Page 8 - Agriculture

Direct seeded rice cultivation shows big promise for small farmers

Over 47 per cent of small farmers got higher rice yields through the direct seeded method, shows study

A tale of two farmer protests: Why 2020 agitation won a stupendous victory

The 2024 has been a different story. What changed?

India moved fewer people to non-agri jobs than most neighbouring nations

Change in employment ratio is also worse than its key peers

Average mustard yields can jump by 35% with right practices: SEA study

The yield increases were realised using innovative farming practices and advanced technology

Govt asks traders to avoid buying new-season wheat to shore up state stocks

India, the world's biggest wheat consumer and grower after China, banned exports in 2022 and is keen to bolster stocks and tame prices that surged after dry weather hurt output in 2022 and 2023

Centre orders mandatory declaration of wheat stock position from April 1

The Union government said that the move is in a bid to manage the overall food situation and prevent hoarding and unscrupulous speculation

Govt to begin procurement of 500,000 tonnes of rabi onion in 2-3 days

Amid concern over likely fall in mandi prices in view of extension of onion export ban, the government on Tuesday assured farmers that it will start procurement of 5 lakh tonnes of rabi onion in next 2-3 days to protect their interest. Last week, the commerce ministry extended the ban on onion export till further orders. The ban on onion shipment was valid till March 31. "We want to assure farmers that their concern will be taken care of. ...We will begin procurement of 5 lakh tonne of rabi (winter) crop in the next 2-3 days for maintaining a buffer stock," Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh told reporters. The onion export ban is affecting traders and not farmers as average mandi (wholesale) prices are ruling currently at around Rs 13-15/kg in Maharasthra, which is almost double from the previous year level, he said. "Even if prices crash, we will protect the interest of farmers," he added. The secretary said the government normally buys onion for the buffer stock at a

Vishwas Agri Seeds' Rs 26 crore SME IPO to open Mar 21: Check issue details

The brand "Vishwas" enjoys a strong presence in the market, the company claims, as over the years it has developed a robust network of distributors across states like Gujarat, Rajashtan and MP

Farmers to hold homage meets to spread agitation as protest enters deadlock

No tractors have been allowed in the 'mahapanchayat' while not more than 5000 people have been allowed to gather

Wheat stocks decline to 7-year low on poor procurement, shows data

The last time wheat stocks were below the current levels on March 1 was back in 2017. It had then dropped to 9.42 million tonnes

India achieves 11.6% ethanol blend with petrol in first 4 months of 2023-24

ISMA has appointed Deepak Ballani as its new Director General

Chhattisgarh launches scheme to provide input assistance to farmers

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday launched 'Krishak Unnati Yojna' to provide input assistance to farmers and released Rs 13,320 crore to 24.72 lakh cultivators. The scheme was launched at a function at Saryu Prasad Agrawal stadium in Balod district. Speaking on the occasion, Sai said another guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been fulfilled with the launch of this scheme. Input assistance worth Rs 13,320 crore was transferred to the bank accounts of 24.75 lakh farmers under the Krishak Unnati Yojana, he said. Of these cultivators, 24.72 lakh sold paddy this year in the kharif marketing season 2023-24 at minimum support price, and they were paid the difference amount of Rs 13,289 crore, the chief minister said. Similarly, more than Rs 31 crore was paid to 2,829 farmers producing paddy seeds through the seed corporation, he said. "The state government fulfilled its promise to farmers, by disbursing pending paddy bonus of two years (2014-15 and 2015-16

Rajasthan govt assesses crop loss in districts affected by rain, hailstorms

Trader K G Jhalani said harvesting of wheat, barley, and gram would begin in 10-15 days, so there is no major loss to these crops yet

Drop in onion and potato output; tomato slightly up, shows govt data

Onion production stood at 31.68 million tonnes in 2021-22, according to government data

FMCG sector to see subdued growth till September quarter: Kantar report

With El-Nino impact expected to keep weather dry for the first half of the year, the agriculture outlook for 2024 is a mixed bag

2.4 million paddy farmers in Chhattisgarh to get Rs 13,000 crore: CM

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has promised to pay Rs 3,100 for a quintal of paddy procured during the kharif marketing season 2023-24

Rethink the way we grow food

The fact is that the European farming system, which epitomises modern agriculture as we know it today, has survived only because of massive subsidy

Building capacity

Grain storage facilities will benefit all stakeholders

Gates meets Odisha CM, discusses tech-driven farmer empowerment initiatives

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates called on Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence here and discussed technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives. Gates, who arrived here on Tuesday, held discussions with the chief minister about various state government initiatives. "Pleasure meeting @Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Mr @BillGates. Had a wonderful discussion on our technology-driven farmer empowerment initiatives, several welfare initiatives like #JagaMission, #MissionShakti, #OdishaSchoolTransformation, #BSKY and healthcare transformation," Patnaik said on X. He appreciated the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting innovation in extending inclusive benefits to the people. "Thanked him for his praise for Odisha's welfare initiatives and success in different sectors through #5T transformative governance," he added. In the morning, he visited a slum in Bhubaneswar and interacted with the residents. He visited the Biju Adarsh Colony in the Maa ...

Tea industry body welcomes move to sell dust tea through auction route

Tea Association of India (TAI), a body of planters, on Wednesday hailed the decision of the Tea Board for selling dust tea fully through the auction route. On February 26, the board issued an order saying that 100 per cent of dust grades of tea manufactured in a calendar year through the auction mode under Tea (Marketing) Control (Amendment) Order which will be effective from April one, 2024. President of TAI Sandeep Singhania said in a statement that dust grades constitute approximately 20 per cent of total production in North India. Therefore, transitioning to 100 per cent auction of dust tea will be a small step towards restructuring the existing system, he said. TAI said that the tea industry is facing unprecedented challenges and urgent action is required to revitalise the industry. The association is also committed to compliance with the maximum residue levels (MRL) of pesticides and market teas as a healthy beverage. TAI has urged all the stakeholders to collaborate with t