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14 Aug, 2023 News Image

Promoting Millets

The Government of India is implementing a multi stakeholder approach towards celebration of International Year of Millets (IYM) - 2023. The action plan of IYM-2023 focuses on strategies to enhance production and productivity, consumption, export, strengthening value chain, branding, creating awareness for health benefits etc. To promote Shree Anna a yearlong action plan for monthly activity has been prepared by Central Ministries, State Governments and Indian Embassies.

In order to increase production and productivity of Shree Anna, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) is implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) in all districts of 28 States & 2 Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Under NFSM–Nutri Cereals, the incentives are provided to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system based demonstrations, production & distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, Integrated Nutrient and Pest Management techniques, improved farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping season, organizing events/workshops, distribution of seed minikits, publicity through print and electronic media etc. The interventions such as formation of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for Shree Anna, setting up Centers of Excellence (CoE) and seed hubs for Shree Anna have also been supported under NFSM. In addition, states such as Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have initiated Millet Missions in the States to promote Shree Anna. To make India a global hub for 'Shree Anna', the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad has been declared as the Centre of Excellence for sharing best practices, research and technologies at the national and international level.

Shree Anna are also included under the Poshan Abhiyan of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Further, the Ministry of Food and Public Distribution has revised its guidelines to increase the procurement of Shree Anna under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal. The Ministry has also advised the State Governments and Union Territories to increase the procurement of Shree Anna. An Export Promotion Forum dedicated to promotion of Shree Anna in the international market has been set up to facilitate promotion, marketing and development of Shree Anna exports from India. Under the Eat Right campaign, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is creating awareness to promote the use of Shree Anna as part of a healthy and varied diet.

Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has implemented the Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry for Millet-based products (PLISMBP) during 2022-23 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 800 crores. The Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme, launched under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan is currently being implemented in 35 States and Union Territories (UTs). The Government is also popularizing Agri-Infrastructure Fund Scheme to invite farmers/FPOs/Entrepreneurs to avail the benefit of interest subvention on loans up to 2 crores for setting up primary processing units in Shree Anna. Government is also promoting Shree Anna based startups to increase the demand of Shree Anna.

As a part of promotional activities of IYM 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare is promoting Shree Anna during India’s G20 presidency. Shree Anna are also showcased in various events such as International Trade Fair, Surajkund Mela etc.A key event organized towards International Year of Millets was the Global Millets (Shree Anna) Conference, held from 18th– 19thMarch 2023 at IARI Pusa campus, New Delhi which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister. In continuation to the efforts towards mainstreaming Shree Anna, a ‘Millets Experience Centre (MEC)’ has been opened at Dilli Haat, INA, New Delhi with an aim to raise awareness on Shree Anna and encourage its adoption among general public.In order to encourage consumption of Shree Anna among government employees, all Government offices have been advised to include Shree Anna snacks in departmental trainings/meetings and Shree Anna based food items in departmental canteens. DA&FW has also installed vending machines for Shree Anna products through National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) to various Ministries/Departments. Shree Anna and its products have been identified as One District One Product (ODOP) in 19 districts of 10 States.

The state-wise production of millets in the country during last 5 years (2018-19 to 2022-23) is given below. The major millet crops procured by the Government are jowar, bajra, and ragi. During last five years, the quantum of jowar, bajra and ragi procured by the Government are 423675 metric tonnes, 758094 metric tonnes and 1676067 metric tonnes respectively.

The state-wise production of millets (shree anna) during 2018-19 to 2022-23 is as under;

(Production in ‘000 tonnes)

State/UT

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23*

Andhra Pradesh

301.91

514.19

540.61

359.15

299.64

Assam

3.06

3.23

3.26

3.20

3.23

Bihar

14.37

8.00

10.31

8.51

7.18

Chhattisgarh

33.71

24.56

26.24

28.18

23.39

Gujarat

1000.15

990.48

1091.97

1179.08

pib.gov.in

14 Aug, 2023 News Image

Augmenting the level of Food Processing in North-Eastern region

For overall growth and development of food processing sector including augmenting the level of Food Processing across the country including North Eastern Regions (NER), Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has been incentivizing setting up/ upgradation of Food Processing Industries through Central Sector Umbrella Scheme Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY), Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) and Centrally sponsored PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme.

Under component schemes of PMKSY, MoFPI mostly provides credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs. PMKSY is not region or state specific but demand driven with no state-wise fund allocation. However, projects of the NER under PMKSY are provided higher grants-in- aid and other concessions as compared to projects located in rest of the country.

Ministry also provides financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of micro food processing enterprises under PMFME scheme. The scheme is operational for a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 across the country included NER.

PLISFPI is, inter alia, intended to support creation of global food manufacturing champions and support Indian brands of food products in international market. The Scheme is being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crores.

The details of funds allocated and funds utilized under component schemes of PMKSY in NER during last 5 years and funds released to NER states under PMFME scheme since 2020-21 are placed at Annexure.

Annexure

Funds released to NER states under PMFME Scheme since 2020-21

(Rs. in Crores)

S. No.	NER States	2020-21	2021-22	2022-23
1	Arunachal Pradesh	0.15	7.34	0.00
2	Assam	16.71	15.86	12.58
3	Manipur	3.14	3.27	0.00
4	Meghalaya	2.69	3.04	0.00
5	Mizoram	7.73	2.94	0.00
6	Nagaland	6.64	5.90	0.00
7	Sikkim	5.13	1.47	1.62
8	Tripura	3.11	10.23	0.00

Details of funds allocated and funds utilized under component schemes of PMKSY in NER during last 5 years

(Rs in Crores)

pib.gov.in

14 Aug, 2023 News Image

Kharif Crop sowing crosses 979 lakh hectares

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released progress of area coverage under kharif crops as on 11th August 2023.

Area: In lakh hactare

No.

Crop

Area Sown

Current Year

2023

Last Year

2022

Rice

328.22

312.80

Pulses

113.07

122.77

Arhar

40.27

42.55

Urdbean

29.55

34.15

Moongbean

30.03

32.38

Kulthi

0.24

0.19

Otherpulses

12.99

13.51

Shri Anna cum Coarse cereals

171.36

167.73

Jowar

13.29

14.08

Bajra

68.81

68.03

Ragi

5.91

4.43

pib.gov.in

14 Aug, 2023 News Image

Production of Pulses

The production of pulses during the last three years and in 2022-23 (as per third advance estimates) are given as under:

Year	Production (Lakh Tonnes)
2019-20	230.25
2020-21	254.63
2021-22	273.02
2022-23*	275.04

* As per third advance estimates

Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing National Food Security Mission (NFSM)-Pulses with the objectives of increasing production through area expansion and productivity enhancement in all the districts of 28 States and 2 Union Territories viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh of the Country. Under NFSM-Pulses, assistance is given through States/UTs to the farmers for interventions like cluster demonstrations on improved package of practices, demonstrations on cropping system, seed production and distribution of HYVs/hybrids, improved farm machineries/resource conservation machineries/tools, efficient water application tools, plant protection measures, nutrient management/soil ameliorants, processing & post-harvest equipment, cropping system based trainings etc. Initiatives like distribution of seed minikits ofnewer varieties ofpulses, production of quality seed, technological demonstration by Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) have also been included under NFSM for enhancing pulses production and productivity. Further, 150 Seed Hubs on Pulses have been set up under NFSM since 2016-17 to augment the availability of quality seed of Pulses. These Seed Hub centres have cumulatively produced more than 1 lakh quintal quality seed of pulses since then.

In order to increase the productivity potential of pulses crops in the country, the ICAR is undertaking basic and strategic research on these crops and applied research in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities for developing location-specific high yielding varieties and matching production packages. During 2014-2023, 343 high yielding varieties/hybrids of Pulses have been notified for commercial cultivation in the country. During the last five years (2018-19 to 2022-23), cumulatively, about 86015 qtl. breeder seed of Pulse crops was produced against total demand of about 68499 qtl. and supplied to various public/private seed agencies for their conversion into certified seed of pulses for the farmers.

Further to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, Government implements an umbrella scheme PM-AASHA comprising Price Support Scheme (PSS), Price Deficiency Payment Scheme (PDPS) and Private Procurement Stockist Scheme (PPSS) in order to ensure Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers for their produce of notified oilseeds, pulses and copra. Under PSS scheme, procurement is undertaken directly from pre-registered farmers conforming to the prescribed Fair Average Quality (FAQ) norms by Central Nodal Agencies through the State level agencies at MSP announced by the Govt. as and when prices fall below the MSP during the harvesting period. During the year 2021-22, a total of 30.31 lakh tonnes of pulses were procured under PSS benefitting 13,90,737 farmers, while during 2022-23 (as on 31.07.2023) 28.33 lakh tonnes of pulses have been procured so far, benefitting 12,43,977 farmers.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

The production of pulses during the last three years and in 2022-23 (as per third advance estimates) are given as under:

Year	Production (Lakh Tonnes)
2019-20	230.25
2020-21	254.63
2021-22	273.02
2022-23*	275.04

* As per third advance estimates

This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Source: pib.gov.in

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

More countries, including Japan, a few from the West, interested in UPI linkages: RBI.

The Reserve Bank on Thursday said the internationalization of the unified payments interface (UPI) system is a work in progress as it works towards linking it with more and more overseas counterparts, including some in the West and Japan. On February 21, 2023, the RBI announced the first linkage of UPI by integrating it with Singapore's Paynow, paving the way for faster and more transparent remittances between the two countries.

Reserve Bank Governor Shaktikanta Das launched the new linkage in association with his Singaporean counterpart Ravi Menon, who is the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Announcing the third monetary policy review, Governor Shaktikanta Das said the RBI was planning to use artificial intelligence in UPI payments and also to deploy near-field communication (NFC) technology to be used in offline payments in UPI-Lite.

It also enhanced the transaction limit for small-value digital payments to Rs 500 from Rs 200 on UPI Lite.

On UPI linkages with more countries, the deputy governor T Rabi Shankar told reporters that 'such integration has already been done with Singapore. And recently we signed an agreement with the UAE's payment system Integrated Payment Platform (IPP) to link UPI with their payment system.

'It is a work in progress and it will happen in the coming months and discussions are underway with a few other countries also for linking their payment systems with ours, including some advanced economies which have evinced interest in linking to UPI,' he said.

Governor Das chipped in saying 'UPI has now become internationally recognised. I am not saying it myself, but it is recognised very widely, and that it is perhaps the most efficient and advanced payment system in the world.

'At the recent G20 finance ministers and governors meeting, UPI was widely recognised. So this is a work in progress. We are already in discussion with a few other countries and it will happen soon.'

To a question from a Japanese journalist whether some officials from the world's third-largest economy has contacted RBI for UPI linkage, Shankar answered in the affirmative saying a Japanese minister has contacted us.

'We are happy that a country like Japan which is an advanced economy, is showing interest in the UPI. Currently, it is only at an intention stage as the contact was mostly exploratory level. NPCI is talking to the relevant Japanese agencies,' the deputy governor said.

AK Goel, the chairman of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) said more user-friendly measures for UPI by way of conversational payments in UPI and further promoting the UPI-Lite by facilitating offline transactions using near field communication are expected to widen the coverage of UPI.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

Prices of parboiled rice surge 12 per cent as global demand picks up.

Prices of non-basmati parboiled rice like IR 64 have surged nearly 12% in the past ten days, as markets such as Africa and West Asia are heavily buying this variety of rice from India to meet their domestic demand. Overseas demand for parboiled rice has shot up following the Centre's decision to ban the export of raw, white rice on July 20, given apprehensions among global buyers that India may ban export of parboiled rice as well. Industry executives said if the government does not put an export duty on non-basmati parboiled rice, then the IR 64 variety, which is consumed by the common people, will go out of the reach of the people. Parboiled rice is one that has been partially boiled in the husk at the paddy stage and has a yellowish hue.

'Since the ban on the export of raw, white rice, the demand for parboiled rice has seen an upward trend in Africa and the Middle East. In the Middle East, many companies and agencies are buying this rice for feeding their workers,' said Suraj Agarwal, CEO of Tirupati Agritrade, which markets and exports rice under the brand name RiceVilla. India has been the world's largest exporter of rice since 2012. Currently, it exports more rice than the combined shipments of the next three largest exporters - Thailand, Vietnam and Pakistan.

BV Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association, said after the procurement of paddy starts, the government might assess the supply situation by December and consider lifting the ban. 'There is a warehousing problem at the Food Corporation of India as it is running out of space. So government will have to take some steps,' he said.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

Sri Lanka pushes trilateral partnership with India & Japan to boost growth.

India and Japan being active and vital middle powers in the Indo-Pacific region, their partnership for project-specific support in Sri Lanka holds significance and with their proven experience, knowledge, and expertise in tackling specific development challenges, both countries could support Sri Lanka financially and technically, suggested report brought out by prominent Colombo-based think tank Pathfinder Foundation.

The report -- 'Medium and Long-term Strategy for Indo-Japanese Collaboration to Support the Economic Transformation of Sri Lanka' -- was released here on Thursday in partnership with two prominent think tanks based in New Delhi, namely, NATSTRAT and Vivekananda International Foundation, and the Confederation of Indian Industry.

India is a natural trade and investment partner for Sri Lanka, considering its geographical proximity and its current 'Neighbourhood First" policy. Japan has a long-standing relationship with the country providing development assistance. 'A vulnerable developing country like Sri Lanka can utilize tripartite cooperation to signal its specific demands more efficiently, thereby increasing opportunities for joint projects,' according to the report.

Four areas -- Low-carbon power generation in Sri Lanka; Development of Trincomalee as an energy hub; Logistics & connectivity and People-to-people contact – have been identified in the report as broad areas of tripartite cooperation.

Addressing the launch of the report Japanese Ambassador to India Hiroshi Suzuki said that India’s issuance of financing assurances to Sri Lanka at the time of its economic crisis was instrumental in accelerating the process of Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and that it appreciates India’s engagement and forward-looking approach on the issue.

'When Prime Minister Kishida visited Delhi and gave an address on the new plan of the free and open Indo-Pacific, he highlighted South Asia as one of the major pillars, one of the priority regions in his new plan. And Japan attaches primary importance to its relations with Sri Lanka and India as indispensable partners in order to realize the vision,' Suzuki recalled.

'We place the highest priority on transparent and equitable debt restructuring where all creditor entities, creditors countries, and organizations participate. An equitable treatment among all creditors. If one country is favoured over another, then the entire debt restructuring will fall apart. Sri Lankan President has made it public that Sri Lankan govt will never treat any country more favourably than others and Japan highly appreciates the public commitment that President made that crystal clear', the envoy stated.

Milinda Moragoda, the Sri Lanka High Commissioner also hailed the trilateral cooperation between the two countries and said that given the amount of investment required, it hence becomes an important aspect.

'This I would see as the next stage of our President’s Ranil Wickremesinghe visit to India. As you know the joint economic vision statement that was given between Prime Minister Modi and Wickremesinghe and outlined three key areas. One was ‘connectivity’, the second was ‘economic integration’ and the third was investment. In that context, given the amount of investments that are required, trilateral cooperation becomes also an important aspect of it. So in that context, Japan, India and Sri Lanka working together. Japan and Sri Lanka have had a long association and so is India and Sri Lanka,' the High Commissioner stated.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

Over 4 lakh hectares brought under natural farming in 8 states: Govt.

About 4.09 lakh hectares have been brought under natural farming in eight states with Andhra Pradesh leading the group, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Parliament on Tuesday.

The eight states are Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Tamil Nadu, the minister said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The Centre is promoting natural farming since 2019-20 through a sub-scheme, Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP), under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

'So far, 4.09 lakh hectare area has been brought under natural farming in 8 states,' Tomar said.

About 1 lakh hectares have been brought under natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, 99,000 hectares in Madhya Pradesh, 85,000 hectares in Chhattisgarh, 84,000 hectares in Kerala, 24,000 hectares in Odisha, 12,000 hectares in Himachal Pradesh, 3,400 hectares in Jharkhand, and 2,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu, he said.

Natural farming is chemical-free and based on the integrated agriculture and animal husbandry approach using livestock and local resources. The method relies on on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, and the use of on-farm cow dung-urine formulations from local livestock.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

PMKSK can transform India s farming sector.

Around 65% of the country’s population lives in rural areas and 47% is dependent on agriculture for livelihood, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23. Agriculture is a time-bound activity that requires the right agri-inputs at the right time to maximise production and productivity. Agri-inputs are essential ingredients of agriculture and an efficient delivery system plays a crucial role in the growth of farm income.

Source: hindustantimes.com

11 Aug, 2023 News Image

India to import tomatoes from Nepal amid surge in price, says Nirmala Sitharaman.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said that India will be importing tomatoes from Nepal, amid a record high surge in prices in the country.

During her speech in Parliament, Sitharaman informed that the first lot of imports are likely to reach in Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur cities in northern India by Friday.

Tomato prices have surged more than 1,400 per cent at the wholesale market to a record 140 rupees ($1.69) per kg in the past three months, with farmers citing reasons including poor rainfall, higher temperatures and a virus outbreak that have hit the crop, as per a Reuters report.

RBI governor Shaktikanta Das also said that a spike in tomato prices and rise in cereal, pulses contributed to inflation, while announcing key decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. He further stated that the vegetable prices may see a significant correction.

The tomato prices witnessed a significant surge in June and July leading to high inflation. Vegetables prices, which have a 6 per cent weighting in the overall consumer price index (CPI), hit a seven-month high in June, rising 12 per cent month-on-month, reported PTI, citing official data.

Prices usually ease from August, when the harvest makes its way to the market, but this year, traders expect costs to remain high until October as supplies stay tight.

Costlier staples such as onions, beans, carrots, ginger, chillies and tomatoes not only feed voter discontent ahead of state elections in the next few months: The higher prices are likely to stoke retail inflation, which is expected to hit a seven-month high in July, diminishing the potential for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to lower rates this year.

Farmers in the third-biggest tomato-producing region in the southern state of Karnataka say poor rainfall, higher temperatures and a virus outbreak have hit the crop, which was planted on less land than a year ago because of a crash in prices.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com