Page 4 - Farm Sector

Govt expands scope of PM-KUSUM for harnessing solar energy by farmers

The renewable energy ministry has expanded the scope of PM-KUSUM scheme to enable greater solar energy generation in farm sector. The ministry has amended the guidelines of the scheme based on the learning from its implementation during the first year, an official statement said. Now, besides barren, fallow and agricultural lands, solar power plants can also be installed on pasture land and marshy land of farmers. To support small farmers, solar projects smaller than 500 kW may be allowed by states based on techno-commercial feasibility, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) statement said. The selected renewable power generator (RPG) shall commission the solar power plant within twelve months from date of issuance of Letter of Award (LoA), it added. Moreover, there shall be no penalty on RPG for shortfall in solar power generation from minimum prescribed Capacity Utilization Factor. As per the amendments, now MNRE will retain 33 per cent of eligible service charges fo

Over half the farmers not in favour of recently passed farm laws: Survey

The survey showed that around 60 per cent of the farmers want the MSP system to be made a mandatory law in India

Woman farmers, SHGs play crucial role in farm sector growth: MoS Agri

The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare organised the Mahila Kisan Diwas through video-conferencing on Thursday, an official statement said

Farm sector start performer in pandemic-hit economy: Agri minister Rupala

The farm sector has been a star performer in India's pandemic-hit economy, with 3.4 per cent growth in April-June quarter of 2020-21 fiscal, Minister of State for Agriculture Parshottam Rupala said.

Farm laws issue: SAD says will initiate national pro-farmer front

Akali Dal prez Sukhbir Singh Badal said that his party would take the lead to form a "national pro-farmer front" of regional parties against the three pieces of farm legislation passed by Parliament

Ground Zero: New agriculture law may not spell the end of commission agents

The last of a two-part series finds how farmers in Punjab depend on commission agents for credit

Statsguru: A look at the good and bad of APMCs as new farm laws kick in

The new central laws bypass the existing Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) or mandis regulated by state laws

Farm Bills: Tomar assures MSP mechanism will continue for farmers

Tomar said that many steps, proposed in the Bill, had been recommended by the numerous expert committees, including those which were constituted by the previous Congress government

Marketing reforms

Govt must create awareness about agricultural reforms

Statsguru: Farm activity to MGNREGA wages, monsoon 2020 gives hope

Rains do swivel between normal, deficient and excess across years, but good rains in times of severe contraction in the economy are a big relief

Farm sector will continue to shine in 2020-21 but rural as a whole may not

The non-farm sector occupies a large part of rural income, and unless it grows substantially, just expecting farm growth to bring about rural sector revival is unreasonable, say experts

Panel moots merger of UP co-operative banks to create Rs 35,000 cr entity

The committee's report under consideration of Adityanath government

Agriculture clocks growth rate of 3.4% in Q1 despite GDP contraction

GVA at current prices at 5.7%, down from 8.6% YoY

Statsguru: Down, yes, but how much? India's Q1 GDP data to reveal on Monday

As many as 13 out of 18 indicators analysed by Business Standard showed a contraction in Apr-Jun, ranging from services exports at a 10% clip, to domestic air travel with more than 90% fall

Farm sector sees spike in private investment after reforms: Agri secy

The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Ordinance, 2020 was brought in to legalise contract farming

Retail inflation for farm workers, rural labourers eases in June: Govt

According to the statement, inflation based on food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at (+) 8.57 per cent and (+) 8.41 per cent, respectively, in June 2020

India needs to leverage performance of farm sector to push growth: Subbarao

Echoing a similar view Raghuram Rajan, Subbarao's successor at the RBI, said one positive factor for the Indian economy is that the agriculture sector is doing well

Farm sector the only silver lining in FY21 as economy nears negative zone

Though it may not have a huge impact on overall economic growth given its diminishing share in India's GDP, positive growth in agriculture has the potential to revive the rural economy

Recent farm sector ordinances might 'exploit' farmers: Punjab seeks review

Referring to the Ordinances, SIngh said the APMC system in Punjab had stood the test of time and served the state and the country well over the last 60 years

As farm sector gains importance, HDFC Bank reworks strategy for rural areas

The State Bank of India has also created a separate business vertical to focus on financial inclusion and micro-markets (FI&MM) in semi-urban and rural areas