Page 31 - Farmers

Punjab farmers shifting to sustainable ways of getting rid of crop residue

A handful of farmers in Punjab have started disposing crop residue -- which is usually burnt and causes air pollution -- in a sustainable manner, either by using it as natural fertiliser or selling it for fuel production. These farmers have not only reduced consumption of fertilisers by mixing crop residue in the soil but have also begun to monetise the practice by managing the stubble of other growers. Bhupinder Singh (59), who cultivates 30 acres of land in Badarpur, the last village of Mohali district, has not been burning paddy stubble since 2018. Instead, he mixes it with soil using an MB plough, a tillage equipment. "After which the land is ready for sowing the next crop wheat." He says that after it is buried, stubble residue gets decomposed within a week. "With the absorption of stubble in soil, the consumption of fertiliser has dropped. Earlier, we used to use potash for wheat crop which we no longer do," he says. "Farmers do not want to burn stubble. When a grower find

Lakhimpur farmers yet to get justice, say Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday accused the BJP of protecting criminals saying the farmers killed in Lakhimpur Kheri last year were yet to get justice. "One year has passed, but the martyr farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri have not received justice. Reason is the same -- BJP, as always, has been protecting criminals," Gandhi said on Twitter. Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra's son Ashish Misra was arrested in the case after four farmers were crushed under the wheels of a convoy of cars, and four others, including two BJP workers, were killed in apparently retaliatory violence. Gandhi said the farmers' agitation was a big inspiration for the Congress behind the decision to undertake Bharat Jodo Yatra. "This struggle will not end without ensuring justice to the farmers," he said. AICC General Secretary Vadra said the Lakhimpur Kheri farmer massacre has exposed the anti-farmer face of the BJP government. "Even after a year, the minister continues

Pakistan farmers stuck in cycle of debt as crops destroyed in floods

As floodwaters in Pakistan recede, the story of those in the worst affected regions comes to the surface with many farmers sharing their woes of being stuck in a vicious cycle of sinking into debt

Govt official held for taking bribe from farmer for subsidy release

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ABC) has arrested a senior official of the Chhattisgarh horticulture department in Raipur for allegedly demanding a bribe from a farmer for releasing the subsidy amount, an official said on Saturday. The anti-graft agency arrested Paramjeet Singh Gurudatt on Friday for allegedly demanding 50 per cent of the subsidy amount received by the farmer under a government scheme, he said. The action against the official was taken based on a complaint received from the farmer, who is engaged in the cultivation of high-value tomatoes, he added. "After the subsidy amount of Rs 2,66,000 was transferred into the complainant's bank account, the accused official started demanding 50 per cent of the subsidy as a bribe. The accused even went to the complainant's residence to demand the bribe, where his act of demanding the money was captured on a camera," the ACB official said. The complainant then approached the ACB and also furnished the video footage, he said. Acting

Monsoon season ends on a high, India records 6% surplus rain: IMD

The rains which started on a moderate note in the month of June is however not expected to go away in a hurry and as per the latest forecast by India Meteorological Department (IMD)

Chhattisgarh gets approval for pulses procurement at MSPs in kharif season

The Bhupesh Baghel government had announced in July procuring arhar, urad, and moong at MSPs. Farmers will get Rs 6,600 per quintal for moong and urad, and Rs 7,755 per quintal for arhar.

What is the PM Kisan scheme? Here's how to check beneficiary status online

The scheme launched in 2018 provides farmers nationwide a total sum of Rs 6,000 annually in three equal installments of Rs 2,000

Nearly 1.2 million farmers benefit from power subsidy in Rajasthan

The state government on July 17 last year launched the scheme

Govt should compensate farmers for damage caused by rainfall: Hooda

Senior Congress leader and former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda demanded on Friday that the state government pay compensation to farmers whose crops were damaged due to incessant rain in the past two days. "Every farmer has suffered a loss of thousands of rupees due to the destruction of standing paddy crop. Due to waterlogging, all crops, including paddy, have been damaged. In such a situation, the government should immediately get the 'girdawari' (survey) done and give compensation to the farmers, he said. Hooda said the rain has exposed the government's claims of development. "Today everything from the farmer's field to the modern city of Gurugram is submerged. Farmers and common people are feeling helpless. The government should make arrangements for drainage at the earliest, he stated. Hooda said farmers had suffered losses due to bad weather earlier as well. "But till now they have not been compensated for the damage caused due to heavy rains, hailstorm and ..

Bridging the gap: Late rains likely to narrow paddy acreage shortfall

This acreage was, however, 1.13 per cent more than the normal area in which paddy is planted

Farmers block highway near Kurukshetra, demand early procurement of paddy

A group of farmers on Friday blocked the national highway near Shahabad in Haryana's Kurukshetra district demanding that the government immediately begin paddy procurement. The procurement of Kharif crops, including paddy, in Haryana will start from October 1. Some protesting farmers even tried to remove police barricades on the road. The protest was led by Haryana BKU (Chaduni) chief Gurnam Singh Chaduni. Addressing the farmers at the protest site, Chaduni said the government should immediately begin the procurement process. The protest caused inconvenience to commuters using the highway and police had to divert traffic. Meanwhile, according to an official statement here on Thursday, crops such as paddy, millet, maize, moong, sunflower, groundnut, til, arhar and urad will be procured during the marketing season 2022-23. Adequate arrangements have been made for smooth procurement in mandis, it stated.

Punjab govt to form committee to decide commission for cotton crop

The Punjab government has decided to form a nine-member committee to decide on the quantum of commission to be paid to 'arhtiyas' or commission agents for the cotton crop. Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that to resolve various issues of cotton farmers and the commission agents, a joint meeting was called here on Friday to redress the issues. Additional Chief Secretary of Agriculture Department Sarvjit Singh and Special Chief Secretary to Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat were among the officials present in the meeting, said an official statement. Dhaliwal said that with the consensus of all, it has been decided to form a 9-member committee to take a decision on the commission to be taken by agents on the cotton crop. The committee will have two representatives each of arhtiyas, cotton farmers, cotton factory owners and three government officials. During the meeting, the farmers also brought to the notice of the Agriculture Minister that there are illegal encroachments i

Odisha govt distributes Rs 869 cr aid to 4.1 mn farmers under KALIA scheme

As per the press statement from CMO, each registered farmer has got Rs 2000 directly in their bank account under the assistance

Meghalaya CM launches 'Rural Backyard Piggery Scheme' for farmers' welfare

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said the state's "Progress" scheme aims to ensure that the farmers earn a sustainable livelihood through different livestock farming activities

More suicides by businesspersons than farmers for second year in a row

Seeking help brings solutions, say mental health experts

Govt weighs curbs on exports of 100% broken rice after paddy area shrinks

The potential export curbs could lift rice prices globally because India accounts for more than 40% of the world's rice shipments.

MSP panel forms 4 sub-groups even as farmers descend on Delhi again

Commuters brave traffic snarls; SKM stays away from the protests; next MSP panel meet likely in Hyderabad

Heavy traffic at Delhi borders amid curbs due to 'mahapanchayat' by farmers

As thousands of farmers reached Jantar Mantar to attend a 'mahapanchayat', massive traffic jams were witnessed on Monday at Delhi border including Ghazipur and Singhu, with some of the commuters getting stuck for more than an hour amid curbs put in place by the police, officials said. They said all vehicles entering the capital are being checked and the police personnel are on 'alert mode'. Long queue of vehicles were seen at the Ghazipur and Singhu border as each one was being checked by the police. This is part of the security arrangements put in place in view of the 'mahapanchayat', said a senior police officer. Massive traffic jam was also witnessed near on roads adjoining the borders, including, Karnal road, Libas Pur, Samaypur Badali, Narela. The police said security has been beefed up at Delhi borders due to the 'mahapanchayat' called by farmers' body. Abhimanyu Singh Kohar, SKM (non-political) member and organiser of the 'mahapanchayat' had earlier said the congregation is

Modi govt surpassed previous govts in increasing agri budget: J P Nadda

BJP president Jagat Prakash Nadda said on Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has done a lot for farmers with a fourfold increase in the agricultural budget in eight years. Addressing a public meeting at the municipal council ground in Paonta Sahib in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmour district, Nadda claimed that no other government worked so much for the farmers as the current dispensation. The Opposition kept talking about the farmers' agitation, but the Modi government focused on helping farmers prosper, he claimed. "The agricultural budget has seen a fourfold increase during Narendra Modi's tenure as prime minister. It is now Rs 1,33,000 crore from just Rs. 33,000 crore in 2014," he said. The country has to grow unitedly to become a developed nation by 2047, he added. We have to also keep in mind our traditions and Indian culture, the oldest in the world, he added. Earlier, he paid obeisance at Paonta Sahib Gurudwara. Nadda is scheduled to address a pu

Cultivation of maize, mustard, moong need to be promoted: ICAR chief

He said instead of focusing on wheat and rice, cultivation of 3Ms maize, moong and mustard should be promoted as it can help the country attaining self-sufficiency and enhancing income of farmers