Page 6 - Agriculture Economy

CEA Nageswaran bats for re-orientation of farm policies despite subsidies

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran has called for a pan-India dialogue on the agriculture sector, highlighting the need for policy re-orientation despite existing subsidies and support measures. In the preface to the Economic Survey 2023-24, Nageswaran noted that while the government provides substantial support to farmers through subsidies on water, electricity, and fertilizers, along with income tax exemptions and minimum support prices, there is room for improvement in policy implementation. "A case can be made that they (farmers) can be served better with some re-orientation of existing and new policies," the CEA stated. The survey pointed out that current policies, implemented by both national and sub-national governments, often work at cross-purposes, leading to unintended consequences. These include soil fertility degradation, groundwater depletion, environmental pollution, and nutritional imbalances in crop production and dietary habits. Nageswaran emphasised the .

Food subsidies to cost 11% more than Interim Budget estimate: Report

The country's combined food and fertiliser bill is expected to reach Rs 3.88 trillion, up 5% rise from the estimate in the interim budget unveiled before the election

Supporting agripreneurs

New fund should support innovation

Will head towards Delhi whenever Shambhu border opens: Farmer leader

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Tuesday said that farmers will head towards Delhi whenever the national highway, which is barricaded at Shambhu border near Ambala in Haryana, is opened. His statement came days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Haryana government to open the barricades at the Shambhu border on "experimental basis". Farmers have been camping at the border since February 13. The Haryana government has moved the Supreme Court challenging the high court order. The state government's appeal, filed through advocate Akshay Amritanshu, has cited law and order situation for the blockade. Addressing the media here on Tuesday, farmer leader Dallewal said farmers will head towards the national capital as part of the 'Delhi Chalo' programme in support of various demands, including legal guarantee for minimum support price (MSP) for crops. "Our decision is that whenever the road (highway) is opened, we will move towards Delhi," Samyukta Kisan Morcha ...

Scindia launches NE-RACE portal, mobile app for farmers in northeast

The NERACE app is intended to support agricultural and horticultural products such as spices, fruits, vegetables, pulses, cereals, and minor forest products

Train women to use drones for spraying fertilisers, says Amit Shah

'PM Narendra Modi has launched the 'Drone Didi Scheme', so please train women to use drones for spraying fertilisers,' HM Shah said

Not politics, not interest rates: India's economy at risk from water

The shortages are affecting rural and urban Indians alike, disrupting agriculture and industry, stoking food inflation and risking social unrest

Wheat, pulses prices moderate after govt imposes stockholding limit

Pulses see sharper price moderation due to muted summer demand

FCI wheat procurement hits 26.6 mn tonnes, surpassing last year's purchase

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has procured 26.6 million tonnes of wheat during the current Rabi Marketing Season (RMS) 2024-25, surpassing last year's figure of 26.2 million tonnes, the government said on Wednesday. The procurement, which began earlier than usual this year, has benefited more than 2.2 million farmers who received about Rs 61 lakh crore directly in their bank accounts as payment at the Minimum Support Price (MSP), it said in a statement. The government had set the MSP for wheat at Rs 2,275 per quintal for the current season (April-March). States like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan showed significant improvements in their wheat procurement, the statement said. Uttar Pradesh procured 9,31,000 tonnes compared to 2,20,000 tonnes last year, while Rajasthan achieved 12 lakh tonnes, up from 4.38 lakh tonnes in the previous season. In addition to wheat, the government reported that paddy procurement during the 2023-24 Kharif Marketing season exceeded 77.5 million tonnes

Farmer groups want CACP to declare MSP at 50% above C2 production cost

Presently, MSPs are fixed at 50 percent more than the A2+FL cost of production

HADP a game-changer for J&K's agriculture, allied sectors: LG Manoj Sinha

The Holistic Agriculture Development Program (HADP) is a game-changer for Jammu and Kashmir's agriculture and allied sector that could address challenges faced by farmers, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said. Sinha made the remarks after inaugurating the Litchi Festival and an agriculture exhibition organised by the horticulture department here on Sunday. Addressing a gathering at the event, "HADP has emerged as the game-changer for J&K's agriculture and allied sector. Twenty-nine projects of HADP hold the potential to address the challenges faced by farmers and it will diversify income sources." He said the unique initiative is a commitment of his administration towards farmers' welfare and determination to explore new avenues for their prosperity. Sinha said progressive reforms and policies of the administration are being implemented to tap the potential of agriculture and horticulture sectors in the Union territory. He extended his felicitations to all the stakeholders and ...

Rice export prices climb to near three-month high as demand picks up

India on Wednesday raised the price at which it will buy new-season common rice paddy from farmers by 5.4% to 2,300 rupees ($27) per 100 kg

Uttar Pradesh government to connect agri startups with ONDC, e-NAM

"The idea is to develop UP as the veritable food basket of India and ensure benefits of government schemes reach farmers," a state government spokesperson said

Cabinet approves MSP for 14 Kharif crops, farmers to gain Rs 35,000 cr more

The government on Wednesday raised the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy by 5.35 per cent to Rs 2,300 per quintal for the 2024-25 kharif marketing season. The hike in paddy support price comes despite the government sitting on surplus rice stocks, but it is significant ahead of elections in states like Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhi. Announcing the MSP increase, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the cabinet has approved the minimum support prices for 14 kharif (summer) crops based on recommendations from the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP). The MSP for 'common' grade paddy has been raised Rs 117 to Rs 2,300 per quintal, while for the 'A' grade variety it has been hiked to Rs 2,320 per quintal for the upcoming kharif season, Vaishnaw told reporters. This is the first cabinet decision taken in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third term in office, the minister said. Vaishnaw said the government had a clear policy decision t

IMD says monsoon at 20% deficit, heatwaves causing alarm for agriculture

The weather department is hoping that while the monsoon has weakened, it is expected to pick up again and potentially make up for the shortfall quickly

Highlights: BJP will break TDP, JDU if it fails to secure Lok Sabha speaker post, says Sanjay Raut

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Prices of tur, chana, urad dals to soften from July on good monsoon: Govt

Prices of tur, chana and urad dals are likely to soften from next month helped by expectations of a good monsoon and increased imports, Union Consumers Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said on Friday, stressing there is no need for panic. Imports of these three pulses will also increase from next month, she said adding this would help augment domestic supply. "Prices of tur, chana and urad dals have been stable in the last six months but at a high level. The price situation in moong and masoor dals is comfortable," Khare told reporters here. On June 13, the average retail price of chana dal was Rs 87.74 per kg, tur (arhar) Rs 160.75 per kg, urad Rs 126.67 per kg, moong Rs 118.9 per kg and masoor Rs 94.34 per kg. The consumer affairs department collects retail prices from 550 major consuming centres. "From July onwards, prices of tur, urad and chana are likely to soften," Khare said. The secretary noted that weather office has forecast normal monsoon rains. "We are expecting good mon

CSC, agriculture ministry sign MoU to convert 10,000 FPOs into CSCs

E-governance service provider CSC SPV and the Agriculture Ministry have signed a memorandum of understanding to convert 10,000 farmer producer organisations into common service centres, an official statement said on Friday. CSC SPV will enable them to provide the services that are available on the Digital Seva Portal. "An MoU between CSC SPV and Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare was signed here today to convert FPOs registered under 'Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs scheme' into common service centres (CSCs) and help them to deliver citizen-centric services," the statement said. The training and capacity building of FPOs will be done by CSCs."It is a matter of immense pleasure that 10,000 FPOs will now function as Common Services Centres. With this initiative, more farmers who are associated with FPOs, will be able to avail the benefits of CSC services," CSC SPV, MD and CEO, Sanjay Rakesh said. With this initiative, the agriculture related services of CSC are ...

Global agricultural trade focuses on India policies post new govt formation

Prices of some farm commodities have softened from their peaks, with state agencies also cracking down on hoarding and selling some grains from state reserves

Agri GVA growth slowest in 5 years after poor rains last monsoon

In the last quarter of Fy-24, the sector grew by 1.1 per cent which was similar to the growth rate in the previous October to December quarter