Page 7 - Ministry Of Agriculture

Centre directs sugar traders to disclose stocks to check hoarding

The Centre on Thursday directed sugar traders, retailers, wholesalers, big chain retailers and processors to disclose their stocks on a weekly basis on a government portal as a proactive measure to combat hoarding and speculation. The food ministry, in a statement, said the country has sufficient stocks for domestic consumption with absolutely no shortage for festivals. The government has been successfully maintaining the stable retail price of sugar in the country, it noted. However, as a proactive measure to "combat hoarding and curb unscrupulous speculation" in the sugar market, the ministry has issued orders to mandatory disclose stock positions for traders, wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers and processors of sugar on the portal (https://esugar.nic.in) on every Monday, it added. "This mandatory weekly stock disclosure for these entities is another proactive step in the Government of India's efforts to maintain a balanced and fair sugar market," the ministry said. By

Indian sugar production concerns drive local prices to 6-year high

This could add to food inflation and discourage New Delhi from allowing sugar exports, supporting global prices which are near their highest in more than a decade

Govt exempts LPG imports from agriculture cess effective September 1

The government has exempted imports of LPG, liquified propane and liquified butane from 15 per cent agri cess with effect from Friday. The government had in July imposed a 15 per cent agri cess on imports of these goods. The Finance Ministry in a notification said that imports of LPG, liquified propane and liquified butane have been fully exempted from Agriculture Infrastructure Development cess (AIDC) effective September 1.

No farmer needs to worry on onion issue, says minister Narendra Singh Tomar

After the govt imposed a 40% duty on the export of onions, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Saturday said that farmers do not have to worry on the onion issue

India expands curbs on rice exports with 20% duty on parboiled grade

Last month, India surprised buyers by imposing a ban on exports of widely consumed non-basmati white rice, following a ban on broken rice exports last year

Lack of rain may bring down sugar production in Maha, Karnataka: Official

Lack of rainfall may bring down sugar production in Maharashtra and Karnataka, an official from the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Limited said on Thursday. In order to meet domestic demand, there could even be a ban on exports, National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Limited chairman Jaiprakash Dandegaonkar told PTI. "The expected sugar production for the year was 330 lakh tonnes but there could be a dip, while the carry over stock in the country is 65 lakh tonnes. The demand nationwide is 275 lakh tonnes and 50 lakh tonnes will be diverted for ethanol production," he said. "So to meet the domestic demand of 275 lakh tonnes, a ban may be imposed on sugar exports this year. India doesn't export sugar regularly. In the last two years, a global shortage of sugar saw India exporting 60 lakh tonnes," he explained. However, Dandegaonkar asserted that ethanol production target will be met despite dip in sugar production.

SC seeks response on plea for withdrawal of undertaking on GM Mustard

The Supreme Court Tuesday sought the response of NGO 'Gene Campaign' and others on the Centre's plea seeking withdrawal of its oral undertaking of November 2022 that it will not go ahead with the commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard in the country. A bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan took note of the Centre's petition and issued notices to the NGO, which had filed the PIL on the issue way back in 2004, and others including activist Aruna Rodrigues. The Centre, in a fresh application filed in the pending cases, has sought withdrawal of the oral undertaking given by an additional solicitor general that it will maintain status quo on commercial cultivation of GM Mustard. Lawyer Aparna Bhat, appearing for the NGO, sought time to file the response, saying the plea was submitted late last night. We have to file a response. They (Centre) want to withdraw the undertaking that they had given this court. This has to be heard and, without our ..

Centre to fully implement rice fortification programme before March 2024

The government will implement fully rice fortification programme before the scheduled target of March 2024, a top food ministry official said on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day address in 2021, said the government aims to distribute fortified rice via the government schemes by 2024. Thereafter, a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) was launched in October 2021 in a phased manner in order to address the problem of anaemia in children and women. In April 2022, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the supply of fortified rice throughout the Public Distribution System (PDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman-PM POSHAN (erstwhile Mid-Day Meal Scheme) and other welfare schemes in all states and Union Territories (UTs) by 2024 in a phased manner. The entire cost of rice fortification, which is around Rs 2,700 cr

Punjab govt releases Rs 186 cr as compensation for crops damaged in floods

The Punjab government on Tuesday said it has released over Rs 186.12 crore as compensation for crops damaged in the state's flood-hit areas. Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Bram Shanker Jimpa said the money has been released from the relief fund to deputy commissioners of 16 districts. Crops were damaged due to flooding in many areas of the state in July and August, the minister said in a statement. A special 'girdawari (survey to assess losses)' was conducted in all the affected areas, he added. The state government is committed to provide compensation to the victims and it has no dearth of funds for the purpose, the minister said. Providing a district-wise breakdown, he said Rs 59.50 crore was released to Patiala, Rs 26.52 crore to Tarn Taran, Rs 26.08 crore to Sangrur, Rs 22.44 crore to Ferozepur and Rs 12.92 crore to Mansa. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already announced that loss of every crop, cattle or house was covered in the 'girdawari' to ful

80% of arable land in 8 J'khand districts lying fallow due to scanty rains

More than 80 per cent of arable land meant for paddy cultivation in eight Jharkhand districts is lying fallow due to scanty rainfall, an official said on Saturday. The ideal sowing period for paddy is from July 1 to July 31, according to agricultural experts. With delayed or scanty rainfall in the early months of monsoon in the last few years, many farmers nowadays sow crops till mid-August but that does not lead to a good harvest, they said. Overall paddy sowing coverage in Jharkhand was recorded at 43.66 per cent till August 18. Paddy was sown in only 7.85 lakh hectares of land against the target of 18 lakh hectares till August 18, according to coverage data of the state agriculture department. The situation is grim in eight districts out of the total 24 districts in the state in terms of paddy coverage. Palamu district has recorded the state's lowest paddy sowing coverage at 2.96 per cent till August 18, followed by Jamtara (5.63%), Dumka (7.66%), Garhwa (8.43%), Dhanbad (10.26%)

How satellites are helping agriculture sector adapt to global warming

To acclimate, the old ways are increasingly being replaced by the new. In this case, granular data aimed at tracking the progress and health of vines in a fast-warming environment

Centre's grain stockpiles key to PM Modi's pre-election strategy: Report

With the vote less than a year away, Modi's government is going all out to build up its food stockpiles

SEA asks govt to reconsider decision to ban export of de-oiled rice bran

On July 28, the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification prohibiting the export of de-oiled rice bran till November

Crops sown in 53,000 hectares destroyed in recent floods in Haridwar

Crops sown in over 53,000 hectares in Laksar, Khanpur and Manglaur in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand have been destroyed in the recent floods, the state agriculture minister has said. Uttarakhand's Agriculture Minister Ganesh Joshi, who visited more than 35 flood-hit villages of the district on Sunday, said the damage is pegged at around Rs 38 crore as per preliminary estimates. Crops in more than 91,000 hectares of area were sown in the district. Damaged crops include sugarcane, paddy and vegetables, Joshi said, adding that the affected areas will be declared disaster-hit and adequate compensation will be given to farmers, Joshi said. He said apart from the compensation, he will request the chief minister to provide financial assistance from the disaster relief fund to farmers as per central government norms. The Pushkar Singh Dhami government stands with the disaster-hit people and they will be given all possible assistance, Joshi said. There will be a stay of three months on

India to cut import duty on Washington apples to 50% by September end

An import duty of 70% is imposed on Washington apples, which is 20 percentage points more than the 50% import duty applicable for the apples imported from Iran and Turkey

Soybean sown in 905,000 hectares in current kharif season, says SOPA

A leading association of soybean processors on Tuesday estimated that the crop has been sown in about 90.50 lakh hectares in the country during the current kharif season. The organisation -- Indore-based Soybean Processors' Association of India (SOPA) -- believes soybean sowing this season might be slightly less than the last time due to the delay in the arrival of monsoon and the preference of farmers for other crops. SOPA said of the total 90.50 lakh hectares where soybean was sown till July 10, 42.66 lakh hectares was in Madhya Pradesh, the country's largest soybean producer, where the crop is popularly known as "yellow gold" among farmers. According to the latest data of the organisation, soybean has been sown in 30.8 lakh hectares in Maharashtra, 10.28 lakh hectares in Rajasthan, 2 lakh hectares in Karnataka, 1.85 lakh hectares in Gujarat, 1.65 lakh hectares in Telangana, 35,000 hectares in Chhattisgarh and 85,000 hectares in other states. SOPA Executive Director DN Pathak tol

BiofuelCircle, PKC to provide non-agri biofuel sources to industry

BiofuelCircle has signed an agreement with Pune Knowledge Cluster (PKC) to provide access to non-agricultural sources of biofuels to industries. BiofuelCircle is the first digital marketplace for biomass and biofuels, while PKC is one of six science & technology clusters established by the office of the principal scientific adviser to the Government of India under The City Knowledge and Innovation Cluster Initiative. In a statement, BiofuelCircle said it "has signed an MoU with PKC for innovating alternatives to agri residue-based bio-energy. The objective is to develop projects that provide industries with access to non-agricultural sources of biofuels as alternatives." The initiative will augment the current sources of biofuels and help boost rural economy, rejuvenate degraded land and be an important step towards energy independence of the country, it said. As part of the agreement, the two organisations will work together towards setting up projects with large industrial ...

India permits potato imports from Bhutan without any license till Jun 2024

Earlier, it was allowed till June 30 this year

Govt asks Agri Min to give more incentive to kharif onion to boost supply

The consumer affairs ministry has asked the agriculture ministry to give more incentive and impetus to kharif onion during the festival period in the winter season to avoid any spike in prices, a top government official said on Friday. Normally, onion prices shoot up during the winter season, as stored rabi onion gets exhausted and fresh kharif onion cannot be stored. Currently, the sowing of kharif onion is underway. Briefing media, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said the kharif onion plays a critical role during the festival period in winter. "To ensure availability during that time, we have requested the agriculture ministry to give more incentive and impetus to kharif onions. This point was emphasised in the meeting of the cabinet secretary yesterday," Kumar said. The country's onion production is estimated at 319 lakh tonne in the ongoing 2023 calendar year, slightly lower than 324 lakh tonne in the previous year, he said. Onion is produced in two seasons -- ra

India approves wheat, broken rice exports requests from 4 countries

India has decided to approve wheat and broken rice exports to few selected countries following their requests to allow the shipments of the grains, the government said