. The ministers of nine guest countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Oman, Nigeria, Spain and Vietnam would also participate. "The agriculture ministers of 29 countries and high-level officers are going to participate in this meeting with Hyderabad as the venue. It will be held from 15th to 17th," he said. Besides the 29 countries, key persons from 10 international organisations would also participate in the meetings. The main agenda o

Agritech startup Fuselage qualifies for Global Entrepreneurship Programme

Agritech startup Fuselage Innovations has been selected for the UK government's Global Entrepreneurship Programme (GEP), making the Kerala-based company eligible for relocation to the European nation. Fuselage, which provides drone-based agricultural surveillance and spraying solutions, qualifies for mentorship by experienced entrepreneurs and introduction to key networks, courtesy the GEP that lends business support to non-UK firms. Specialising in manufacturing customised UAVs and drones for agricultural aerial plant survey and spraying, Fuselage, which was founded by Devan Chandrasekharan and Devika Chandrasekharan, will be guided under GEP on ways to grow internationally. Once shifted to the UK, that country's Department of Internal Trade will help Fuselage, especially around exporting, according to a statement issued by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) here on Monday. The programme will help the 2020-founded Fuselage build capacity in key business areas, according to Devan ..

Under Modi, farm income halved, agri cost doubled: Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday said the Narendra Modi government halved farmers' income and doubled agricultural cost in its nine-year rule. He was reacting to the Central government announcing a hike in in MSP (minimum support price) on Thursday. During the Congress-led UPA regime (between 2004 and 2014) MSP on paddy was increased by 131 percent, while the Modi government has increased it by just 61-62 per cent, Baghel told reporters at Civil Lines Helipad. "The income of farmers in India has not doubled but the cost of agriculture has doubled. Rates of diesel, fertilizer and agriculture equipment have gone up. Production cost has increased and income (of farmers) has been halved," he alleged. Hitting back at former CM Minister Raman Singh's charge that development work has happened only in his home turf Patan and Durg, Baghel said corruption took place even in ration card and slipper distribution during the Bharatiya Janata Party's tenure. "Raman Singh was

Amazon signs pact with ICAR to empower farmers enrolled under Kisan store

E-commerce firm Amazon India on Friday signed an agreement with the government's premier agri-research body ICAR to guide farmers enrolled on its 'Kisan store' on scientific cultivation of different crops and help them achieve optimum yield and income. A 'Kisan store' section was launched on the Amazon platform in September 2021. Farmers can avail doorstep delivery of agri input products via Kisan store through assisted shopping at Amazon Easy stores. The outcomes from a pilot project at Pune between Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Krishi Vigyan Kendra and Amazon India has motivated to further expand the partnership, the company said in a statement. On behalf of ICAR, U S Gautam, Deputy Director General (Agricultural Extension), and Siddharth Tata, Product Leader, Amazon Fresh Supply Chain and Kisan, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). "ICAR will collaborate with Amazon for technologies, capacity building and transfer of new knowledge," ICAR Director Genera

Need to promote recycling of agri-waste, chemical-free farming: MoS Agri

Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary on Monday stressed recycling of agriculture waste and chemical-free farming. The agriculture ministry organised an event on Mission LiFE on the occasion of World Environment Day at Pusa in New Delhi. The programme began with a tree plantation activity on the premises of the venue by Choudhary. In his remarks, the minister highlighted the importance of lifestyle for the environment and stressed chemical-free farming as one important option for sustaining the resources for future generations, according to an official statement. He emphasised the adoption of Mission LiFE in agriculture to address the adverse impact of climate change. Quoting the example of Rajasthan, he mentioned that the state is having pre-monsoon showers more frequently than in previous years. Untimely and heavy rains are causing distress to the farming community. Farmers are highly vulnerable to climate change, the minister said. To address this, he highlighted

Tamil Nadu farmers worried as wild animals destroy standing crops

Owing to abundant rainfall last year, almost all the dams brimmed with water in the state leading to a good crop of millets, paddy and maize

High-density farming poses threat to environment: Agriculture expert

He said that there is also a need to preserve the ecology and biodiversity in states like Himachal with the method of organic agriculture

When does India declare drought and how is it linked to the monsoon

One big change in India's drought management is in the IMD's parlance

New agri policy to be rolled out on June 30: Punjab Agri Minister Dhaliwal

Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday said the new agriculture policy will be released on June 30 this year. It will help to solve many problems of farmers, he added. Dhaliwal said that the new agriculture policy is being prepared with the suggestions of farmers, agricultural experts, farmer leaders, common people and representatives of different sections. The minister, while presiding over the nearly four-hour-long meeting with a delegation of Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) here regarding their various demands, said the new agriculture policy is being prepared with the aim to boost the economy of the farmers. Apart from this, the state government is also making continuous efforts to solve many problems of the farmers. The Punjab government is exploring the opportunities to export vegetables and other crops grown by farmers to neighbouring countries, an official statement quoted Dhaliwal as saying. Regarding the demand made by the farmer leaders to release the

India to host 20th Congress of Int'l Agricultural Museums in October

The 20th edition of the Congress of International Agricultural Museums will be hosted in India -- the first time that the global event is being held in the country -- from October 13-18, the organisers said. The congress is a triennial event in the calendar of the International Association of Agricultural Museums (AIMA), a forum for organisations dedicated to promoting interest in the impact of agriculture on human society through the ages. It travels to different countries every three years to discover diverse and unique agricultural, environmental and museographic realities that provide new ideas, experiences and projects that can resonate in other regions and countries, the organisers said in a statement. The 20th Congress of International Agricultural Museums (CIMA) is being held in Asia, and in India for the first time, between October 13-18, it said. The host institutions are Shoolini University (Solan, Himachal Pradesh) and The Heritage Foundation (New Delhi), according to t

Funding for agrifoodtech startups declines 33% to $2.4 bn in 2022

Funding in Indian agrifoodtech startups declined 33 per cent during the last calendar year to USD 2.4 billion on higher base, according to AgFunder and Omnivore joint report. "Agrifoodtech startups in India raised a total of USD 2.4 billion in 2022, down 33 per cent from 2021. The number of deals also declined to 133 in 2022, compared to 230 deals in 2021," said India AgriFoodTech Investment Report 2023. The funding stood at USD 3.6 billion during the 2021 calendar year. "The agrifoodtech startup ecosystem in India mirrored the global slump in venture capital funding in 2022. Funding dropped 33 per cent to USD 2.4 billion in 2022, from USD 3.6 billion in 2021. Euphoric startup valuations, alongside easy money, drove investments to a record-breaking high in 2021, followed by a swift correction," the report said. Despite the fall, it noted that the sector is a critical emerging space in India for transforming agriculture and ensuring food security. As per the report, late-stage ...

Odisha government to provide free crop insurance to farmers for 3 years

The Odisha government on Monday announced that it will provide free crop insurance to all farmers in the state for the next three years. Cooperation Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak made the announcement after a review of his department by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. "The Cooperation Department would bear the premium of the insurance from the 2023 Kharif season to the 2025-26 Rabi season. Odisha is the first state in the country to provide free crop insurance to farmers," he said. He said the department has been providing short terms agriculture loans to the farmers at low interest rates. As promised during the elections, the state government has increased the interest-free loan cap from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Under the scheme, more than 7 lakh small and marginal farmers have been provided loans, amounting to Rs 16,683.57 crore during the 2022-23 financial year, Nayak said.

Spread cultivation of millets in newer ares of Andhra Pradesh: Governor

Andhra Pradesh Governor S Abdul Nazeer on Monday called for an action plan to ensure cultivation of millets is taken up in different parts of the state. The Governor made these remarks while presiding over the 55th convocation of Acharya N G Ranga Agicultural University (ANGRAU) at Bapatla. "The Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) of the United Nations has set a target to achieve food security, end hunger, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030," said the Governor in a press release shared by the Raj Bhavan. In this effort, Nazeer noted that millets should be brought into cultivation in newer areas in collaboration with the Agriculture department. As millets are a rich source of nutrition, besides being climate resilient, he said India is promoting a diet based on this rich source. According to the Governor, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative, 2023 has been declared as the 'International Year of Millets' by the United Nations General Assembl

Rs 2,000 note withdrawal might disturb business, but not much: Traders

"In central India mandis, an average trader does a business of Rs 10-15 lakh a day during peak season, much of which is still in cash

Over 100,000 farmers from 1,000 panchayats attend orientation in J&K

At least 1.10 lakh farmers from 1,000 panchayats of Jammu and Kahsmir took part in the orientation programme which has been organised in four rounds to create awareness about various agricultural schemes of the government, officials said. The 'Kisan Sampark Abhiyan' has been rolled out under the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan (HADP) with 29 proposed projects with an outlay of Rs 5,012 crore to be implemented in the next five years. The latest round, conducted from May 15 to May 17, saw a remarkable turnout. The programme has covered 1,097 panchayats thus far. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha also joined the campaign, visiting Dooru panchayat in Anantnag district and Hardpanzoo panchayat in Budgam district. "Over 1.10 lakh farmers have participated in the orientation programme in 1,000 panchayats held over four rounds in Jammu and Kashmir. The latest round, conducted from May 15 to May 17, saw a remarkable turnout. The programme has covered 1,097 panchayats thus far," said Ata

Circular economy necessary to promote livelihood security: Agri scientist

Circular economy is the need of the hour to promote entrepreneurship and livelihood security for better health index of the people, Padma Bhusan awardee agriculture scientist R B Singh said on Tuesday. Singh emphasised the importance of agricultural and industrial waste management for environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship after inaugurating a five-day training programme here, an official statement said. Singh also mentioned that zero waste is important for achieving 'zero hunger' and focus needs to be given on 3Ps, i.e. People, Planet and Prosperity. The training programme on "entrepreneurship opportunities on agricultural and industrial waste management for environmental sustainability" is being organised by Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI)'s Division of Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with Zonal Technology Management and Business Plan Development Unit, and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development India. The aim is to raise awareness and ..

Uttar Pradesh govt aims to double maize output to 2.75 mt in 4-5 years

Globally, maize is referred to as the "queen of cereals" owing to its high genetic yield potential among the cereal crops

Himachal Pradesh govt to cover 1,800 hectares for orange production

The Himachal Pradesh government has proposed to cover 1,800 hectares of land in the state for orange production, under HP Subtropical Horticulture, Irrigation and Value Addition (SHIVA) project, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said. State Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi-led delegation, which is on a six-day tour to Australia as part of the project, observed the micro-grafting technique in orange cultivation, besides discussing citrus pathology programme and national citrus repository programme, a statement issued here on Saturday said. The HP SHIVA project has been funded by the Asian Development Bank. Citrus fruits are grown in plain areas of the state where the maximum temperature is between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. This is a key initiative of the state government to gain technical knowledge from Australia and utilise it to guide local horticulturists for improving the sector, the chief minister said, adding that this will help in preparing high quality orange plan

MoS Agri pitches for adoption of new farm tech for achieving $5 trn economy

Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhary on Friday said mass adoption of new technologies like drones, artificial intelligence (AI) and precision farming in the agriculture sector is essential for India to achieve USD 5 trillion economy milestone. "... we need to leverage new technologies, such as drones, AI, precision farming, blockchain in farming to achieve Prime Minister Narendra Modi's near future target of USD 5 trillion economy," the minister said while addressing an event organised by agro-chemical firm Dhanuka Group. Choudhary also urged scientists to identify untapped areas, such as rain-fed districts to increase agriculture production substantially by empowering farmers with new agri technologies. The potential of most of the agri-land in the country has been exhausted, only the area dependant on rains is left whose potential needs to be tapped, he said in a statement. Making a strong pitch for genetically modified (GM) crops, Deepak Pental, former Vice ...

Wheat output may surpass govt estimate of 112.18 mn tonnes on higher yields

India's wheat production may surpass the government's estimate of record 112.18 million tonnes in the 2022-23 crop year (July-June) on a likely jump in crop yields in major growing states despite inclement weather affecting the grain quality in some parts, Agriculture Commissioner P K Singh said on Thursday. Weeks before the untimely rains, the government in its second estimate released in February projected wheat output at 112.18 million tonnes for the 2022-23 crop year. The previous record in wheat production was 109.59 million tonnes in 2020-21 crop year. "Overall, the wheat production is likely to surpass the estimate of 112.18 million tonne on account of better crop yields," Singh told PTI. The crop yields have improved in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh even as the untimely rainfall during the harvesting stage in the March-April period has caused damage to the grain in terms of lustre loss and high moisture, he said. The yields have improved on account of climate resistanc