Page 21 - Farmers

Centre, state govts working towards taking technology to farmers: Tomar

Highlighting the importance of technology in the farm sector, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Monday said the Centre and various state governments are working towards taking technology to small farmers. Speaking after inaugurating EEI Golden Jubilee auditorium at Extension Education Institute (EEI) here, he said, "It is also needed today as to how do we link technology in agriculture sector in a big way." While big farmers in the country have access to resources, including technology and Krishi Vignan Kendras, it is the responsibility of the Central and state governments to reach the small farmers who do not have access to technology and others. "That's why the Central and state governments are working towards how digitalisation of agriculture can be increased and how to reach common farmers through digital activities," he said and added that the need of the hour is to see how every useful technology reaches the farmers. Tomar, who cited the examples of PM-Kisan

TDP will fight till justice is done to farmers affected with rains: Naidu

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will continue to fight until justice is done to farmers who suffered heavy losses during the recent untimely rains, said N Chandrababu Naidu here on Friday. Naidu made these remarks as he began Rythu Porubata' (In support of farmers) padayatra from Iragavaram in Tanuku Assembly constituency, West Godavari district. On the way, he inquired from the affected farmers on the damage to their crops and the farm products while assuring the ryots that TDP will stand by them, said a press note shared by the party. Incidentally, some affected farmers broke down while pouring out their woes to the Opposition leader. "There is no question of relenting till justice is done for the farmers. The party will continue its fight till the government purchases the entire farm products in the state," Naidu said.

Himachal farmers paying price for bad weather; loss estimated at Rs 100 cr

Changing weather patterns of dry winters and rainy summers have created double trouble for Himachal Pradesh's farmers who have suffered huge losses in seasonal crops and plants. The overall loss in agriculture crops and horticulture plants until May 9 this year was estimated at around Rs 104 crore -- 40.60 crore for agriculture crops and 63.42 crore for horticulture plants, according to data by state emergency operation centre. A prolonged dry spell after sowing of wheat seeds in winter followed by untimely rains during the summer harvest season led to huge losses for the state's wheat farmers, State Agriculture Director Rajesh Kaushik said. Wheat is harvested in 3.30 lakh hectares in the state with a production target of 6.17 lakh metric ton. Apple growers too were caught unawares by the erratic summer weather, resulting in to inadequate chilling hours for the apples. Scanty rain and snow made it difficult to maintain the moisture required for good-quality apples. To add to it, .

Banks insisting CIBIL score of farmers will face FIRs: Maharashtra DY CM

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said banks asking for CIBIL score from farmers before allotting crop loans would face FIRs. If a bank is found asking CIBIL score from farmers seeking crop loan, then an FIR should be filed against such bank. A decision is already taken by the state-level banking committee that the CIBIL score condition cannot be applied during crop loan disbursement. The Reserve Bank has also issued a circular regarding the same," Fadnavis told reporters in Amravati after holding a kharif season review meeting for the eastern region of Maharashtra. He said if some banks are going to harass farmers unnecessarily, then the government will have no other option but to register an FIR against such banks. He said some banks in Amravati have diverted the subsidy amount deposited into the bank accounts of farmers towards loan repayment. Not all the banks have been doing it, but some banks in Amaravati are found indulging in such practices. I h

Wait for probe report: WFI chief appeals to farmer and khap leaders

With the Samyukta Kisan Morcha extending support to the wrestlers' protest against him, Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh has urged farmer leaders not to make the "mistake" and instead wait for the outcome of the probe into the allegations of sexual harassment made by the grapplers. Singh, the BJP MP from Kaiserganj, again claimed he was innocent and alleged that he was targeted as he had brought reforms in the selection process for wrestlers. The WFI chief made the remarks in a video posted on social media after the farmers' collective, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), on Saturday announced that it will hold nationwide protests in support of grapplers and demanded the immediate arrest of Singh. A number of SKM leaders and members visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar on Sunday and expressed solidarity with the wrestlers who have been staging a sit-in against Singh since April 23. The Morcha had spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now-repealed

WFI row: 500 farmers allowed to go to Jantar Mantar by buses from Tikri

As many as 500 farmers, who had gathered at the Tikri Border to join a protest in support of wrestlers, were allowed by the Delhi Police to travel to Jantar Mantar by buses

Farmers to gather in wrestlers' support at Jantar Mantar: Samyukta Kisan

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) on Friday said a large number of farmers will gather at the Janta Mantar here on May 8 in support of wrestlers protesting against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. A blame game erupted between the Delhi Police and protesting wrestlers on Thursday over a late-night scuffle at Jantar Mantar which led to a political slugfest and a threat by the grapplers to return their medals and awards, including Padma Shri, to the government. A large number of farmers will gather at the Janta Mantar site here on May 8 in support of wrestlers, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) said in a statement. The outfit also reiterated its demand for Singh's arrest. The SKM (non-political), a breakaway group of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha that spearheaded the year-long agitation against the now-repealed farm laws of the Centre, said farmers' organisations associated with it also unanimously passed a resolution demanding the arrest of th

Farmers, students reach Jantar Mantar after appeal for support by wrestlers

A large number of people from different walks of life, including farmers from neighbouring states of Delhi and DU students, reached Jantar Mantar on Thursday and expressed solidarity with the wrestlers protesting there demanding the arrest of WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. Many of them raised slogans in support of the wrestlers, a day after a scuffle broke out between the grapplers and Delhi Police personnel. A couple of wrestlers were injured in the ruckus late Wednesday night that started allegedly over putting wooden beds at the protest site. The wrestlers also accused a policeman of manhandling them in a drunken state, but the Delhi Police denied they used force on the protesters. Several videos of the tense situation was circulated on social media and grappler Bajrang Punia at a press conference appealed to farmers and their leaders to reach the protest site Thursday morning to support them. The people who reached Jantar Mantar raised slogans like "Nari Shakti Zindabad",

Traffic in Delhi affected as Police beefed up checking in border areas

Vehicular traffic in the national capital was affected on Thursday as the Delhi Police beefed up checking in the border areas, including Singhu, following information that farmers may come to the city to express solidarity with the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar. A group of farmers coming to Delhi to express solidarity with the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar was stopped by the city police at the Singhu border, with officials saying 24 of them have been detained. After the ruckus at the Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday night, the Delhi Police intensified patrolling, increased the number of police pickets, and put heavy barricading in the border areas. They said the borders have not been sealed yet but strict vigil is being kept to check the movement of farmers. The wrestlers have levelled sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Saran Singh and have been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since April 23 demanding his ..

Farmers coming to Jantar Mantar stopped at Singhu border, 24 detained

A group of farmers coming to Delhi to express solidarity with wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar was stopped by the Delhi at the Singhu border, with officials saying 24 of them have been detained. The farmers were headed to the protest site in the national capital to join the agitating wrestlers who alleged last night that they were manhandled by Delhi Police personnel at Jantar Mantar, and appealed to people to arrive there for support. After the ruckus, the Delhi Police intensified patrolling, increased the number of police pickets, and put heavy barricading in the border areas. They said the borders have not been sealed yet, but strict vigil is being kept to check the movement of farmers. A police official said Thursday they have inputs a large number of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are trying to enter Delhi with their tractors. "We have detained 24 farmers at the Singhu border. They have come from different cities of Haryana. Their vehicles have been kept a

IFFCO's net profit increases by 62% to record Rs 3,053 cr last fiscal

Cooperative major IFFCO, which sells conventional granular as well as nano (liquid) fertilisers, has reported 62 per cent increase in net profit to record Rs 3,052.73 crore for the last fiscal year on better income. Its profit stood at Rs 1,883.77 crore in the previous year. Total revenue also grew to Rs 60,324 crore in 2022-23 from Rs 40,171.67 crore in the previous year. "IFFCO has registered the highest ever Profit After Tax of Rs 3,053 crore along with the highest ever turnover of Rs 60,324 crore for FY22-23," IFFCO's MD U S Awasthi said. He attributed the record profit to better plant performance, efficient marketing channel, good support from the government and better management. On operational front, IFFCO reported the highest production of 95.61 lakh tonne last fiscal. It also achieved the highest production of nano fertilisers at 479.38 lakh bottles of 500 ml each. The company sold 128.07 lakh tonne of fertilisers in the last fiscal. The sale of nano fertilisers was at r

Mushroom farmers upbeat over commercial farming of Shiitake in J&K

Farmers engaged in mushroom cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir are upbeat over the government announcement to introduce one of the costliest mushrooms 'Shiitake' for commercial farming in the Union Territory. The agriculture department will launch commercial farming Shiitake in September after successful field trials of the cultivation of this Japanese-origin variety. "We are happy. I have heard it (Shiitake mushroom) is being launched in September (for commercial farming). We will go for it," Mushroom farmer Rahul Sharma told PTI. Sharma, who owns a 4,000-bag unit in the border belt of Marh, said that it is grown in states like Haryana, but it is good news that it will be grown in Jammu for the first time. "Its cost and market value is very good. Farmers would be largely benefited. For Jammu and Kashmir, it will be good to cultivate Shiitake mushroom, as you can grow anywhere due to suitable climate," he added. Like him, Arvind Kumar, who has been into mushroom farming for the last

Xi's food security drive could end up backfiring for Chinese farmers

With government stockpiling efforts expected to have ended in April, future demand could fall even further

24,000 farmers attend first session of Kisan Sampark Abhiyan in J&K

Over 24,000 farmers attended the orientation programme under Kisan Sampark Abhiyan during the first 3-day session held across 264 venues in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday kick-started a 4-month long Abhiyan in 3,565 panchayats to educate farmers on various issues, including business management, entrepreneurship and government schemes. Kisan Sampark Abhiyan of the Agriculture Production Department is aimed at the overall welfare of farmers across the Union Territory. "There has been huge enthusiasm from the farming community in the past three days. Over 24,000 farmers attended the orientation programme under Abhiyan, the first 3-day session held across 264 venues of the Union Territory, Additional chief secretary Atal Dulloo told reporters here. The exercise which commenced on 24th April will conclude on 31st August, 2023. This ambitious farmers' outreach program has been planned under the recently launched holistice agriculture ...

Gujarat State Farmers' Front holds Millets awareness programme at 90 places

The United Nations General Assembly, recognising the growing importance of millets, declared the year 2023-24 as the Year of Millets, thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Defying police notice, Maha farmers start 52-km 'long march' in Ahmednagar

The agitation, coming exactly a month after the Nashik-Mumbai 'long march', has been organised by the All India Kisan Sabha and other organisations

NCLAT to hear Yamuna e-way authority's plea on compensation for farmers

Insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT on Tuesday said it will hear the plea of Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), which challenged the NCLT's order to approve Suraksha Group's bid to acquire debt-ridden Jaypee Infratech. However, the National Company Law Applette Tribunal (NCLAT) declined to stay the order passed by the National Company Law Tribunal on March 7 and said the matter requires an early decision. Finding "substantial merit" in the YEIDA's appeal for higher compensation to farmers, the NCLAT issued notices to the Suraksha Group as well as the monitoring panel constituted to implement the resolution plan on YEIDA's petition. A two-member bench, headed by Chairman Justice Ashok Bhushan, said the appeal filed by YEIDA on NCLT judgment "requires an early decision". The appellate tribunal further noted that the NCLT in its order dated March 7, 2023 "has virtually extinguished the claim of the appellant (YEIDA) of additional farmers compensation by ...

J&K govt to launch kisan sampark abhiyan in 3,565 panchayats on April 24

The Jammu and Kashmir government is all set to launch Kisan Sampark Abhiyan in 3,565 panchayats to educate farmers on various issues, including business management, entrepreneurship and government schemes, from April 24. Kisan Sampark Abhiyan is a prestigious programme of the Agriculture Production Department, aimed at the overall welfare of farmers across the Union Territory. This was announced by Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture Production Department Atal Dulloo during a high-level meeting chaired by him to review progress on preparations being put in place for the programme launch. The Abhiyan will be launched across 3,565 panchayats in Jammu and Kashmir from April 24, which will last for 4 months, Dulloo said. It aims to involve Panchayati Raj Institutions in the scheme and celebrate 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' as part of the programme. "To ensure the success of the ambitious program, 2,400 resource persons have been identified and trained for all districts besides 45 ...

KFL posts Rs 621 cr sales turnover, passes Rs 42 cr as subsidy to farmers

The state-run Kerala Feeds Limited (KFL) on Monday said it has posted impressive results in 2022-23 with its total sales turnover going up to Rs 621 crore from Rs 577 crore the previous year. In a release, KFL, a State Public Sector Undertaking, said it has played a vital role in the growth of the animal husbandry sector in Kerala during the period by ensuring an adequate supply of high-quality cattle, poultry, and rabbit feeds at affordable prices to farmers. The company claimed that its products like Kerala Feeds Midukki, Kerala Feeds Elite, Dairy Rich Plus, Karamine Mineral Mixture and Milk Booster were well accepted in the market. Even as the price of raw material kept soaring, KFL made available to farmers high-quality cattle feed at subsidised rates. The company passed on benefits worth Rs 42 crore by way of subsidies during the year, the release said. Significantly, 80 per cent of the company's revenue was netted through the sale of its products in the open market and the .

Poland prohibits food imports from Ukraine to soothe Polish farmers

Poland's government said Saturday that it has decided to temporarily prohibit grain and other food imports from Ukraine as it seeks to soothe the rising anger of Polish farmers, who say they are losing huge amounts of money to a glut of Ukrainian grain on the market. Ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said at a party convention in eastern Poland that the Polish countryside is facing a moment of crisis, and that while Poland supports Ukraine, it was forced to act to protect its farmers. Today, the government has decided on a regulation that prohibits the importation of grain, but also dozens of other types of food, to Poland, Kaczynski said. The government announced that the ban on imports would last until June 30. The regulation also includes a prohibition on imports of sugar, eggs, meat, milk and other dairy products and fruits and vegetables. Farmers in neighboring countries have also complained about Ukrainian grain flooding their countries and creating a glut that has cause