Page 12 - Farmers

Draft policy proposes easier lending, new mandis for FPOs; Is it enough?

India has over 24,000 functional FPOs established under the Companies Act as of March 31, 2023, with many of them being set up in recent years under the Central scheme to promote and form 10,000 FPOs

Farmers pay Rs 32,440 cr premium; claims worth over Rs 1.64 trn cleared

Insurance claims of 1.64 lakh crore have been paid to farmers against Rs 32,440 crore premium paid under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Tuesday in the Lok Sabha. Replying to a question on the scheme during the Question Hour, he said the Modi government has made it farmer-friendly by removing inconsistencies in the previous scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was introduced in the country in the Kharif 2016 season and is voluntary for the states, he added. Under the scheme, comprehensive risk coverage for crops against all non-preventable natural risks -- from pre-sowing to post-harvest stages of crops -- at a very reasonable premium for the farmers is being provided. "As against the premium of Rs 32,440 crore paid by farmers till date, claims of Rs 1.64 lakh crore have been paid out," the minister said. Therefore, 5 times more claims have been paid out when compared to the premium paid by the farmers, Chouh

UPA govt refused to provide 50% profit on cost to farmers: Agri minister

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the previous UPA government had refused to provide 50 per cent profit on cost to farmers in the minimum support price for crops, as based on the formula suggested by the M S Swaminathan Commission. During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Deepender Hooda asked a supplementary question related to the farmers' protests of 2020-21 and said around 750 farmers lost their lives during the agitation. He asked if the government is considering providing jobs to the next of kin of those who lost their lives during the year-long protests at Delhi's borders against three contentious farm laws of the Centre that have since been repealed. Chouhan said the question was not related to the main question, which was on issues faced by farmers. "The government is totally committed to farmers' welfare," he said. The agriculture minister alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had refused to ...

'Trust deficit between govt, farmers': SC proposes panel for talks

Observing that there is a trust deficit between farmers and the central government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed the constitution of an independent committee comprising eminent persons to reach out to the protesters at Shambhu border and address their demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP. The top court directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to suggest the names of suitable individuals for the committee and submit a proposal for removal of barricades on the national highway while ordering a status quo on the border for a week. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Surya Kant said there is a need for a "neutral umpire" who can inspire confidence between farmers and the government. "You have to take some steps to reach out to farmers. Why would they otherwise want to come to Delhi? You are sending Ministers from here and despite their best intentions there is trust deficit," the bench also comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan said. "Let appropriat

Farmers to burn BJP's effigies on Aug 1, hold tractor marches on Aug 15

A joint statement issued by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and KMM said farmers will march to district headquarters across the country and burn effigies of the ruling BJP on August 1

Will head towards Delhi whenever Shambhu border opens: Farmer leader

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Tuesday said that farmers will head towards Delhi whenever the national highway, which is barricaded at Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana, is opened. His statement came days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Haryana government to open the barricades at the Shambhu border on "experimental basis". Farmers have been camping at the border since February 13. The Haryana government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. The state government's appeal, filed through advocate Akshay Amritanshu, has cited law and order situation for the blockade. Addressing the media here on Tuesday, farmer leader Dallewal said farmers will head towards the national capital as part of the 'Delhi Chalo' programme in support of various demands, including legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. "Our decision is that whenever the road (highway) is opened, we will move towards Delhi," Samyukta Kisan Morcha ...

Farmers rush to plant summer crops amid above-average monsoon rainfall

Summer rains, critical for economic growth in Asia's third-largest economy, usually begin in the south around June 1 before spreading nationwide by July 8, allowing farmers to plant summer crops

Farmers' association SKM to resume protest over MSP, loan waiver

Farm Min Chouhan reviews the sowing of Kharif crops

557 farmers ended lives in 6 months this year in Maha's Amravati: Govt

As many as 557 farmers have committed suicide in five districts under the Amravati administrative division of Maharashtra between January and June this year, an official report said. The five districts in the division are Amravati, Akola, Buldhana, Washim and Yavatmal. A report prepared by the Amravati divisional commissionerate said a total of 557 farmers committed suicide in the division from January to June in 2024. Of them, the highest number of 170 suicides were recorded in Amravati district, followed by 150 in Yavatmal, 111 in Buldhana, 92 in Akola and 34 in Washim. The government has provided assistance to the families of the deceased in 53 cases, while 284 cases are pending for inquiry, the report said. Reacting to the figures mentioned in the report, Congress leader Balwant Wankhade, who represents the Amravati Lok Sabha seat, said Maharashtra is one of the states that records highest number of farmer suicides and Amravati tops the state on this count. "Crop losses, lack

Enabling farmers

New policy on FPOs should improve returns

India urges Italy to act against perpetrators in farm worker death case

India on Wednesday asked Italy to take prompt action against those responsible for the death of a 31-year-old Indian worker who died after he was dumped on the road without medical assistance by his employer after his arm was severed by heavy farm machinery. Muktesh Pardeshi, Secretary [CPV & OIA], conveyed to Luigi Maria Vignali, the Director General for Italian Citizens Abroad and Migration Policies, India's "deep concern" about the death of Satnam Singh, the Indian Embassy in Italy said in a post on X on Wednesday. He called for prompt action against those responsible. Embassy is in contact with the family of Satnam Singh for consular help & transportation of mortal remains," the mission added. During the communications in the Chamber ahead of the European Council, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday recalled "the horrible and inhuman death of Satnam Singh", ANSA news agency reported. When Meloni recalled the death of Singh all the deputies present in the ...

Financial impact of transition to green ammonia for fertiliser production

There is a large difference in the cost of production between grey and green ammonia

PM to release Rs 20K cr for farmers during his Varanasi visit on June 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on June 18 for the first time after assuming office for a third consecutive term, during which he will release the 17th installment of PM-KISAN scheme amounting to over Rs 20,000 crore for 9.26 crore beneficiary farmers across the country. Modi will also confer certificates to more than 30,000 members of Self Help Groups (SHGs) who have been trained as 'Krishi Sakhis' to work as para-extension workers, supporting fellow farmers with agricultural practices. Briefing the media, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan highlighted the government's commitment to the agriculture sector. "Agriculture has always been a priority for the PM in his last two tenures. He took several key decisions in the interest of farmers. After taking oath as PM, Modi ji first signed a file related to the release of the 17th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme," Chouhan said. Launched in 2019, PM-KISAN is a direct benefit

Jharkhand to waive farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh, will impact 191,000 farmers

Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh on Friday said the state government has decided to waive farm loans up to Rs 2 lakh, in an effort to give relief to over 1.91 lakh farmers. During a meeting with officials of the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) here, the minister asked the banks to present a proposal in this regard. "Loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh taken by farmers till March 31, 2020 will be waived through one-time settlement," the minister said. In 2021-22, the state government had announced waiver of crop loans up to Rs 50,000, he said. "As per its promise, the state government had waived loans up to Rs 50,000 of more than 4.73 lakh farmers... The Jharkhand government has given an amount of over Rs 1,900 crore to banks," Patralekh said. He also asked the bank officials to send a proposal to the state government to close accounts that have become non-performing assets (NPAs) so that the farmers can be debt-free.

CM Mamata announces Rs 293 crore aid to 210,000 farmers for crop loss

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her government has started releasing a total of Rs 293 crore directly to the bank accounts of 2.1 lakh farmers in the state, who suffered crop losses due to adverse weather conditions during the current Rabi season. She also said the aid was in addition to the Rs 2,900 crore assistance to 1.05 crore farmers and tenants in the state, who were enrolled in the 'Krishak Bandhu (Natun)' scheme. "I am happy to announce that (apart from providing Rs 2,900 cr assistance to 1 crore 5 lakh farmers and bargadars across the state under the Krishak Bandhu Natun Scheme), we are also releasing today onwards a sum of Rs 293 crore directly to the bank accounts of our 2.10 lakh farmers who suffered crop losses due to adverse weather conditions during current Rabi season," Banerjee wrote on X. The Bengal CM said the assistance of Rs 2,900 crore to farmers was under the state's crop insurance scheme 'Bangla Shasya Bima (BSB)'. "This is done

Day 1 of third term: Modi clears KISAN fund, 30 million houses for poor

Several BJP-ruled states follow populist path after election results

Kangana Ranaut airport incident: Farmer outfits back CISF woman constable

Some farmer outfits on Friday threw their weight behind the CISF woman constable who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut, saying the entire sequence leading to the incident needs to be properly investigated. Ranaut, in a video message, had on Thursday said she was hit in the face and abused by the constable during security check at the Chandigarh airport, the ugly fracas breaking out two days after she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha were among the prominent outfits which said they stand in support of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) woman constable. The constable, who appeared to be upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests, has been suspended and an investigation has been launched. The CISF, tasked with providing security at airports, had also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. SKM (Non-Political) leader Jagjit Singh Dalle

CSC, agriculture ministry sign MoU to convert 10,000 FPOs into CSCs

E-governance service provider CSC SPV and the Agriculture Ministry have signed a memorandum of understanding to convert 10,000 farmer producer organisations into common service centres, an official statement said on Friday. CSC SPV will enable them to provide the services that are available on the Digital Seva Portal. "An MoU between CSC SPV and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare was signed here today to convert FPOs registered under 'Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs scheme' into common service centres (CSCs) and help them to deliver citizen-centric services," the statement said. The training and capacity building of FPOs will be done by CSCs."It is a matter of immense pleasure that 10,000 FPOs will now function as Common Services Centres. With this initiative, more farmers who are associated with FPOs, will be able to avail the benefits of CSC services," CSC SPV, MD and CEO, Sanjay Rakesh said. With this initiative, the agriculture related services of CSC are ...

Farmers suspend 'rail roko' protest at Shambhu railway station in Patiala

Announcing the suspension of their month-long 'rail roko' at Shambhu railway station in Patiala, farmers said they will now 'gherao' the residences of BJP leaders in Punjab and Haryana to continue their protest. Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been squatting on a rail track at Shambhu railway station since April 17, demanding the release of three farmers who had been arrested by Haryana Police during the 'Delhi Chalo' protests at Shambu border. The SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the central government over their demands on a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops, among other demands. The protesting farmers are still at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces on February 13. On Monday, farmer leader Surjit Singh Phool said they are suspending the 'rail roko' agitation in ...

Sugarcane payments in Uttar Pradesh top Rs 30,000 crore for 2023-24

The 121 operating mills in UP, with a combined cane crushing capacity of 0.84 million tonnes (mt) crushed per day (TCD), have so far crushed 98 mt of the cash crop, producing 10.33 mt of sugar