Page 42 - Agriculture

COP27: India opposes efforts to extend scope of mitigation to agriculture

India has opposed the developed world's efforts to extend the scope of mitigation to agriculture at the ongoing UN climate summit in Egypt, saying rich nations do not want to reduce emissions by changing their lifestyles and are "searching for cheaper solutions abroad", sources said on Thursday. Expressing concern over the draft decision text on the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture, India said the developed countries are blocking a pro-poor and pro-farmer decision by insisting on expanding the scope for mitigation to agriculture, thereby compromising the very foundation of food security in the world, a source in the Indian delegation said. "At every climate summit, the developed countries wish to change the goalposts of the international climate regime using diversionary means to dilute their responsibilities arising from their historical emissions. "Annex-I countries, it may be recalled, owe the world a carbon debt of 790 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (GtCO2), which is worth USD

Union Agriculture Minister inaugurates M&M's Farm Machinery Plant in MP

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Tuesday inaugurated the first greenfield farm machinery plant of Mahindra & Mahindra at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh. According to an official statement, the minister said that the India has reached a point where the world looks at us with hopeful eyes. The minister emphasised on being fully equipped with technology for the country's development. Tomar said the mechanisation and technology are very much needed today. Tomar stressed on the need to increase production-productivity in order to meet the domestic requirement as well as other countries. The minister also spoke about the challenge of climate change. Tomar said the trend of testing quality has been increasing.

Centre spent Rs 10 trn to provide affordable fertilisers to farmers: Modi

The Centre has spent approximately Rs 10 lakh crore during the last eight years to see that farmers in the country are not burdened by the high global prices of fertilisers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. Modi, who was speaking after laying foundation stones and dedicating to the nation multiple projects worth over Rs 9,500 crore at Ramagundam in Telangana, said the Union government would spend more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore this year to make fertilisers available to the farmers at affordable rates. He also said his government has transferred more than Rs 2 lakh crore to the bank accounts of farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. The Prime Minister said five big fertiliser plants in the country that were lying closed for years are being restarted towards achieving 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in urea. The Gorakhpur plant in Uttar Pradesh has started production and the Ramagundam plant has been dedicated to the nation. When these five plants are fully ...

Tracking the fields: Wheat acreage almost 10% more than last year

The government and fertiliser company officials have said nutrient supplies are adequate

World food import bill to be at record high of $1.94 trillion in 2022: FAO

The world food import bill is estimated to rise to US$1.94 trillion in 2022, higher than previously expected, according to the latest Food Outlook forecast released by the FAO

India urges BIMSTEC nations to work in cooperation to transform farm sector

Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday urged the member countries of BIMSTEC to work together for development of a comprehensive regional strategy to strengthen cooperation for transformation of farm sector. India hosted the second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) here under the chairmanship of Tomar, an official statement said. Agriculture ministers of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand participated in the meeting. BIMSTEC was established in 1997. It includes five countries of South Asia -- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and two countries of South-East Asia -- Myanmar and Thailand. Addressing the meeting virtually, Tomar urged the "member countries to cooperate in developing a comprehensive regional strategy to strengthen cooperation for the transformation of agriculture." He emphasised on the importance of millet as a ...

Private channels to have 30-min slot for 'public interest' programmes

Part of new uplinking-downlinking rules prescribed by I&B ministry

Going forward, IOB will be posting very good results: MD & CEO Sengupta

'It has been in the range of 20-30 per cent in almost every quarter'

Will unveil new technique to prepare bio-bitumen at farmlands soon: Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said a new technique will be launched in the next two to three months under which crop stubble will be used to prepare bio-bitumen at farmlands using a tractor-mounted machine. He said farmers have the capacity to expand their role beyond being foodgrain producers and they can become manufactures of bio-bitumen which can be used in construction of roads. I have introduced a new technique which we will be launching in two to three months under which tractor-mounted unit will go to farmers' land to make bio-bitumen with 'parali' (crop straws that remain after grains such as rice & wheat have been harvested) which will be used for construction of roads, Gadkari said. The Union minister was addressing a programme organised to lay foundation stones of road projects worth Rs 1,261 crore in the tribal Mandla district (part of Jabalpur division) of Madhya Pradesh. He spoke about the changing role of farmers. I have ..

Farmers lukewarm to bio-decomposers as stubble burning incidents rise

Industry players and farmers said there were other reasons for the slower-than-targeted adoption

Centre reviews progress of PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana in five states

Union Land Resources Secretary Ajay Tirkey on Friday reviewed the progress of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The review meeting for PMKSY, which aims to expand the cultivated area with assured irrigation, reduce wastage of water and improve water use efficiency, was held at the Project Building in Ranchi. Tirkey directed representatives of the five states to complete all the works under the project within the stipulated time. Ranking of all the states will be done based on their progress, he said. The official appreciated the work done in Jharkhand under the gravity irrigation system.

Haryana govt will promote research for agricultural development: CM Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday said that with the changing nature of traditional farming, peasants can earn more income by adopting new technologies in the agriculture sector. With this objective, the government is taking concrete steps for promoting research in the agriculture sector, which will prove beneficial in the economic upliftment of the farmers, Khattar said. He was interacting with the farmers and agricultural experts after inaugurating Dhanuka Agritech Research and Technology Center at village Sihol in Palwal district, an official statement said here. The chief minister said that today two big projects are dedicated to Palwal district, of which one project is for water conservation and the other project will motivate the farmers towards farming with new technology. The company Dhanuka is working in the interest of the farmers, which will definitely increase the income of the farmers, he added. Peasants were not aware of new technologies earlier. B

Agriculture minister launches portal on national mission on natural farming

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday launched a portal on National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) for the benefit of the farming community. The NMNF portal (http://naturalfarming.dac.gov.in) -- developed by the agriculture ministry -- was launched in the first steering committee meeting of the National Natural Farming Mission here. The portal contains all the information about the mission, implementation outline, resources, implementation progress, farmer registration, blog etc., which will be useful for the farmers. Also, this website will help in promoting natural farming in the country, an official statement said. Tomar, who chaired the committee, said the mission of natural farming in the country would be taken forward with everyone's cooperation. In this regard, the minister asked the officers to coordinate with the state governments and central departments and enable market linkage so that the farmers get more ease in selling their products. Union Rural .

Need to boost crop productivity, make farming profitable for growth: Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar on Thursday stressed on increasing farm productivity and crop production as well as making farming activities profitable for the overall growth of the sector. He also said there is a need for balanced use of agro-chemicals and fertilisers by creating awareness. Addressing an event 'India Chem 2022', Tomar said the government has undertaken various reforms in the agro-chemical industry and the process would continue in consultation with the stakeholders, including private manufacturing players. He assured them that the government will make efforts to address the challenges faced by the industry. Tomar emphasised on the need for coordinated and comprehensive efforts across various ministries and sectors to realise the true potential of India. The two-day event was organised by FICCI along with the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. According to a FICCI statement, Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, said Indian ..

Wheat exports double to $1.48 billion in April-September period: Govt data

The country's wheat exports more than doubled to USD 1.48 billion during April-September 2022-23 as compared to the year-ago period, the commerce ministry said on Wednesday. The exports stood at USD 630 million in the year-ago period. Though the government banned wheat exports in May, some shipments are allowed to meet food security needs of the countries that request for it. "Wheat export rose to USD 1,487 million in April-September 2022 from USD 630 million in April-September 2021," the ministry said. The global wheat supply has been seriously disrupted because of the Russia-Ukraine war. Both nations are major wheat producers. The ministry also said exports of agricultural and processed food products rose 25 per cent during the six- month period of this fiscal year. The overall export of Agricultural and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA) products increased to USD 13.77 billion in April-September 2022 from USD 11.05 billion in the same period a year ago. For

Cabinet approves Rs 51,875 cr subsidy for P&K fertilisers for rabi season

The government on Wednesday approved a subsidy of Rs 51,875 crore for phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers for second half of 2022-23 as part of efforts to provide affordable soil nutrients to farmers. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved nutrient-based subsidy (NBS) rates for P&K fertilisers for 2022-23 rabi season, an official statement said. The CCEA has approved a subsidy of Rs 98.02 per kg for nitrogen (N), Rs 66.93 per kg for phosphorus (P), Rs 23.65 per kg for potash (K) and Rs 6.12 per kg for sulphur (S), it said. "Subsidy approved by the Cabinet for the NBS Rabi-2022 (from 01.10.2022 to 31.03.2023) will be Rs 51,875 crore including support for indigenous fertiliser (SSP) through freight subsidy," the statement said. This will enable smooth availability of all P&K fertilisers to farmers during the rabi season at subsidized / affordable prices and support the agriculture sector, it said. "The ...

Onset of festive season pushes credit growth across sectors in September

Housing and vehicle loans lead surge in retail credit, which was up 19.6% YoY

Indian scientists say new GM mustard seeds safe for commercial cultivation

New hybrid GM seeds could potentially raise mustard yields to 3.0-3.5 tonnes per hectare, he said, up from around 1.3 tonnes now

Bees and drones give wings to farmers

Areas where drones are making their presence felt include seed propagation, pesticide spraying, yield prediction, land records, insurance assessment, and crop monitoring

RSS affiliates want GM mustard approval withdrawn immediately

BKS calls for CBI and ED probe while office of PM's scientific advisor welcomes it