Page 21 - Farmers

Need to transform agricultural practices for a sustainable future: IFPRI

India needs to think about alternative ways of doing agriculture so that the country doesn't run out of groundwater resources and destroy the soil, said Dr Shahidur Rashid, Director-South Asia the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). In an exclusive interview with PTI on the sidelines of the recent launch of the Global Food Policy Report (GFPR) in Kathmandu, Nepal, Rashid stressed on the importance of developing heat-tolerant crop varieties and adopting sustainable irrigation techniques. Flood irrigation, prevalent in rice cultivation, leads to water wastage and decreases water use efficiency. Implementing innovative irrigation methods and embracing solar power for irrigation can reduce carbon footprints and alleviate water scarcity issues, he said. Rashid emphasised that while India currently has sufficient food production to feed its population, challenges lie in ensuring accessibility, nutritional value, and long-term stability. The biggest challenge, he said, f

Women's group, farmers protest outside Karnataka CM's house to clear loans

Women groups and farmers protested outside Karnataka CM's house for failing to fulfil his promise to clear all loans taken by women under the Stree Shakti Sanga scheme

20% duty removal on apple imports to have zero impact on farmers: Official

The decision to remove 20 per cent retaliatory customs duty on imported American apples will have a "zero" impact on Indian farmers as the government has sufficient policy space to support growers if there is any implication of the move, a senior government official said on Monday. Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Peeyush Kumar said that India is not giving anything "extra" by removing this duty and it was not that "we have opened a floodgate" for American apples. In fact, it is a win-win deal for India as it restores market access for domestic steel and aluminium products in the American market, which was impacted due to the imposition of high duties by the US in 2018. The decision to remove these additional duties was part of an agreement reached between India and the US, during the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington and New York. India and the US have also agreed to terminate six trade disputes at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Thes

Farmers no longer need permission for soil mining: UP govt after complaints

The step has been taken in response to the complaints from farmers in various districts of the state after the Chief Minister had abolished the royalty on general soil mining

Pakistan farmer seeks newly developed rice seeds for cultivation from BHU

A farmer from Pakistan has sought seeds of newly developed 'Malviya Manila Sinchit Dhan-1' paddy variety for cultivation from the Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

Khap, farmer activists block Rohtak-Delhi NH in Haryana's Jhajjar district

Activists of some Khaps and farmers on Wednesday blocked the Rohtak-Delhi national highway in Jhajjar district as part of a 'Haryana Bandh' call given in support of protesting wrestlers, farmers and other issues. Ramesh Dalal, a senior leader of the Bhumi Bachao Sangharsh Samiti outfit, led the protesters who squatted on NH-9 in Bahadurgarh and imposed a blockade. Vehicles were seen stranded on the road as a result of this. Jhajjar Superintendent of Police Arpit Jain told PTI that they were trying to persuade the protesters to lift the blockade. Dalal told reporters at the site that as part of his outfit's Haryana Bandh call, 25 demands had been raised, including justice for wrestlers protesting against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, loan waiver for farmers, legal guarantee of crop MSP and enhanced compensation for land. Meanwhile, in most parts of Haryana, the call for the strike failed to evoke any response and life remained normal. In .

Protesting farmers keep NH in Haryana's Kurukshetra shut for second day

Protesting farmers, demanding procurement of the sunflower crop at the MSP as announced by Centre and release of arrested agitators, continued with their protest on National Highway-44 in Pipli

Bayer partners Cargill to bring digital solutions, market info to farmers

Global life sciences firm Bayer on Monday said it has signed an agreement with US-based food major Cargill to empower smallholder farmers with digital solutions, including comprehensive information on market prices, weather forecasts, and pre- to post-harvest insights. Drawing upon the capabilities of innovative platforms such as Cargill's 'Digital Saathi' - a mobile-first, AI-driven service platform tailored to hyper-localised needs, and Bayer's Better Life Farming Centres that supports over 5,00,000 smallholder farmers, this strategic partnership is dedicated to improving market access for smallholder farmers, it said in a statement. "This partnership between Bayer and Cargill endeavours to connect with 3 million farmers across India within the next five years. Initially, the partnership will be implemented in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and subsequently expand to other regions," the company added. Bayer's e-commerce strategy involves expanding tailored solutions through the ...

Farmers threaten agitation if sunflower is not procured at MSP in Haryana

With farmers at 'mahapanchayat' threatening agitation if sunflower is not procured at MSP in Haryana, wrestler Punia extended support

Haryana farmers hold 'mahapanchayat' along Delhi-Chandigarh highway

Traffic on the Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway was disrupted on Monday as farmers gathered there after holding a mahapanchayat in this district to press for minimum support price for sunflower seed. Apart from leaders of various khaps and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait, Olympic medal-winning wrestler Bajrang Punia, one of the grapplers who have been demanding action against outgoing Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, were present at the mahapanchayat. The "MSP Dilao, Kisan Bachao mahapanchayat", called by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni), was being held at a grain market in Pipli close to National Highway-44 which was blocked by farmers a few days ago demanding that the government procure sunflower seed at MSP. After the mahapanchayat the farmers started marching towards the highway. Farmers led by Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni had June 6 blocked the national highway near Shahabad for over six hours demanding tha

Farmers gather in Haryana for MSP on sunflower crop, release of leaders

BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, who is expected to reach the protest site Pipli in Kurukshetra district, has already threatened a larger agitation than the year-long protest

Sunflower crop procurement picks up in Haryana, after relief to farmers

Kurukshetra district has the highest production of sunflower and its main procurement centre is Shahbad

J'khand to probe misuse of farmers' Aadhaar cards for irrigation scheme

Jharkhand government will probe the alleged misuse of farmers' Aadhaar cards to avail benefits of the Centre's micro-irrigation scheme Per Drop More Crops' in parts of the state. The government swung into action after farmers from some blocks, alleged that their Aadhaar cards had been misused or they were misled into signing up for the scheme without their knowledge. Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Badal Patralekh said a high-level probe committee has been set up to investigate the issue. "I have set up a four-member probe committee to look into alleged misuse of Aadhaar cards under the scheme," Patralekh told PTI on Friday. The four-member committee will be headed by Hazaribag sub-divisional officer as maximum cases of irregularities were reported from the district, he said. "If any anomaly is found, strict action will be taken," he said. Some farmers said micro-irrigation equipment had been dumped in their farms, though they hadn't applied for the scheme. Farmers alleged that so

Under Modi, farm income halved, agri cost doubled: Chhattisgarh CM

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday said the Narendra Modi government halved farmers' income and doubled agricultural cost in its nine-year rule. He was reacting to the Central government announcing a hike in in MSP (minimum support price) on Thursday. During the Congress-led UPA regime (between 2004 and 2014) MSP on paddy was increased by 131 percent, while the Modi government has increased it by just 61-62 per cent, Baghel told reporters at Civil Lines Helipad. "The income of farmers in India has not doubled but the cost of agriculture has doubled. Rates of diesel, fertilizer and agriculture equipment have gone up. Production cost has increased and income (of farmers) has been halved," he alleged. Hitting back at former CM Minister Raman Singh's charge that development work has happened only in his home turf Patan and Durg, Baghel said corruption took place even in ration card and slipper distribution during the Bharatiya Janata Party's tenure. "Raman Singh was

MSP announced by Modi govt inflicting losses on farmers, says AIKS

The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) on Thursday slammed the Centre over the recently announced MSP for the Kharif Season, and alleged that it is inflicting "huge losses" on farmers. The Union government on June 7 announced the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for the Kharif Season 2023-24. "The MSP announced is unfair, belies the hopes of the farmers and inflicts huge losses on their incomes. Rather than doubling farmers' incomes as claimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rising input costs coupled with unfair MSP will push large sections of the farmers, especially the small, marginal, middle farmers as well as tenants into indebtedness," the AIKS said in a statement. AIKS President Ashok Dhawale said the government has not kept its promise that the MSP will be given according to the Swaminathan Commission recommendation of C2 (production cost definition) plus 50 per cent. "It still remains a 'chunavi jumla' (unfulfilled election promise). Not a single crop has its MSP fixed as per this

Protesting farmers give ultimatum to Haryana govt, warn of massive rally

A day earlier, the arrested farm leaders were produced before a court that remanded them to a 14-day judicial custody

Farmers protest for MSP; Congress dubs Centre, Haryana govt anti-farmer

The Congress on Wednesday slammed the BJP governments at the Centre and Haryana, accusing them of being "anti-farmer" and breaking their promises every day.

Centre removes 40% procurement celling to boost production of pulses

Department of Consumer Affairs said the assured procurement of these pulses at remunerative prices will help motivate the farmers to enhance the sowing area in respect of tur, urad, and masur

Farmers block national highway near Shahabad on sunflower MSP issue

A large number of farmers on Tuesday afternoon blocked the national highway near Kurukshetra's Shahabad, demanding that government should procure sunflower seed at the MSP. The farmers blocked the Delhi-Chandigarh NH near Shahbad after a call was given by BKU (Charuni) chief Gurnam Singh Charuni. The protesting farmers claimed that the government was not buying sunflower seeds at the minimum support price, and as a result, they were forced to sell their produce to private buyers at around Rs 4,000 per quintal against Rs 6,400 MSP. Charuni said the government should procure the sunflower seeds at the MSP of Rs 6,400 per quintal. The protesters said they had given the government time till Monday, but their demand was not heeded. The farmers gathered at the protest site and crossed police barricades and blocked the NH, with some bringing their vehicles laden with sunflower seeds. Police had to divert traffic through other routes and link routes after the protesters blocked the ...

Telangana spends Rs 12k-cr per year to give free power to farmers: CM KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said his government has been spending Rs 12,000 crore annually for providing free power to farmers in the state. Speaking at a public meeting here, the Chief Minister said the food processing industry will be a focus area after the Assembly polls in Telangana. "In order to strengthen the farming community and make agriculture a fruitful venture and see smiles on farmers' faces, the government is spending Rs 12,000 crore annually to provide free power to you (farmers)," Rao, also known as KCR, said. He cautioned the people not to entertain opposition parties stating that if they come to power, then BRS' flagship schemes like free power, 'Rythu Bandhu' financial aid for farmers and 'Dalit Bandhu' for Scheduled Caste members to start enterprises will all go away. "People should decide whether the party which will abolish these schemes should come into power or we (BRS) should continue," he said addressing the people at the ...