Page 29 - Farmers

Govt making efforts to boost farmers' income, says Narendra Singh Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday stressed on improving the lives of small farmers and said the government is making efforts to boost their income. The minister was speaking at second FICCI sustainable agriculture summit and awards here. Stating that India is primarily an agriculture country, Tomar said it is the duty of the government and people to make farm sector stronger for ensuring food security. The minister said the government has taken a holistic view on the agriculture sector in the last eight years and taken several measures to boost productivity and production of agriculture crops. The government is also making efforts to reduce input cost and increase the income of the farmers, he added. Tomar pointed out that 86 per cent of the total farmers are small and marginal ones. "There is a need to improve their situations," he emphasised. To boost the income of small farmers, the minister highlighted that the government is setting up 10,000 Farmers Pro

Is DBT the solution for agri subsidy transfers? There is no direct answer

In India, farmers receive subsidised supply of inputs as agriculture subsidies and the difference between the actual cost of supplying and the price paid by the farmers is reimbursed to the suppliers

Farmers to march to Raj Bhavans across country to mark two years of protest

Farmer unions will take out marches to Raj Bhavans across the country on Saturday to mark two years since they launched their agitation against the now-repealed three farm laws. The farmer leaders have alleged that the Union government had no intention of fulfilling their promises and that there was a need of a bigger agitation. The marches will also register the farmers' protest against non-fulfilment of various promises by the government. Farmer leaders claim that the government had given to them in writing that it would hold a discussion and bring a law for minimum support price (MSP) of crops, but nothing has been done so far. Thousands of farmers, particularly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, protested at the borders of Delhi for over a year, demanding the repeal of the contentious farm laws Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced repealing of the three laws last November. The protest was called off subsequently. "They gave us in writing and agreed to our ma

Cotton exports stall as farmers delay sales hoping for higher prices

The limited supplies are keeping local prices significantly above the global benchmark, making overseas sales unviable from the world's biggest producer of the fibre

Pre-Budget meet: Farmers' bodies ask govt to lift export ban on wheat

In a pre-budget consultation with the finance ministry, farmers' organisations on Tuesday asked the government to lift ban on exports of agri items like wheat and restrict import of products that cost below the minimum support price (MSP). They also demanded that the government should focus on increasing domestic output of local oilseeds such as soyabean, mustard, groundnut and sunflower, instead of palm. Imposition of higher taxes on processed foods was another suggestion made by farmers' bodies during the virtual meeting with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The finance minister chaired her third pre-budget consultation with the experts of agriculture and representatives of the agro processing industry here. In his wish list for the Union Budget 2023-24, Bharat Krishak Samaj Chairman Ajay Vir Jakhar demanded that the government should "not allow import of produce where landing costs are below MSP". He also urged the Centre to focus on human resources development in the farm

Farmers hit by heavy rains shouldn't be forced to pay power bills: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the state power utility has been directed not to force those farmers who had lost their crops due to excess rains in the last two months to pay bills. Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis said the farmers who could repay the power bills can do it. I have given orders to officials of the state power distribution company (MSEDCL) not to force farmers to repay the electricity bills, especially those who lost their crop due to excess rains. However, officials have been asked to collect the electricity bills from farmers for the current season only, said Fadnavis, who also holds the Power portfolio. If farmers pay the bills for the current season their connections should not be snapped. Those who can repay bills, they should pay it, he added.

BJP's actions to be blamed for distress among farmers and tribals: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has claimed the Bharatiya Janta Party's actions are the root cause of distress among farmers, youth and tribal people in Maharashtra. In a statement dated November 20, which was released on Monday, Gandhi said during his Bharat Jodo Yatra's Maharashtra leg, voices of farmers were heard whose long-standing distress has worsened in recent years due to the rising costs, uncertain prices and the failure of insurance schemes to support the cultivators in bad years. Voices of the state's youth, who are worried about finding work which meets their dreams, despite hard work and sacrifice, and the adivasis, were heard, the Congress leader said. The root cause of this distress is the BJP government's actions, which concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few. It is worsened by their agenda of dividing Indians against each other using culture, religion, caste and language, Gandhi alleged. Standing against this agenda is Maharashtra's rich progressive ...

733 lives would have been saved if Modi had spoken to farmers: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that had Prime Minister Narendra Modi established dialogue with the farmers who were protesting against the new agriculture laws, "733 lives" would have been saved. He was speaking at a corner meeting at Bhastan village in Maharashtra's Buldhana district during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. Speaking at the end of the day's march, he paid tributes to the farmers who lost their lives while protesting against the farm laws which were withdrawn by the Union government on this day last year. The Congress observed November 19 as Kisan Vijay Diwas (Farmers' Victory Day). "Farmers are the voice of this nation. The agriculture laws were anti- farmer and hence they launched an agitation on the outskirts of Delhi, but the Modi government ignored their demands," Gandhi said. The laws were meant to help a few industrialists, he alleged. "The government has police, weapons, administration, and the farmers had only their voice. Due to the arrogance of t

Chhattisgarh to provide free training, loans to farmers for lac cultivation

In Chhattisgarh, traditionally lac is cultivated with nearly 50,000 farmers rearing it on kusum and plum trees and rangini lac on palash and plum trees

India's wheat planting gathers momentum, acreage rises nearly 10%

Late rains in October and November raised soil moisture levels and helped farmers bring in more area under wheat, the main winter crop, growers said.

LIVE: Explosion in heart of Turkey's Istanbul; several feared wounded

Catch all the latest updates from across the world here

Indian govt lays out action plan to promote millet export starting Dec 2022

For exports of Indian millets, the Indian government has planned to facilitate participation of exporters, farmers and traders in 16 international trade expos and Buyer Seller Meets (BSMs).

Farmers burning stubble 'under compulsion', states can't blame them: NHRC

The commission recently heard the responses of the Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh in connection with its suo motu cognizance of unabated air pollution in Delhi- NCR

Farmers will now become Urja Data along with being Annadata: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that remarkable work has been done in the agriculture sector in Madhya Pradesh

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 ..

Govt asks sugar mills to export speedily to make early payment to farmers

"The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has already notified to extend the inclusion of sugar exports under the 'Restricted' category up to October 31, 2023," the ministry said.

Global food security at risk: Over 350 mn family farmers warn world leaders

The letter says that "building a food system that can feed the world on a hot planet" must be a priority for COP27.

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

Bayer ties up with 2 firms to help 10 mn Indian farmers in digitisation

Global life sciences firm Bayer on Wednesday announced its tie-up with Rabo Partnerships and Mastercard for a five-year programme that aims to help 1 crore small farmers in India gain easier access to formal financial services. The programme is part of Bayer's commitment to reach 10 crore smallholder farmers worldwide by 2030 with much-needed inputs, digital tools and financial services, the company said in a statement. "Through this partnership, smallholder farmers will not only gain easier access to agricultural advisory services and direct market linkages, but also build their credit profiles and lower their input costs through access to institutional credit, allowing them to increase efficiency, improve crop yields, and grow their profits significantly," said D Narain, President, Bayer South Asia and Global Head of smallholder farming. Bayer's FarmRise, a digital platform for android mobile users, provides various digital advisory services to smallholders today, and through ...

Pakistan PM Shehbaz announces financial support package for farmers

He said the government would provide loans of 1.8 trillion PKR ($8.1 billion) to farmers this year, four times more than in 2021