Page 7 - Agriculture

Chhattisgarh eyes 11 million MT paddy procurement in 2022-23: Official

About 110 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy is estimated to be procured at the minimum support price (MSP) in the ongoing kharif marketing season from farmers in Chhattisgarh, a government official said on Monday. Last year, around 98 lakh MT of paddy was purchased from cultivators in the state. The paddy procurement drive will begin on November 1, Chhattisgarh's statehood day, and conclude on January 31 next year. All preparations are in full swing to start purchase of paddy and so far over 25 lakh farmers have registered, 95,000 of them new registrations, themselves to sell their produce at designated centres, he said. Registrations of farmers who were enrolled last year were carry forward this year, the official added. About 110 lakh metric tonnes of paddy is estimated to be procured in this kharif marketing season for which 5.50 lakh bundles of jute gunny bags will be required, he said. A trial run of the drive will be held from October 26 to 28 at all cooperative societies ..

UP eyes bigger pie of millet exports, plans to expand jowar acreage

Some of the major millet crops grown in UP are jowar, bajra, kodo and sanwa

Pulses, onion won't see price hike this year; have adequate stock: Govt

The all-India average retail price of onion has witnessed a significant decline of 28 per cent compared to last year

Subsidy, price controls to delay stake sale of state-run fertiliser firms

The financial condition of state-run fertiliser companies is completely dependent on subsidies and prices, which are majorly dictated by the government in India

MSP hike of Rabi crops will further energise agriculture sector: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday the hike in the minimum support price of several Rabi crops will further energise the agriculture sector. The government on Tuesday hiked the minimum support price (MSP) of six Rabi crops by up to 9 per cent, with Rs 110 per quintal increase for wheat crop to boost domestic production and farmers' income. Wheat MSP has been raised by 5.45 per cent to Rs 2,125 per quintal from Rs 2,015 per quintal to encourage more area under the crop amid tight government stock position owing to low procurement, fall in production and higher exports. Modi noted that farmers are important partners in the country's development and said the government has approved increase in the MSPs of all essential Rabi crops, including wheat, lentils, and barley.

PM Modi launches single brand 'Bharat' for subsidised fertilisers

The Centre has started a new scheme - Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana - One Nation One Fertiliser - under which it is mandatory for companies to market all subsidised fertilisers under single brand 'Bharat'. The prime minister launched the single brand Bharat under the scheme during the two-day event PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 being held here. This is being done to prevent criss-cross movement of fertilisers and reduce high freight subsidy. All subsidised soil nutrients - urea, di-ammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MoP) and NPK - will be marketed under the single brand Bharat across the nation. Modi also inaugurated 600 PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM-KSK) that will act as a one-stop-shop for farmers who can buy products and avail multiple services related to the agriculture sector. The Centre intends to convert more than 3.3 lakh fertiliser retail shops in the country into PM-KSK in a phased manner. The PM-KSK will supply agri-inputs like seeds, ...

PM to bring together 13,500 farmers, 1,500 agri startups on one platform

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day event -- PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022 -- on Monday at Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.The event would bring together more than 13,500 farmers from across the country and around 1,500 agri startups, an official statement said. More than 1 crore farmers from various institutions are expected to attend the event virtually. The Sammelan will also witness the participation of researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders.Prime Minister will inaugurate 600 Pradan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PMKSK) under the ministry of chemicals & fertilizers. The statement said under the scheme, the fertiliser retail shops in the country will be converted into PMKSK in a phased manner. It said PMKSK will cater to a wide variety of needs of the farmers and provide agri-inputs (fertilisers, seeds, implements); testing facilities for soil, seeds, fertilisers; generate awareness among farmers; provide information regarding

Centre to soon launch 600 Kisan Samriddhi Kendras to benefit farmers

Fertilizer shops to act as one-stop solution provider for all need of growers

Unseasonal rains are impacting small farmers, says Narendra Singh Tomar

Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Wednesday said unseasonal rains in some parts of the country have affected small farmers and are getting compensation under the government's crop insurance scheme. At a conference on 'Enhancing Agricultural Productivity: Integration of Improved Seeds and Agri Inputs', the minister also said Indian agriculture sector as well as profit or loss in farming are dependent on nature. "You all must be experiencing now that unseasonal rains have caused losses to small and marginal farmers," he said. According to him, farmers have security cover as they get compensations under the crop insurance scheme Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). The scheme provides protection to farmers from crop losses. Delhi-NCR and various districts of Uttar Pradesh have received unseasonal rains this month. So far, Tomar said the insurance companies have provided a compensation of Rs 1.22 lakh crore to affected farmers. However, he rued that all farmers are n

Inga, TIH Singapore tie up to launch PE fund for mid-sized companies

The fund has set an overall target of raising Rs 500 crore and has received commitment of Rs 25 crore

MS Dhoni launches made-in-India 'Droni' camera drone for farming solutions

Indian cricket star Mahendra Singh Dhoni has launched the made-in-India camera drone named 'Droni' with advanced features manufactured by Garuda Aerospace

Farmers receive MSP worth Rs 2,356 crore during 2022-23 Kharif season

In the ongoing Kharif marketing season in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu, farmers have benefitted with minimum support price value of Rs 2,356.30 crore

Farmer grows cane crop upto 16-ft with trench technique in UP's Meerut

Chandrahas, a cane grower in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, is busy accepting compliments, answering to queries and welcoming visitors, in general

Kerala's agriculture startup launches end-to-end supply chain for bananas

A Kerala-based agribusiness startup has launched an end-to-end supply chain connecting banana cultivators, traders and exporters on a single platform. The start-up, Greenikk, has built enablement centres (EC) in the major banana producing agricultural-belts in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to provide farmers with production and marketing-related support, a release issued by it on Thursday said. "These ECs will provide the farmers with required supports such as finance, seeds, crop advisory, insurance coverage, agri inputs, including weather tips, and market connect, covering the entire gamut of production and marketing both inside the country and outside," it said. "Similar ECs are planned in other south Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and further scaling across the whole of India," the start-up said. The platform would also help farmers to better utilise the organic waste that is left behind after the harvest, as manure and poultry feed, the release said. Such ..

Women farmers are helping transition to natural farming in Andhra Pradesh

The state's natural farming programme must ensure that women are empowered as they move to cleaner, greener farming, and do not just become a means to an end

Agritech start-up Falca raises $3 mn in funding for expanding business

Company enables farmers to sell their products directly to consumers without extra costs like logistics, packaging

Nestle to invest $1 billion towards sustainable coffee farming plan

The new plan builds on a previous coffee-sustainability effort that started 12 years ago involving around 100,000 farmers; the goal is to double that in the coming years

There's a sea change in public sector cloud in India: AWS' Rahul Sharma

Digital India's mindset acted as a catalyst to bring this transformation of citizen-facing services, says Rahul Sharma, Regional Head, AWS India

Stubble burning: Unhappy with Punjab govt plan, farmers want compensation

Farmers have indicated that they will continue with the practice unless the govt compensates them suitably for the expenses they will incur by adopting alternative methods of disposing of crop residue

Breaking ground and filling the gaps

Unfortunately, not all states are equally upbeat about agri-start-ups and the role they can play in the development of the agri-rural sector