Page 6 - Agriculture

Convince agitating farmers to open Shambhu border: Haryana min to Centre

Haryana Minister Aseem Goel has urged Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to convince the protesting farmers to open the Shambhu border near Ambala to alleviate the difficulties faced by the people. Goel, the Minister of State for Transport, had met Chouhan in New Delhi on Tuesday. He said the farmers began their protest at Shambhu village on the Haryana-Punjab border a few months ago, resulting in the closure of the border since then. This closure has caused difficulties for the general public, particularly for traders, in conducting their business, Goel, who is the BJP MLA from Ambala City, told Chouhan, according to an official statement issued here. The Haryana minister emphasised that the central government should engage in discussions with the protesting farmers to convince them to open the border. Opening the border will provide relief to the local residents and facilitate easier business operations for traders, he said. According to the statement, Chouhan assur

Long-duration paddy use prevalent in Punjab despite concerns: Report

Farmers in Punjab's districts with the highest stubble-burning incidents continue to cultivate the long-duration and water-intensive paddy variety Pusa 44, according to a new survey released on Tuesday. The survey, conducted by researchers from the Delhi-based independent think tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), also found that nearly half of Punjab farmers using in-situ crop residue management (CRM) machines still burn some loose paddy straw to ensure the machines' efficient operation and for pest control. The CEEW report highlighted that 36 per cent of the 1,478 farmers surveyed in 11 districts of Punjab grew Pusa 44 in Kharif 2022 due to its high yield. The selected districts -- Amritsar, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Fazilka, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, and SBS Nagar -- accounted for about 58 per cent of the Kharif fires reported in Punjab in 2022. High-and medium-burn districts, such as Sangrur and Ludhiana, have the highest ...

Kharif sowing makes a strong start on hopes of good rains this season

Good harvest will help tame food inflation

New portal to expedite agri infra fund interest subsidy claims of farmers

The portal will be used by banks, the Central Project Management Unit of DA&FW, and Nabard

UP govt builds 4.8 MT of fertiliser inventory; to cover 84% of demand

Supplies by the central government agencies in the coming weeks are expected to fill the demand-availability gap

More than 50% marginal farmers reported losing crops due to extreme weather

The study suggested buffering of water in reservoirs, and the recharge of groundwater through check dams and watersheds for water in agriculture

Centre imposes stock holding limit on wheat; says no shortage anywhere

The decision to re-impose the stock limit that ended in March 2024 was taken even though wheat production in FY24 is expected to be over 112 million tonnes

Financial impact of transition to green ammonia for fertiliser production

There is a large difference in the cost of production between grey and green ammonia

Share of crops declines; livestock and fishing up in agri GVO: NSO

Share of fruits, vegetables has risen from 24.1 per cent to 28.2 per cent between 2011-12 and 2022-23

Indian man, abandoned in Italy after severing arm during work injury, dies

Satnam Singh was "left to die on road" after he severed his arm in an accident while working on a farm in the countryside of Italy's Latina on Monday

Minister Chouhan calls for timely input supplies ahead of kharif season

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday emphasised the need to ensure timely availability of fertilizers, seeds, and pesticides for the upcoming kharif crop season starting in July, pitching for constant monitoring to avoid any supply disruptions for farmers. Reviewing preparedness for the kharif (summer) season, which includes the sowing of crops like paddy with the onset of southwest monsoon rains, Chouhan directed officials to ensure quality input supplies and timely distribution, an official statement said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted an above-normal southwest monsoon this year, a positive sign for the agriculture sector. Chouhan also stressed the need for increased farm mechanisation and adoption of technology to boost productivity. He called for linking agricultural education with farming practices to better utilise the skills of those with higher education in agriculture sciences. The minister urged intensive discussions to improve t

Agri firm Samunnati gets Rs 133 cr debt funding from Swiss firm Blue Earth

Agriculture value chain enabler Samunnati on Friday said it has raised Rs 133 crore (USD 16 million) in credit financing from Swiss impact investment firm Blue Earth Capital. This is Blue Earth Capital's first debt investment and will help Samunnati expand initiatives aimed at improving the lives of small farmers across the country through projects focused on climate adaptation, resilience and mitigation practices. The funding from Blue Earth is the single largest debt tranche raised by Samunnati during the first quarter of the fiscal year. "We're grateful for the support from Blue Earth Capital... This boost will strengthen our efforts to improve the lives of smallholders through climate and sustainability projects," Samunnati founder and chief executive Anil Kumar SG said in a statement. In the current fiscal year, Samunnati has already secured USD 5 million (Rs 41 crore) in debt funding through external commercial borrowing from Enabling Qapital. In the previous fiscal year, it

Low agri growth, rural discontent to keep Shivraj Singh Chouhan occupied

On Monday, the 65-year-old Shivraj Singh Chouhan was given the charge of the rural development ministry and the agriculture ministry

Nabard may raise Rs 30,000 crore through bonds in FY25, says CRISIL

The money raised through the market covering bonds and money market instruments had about 51.5 per cent share in total borrowings by Nabard at the end of March 2024

Modi 3.0: Agri reforms, food inflation key challenges for new govt

Increased production of pulses, oilseeds, and cereals will help boost domestic supplies and contribute to keeping inflation low in the coming months

Will send 1K students to China for agriculture training: Pakistan PM Sharif

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced sending as many as 1,000 students of the country to China for advanced training in the agriculture sector as it strives to increase output, according to a media report on Sunday. The premier, who concluded his five-day official visit to China, made the announcement during a visit to Yangling Agricultural Demonstration Base in Xi'an city on Saturday, Radio Pakistan reported. The 72-year-old also invited China's North West Agriculture and Forestry University to open a campus in Pakistan. He directed the Pakistan ambassador to China and relevant authorities to finalise the matters with the Chinese authorities in this regard, Geo News reported. The prime minister toured various parts of the facility and was shown Pakistani products at the Pakistan Pavilion, the report said. Sharif also visited the modern plant production factory where he oversaw a demonstration of the vertical method of agriculture, it said. Pakistan is striving to

Will Centre succumb to pressure of rising prices and allow wheat import?

A drop in state procurement has fuelled the buzz about impending imports. Will that really be necessary?

Govt revises upwards wheat output to record 112.92 mn tonne for 2023-24

The government has revised upwards wheat production at record 112.92 million tonne for the 2023-24 crop year (July-June) in its third estimate. The output, which has been revised upwards by 0.91 million tonne from the second estimate, is also higher than the previous record high of 110.55 million tonne achieved in the 2022-23 crop year, the agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. Wheat, the main rabi (winter) crop, has been harvested and over 26 million tonne has already been procured by the central government at minimum support price. In its third estimate, the agriculture ministry has projected increase in rice output to 136.7 million tonne for 2023-24 from 135.75 million tonne in the previous crop year. However, the total foodgrain output is estimated slightly lower at 328.85 million tonne as compared to the level achieved in 2022-23 but higher by 21.1 million tonne from the last five years' average of 307.75 million tonne. Among pulses, tur output is pegged higher at 3.38 millio

Garuda Aerospace aims to sell 50,000 agri, consumer drones in coming years

Drone manufacturer Garuda Aerospace Pvt Ltd has inaugurated its first exclusive drone showroom in the city as it plans to sell 50,000 agricultural and consumer drones in the next few years. The city-based company, backed by cricket legend Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has served over 750 clients across the country. In a statement on Tuesday, the company said it has received the Directorate General of Civil Aviation approval for manufacturing of small and medium drones. "We pride ourselves on the impactful intelligence our drone solutions have to offer. We have 750 + satisfied clients all around India with 350 finished projects and 50 designed works. Our team includes 200 plus employees, with a group of advisory board members, expertise heads for various departments, and well-versed pilots," company CEO Agnishwar Jayaprakash said in the statement. "Garuda Aerospace has sold 2,500 drones so far, out of which 2,000 are agri drones. We plan to sell 25,000 agri-drones in the next two years and

India's sugar consumption might touch 30 million tonnes next season

India's annual sugar consumption growth rate of 2.2 per cent is significantly higher than the world average which is closer to 1 per cent