ICAR
planning to launch a national Kisan channel
The
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) is planning to launch
a channel for the farmers by the end of this month. The new endeavour
aptly christened Kisan Channel will have only one stipulation that
all content – advertising or otherwise – is designed so that it
identifies with the traditional Indian farmer.
The
national channel will not entertain any content (not even advertising)
that does not conform to Indian traditions. It is expected to disseminate
information about various government schemes to farmers country-wide
Though
the financial and logistic planning for the channel has been approved
“in principle” by the Government, Union Agriculture Minister, Rajnath
Singh is keen to put this project on the fast track. The proposal
has already reached the Finance Ministry. Sources in the Ministry
say the channel is expected to be an effective instrument for disseminating
information about various government schemes to farmers country-wide.
The
medium could also be used to educate farmers about the latest farming
technology.
AP
to have Agri-Export Zone for gherkins
Andhra
Pradesh will be the second state, after Karnataka, to have an exclusive
Agri-Export Zone (AEZ) for gherkins. The Union Commerce Ministry cleared
the proposal sent by the AP government a couple of months ago.
The
project will cover nine districts of Telangana and Rayalaseema regions
where they are extensively grown and is estimated to cost Rs 20 crore.
This would be met by raising Rs 16 crore from the private sector players
and the remaining from the central and state agencies.
According
to the Agriculture Produce Export Development Authority (Apeda), a
special committee empowered to clear AEZ projects, has cleared the
AEZ-gherkins proposal sent by Andhra Pradesh. They added that that
an MoU for developing the zone would be entered into by the Union
Commerce Ministry and the Government of Andhra Pradesh in a month’s
time. The AEZ for gherkins in Andhra Pradesh, incidentally, is the
fourth AEZ to come in the state.
MPAMB
enters into joint venture for e-marketing
Madhya
Pradesh Agricultural Marketing Board (MPAMB) has tied up with SQL
Star International for the on-line marketing of their mandi produce.
Under
this new facility, aptly termed “e-agricultural marketing”, the operations
of 229 mandis of the state would become online using VSAT for connectivity.
The facility would include Smart card interface, video conferencing
and live interface with respective regional offices and head office
at Bhopal.
The
project provides for farmers’ interaction from mandis through video
conferencing on agricultural practices and sharing of data of agriculture
departments.
The
project envisages development of application software for the entire
gamut of mandi transactions and will also lead to faster transactions
and less paperwork in the mandi yard, cutting down on time spent by
farmers and traders.
Monsanto
claims that GM crops are a success
Mahyco
Monsanto Biotech, claimed that the GM ‘bollguard’ crop increased yields
by 30 per cent and has been a success. Initially there were reports
that the farmers in Andhra Pradesh suffered losses on account of failure
of Bt cotton crop.
“A
random study done by us in seven states where Bt cotton is being grown
showed better yields and characteristics compared to other hybrid
varieties”, the company’s Deputy Managing Director, Bipin Solanki
said. He also added that the company was planning to raise Bt cotton
acreage across the country from 72,682 acres last year to 7 lakh acres
this year.
The
Bt cotton seed, which contains a genetically modified protein that
fights bollworm pest, was introduced last year in Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh
In
Andhra Pradesh, the acreage is expected to go up from 9,000 acres
to over 1 lakh acres this season, Solanki said.
agriculture
firm repays debt through worms
According
to a recent report by BBC, an Indian agriculture firm has used 10
tonnes of earthworms to pay back a £65,000 loan. The struggling company,
Uttar Pradesh Agro (UPA), took out the loan a year ago and was supposed
to repay it this month with a 10 per cent interest.
But,
having run into financial difficulties with its business in agricultural
appliances, it has been forced instead to hand over a lump sum of
earthworms, according to a source at the Cow Protection Agency.
The
worms are being valued at 500 rupees (£6.5; $11) a kilogram and will
be used for the growing process of vermiculture, when worms are fed
cow manure to produce fertiliser.
The
money was owed to the Cow Protection Agency, which is thought to be
distributing the worms amongst its cow shelters at the moment.
But
the move has caused controversy.
“There
is not enough room in the cow shelters, if they put that quantity
of worms in there too, there won’t be enough space for any cows,”
one official told BBC News Online.
And
the Times of India wrote an article which quoted textbook references
to the spread of foot-and-mouth disease through earthworms as a warning
against the arrangement.
The
fact that the chairman of the Cow Protection Agency was previously
head of UPA has also raised suspicion.
The
UPA was unavailable for comment.
Rajnath
to provide respite to cane farmers of UP
In
a move to provide respite to the cane farmers of Uttar Pradesh the
Minister for Agriculture Rajnath Singh has announced that the government
is working out a solution.
In
a meeting with the Sugarcane farmers, he said that the Government
was working out a package and it would be announced very soon by the
Centre, even though the issue falls under the domain of the state
government.
During
the meeting, Rajnath Singh said viable alternatives were being considered
in the wake of the private sugar millers’ failure to pay the state
advised price of Rs 95-100 per quintal to the farmers. He also added
that the impact of the proposed package on other states would also
have to be assessed since they could also make similar demands in
future.
Global
seed firms invited to set up base in India
Union
Agriculture Minister Rajnath Singh has extended an invitation to multinationals
seed companies to set up research base in India and develop mutually
beneficial partnerships with their Indian counterparts. He said India
offered the best arena for global investments with rich technical
and scientific manpower, bio-diversity and varied climate. Besides,
the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights Act also reflected
India’s commitment to ensure implementation of technology in a proper
and effective way.
Mr
Singh exhorted the Indian seed industry to keep abreast of the rapidly
changing scenario and play a major role in dissemination of latest
agricultural technologies to the farmers by making available good
quality seeds. The Indian seed industry should compete with the global
seed industry in technology, quality, innovation and cost effectiveness,
he observed.
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