Page 35 - Agriculture

Over 30 mn women farmers registered under PM-KISAN scheme: Govt in LS

The PM-KISAN Yojana aims to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers

Approximately 11,000 MT of wheat procured in current Rabi season: FCI chief

Procurement of wheat for Rabi marketing season 2023-24 has been to the tune of 10,727 metric tonnes till March 27 as compared to nil procurement last year.

Our sourcing from India has grown from 11% to over 23%: Bayer's Santos

In a Q&A, the president of the firm's crop science division says digital farming will be a key driver of the company's growth in India in the years ahead

India has adequate fertiliser stocks for summer-sown crops: Minister

"There will be no shortages of fertilisers in the kharif season. We have adequate stocks, and our companies have made arrangements in advance," Mansukh Mandaviya said

Agriculture Min ropes in Nafed for promotion of govt's millets initiative

The Agriculture Ministry on Monday said it has roped in cooperative Nafed for promotion of the government's millets initiative at global scale, including installation of millet vending machines and setting up of an experience centre in Delhi-NCR. Nafed, which has entered into a MoU with the ministry in this regard, will set up a millet corner in Nafed Bazaar Retail Stores, install millet vending machines across Delhi-NCR, an official statement said. It will also establish a millets' experience centre at Delhi Haat, to promote nutritious millets and create awareness on the rich history of India through millet-based dishes. Nafed will extend marketing linkage to millets-centric startups, it added. "Nafed has entered into an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture to extend its support to millets initiatives," an official statement said. India, the world's major millets producing country, is promoting millets as part of the International Year of Millets (IYoM) celebration this year. Tha

Rs 900 cr sanctioned for holistic development of agriculture sector in J&K

An amount of Rs 900 crore has been sanctioned by the Centre for holistic development of the agriculture sector in Jammu and Kashmir, a government official said, participating in a Kisan Mela' here. The day-long Mela evoked a massive response with over 900 farmers and other stakeholders including agri startups turning up to know about the latest scientific farming techniques and different government schemes. Director Agriculture production and farmers welfare department said besides educating farmers and agri-Startups about the latest developments, the event has been organised with a focus to encourage farmers to adopt cultivation of Millets. The central government has sanctioned Rs 900 crore for holistic development of the agriculture sector with focus on doubling the income of farmers in J&K, he said. The Kisan Mela, inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan, was held at community Hall, marking the beginning of agricultural activities after prolonged winter in the .

World Bank pledges $500mn to support Lebanon's agri, vulnerable population

The World Bank announced that it will allocate about $300 million this year to provide social protection to Lebanon's vulnerable population and invest $200 million in the country's agriculture sector.

Systemic failure

Instability in prices of perishables must be addressed

Par panel pulls up agriculture dept for surrender of Rs 44,016 cr in 3 yrs

A Parliamentary panel has expressed concern over the surrender of funds amounting to Rs 44,015.81 crore in three financial years, including the current fiscal, by the Department of Agriculture and said corrective measures should be taken to ensure full utilisation of the budgeted amount. The Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing has laid its report on the department in the Lok Sabha on March 13 and in the Rajya Sabha on March 14. "The Committee note from the reply of the Department that funds have been surrendered amounting to Rs 23,824.54 crore, Rs 429.22 crore and Rs 19,762.05 crore during 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (tentative), respectively. That means Rs 44,015.81 crore in total have been surrendered by the Department in these years," the report said. The committee have been informed that the surrender of funds is mainly on account of less requirement under NES (North Eastern States), SCSP (Schedule Caste Sub-Plan) and Tribal Area Sub-Plan ...

BJP has made agriculture an unprofitable proposition: SP's Akhilesh Yadav

He claimed farmers were being exploited because of the anti-farmer policies of the BJP government

Three Centre of Excellence to be set up for fruits, vegetables: Agri Min

The Agriculture Ministry on Friday said three Centre of Excellence (CoE) will be set up for dragon fruit, mango, vegetables and flowers at Bengaluru, Jajpur and Goa. The ministry "has approved 49 CoEs till now, out of which 3 CoEs have been approved on March 9, 2023" under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), an official statement said. One CoE for Kamlam (Dragon Fruit) will be set up by the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) at experimental station Hirehalli in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The second CoE for mango and vegetables will be set up under the Indo-Israel Action Plan at Panikoili, Jajpur District, Odisha. The third CoE for vegetables and flowers under the Indo-Israel Action Plan will be established at a government agricultural farm in Ponda, South Goa. Under the MIDH, Centers of Excellence are being established in various states through Bilateral Cooperation or Research Institutes. These CoEs serve as demonstration and training centres

Why falling prices of onions and potatoes are distressing farmers

Prices of these three commodities have seen perhaps the wildest fluctuations in agriculture commodities among all crops for multiple reasons

Govt agencies to buy red onion as prices plunge on surplus output

Govt said it has directed two of its agencies to "immediately intervene" and purchase red onion crops from the market after prices fell significantly over last month, resulting in protests by farmers

Government to soon launch seed traceability system: Agriculture Minister

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday said the government will soon launch a seed traceability system to ensure the availability of good quality seeds to the farmers. "This will curb the pilferage in the seed trade sector," Tomar said addressing a two-day Indian Seed Congress organized by the National Seed Association of India here in the national capital. Farmers will benefit from its launch and the people doing good work in the seeds sector will also get help, an official statement quoted Tomar having said at the event. The government is concerned about obstacles faced in the seeds sector. The suggestions have been received from the stakeholders on the seed traceability system, he added. Taking into account the rising population and the challenge of climate change, Tomar said everyone engaged in the farm sector should be ready to meet the future needs of India and the world. He also called on stakeholders of the seeds sector to contribute to make the country ...

Tourism has same potential in India as agriculture, infrastructure: PM Modi

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that the new India of today is moving forward with a new work culture

MGNREGA: Why govt's app-based attendance system is facing protest

Rural Development Minister Giriraj Singh termed the recent measures steps to check corruption in the scheme and said the government would not compromise on transparency

Haryana govt initiates climate-smart agriculture in 1,669 villages

It is now bearing fruit in just a year, and the results are encouraging with the government saying micro-irrigation has increased the yield of fruits and vegetables by 52 per cent

Open source-based platform for agri to be like UPI, says PM Modi

Says farm budget rose five times in nine years to over Rs 1.25 trillion

El Nino risk for inflation, farm output in India: Finance ministry

IMD predicts above-normal temperatures this year

IARI builds pond in Pusa campus to meet water need of research farm land

A rain water harvesting pond spread over 2.5 acres has been built in the city-based Pusa-IARI campus -- the cradle of green revolution in the country -- that has a capacity to meet 60 per cent of total water requirement of the research farm land. Currently, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) has about 1,200 acres of farm land for research purpose alone. IARI has dug a pond under the 'Amrit Sarovar' scheme under which 75 ponds are to be constructed in every district of the country. "In Pusa campus, we have our own area of 1,200 acres. Earlier, the rain water was flowing into the Najafgarh drain. Now, we have created a Pusa Amrit Sarovar in an area of 2.5 acres," IARI Director A K Singh said. The pond has a water holding capacity of 50,000 cubic metres and can meet the water requirement of 300 acres farm land with three irrigation, he said, adding that it will be a big help for the research programme. The pond will harvest clean rain water and also since it is coming from