Page 43 - Agriculture

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RSS affiliates want GM mustard approval withdrawn immediately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

Sowing hope: Nearly 54% jump in early wheat planting, shows data

However, this year, traders and market sources are hopeful that there could be a 10-15 per cent rise in wheat acreage

Wheat sown in 54,000 hectare, mustard in 1.89 mn hectare so far: Govt data

Wheat has been sown in 54,000 hectare so far in the ongoing rabi (winter) season of the 2022-23 crop year, 59 per cent higher than 34,000 hectare in the year-ago period, according to the agriculture ministry data released on Friday. The sowing of wheat, the main rabi crop, begins in October and harvesting in March-April. Besides, gram and mustard are other major crops grown during the rabi season (July-June). According to the latest sowing data, wheat sowing is underway in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir. About 39,000 hectare was covered under wheat in Uttar Pradesh, 9,000 hectare in Uttarakhand, 2,000 hectare in Rajasthan and 1,000 hectare in Jammu & Kashmir as on October 28, the data showed. Area sown to pulses remained higher at 8.82 lakh hectare so far this rabi season against 5.91 lakh hectare in the year-ago period. Among pulses, the gram was planted in 6.96 lakh hectare against 5.91 lakh hectare a year ago. In the case of oilseeds, about 19.69 .

Congress to focus on farming issues for 2023 Telangana polls: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress manifesto for the 2023 Legislative Assembly elections in Telangana will have special focus on farming issues, which would be prepared after extensive consultations with all stakeholders, top party leader Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday. Gandhi, who resumed his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Telangana after a four-day Diwali break, had an interaction with farmers and farmers' representatives from different parts of the state. The suicides of tenant farmers, lack of crop insurance and disaster relief and problems concerning the 'Dharani' land records portal were discussed, AICC General Secretary, incharge of communications, Jairam Ramesh said. "@RahulGandhi also promised that the Congress manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana will have a very sharp focus on farming issues and will be prepared after the widest possible consultations with all stakeholders," Ramesh tweeted. Observing that 30 per cent peasants in the state are tenant-farmers and they account for 8

Govt restricts use of Glyphosate in agriculture; industry body opposes it

The government has restricted use of herbicide Glyphosate and its derivatives, fearing health hazards and risk to human beings/animals, a move opposed by an industry association AGFI citing endorsements from global studies and regulatory bodies. Glyphosate and its formulations are widely registered and currently used in more than 160 countries, including the EU and the USA. Farmers across the globe have been using it for safe and effective weed control for over 40 years. "The use of Glyphosate is hereby restricted and no person shall use Glyphosate except Pest Control Operators (PCOs)," said a notification issued by the agriculture ministry on October 25. The companies have been asked to return the certificate of registration granted for Glyphosate and its derivatives to the Registration Committee for incorporation of the warning in bold letters "The use of Glyphosate formulation to be allowed through PCOs" on the label and leaflet, it said. The companies have been given three mont

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik launches 'Safal' common credit portal for farmers

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday launched a common credit portal SAFAL' (Simplified Application for Agricultural Loans) for the welfare of farmers. The facility will enable farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to access more than 300 term loan products of over 40 banks, the chief minister said while launching the portal. It has also been integrated with Krushak Odisha and will have access to 70-plus model project reports. The application can revolutionise credit provisions for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs, he said. Expressing satisfaction over the launch of the portal, Patnaik said that the application is a one-stop solution for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to avail formal sector credit from public and private sector banks, Regional Rural Banks, State Cooperative Banks, and Small Finance Banks. The portal will ease the loan application process benefiting both the farmers and banks significantly, the chief minister said. It will also reduce information asymmetry by se

Rajasthan govt rooting daughters to soil, promote agri studies for girls

A provision has been made to give Rs 15,000 per annum for up to three year to do a PhD in an agriculture-related subject.

Chhattisgarh eyes 11 million MT paddy procurement in 2022-23: Official

About 110 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy is estimated to be procured at the minimum support price (MSP) in the ongoing kharif marketing season from farmers in Chhattisgarh, a government official said on Monday. Last year, around 98 lakh MT of paddy was purchased from cultivators in the state. The paddy procurement drive will begin on November 1, Chhattisgarh's statehood day, and conclude on January 31 next year. All preparations are in full swing to start purchase of paddy and so far over 25 lakh farmers have registered, 95,000 of them new registrations, themselves to sell their produce at designated centres, he said. Registrations of farmers who were enrolled last year were carry forward this year, the official added. About 110 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is estimated to be procured in this kharif marketing season for which 5.50 lakh bundles of jute gunny bags will be required, he said. A trial run of the drive will be held from October 26 to 28 at all cooperative societies ..

UP eyes bigger pie of millet exports, plans to expand jowar acreage

Some of the major millet crops grown in UP are jowar, bajra, kodo and sanwa

Pulses, onion won't see price hike this year; have adequate stock: Govt

The all-India average retail price of onion has witnessed a significant decline of 28 per cent compared to last year

Subsidy, price controls to delay stake sale of state-run fertiliser firms

The financial condition of state-run fertiliser companies is completely dependent on subsidies and prices, which are majorly dictated by the government in India

MSP hike of Rabi crops will further energise agriculture sector: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the hike in the minimum support price of several Rabi crops will further energise the agriculture sector. The government on Tuesday hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of six Rabi crops by up to 9 per cent, with Rs 110 per quintal increase for wheat crop to boost domestic production and farmers' income. Wheat MSP has been raised by 5.45 per cent to Rs 2,125 per quintal from Rs 2,015 per quintal to encourage more area under the crop amid tight government stock position owing to low procurement, fall in production and higher exports. Modi noted that farmers are important partners in the country's development and said the government has approved increase in the MSPs of all essential Rabi crops, including wheat, lentils, and barley.

PM Modi launches single brand 'Bharat' for subsidised fertilisers

The Centre has started a new scheme - Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation One Fertiliser - under which it is mandatory for companies to market all subsidised fertilisers under single brand 'Bharat'. The prime minister launched the single brand Bharat under the scheme during the two-day event PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 being held here. This is being done to prevent criss-cross movement of fertilisers and reduce high freight subsidy. All subsidised soil nutrients - urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MoP) and NPK - will be marketed under the single brand Bharat across the nation. Modi also inaugurated 600 PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) that will act as a one-stop-shop for farmers who can buy products and avail multiple services related to the agriculture sector. The Centre intends to convert more than 3.3 lakh fertiliser retail shops in the country into PM-KSK in a phased manner. The PM-KSK will supply agri-inputs like seeds, ...

PM to bring together 13,500 farmers, 1,500 agri startups on one platform

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day event -- PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 -- on Monday at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.The event would bring together more than 13,500 farmers from across the country and around 1,500 agri startups, an official statement said. More than 1 crore farmers from various institutions are expected to attend the event virtually. The Sammelan will also witness the participation of researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders.Prime Minister will inaugurate 600 Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the ministry of chemicals & fertilizers. The statement said under the scheme, the fertiliser retail shops in the country will be converted into PMKSK in a phased manner. It said PMKSK will cater to a wide variety of needs of the farmers and provide agri-inputs (fertilisers, seeds, implements); testing facilities for soil, seeds, fertilisers; generate awareness among farmers; provide information regarding

Centre to soon launch 600 Kisan Samriddhi Kendras to benefit farmers

Fertilizer shops to act as one-stop solution provider for all need of growers

Unseasonal rains are impacting small farmers, says Narendra Singh Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said unseasonal rains in some parts of the country have affected small farmers and are getting compensation under the government's crop insurance scheme. At a conference on 'Enhancing Agricultural Productivity: Integration of Improved Seeds and Agri Inputs', the minister also said Indian agriculture sector as well as profit or loss in farming are dependent on nature. "You all must be experiencing now that unseasonal rains have caused losses to small and marginal farmers," he said. According to him, farmers have security cover as they get compensations under the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The scheme provides protection to farmers from crop losses. Delhi-NCR and various districts of Uttar Pradesh have received unseasonal rains this month. So far, Tomar said the insurance companies have provided a compensation of Rs 1.22 lakh crore to affected farmers. However, he rued that all farmers are n

Inga, TIH Singapore tie up to launch PE fund for mid-sized companies

The fund has set an overall target of raising Rs 500 crore and has received commitment of Rs 25 crore

MS Dhoni launches made-in-India 'Droni' camera drone for farming solutions

Indian cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni has launched the made-in-India camera drone named 'Droni' with advanced features manufactured by Garuda Aerospace

Farmers receive MSP worth Rs 2,356 crore during 2022-23 Kharif season

In the ongoing Kharif marketing season in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, farmers have benefitted with minimum support price value of Rs 2,356.30 crore