Page 3 - Farmers

MP farmers to get 90% subsidy for installing solar pumps: CM Yadav

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has said the subsidy given to farmers for installing solar-powered pumps will be raised to 90 per cent from the present 40 per cent. Addressing a farmers' thanksgiving event linked to the 'Bhavantar' scheme for soybean growers on Saturday, Yadav urged cultivators to adopt solar energy to free themselves from the costs of temporary power connections. Due to the toils put in by the farmers, the agriculture sector's contribution to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was more than 39 per cent, he said. "Our farmer brothers are the backbone of Madhya Pradesh's economy. Every government decision is taken with their welfare in mind," Yadav said. The state government is making all efforts to increase farmers' income and strengthen their financial condition, he said. "Crop turns into gold if water reaches a dry field. We will ensure that every farm in the state gets water," Yadav said. "The farmers will now receive a 90 per cent subsidy for

Serving farmers is serving God, says Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan

Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday said that serving farmers is serving God, and asserted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, doubling the income of every farmer is our goal. He said that building a glorious, self-reliant, prosperous India is our goal. We will not compromise on the interests of Indian farmers. Our country is full of wealth and grains. We have to increase crop production. Addressing a public meeting at Acharya Narendra Dev Inter College in Pathardewa in Deoria district, Chouhan said, "Serving farmers is serving God. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, doubling the income of every farmer is our goal. Building a glorious, self-reliant, prosperous India is our goal. We will not compromise on the interests of Indian farmers. Our country is full of wealth and grains. We need to increase crop production." He urged the farmers to use good seeds for a good harvest. Those who sell faulty ..

FM Sitharaman inaugurates Farmers Training Centre in Karnataka under MPLADS

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday inaugurated a Farmers' Training and Common Facility Centre under the MPLAD scheme here. The centre in Kasapura village aims to train self-help groups (SHGs) and farmers through Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to enhance value addition to their agricultural produce, officials said. The facility has been set up in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), they added. Launched in 1993, the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme allows MPs to propose development projects in their constituencies for community assets such as roads, drinking water, and sanitation. Fully funded by the government, these projects aim to address local needs through durable infrastructure implemented by district authorities. "Together, these efforts will enable both groundnut and tamarind value chains to thrive, while also strengthening Farmer-Producer Organisations (FPOs) with marketing support. A

FM Sitharaman urges farmers to utilise govt schemes for higher profits

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday urged farmers to make full use of the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) and Pradhan Mantri Dhan Dhanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to turn agriculture into a profitable venture. Speaking after inaugurating the Farmers' Training and Common Facility Centre in Koppal district, Sitharaman, a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka, said the new generation GST reforms will also benefit agrarian communities. The facility was set up using her MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund. PMFME was launched to support value addition in agricultural products. The Centre provides financial and technical assistance and helps businesses upgrade under the scheme, she said. Sitharaman added that the government aims to promote rural entrepreneurship to generate jobs in villages. "More than Rs 3,700 crore funds have been given by the Centre to states till now since 2020. Loans have been provided to farmers. Rs 11,000 cr

Sitharaman launches farmers' training, agro-processing centres in Karnataka

Finance Minister is expected to visit the farmers' training and common facility centres for agro-processing to inaugurate them in four districts, including Vijayanagara, Bellary, Koppal, and Raichur

Maharashtra govt announces ₹31,628 cr aid package for flood-hit farmers

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced a compensation package of Rs 31,628 crore for farmers who suffered massive losses due to the recent rains and floods. The government will provide Rs 47,000 in cash and Rs 3 lakh in the form of aid under the Employment Guarantee Scheme per every hectare of farmland damaged by the floods, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said. As to the loss of livestock, farmers will receive Rs 32,000 per animal, he said at a press conference after the weekly cabinet meeting. While sowing had taken place over a total of 1.43 lakh hectares at the start of the monsoon, crops over 68 lakh hectares of land were damaged, Fadnavis said, adding that as much as 60,000 hectares of farmland was damaged due to the top layer of soil getting washed away. As many as 29 out of 36 districts and 253 (out of 358) talukas suffered due to the heavy rains, the chief minister said. The package includes compensation for crop losses, soil erosion, hospitalisation of injured

Modi govt ensuring farmers welfare by strengthening sugar mills: Shah

Shah said that the trio of Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, and Ajit Pawar in the Maharashtra government has also taken several initiatives to help farmers

JICA signs ₹75 mn loan deal with ECOM to boost Asian coffee supply chains

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a loan agreement for up to USD 75 million with ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Ltd and its group company ECOM Agroindustrial Asia Pte Ltd to support coffee supply chains across Asia, JICA said on Wednesday. The loan, co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), marks JICA's first exclusive working capital loan and aims to strengthen cooperation with global agricultural trading companies to support Asia's agricultural and food supply chains. The financing will support stable procurement of coffee from over 60,000 smallholder farmers in India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Vietnam, JICA said in a statement. The project includes purchase funds and consulting services such as coffee certification support, climate change adaptation pilot projects and farming support for female farmers. India's coffee industry accounted for 3 per cent of global production in 2022, ranking eighth worldwide, and provides direct employment to over

Haryana govt gives relief to farmers, defers loan, power bill repayments

In a relief to flood-hit farmers, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced the postponement of crop loan repayment and payment of agricultural electricity bills. Addressing the media here, Saini said the recent heavy rains and floods caused extensive damage to crops, adding, "The Haryana government stands firmly by the flood-hit people." He informed that through the e-Kshatipurti portal, the government on Wednesday transferred the compensation amount of Rs 4.72 crore into the accounts of 2,386 people whose houses got damaged, and livestock had perished. He said the compensation amount included Rs 4.67 crore for damage to houses and Rs 4.21 lakh for cattle loss. The CM said 5.37 lakh farmers in 6,397 villages have registered themselves with the e-Kshatipurti portal for crop damage. He further informed that the state government would provide compensation of Rs 15,000 per acre to farmers after verification is complete. "Before Diwali, the affected farmers will

Farmers have lost faith in AAP, want flood-related compensation: Minister

Union Minister B L Verma on Saturday claimed that farmers have "lost faith" in the AAP government in Punjab and want compensation for damages caused by the recent floods to be deposited into their accounts. On the Punjab government asking when the Centre will release the Rs 1,600 crore relief package, Verma said, "The state government does not need to worry... they will not be given (the money). We will give it to farmers." Verma, who was visiting flood-hit areas in Gurdaspur district, told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while visiting flood-hit Punjab, had announced a Rs 1,600 crore package in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already in the state's kitty. He said Modi had asked concerned officials to carry out an assessment of damages in a transparent manner. After the completion of the assessment, the Modi government will pay the compensation, Verma asserted. The minister, however, claimed that the farmers have "lost faith" in the state government, and they are sayin

Centre transfers over ₹540 cr to 2.7 mn farmers in three flood-hit states

The government on Friday released over Rs 540 crore under the 21st instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme to more than 27 lakh farmers of three food-affected states - Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand. The PM-KISAN scheme is a central sector scheme launched in February 2019 by the Prime Minister to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers. Under the scheme, a financial benefit of Rs 6,000 per year is transferred in three equal instalments into the Aadhaar-seeded bank accounts of farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. According to an official statement, "the release of the 21st instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme was declared by Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, through video conferencing." This instalment has been specially prioritised for the farmers of Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Uttarakhand which have been severely affected by recent floods and landslides. "A total of more than Rs 540 crore has be

Maharashtra allots ₹1,500 crore aid for Marathwada farmers hit by rains

The Maharashtra government has allotted Rs 1,500 crore for disbursal of aid to farmers, who suffered crop losses due to heavy rains between May and August this year in the Marathwada region of the state, a senior official said. Notably, most parts of the Marathwada region, comprising eight districts, witnessed torrential rains and flooding recently, and the work of assessing crop losses is currently underway. "The state government has disbursed Rs 1,500 crore to provide compensation to the farmers who faced crop losses from May to August in Marathwada. The process to pay the amount has begun and the money will directly go into the accounts of the affected farmers," Divisional Commissioner Jitendra Papalkar told PTI on Friday. Instructions have been given to the officials to upload the lists (of affected farmers) immediately, he said. Heavy rains and swollen rivers have caused large-scale damage in Marathwada since September 20, claiming at least nine lives. Flooding destroyed ...

Maha govt to allow tribal farmers to lease land to private firms: Minister

Tribal farmers in Maharashtra will soon be able to lease their land to private entities for agricultural purposes or mineral excavation, which will enable them to generate additional income, state Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has said. Officials said the move would not only provide tribals an opportunity to have a steady source of income but also safeguard their ownership rights. Talking to reporters in Gadchiroli on Friday evening, Bawankule said, "A law will be brought soon. I am telling you this before its official announcement. Under this policy, tribal farmers will be able to lease out their land directly to private parties for agricultural purposes or mineral excavation." At present, tribal farmers are not permitted to independently enter into lease agreements with private entities. The proposed change is aimed at giving them a direct access to private investment and generating additional income from their holdings, he said. According to the minister, the ...

Border farmers without land rights to get PM-KISAN benefit: Chouhan

Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced PM-KISAN benefits for border farmers without land rights and promised flood relief for J&K along with GST-linked cuts in farm equipment costs

Farmers protest against land acquisition in Ujjain for Simhastha 2028

The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) staged a protest on Tuesday against a Madhya Pradesh government plan to build permanent structures for the Simhastha 2028 by acquiring farmlands and warned of stopping milk, vegetable supplies if its demands were ignored. This was the second straight day of agitation by the influential farmers' outfit on the land acquisition issue in Ujjain, which will host the Simhastha, or the Kumbh Mela. On Monday, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliate took out rallies, staged demonstrations, handed over memoranda across MP to highlight problems of cultivators and warned against acquiring farmlands for the mega Hindu religious gathering held every 12 years. Riding tractors and carrying garlands of onions and soybeans damaged by rains as part of the latest protest, farmers questioned the rationale behind permanent construction for the Simhastha when temporary arrangements for pilgrims and seers were sufficient as was the case in the past. ..

SOPA seeks 10% increase in edible oil import duty to support farmers

The Soybean Processors' Association of India (SOPA) has urged the government to increase import duty on edible oils by at least 10 per cent to protect farmers from sluggish domestic prices that have discouraged cultivation. In a representation to Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, SOPA Chairman Davish Jain said cheaper imports and depressed domestic oilseed prices have led farmers to reduce or abandon oilseed cultivation. "We earnestly request your kind intervention to revisit the customs duty structure on imported edible oils and increase the duty by at least 10 per cent at the earliest," Jain said, adding that such a measure will go a long way in restoring farmers' confidence, incentivising greater oilseed production, and reinforcing India's journey towards self-sufficiency. The appeal comes as the area under soybean cultivation has declined by over 5 per cent this year, with farmers disheartened by poor price realisation. Throughout the current marketing year, soybean .

GST cut on agri inputs to lower cultivation costs, boost farmers' incomes

The GST reduction on agricultural inputs and machinery could lower farmers' cultivation costs, boosting incomes, while also making seafood products more affordable for domestic consumers

Rajasthan govt to build godowns to boost food storage capacity for farmers

Under the scheme, the target is to create over 160,000 million tonnes of additional storage capacity in the years 2024-25 and 2025-26 for food grains storage

Flood-hit farmers in Guna must get their rightful insurance claims: Scindia

Union Communication Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday said insurance companies that received premiums from farmers in his Guna Lok Sabha constituency must clear their claims against loss of crops due to floods. The insurance companies that have collected money (premiums) from farmers in the district must now come forward to help them as their crops have been destroyed due to excessive rainfall. We will ensure that farmers get their rightful dues from these companies, he said. I have asked the collector to convene a meeting with these insurance companies so that farmers can get relief without delay, he told reporters here. He also inspected flood-affected areas in the city and visited several colonies to review the situation caused by heavy rains. Scindia said he had been touring the constituency for the past three days to assess the damage caused by the natural calamity. Water entered villages and cities from both the skies and rivers, creating a grave situation. Now the ...

Onion farmers in Maharashtra claim losses over non-transparent procurement

Onion growers in Maharashtra are facing financial losses due to non-transparent procurement of the crop by a Central agency, an association representing farmers alleged on Saturday. State Onion Growers' Association president Bharat Dighole said farmers are compelled to stage protests even during festivals and demanded that the government should either ensure fair procurement or stop NAFED's onion purchases. A farmer from Nashik district staged a unique protest against NAFED on the occasion of the Pola festival with his bullocks. Pola is a thanksgiving festival celebrated by farmers to acknowledge the importance of bulls and oxen, who are a crucial part of agriculture. "For several years, NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) has been procuring onions for buffer stock. However, farmers allege that large-scale financial irregularities occur in this process, depriving them of fair prices and causing losses worth crores of rupees annually," Dighole sta