Agricultural Sector

Govt approves Rs 35,000 cr for 'PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan'

The government on Wednesday approved Rs 35,000 crore for PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) with an aim to provide remunerative price to farmers as well as stabilisation of market price for consumers. The decision was taken at the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, informed Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Giving details, the minister said the scheme is aimed at protecting farmers from distress sale during peak harvesting time. It will promote self-sufficiency in the production of pulses, oilseeds and other essential agri-horticulture commodities, increase farmers income and protect consumers' interest.

Manufacturing output to jump 9% if more women join workforce: World Bank

The report said that in all South Asian countries, output gains from closing the gender gap in labour force participation would be driven by the manufacturing sector, followed by the services sector

Sowing area swells to 109.23 mn hectares but floods pose risk to yields

As of September 6, improved monsoon rainfall has boosted Kharif sowing to 109.23 million hectares, the data released by the Centre showed

Union govt urges states to adopt new tech initiatives for better farm data

Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi on Thursday urged states to swiftly adopt and implement new technology-driven initiatives to improve farm production estimates and enhance data accuracy. Addressing a national conference here, Chaturvedi emphasised the need for continuous collaboration between the central and state governments to enhance the quality of agricultural statistics, an official statement said. The new initiatives include the Digital Crop Survey, Digital General Crop Estimation Survey (DGCES), and the revamped FASAL (Forecasting Agricultural Output using Space, Agro-meteorology, and Land-based Observations) programme. The Digital Crop Survey is designed to provide plot-level data with geotagged areas of crops, serving as a single source of truth for accurate crop area estimation. DGCES aims to calculate yield based on scientifically designed Crop Cutting Experiments for all major crops across the country. The revamped FASAL programme leverages remote sensing techno

Govt launches satellite-based agricultural decision support system

The government on Friday launched a satellite-based agricultural decision support system to provide farmers with critical data for crop management and productivity enhancement. Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary unveiled the Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS), a geospatial platform that will offer real-time information on crop conditions, weather patterns, water resources, and soil health. "This platform is a new milestone for farmers amid growing climate challenges," Choudhary said at the launch event. Krishi-DSS, developed using technology similar to the government's Gati Shakti initiative, will utilize satellite imagery to deliver early warnings about potential disasters such as pest attacks and extreme weather events. The system will aid in crop mapping, monitoring, and promoting crop rotation and diversification. It will provide data on crop patterns across regions and track crop conditions throughout various growth stages. Agriculture Secretary De

PM Modi says govt is making efforts to improve the lives of farmers

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says Centre will launch first interactive radio show for farmers, likely from September

Assam, Arunachal, Himachal, TN face grave climate risk to rice productivity

The states at yield risk till a few years back accounted for less than 20 per cent of India's annual rice production

Climate adaptation

India must invest in agricultural research

UPA govt refused to provide 50% profit on cost to farmers: Agri minister

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said the previous UPA government had refused to provide 50 per cent profit on cost to farmers in the minimum support price for crops, as based on the formula suggested by the M S Swaminathan Commission. During the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Deepender Hooda asked a supplementary question related to the farmers' protests of 2020-21 and said around 750 farmers lost their lives during the agitation. He asked if the government is considering providing jobs to the next of kin of those who lost their lives during the year-long protests at Delhi's borders against three contentious farm laws of the Centre that have since been repealed. Chouhan said the question was not related to the main question, which was on issues faced by farmers. "The government is totally committed to farmers' welfare," he said. The agriculture minister alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had refused to ...

Farm sector hails forward looking budget, Tikait calls it 'empty-handed'

Tikait expressed concern over providing funds for the private sector in agri-research in the name of climate change, letting foreign lobby groups and big corporations push their agenda

Agri bodies urge FM Sitharaman to boost research, rationalise subsidies

Pre-budget meeting: Finance Minister meet agricultural bodies to discuss policy and budget recommendations

Unintended consequence

Shift in paddy sowing is not helping

Coromandel increases stake in drone company Dhaksha; to invest Rs 150 crore

Coromandel will invest Rs 150 crore through a fresh issue of shares to increase its overall shareholding in Dhaksha to 58 per cent. Dhaksha, incorporated in 2019 and headquartered in Chennai

EU aims to increase agri-food exports to China despite trade tensions

Unlike sectors such as solar panels or new energy vehicles (NEVs) the European Union's agri-food sector runs an export surplus in its trade with China

We expect price moderation if geopolitical tensions ease: Arun Alagappan

As we enter the rabi season, a good monsoon is expected, leading to robust sowing and increased fertiliser use. Overall, the year should be positive, with early June rains forecasted

Agri credit crosses Rs 20 trn till Jan in FY24, sharp jump from 2013-14

The Modi government has enhanced the institutional credit into the agriculture sector sharply in the last 10 years, with banks disbursing Rs 20.39 lakh crores during the April-January period of this fiscal as against Rs 7.3 lakh crore in the entire 2013-14, according to a senior official. In the Budget for 2023-24 fiscal, the government set an agriculture credit target at Rs 20 lakh crore. Banks have already breached the target and the number could cross Rs 22 lakh crore this fiscal. To ensure the availability of agriculture credit at a reduced interest rate of 7 per cent per annum to the farmers, the Union Agriculture Ministry implements an interest subvention scheme for short-term crop loans up to Rs 3 lakh. The scheme provides interest subvention of 2 per cent per annum to banks on the use of their resources. Moreover, an additional 3 per cent incentive is given to the farmers for prompt repayment of the loan, thereby reducing the effective rate of interest to 4 per ...

Uttar Pradesh Budget eyes 5% growth in agricultural sector in FY25

The Uttar Pradesh government's annual budget for the next financial year has set a target of 5.1 per cent growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state. A provision of Rs 460 crore has been made for three new agriculture-related schemes in the budget. Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna, while presenting the budget in the state assembly on Monday, said that the target is to achieve the growth rate of 5.1 per cent for the agriculture sector. He announced three schemes to push the agriculture sector. One of the scheme, State Agricultural Development Scheme, will have a provision of Rs 200 crore. Another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the World Bank-assisted UP Agris Scheme. The third scheme for the installation of automatic weather station-automatic rain gauge in blocks and panchayats has been allocated Rs 60 crore, the state finance minister said. He further said that the Chief Minister Khet Suraksha yojna (Farm Security Scheme) is also being started with a provision

31 states, UTs adopted Primary Agricultural Credit Societies' model bylaws

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said 31 states and Union Territories have adopted the model bylaws that aim to bring professionalism, transparency and accountability in the operation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS). After incorporating the suggestions received, the model bylaws were circulated to all states/ UTs on January 5, 2023 for their adoption by PACS, he said. "Model bylaws have been adopted by 31 states/UTs," Shah said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. By adopting the model bylaws, PACS would be able to serve as multi-service centres, improve their operational efficiency, transparency and accountability and provide agricultural credit and various non-credit services in rural areas, he said. Further, this will help farmers in getting short-term, medium-term and long-term credit and other services such as fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, storage facilities, banking services, at one stop for meeting their varied needs. Farmers will also be able

'NCEL can export 1,492,000 tonnes non-basmati rice, 50,000 tonnes sugar'

The newly set up cooperative export body NCEL has got permission to export 14,92,800 tonnes of non-Basmati rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonnes of sugar to two countries, Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday in the Rajya Sabha. The National Cooperative Exports Ltd (NCEL) was registered in January this year under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. It covers agriculture and allied activities as well as handloom and handicraft items by enrolling a large number of co-operatives under its fold with a target to double its revenue by 2025 from the current level of about Rs 2,160 crore. Shah, in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, said NCEL has so far received 2,581 applications for membership under different classes from 22 states and Union Territories. "NCEL has so far got permission for exports of 14,92,800 tonne non-Basmati white rice to 16 countries and 50,000 tonne sugar to two countries," Shah said. NCEL will provide a complete ecosystem for promotion o

No new issue agri issue in WTO till solution on public stockholding: India

India has told a WTO grouping with a major interest in farm trade that it will not discuss any new issue in the agriculture segment like imposition of export restrictions before a permanent solution is found with regard to public stockholding of food grains, an official said. This position was cleared during a mini-ministerial virtual meeting of about 28 WTO (World Trade Organisation) member countries on agriculture issues on November 28. In the meeting, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal put forward New Delhi's approach to the issue saying that public procurement and stockholding of food grains serve the twin objectives of food security and income support to marginal farmers. The 19-member Cairns group, which includes agri-exporting nations, lobbies for agricultural trade liberalisation. It was formed in 1986 in Cairns, Australia. Its members include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, ..