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22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Chilli prices turn hot again on Chinese, Bangla demand.

Chilli farmers in Telangana are reaping high prices this season after a disastrous last season when they suffered due to the thrips virus last year.

'The prices are ruling high because of the fresh demand for the spice produce from China and Bangladesh. Because of limited supply of new stocks, prices of many varieties are trading at a high price,' a Telangana government official said.

'Major importers are now waiting for the arrivals of the new crop due to which Teja variety is now trading in the range of Rs.18,000-23,000 a quintal, up by Rs.500 per quintal from last week,' he said.

The Teja variety is ruling at a high of Rs.24,000 a quintal at the Warangal market yard, one of the biggest chilli markets in the country, as against Rs.17,500 a year ago.

The prices of other popular varieties, Wonder Hot and US-341, too are quoting very high. While the Wonder Hot variety is quoted at Rs.38,000 a quintal (against Rs.29,000 a year ago), US-341 is being bought at Rs.26,000 (Rs.21,500) a year ago.

Telangana is the top chilli-producing State in the country with a production of 7.19 lakh tonnes. It is grown on about 4 lakh acres. It accounts for 22 per cent of the country’s chilli area and 38 per cent of the production.

Trade sources said chilli prices were expected to rule firm, though below the peak seen last season, on stocks in cold storage being 90 per cent lower this season.

Thrips attack

Farmers say the rates have gone up in the last one week or so sharply. 'About 80 per cent of the produce has been sold so far. The crop was hit by thrips attack again, causing heavy productivity losses. Against the normal output of 30 quintals an acre, we got only 5-10 quintals,' B Rambabu, a chilli farmer, from Khammam told businessline.

With the production getting hit by thrips, the inflows have reduced significantly, triggering the price increase.

Source: thehindubusinessline.com

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

R&D in Seeds Production.

In order to develop new varieties, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) through its 57 Institutes and 40 All India Coordinated Research Projects/ All India Network Projects operating in more than 930 centres across 45 State/Central Agricultural Universities primarily promotes research on improvement of seed/varieties of various crops including grains and vegetables. In addition, eight special projects viz., ICAR-National Innovations on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), four Consortium Research Projects, Incentivizing Research in Agriculture Project, Network Project on Translational Genomics in Crop Plants and National Agricultural Science Fund also focus on climate change research in seed varieties. As a result of robust research system, a record production of food grains has been achieved at 323.055 Million MT in 2022-23 (2nd Advance Estimate) and 345.32 Million MT of Horticultural crops during 2021-22.

In order to enhance the export of seeds, India has become a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Seed Scheme from 2008. The scheme authorizes the use of labels and certificates for seeds produced and processed for international trade according to OECD guidelines and hassle free export to OECD member countries. The scheme also facilitates the export of seeds by the removal of technical trade barriers through international recognized labels. Moreover, through Export Import Committee i.e. EXIM Committee, Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare also facilitates the import and export of seeds.

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

Source: pib.gov.in

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Manipur CM meets Indian envoys, discusses export of horticulture products.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh met a team of six ambassadors and high commissioners of India at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Monday.

The dignitaries included the Ambassador of India to Indonesia Manoj Kumar Bharti, Ambassador of India to Tunisia Nguikham Jathom Gangte, Ambassador of India to Republic of Cote d’Ivoire YK Sailas Thangal, Ambassador of India to Romania Rahul Shrivastava, and High Commissioner of India to Jamaica R Masakui. Out of the envoys, four hail from Manipur.

During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the visiting team suggested setting up a Special Economic Zone for country-made liquor Sekmai as well as better packaging and branding of the product.

The scope for the training of selected athletes in Jamaica was also looked into. During the meeting, the group discussed the export of Manipur’s horticulture products.

Singh and the visiting team further discussed the promotion of Manipur’s cultural heritage in Europe, Africa, and other international forums. Opportunities for the employment of skilled manpower in European countries like Romania were also discussed.

The team also agreed to promote the upcoming ‘Manipur Sangai Festival’, using their relations with embassies of foreign countries in India for their participation.

The team of envoys arrived in Imphal on October 16. They will interact with officials of different government departments for the export and promotion of Manipur’s products and services.

The team will also have discussions with officials of the District Administration of Chandel, Bishnupur and Imphal East regarding the ‘One District One Product (ODOP)’. The visiting team is scheduled to depart from Imphal on Wednesday.

Source: eastmojo.com

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Promotion of Natural Farming.

Government is promoting natural farming since 2019-2020 through a sub-scheme namely Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) under Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). The scheme mainly emphasizes on exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of cow dung-urine formulations and other plant based preparations. Under BPKP, natural farming is being promoted in cluster of 500 ha and Rs. 12200.00 is provided per ha for three years, in which Rs. 2000 is provided as incentives to farmers through DBT. So far 4.09 lakh ha area has been brought under BPKP.

To encourage more farmers engaged in natural farming and enhance the reach of natural farming on larger scale, Government has formulated National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF) by up-scaling the Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati (BPKP) to promote natural farming across the country. NMNF will cover 7.5 lakh ha area by developing 15,000 clusters in next 4 years with total budget outlay of Rs. 1584 crore (GoI Share).

The State-wise details of amount released for the purpose of promoting natural farming under BPKP is given below:

State-wise details of amount released under BPKP to promote natural farming

Sl. No.	States	Area in Ha	Amount released (Rs in lakh)
1.	Andhra Pradesh	100000	750.00
2.	Chhattisgarh	85000	1352.52
3.	Kerala	84000	1954.93
4.	Himachal Pradesh	12000	286.42
5	Jharkhand	3400	54.10
6.	Odisha	24000	381.89
7.	Madhya Pradesh	99000	787.64
8.	Tamil Nadu	2000	31.82
Total		409400	5599.32

Government is undertaking large scale training of Master Trainers, Champion Farmers and practicing farmers on techniques of Natural Farming through National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE) and National Center of Organic and Natural Farming (NCONF). MANAGE has also sensitized the public representative like Gram-Pradhan on the technique and benefits of Natural Farming. Study material on 22 regional languages has been prepared, 697 Master Trainers have been developed on natural farming and 997 training were conducted on natural farming for 56952 Gram Pradhans through MANAGE.

A Digital web portal (naturalfarming.dac.gov.in) has been launched for promotion of natural farming to display information about implementation framework, resources, implementation progress, farmer’s registration, blog etc.

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

Source: pib.gov.in

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying implements National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) scheme across the country.

Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) is implementing National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD) scheme across the country since Feb-2014. The scheme has been restructured/ realigned in July 2021 for implementation from 2021-22 to 2025- 26with following two components:

(i). The Component ''A'' of NPDD focuses on creating/strengthening of infrastructure for quality milk testing equipment as well as primary chilling facilities for State Cooperative Dairy Federations/ District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union/SHGs/Milk Producer Companies/Farmer Producer Organizations.

(ii). The Component ‘B’ of the NPDD scheme 'Dairying through Cooperatives' aims to increase sale of milk and dairy products by increasing farmer’s access to organized market, upgrading dairy processing facilities and marketing infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of producer owned institutions.

Under Component A of NPDD scheme, DAHD has received 189 proposals from various State Governments from March 2014 to till date. As on 13.03.2023, 185 projects have been approved in 28 States and 2 UTs with total outlay of Rs.3015.35 crore (Central Assistance Rs.2297.25 crore) during 2014-15 to 2022-23. Similarly, under Component B of NPDD scheme, 11 projects have been received and approved in 3 States with the total outlay of Rs.251.79 crore (ODA loan-Rs.115.99 crore and Grant-Rs.120.62 crore).

Under NPDD scheme, projects are normally approved for a period of one to three years.As per guidelines, approved funds under a project are released to the States/UTs in installments on the basis of submission of Audited Accounts, Utilization Certificate, physical and financial progress of previously released amount.

This information was given by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Source: pib.gov.in

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Funds for Shree Anna.

India is the largest producer and 7th largest exporter of 'Shree Anna' as of 2021 and common type of millets grown in India include pearl millet (Bajra), sorghum (Jowar), finger millet (Ragi), and small millets such as foxtail millet, barnyard millet, kodo millet, proso millet, little millet, and two pseudo millets such as Buckwheat and Amaranthus.

In order to promote and increase the production and productivity of millets (jowar, bajra, ragi and small millets), the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has been implementing a Sub-Mission on Nutri-Cereals (Millets) under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) since 2018-19. Currently, NFSM-Nutri-Cereals (Millets) is being implemented in identified districts of 14 states of the country. North eastern and Hilly States have been given flexibility to implement the programme as per their need in any district. State wise details of funds sanctioned for all implementing states including Telangana and Andhra Pradesh is as follows:

Funds Sanctioned for Nutri cereals under NFSM during 2022-23

(Rs. in Crore)

S. No.

State

Allocation

Andhra Pradesh

8.700

Arunachal Pradesh

1.500

Assam

1.500

Chhattisgarh

3.310

Gujarat

7.470

Haryana

16.140

Himachal Pradesh

0.965

UT of J & K

0.615

Karnataka

60.430

UT of Ladakh

0.360

Madhya Pradesh

17.385

Maharashtra

61.935

pib.gov.in

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Exports begin as Mumbai markets receive a good supply of Alphonso mangoes.

Regular supply of Alphonso mangoes from the Konkan region has hit the Mumbai market from this week with 10,000 to 12,000 crates arriving daily at Vashi's APMC wholesale yard. With this, export to various destinations has already kicked off. Supplies from Sindhudurg dominate the market now. Prices of a crate of Alphonso mangoes have dropped substantially and are hovering in the range of Rs 1,500 to Rs 4,000 in the APMC market. They are retailed at Rs 2,500 to Rs 6,000 for a crate. Market observers predicted that the supply volume will increase after March 25 and the prices are likely to go down thereafter.

Friday witnessed the supply of 12k crates of Alphonso mangoes from the Konkan region itself. Meanwhile, exports to the three major international markets for Indian Alphonso mangoes in the Gulf, Singapore and the United Kingdom have already begun. Around 30% of the total arrivals in the Mumbai market daily are being exported now. Traders said that the Konkan mangoes usually hit the Mumbai market in mid-March. And the quantity will go up 30k crates by the end of this month and later to 40k in April. A crate comprises 4 to 6 dozen mangoes. In fact, the supply this year is more than the corresponding period last year.

Out of the total 40, 000 crates of mangos of different varieties that arrive at APMC everyday, 30% are the Alphonso variety. If this was not enough, over 5,000 boxes of Alphonso mangoes from South Indian states like Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu arrived in the city, almost triple the supply when compared to last year. Last year at the same time, a total of 10,000 to 15,000 crates arrived in Mumbai. The robust supply has led to a dip in price.

Speaking to TOI, Sanjay Pansare, APMC director and mango trader said, 'The regular supply has started arriving at the market from early this week. We are expecting an adequate supply this season, unlike last year owing to Covid. The January flowering crop will be harvested in April and May.'

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

Contribution of Agricultural Sector in GDP.

As per the Second Advance Estimates of National Income, 2022-23 released by Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the share of Gross value added (GVA) of agriculture and allied sectors in total economy and growth of GVA of agriculture and allied sectors for the years of 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 are as under:

Year	Share of GVA of agriculture and allied sectors in total economy (%) at current prices	Growth of GVA of agriculture and allied sectors (%) (at 2011-12 prices)
2020-21	20.3	4.1
2021-22	19.0	3.5
2022-23	18.3	3.3

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

Source: pib.gov.in

22 Mar, 2023 News Image

PMFME scheme to support setting up of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy.

Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel, in a written reply to a question Lok Sabha today informed that the Ministry of Food Processing industries (MoFPI) has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) since 2016-17 for overall growth and development of food processing sector, including processing of agro- products and thus increasing the income of the farmers across the country including in the state of Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Under component schemes of PMKSY, MoFPI provides mostly credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing industries. The projects completed under component schemes of PMKSY are estimated to benefit about 30.67 lakh famers.

Also, as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Initiative, MoFPI is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme-PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme (PMFME) for providing financial, technical and business support for setting up/upgradation of 2 lakh micro food processing enterprises through credit linked subsidy during five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25 with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore. Out of this, a total of 22234 units and 7331 units have been allocated to Maharashtra and Rajasthan respectively.

In the written reply it was stated that MoFPI is not facing any major hardship in implementing these schemes.

MoFPI is also implementing Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry (PLISFPI) Scheme, intended to support creation of global food manufacturing champions. The Scheme is being implemented over a six-year period from 2021-22 to 2026-27 with an outlay of Rs. 10,900 crores. For easy and affordable credit to the sector, all food & agro processing activities have been made eligible under Priority Sector Lending and a special fund of Rs.2000 crore has been set up in National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

Source: pib.gov.in

21 Mar, 2023 News Image

National-level cooperative societies on organic farming, exports will help raise farmers' income: Amit Shah.

The national-level multi-state cooperative societies recently approved by the Union Cabinet for promotion of organic products and exports, will help increase farmers' income manifold in the next 10 years, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday.

Shah, who was here to inaugurate the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) 'Kisan Bhavan', also made a strong pitch for the farmers to adopt natural farming, which he said will help increase their income and also protect the soil and environment from the harm caused by chemical fertilisers.

'I assure you that the work started by (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi saheb will not just double but increase the income of every farmer many times in another 10 years. Only two cooperative societies for export and organic products will help increase farmers' income many times,' he said.

He said that PM Modi made an important decision in the cabinet to set up three multi-state cooperative societies, of which two are very useful for the state's farmers. 'One will transfer the profits to the farmers directly for the organic produce procured from them,' Shah said.

Another cooperative society will help the farmers export their produce from any village in the country and serve as an export house with the profit to be transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts. 'For this, in the coming month, I will meet the chairman of district cooperative banks and APMCs in Gujarat to get them registered with cooperative societies.

This will make farmers prosperous,' said Shah, who also laid the foundation stone of Junagadh district cooperative bank building here. The cabinet had in January this year approved setting up of National Export Society, National Cooperative Society for Organic Products and National Level Multi-state Seed Cooperative Society.

The minister said that the arrangement for testing of land and natural farm products will be set up in each district in the coming five years for the purpose. He said the government has also decided to set up a cooperative society in each of the country's panchayats, which will help reach the Centre's schemes to the farmers.

'Cooperatives benefit farmers. The central government's budget does not reach you (farmers) because the cooperative structure is not proper. If the cooperative structure becomes strong, then all the schemes of the central government will start reaching you,' he said.

Shah said that the large-scale use of urea has spoiled farm land, and lakhs of farmers have moved towards natural farming. 'We will have to move fast towards natural farming and show a way to the world. I assure you that on the basis of scientific data it is established that natural farming does not reduce yield but rather increase it,' he said.

To get a better price, there is a need for marketing and certification of such produce and ensuring that fake organic products do not hit the market, he said, adding that 'Amul' has already started marketing such products.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com