Crop

Amid concerns over the impact of rising temperature on wheat yields, government-research body IARI on Wednesday said the situation is not alarming right now even as it advised farmers to be ready to take contingent measures like light irrigation in case of temperature soars beyond 35-degree celsius in mid-March. Wheat, a major rabi (winter) crop, would be ready for harvest next month. As the Met office has forecast rising temperatures in parts of the country, farmers are worried about a repeat of last year when the heatwave hit the crop yields. Speaking with PTI, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) Director A K Singh said: "The IMD (India Meteorological Department) has forecast that temperature would remain 2-degree celsius above normal but below 35-degree celsius till the first fortnight of March. A below 35-degree celsius temperature is not a concern for the wheat crop." IARI's agriculture and weather scientists explained heat is a major concern during the crop maturity

Crop estimates have been way off the mark between the first and subsequent estimates and over the years this divergence has grown

The commerce ministry is likely to engage with Niti Aayog to rework the five draft bills pertaining to cash crops tea, coffee, spices, rubber, and tobacco, an official said. Earlier this year, the ministry proposed the repeal and updation of decades-old laws on these sectors and to introduce new legislation with a view to promoting their growth and creating a conducive environment for businesses. "Niti Aayog has raised certain objections with the ministry on these five bills. The issues were recently discussed in a meeting between senior officials. Niti Aayog suggested a relook and the ministry has sought its help on that," the official said. Niti Aayog has given its views on the drafts of Spices (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022; Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022; Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022; Tea (Promotion and Development) Bill, 2022 and Tobacco Board (Amendment) Bill, 2022. The ministry had earlier also conducted stakeholder consultations on th

The next hearing will be on November 29

Even as the Meteorological Department has predicted the arrival of monsoon in Tamil Nadu by the last week of October, cyclonic depressions have led to heavy rains in many parts of the state

In several states, farmers have already moved on to other short-duration crops such as pulses and coarse cereals abandoning paddy

Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao demanded that the Centre buy the entire Yasangi crop produced in the state just as it was doing in Punjab and Haryana

A drop in production could not only limit rice and cotton exports, but also boost imports of edible oils

Some states stressed the need to restore supply chains

The trade war between Washington and Beijing will also play a role, hampering US meat shipments to the benefit of South America and Europe

Currently, Agriculture Ministry has empanelled 11 private sector companies and state-owned Agriculture Insurance Company to implement PMFBY