28.01.2016 A new chilli variety that saves labour cost Did you know that about Rs. 320 crore is being spent in the country annually just to de-stem/stalk the chillies? To tackle this labour-intensive issue, a Dharwad-based private research centre has come out with a chilli variety which can be harvested without stalk/stem from the plant. When the fruit is plucked after ripening, the stem/stalk remains on the plant in the new variety called ‘Dandicut’ (without stem) unlike the normal varieties where even the stem/stalk comes attached with the fruit on plucking. “We have induced a semi-deciduous gene into this variety to ensure that the fruits get de-stemmed on the plant itself while plucking,” says N. B. Gaddagimath, a plant breeder who heads the Sarpan Agri Horticultural Research Centre, that has come out with the new variety. The de-stemming happens only after ripening – when the fruits are red and wet, he notes. According to him, such a variety has been developed for the first time in the country. It took nine years of research work to develop this variety, says Dr. Gaggagimath, a former faculty member of the University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwad. The stem, he notes, is one of the major contaminants during the value addition process as it adds fungi, mites and fibre materials into chilli products. However, de-stemming is a massive process as it requires 106 lakh labour days to handle the country’s total chilli production of 16 lakh metric tonnes.
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28.01.2016
A new chilli variety that saves labour cost
Did you know that about Rs. 320 crore is being spent in the country annually
just to de-stem/stalk the chillies? To tackle this labour-intensive issue, a
Dharwad-based private research centre has come out with a chilli variety
which can be harvested without stalk/stem from the plant.
When the fruit is plucked after ripening, the stem/stalk remains on the plant
in the new variety called ‘Dandicut’ (without stem) unlike the normal
varieties where even the stem/stalk comes attached with the fruit on
plucking. “We have induced a semi-deciduous gene into this variety to
ensure that the fruits get de-stemmed on the plant itself while plucking,”
says N. B. Gaddagimath, a plant breeder who heads the Sarpan Agri
Horticultural Research Centre, that has come out with the new variety. The
de-stemming happens only after ripening – when the fruits are red and wet,
he notes. According to him, such a variety has been developed for the first
time in the country.
It took nine years of research work to develop this variety, says Dr.
Gaggagimath, a former faculty member of the University of Agricultural
Sciences-Dharwad. The stem, he notes, is one of the major contaminants
during the value addition process as it adds fungi, mites and fibre materials
into chilli products.
However, de-stemming is a massive process as it requires 106 lakh labour
days to handle the country’s total chilli production of 16 lakh metric tonnes.
The cost of labour comes to Rs. 15 to 20 for de-stemming a kilogram of
chillies, he points out.
Apart from costing huge money and taking a long time, the present method
of manual de-stemming is causing health problems such as asthma and TB
to labourers, he notes. Also, the detached stems amount to 5,000 truck loads
of garbage.
Extend Start-up India to farm sector, says Minister
Efforts are on to make farming profitable, says Union Minister
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh presenting an awardat the
National Youth Convention on ‘Attracting and Retaining Youth in
Agriculture,’ in New Delhi on Wednesday.— PHOTO: PTI
Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Wednesday said
migration of rural youth to cities was alarming. This could have several
implications on the future of Indian agriculture and hence, to create interest
among rural youth in agriculture, there was a need to make farming more
profitable.
He was addressing an event on attracting and retaining youth in agriculture
organised jointly by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and
the All India Agriculture Students Association (AIASA) here.
Realising the importance of rural youth in agricultural development,
especially from the point of view of food security, the ICAR has initiated a
programme on “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture.”
Mr. Singh said start-up India had created an impact on non-farm sectors as
many entrepreneurs started vibrant enterprises. “It is time to extend start-up
India to the farm sector by replicating the success stories of enterprises in
honey production, dairying and fisheries,” he said, adding that to promote
agri-business and to attract young farmers, the Centre was promoting
formation of Farmer Producer Organisations. Capacity building and
financial assistance would be provided. “This ICAR project will be
implemented in 25 districts [one district from each State] through the Krishi
Vigyan Kendras. Each KVK will involve about 200 youths below the age of
35.”
The Minister said the government had made B.Sc. Agriculture a mandatory
qualification to get licence for sale of agriculture inputs such as seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides. “This will create several thousand jobs for
agriculture graduates,” he added.
‘No genetically modified seeds in rooftop garden scheme’
As doubts are raised over the quality of the seeds and saplings distributed for
cultivation in rooftop gardens, the Horticulture Department clarified that the
seeds were improved and hybrid varieties resistant to diseases.
“There is a campaign in the social media that we have distributed genetically
modified seeds. It has no basis. We have distributed hybrid varieties as per
order issued by our department as farmers in the State have been using only
hybrid varieties,” said L. Sitherasenan, director, Horticulture and Plantation
Crops.
The department has selected short duration and nutritious vegetable crops
including bhendi, bush type lab, radish, palak, coriander, arakeerai and
thandukeerai for “Do it yourself” scheme aimed at promoting vegetable
cultivation in urban areas.
Seeds of bhendi, bush type lab, ‘arakeerai’ and ‘thandukeerai’ were procured
from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) while coriander, palak
and radish seeds were sourced from private sector. ‘Arakeerai’ can be
harvested in 30 days, ‘thandukeerai’ in 40 days, radish in 45 days, palak in
35 days and coriander in 30 days.
“They are less prone to pests and diseases. Some pest and diseases which
infect in early stages of the crop can be managed by organic control
measures,” Mr. Sitherasenan said. Among the vegetable crops selected for
this scheme five vegetable crops are improved variety.
The hybrid radish is also a short duration crop and may not require
pesticides and fungicides.
Bhendi hybrid released by TNAU is resistant to Yellow Vein Mosaic virus
and does not require much pesticide to control the vector.
‘We have distributed hybrid varieties as per order issued by our
department’
Expanded herbal garden inaugurated
It has over 100 species of medicinal plants including many rare plants
The herbal garden at BHEL township in Tiruchi.
The Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Herbal Garden at the Kailasapuram
Township of the BHEL on the outskirts of the city has been expanded at the
initiative of the Kerala Samajam.
Gomathi Thangam, Assistant Director of Agriculture, inaugurated the
expanded garden by planting a sapling of ‘elavangam’ on the occasion of
Republic Day in the presence of S.Gopinath, Executive Director, BHEL,
Tiruchi. Mr.Gopinath, planted a clove sapling.
Opened in 2014, the garden now boasts of more than 100 species of
medicinal plants including many rare plants that normally do not thrive
under the climatic conditions of the region.
In addition, it has a collection of fruit trees, spices and other herbs.
“One would be surprised to see clove, gamboj tree and pepper, which
normally grow in mountainous regions with lower temperature at the garden.
This is one of the largest such collection in Tiruchi. We plan to have more
than 300 varieties of plants by 2017,” said Francis Xaviour, President of
Kerala Samajam.
Saplings were sourced from various agricultural colleges and ashrams in
Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Medicinal Plants that are recommended in Ayurveda for treating a wide
variety of disorders ranging from common ailments such as head ache, skin
disorders and fever to more severe ones like cancer and snake bites can be
found in this garden, he said.
“No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used in the garden. Even the dry
leaves that fall are collected and allowed to naturally form the manure so
that the entire eco system becomes a self sustaining one,” said V.K.
Sreekumar, secretary of Kerala Samajam.
Samba paddy harvest in full swing
Yield below average, say farmers; it is normal, says Agriculture Dept.
Harvest of samba paddy is under way in full swing in canal-irrigated areas of
the district with farmers in some parts of the district worried over possible
yield loss because of blast disease.
Farmers are busy harvesting the crop, many of them using harvesters in
Musiri, Manachanallur, Andhanallur, Tiruverumbur, Lalgudi and
Pullampadi areas. Harvesting is expected to reach a feverish pace over the
next few days. Samba paddy has been raised on about 34,400 hectares in the
canal-irrigated delta areas and on 17,000 hectares in the non-delta areas,
according to Agriculture Department.
Farmers in the delta areas had started harvesting the crop. While farmers in
some parts of the district complained of below average yield, sources in
Agriculture Department said the yield was normal. Farmers in some pockets
of Lalgudi, Tiruverumbur and a few other parts have been complaining of
yield loss owing to the blast disease attack in Andhra Ponni variety, which is
raised widely in the district. “The yield has been less than 20 bags in the
disease affected crops,” said R.Subramanian, deputy secretary, Cauvery
Delta Farmers Welfare Association.
With no rain, Vaigai dam level falls below 50 feet
Residents relying on Vaigai dam for drinking water needs may face shortage
(Level in feet)
With no rainfall in recent days in the catchment areas and release of water
for irrigation, storage in the Vaigai reservoir is fast depleting and has slipped
below 50 feet (maximum level is 71 feet).
As there was good rainfall during the northeast monsoon in the region the
storage level in the dam almost touched the maximum. Officials had issued
flood warning thrice and instructed residents in low lying areas to move
away from the river bank.
However, the release of water for agricultural crops over an area of 65,000
hectares had led to steady fall in storage. The Public Works Department
engineers said that turn system introduced for irrigation had begun a week
ago, which had helped to lower the quantum of water released from the dam.
Going by last year’s storage level, the water level appeared to be
comfortable now. However, the cultivable area had expanded now in the
district, which may require water for irrigation for at least another six weeks
before harvest, they said.
Meanwhile, agriculture department officials in the district have started
counselling farmers to use water judiciously. A majority of the paddy crops
would require at least two more wettings. With use of technology, the yield
is also expected to be high this season, they added.
The Water Users’ Association in Vadipatti block said that farm ponds and
water conservation through watershed development projects had facilitated
recharging of ground water table. “We are hoping to make a rich harvest this
season,” Balusamy, a progressive farmer in the village, said.
While it looks like the farmers would sail through, residents relying on
Vaigai dam for drinking water needs may experience problems of shortage
during April-May. However, PWD engineers said that during Chitirai,
summer showers would come to their rescue.
Foodgrain production hits a new low
Estimates show a fall in production by over 30 per cent, compared to last
year
Failure of monsoon and the consequential lack of water in irrigation projects
and steep depletion of groundwater table have taken a heavy toll on the
production of foodgrains in Telangana State this year as the estimates show
a fall in production by over 30 per cent, compared to last year.
The production of foodgrains including cereals, millets and pulses has been
estimated to be about 49.35 lakh tonnes in the current (2015-16) agriculture
year as against 71.24 lakh tonnes last year. According to official sources, a
sharp decrease in the production of paddy, the staple food in the State, has
pulled down the total produce of food crops. Paddy output is estimated to
less than 30 lakh tonnes this year as against over 44 lakh tonnes last year.
Similarly, the production of pulses is estimated to be 2.5 lakh tonnes this
year against 2.57 lakh tonnes last year. It is no better for oilseeds either as
the officials of the Economics and Statistics (Planning) Department have
estimated their production to register a decline of over 2.14 lakh tonnes this
year. Their production is likely to be 4.73 lakh tonnes against 6.87 lakh
tonnes last year.
“Sharp fall in the production of foodgrains and oilseeds has become certain
by the end of kharif season itself with no water for crops this year in major
irrigation sources – Sriramsagar and Nagarjunasagar projects. Except for
some medium irrigation projects and tanks in Khammam, Adilabad and parts
of Warangal district, the remaining areas have experienced paucity of rain
resulting in drought conditions in over half (233) of the mandals in the
State”, a senior official of the Agriculture Department said explaining the
reasons for poor production.
Cultivation of food crops had seen a sharp fall in kharif by over 6.13 lakh
hectares (15.32 lakh acres).
The total extent of cultivation was down by 5.65 lakh ha with all crops
raised in 35.78 lakh ha against the season normal of 41.43 lakh ha.
The prospects in rabi season appear to be even worse with cultivation of
food crops taken up only in 3.88 lakh ha against 6.31 lakh ha normal by the
end of January third-week.
Paddy is the worst-hit crop with its transplantation taken up only 36 per cent
of the normal extent.
Cherthala to embrace organic paddy farming
Plan to expand area under Pokkali farming in phases
The Cherthala Assembly constituency is planning to take up organic paddy
farming. A project for total conversion of paddy farming into organic mode
has been envisaged in a development report prepared by the Kerala Institute
of Local Administration (KILA), which was approved by people’s
representatives recently.
The project targets expansion of area under Pokkali farming in phases. The
constituency has about 200 hectares of fertile land where Pokkali farming
could be taken up, including 160 hectares in Pattanakkad panchayat, 40
hectares in Vayalar panchayat and six hectares in Kadakkarapally panchayat.
One of the measures mooted for expansion of organic farming is to adopt
‘one paddy, one fish’ scheme which entails fish farming in the fields after
one crop of paddy every year. Extension of subsidy for taking up Pokkali
cultivation, and development of suitable machinery for harvesting of Pokkali
crop are envisaged under the programme.
Irrigation
This apart, the farming pattern would have to be changed so that the
harvesting operations are done in tandem with the farming season in
Kuttanad which would facilitate the use of harvesting machines employed in
Kuttanad. The shutters of Andhakaranazhy would have to be mechanised to
ensure proper irrigation facilities and to control brackish water incursion into
the fields.
An awareness campaign would have to be taken up prior to the
implementation of the project. A marketing network for sale of organic
produce and establishment of quality-control laboratories are among other
measures required. Starting of units to make organic manure and organic
pesticides and funding schemes for marketing are also necessary.
Meanwhile, an organic horticulture project has been launched in Elanji in
Cherthala south grama panchayat. The scheme is supported by agricultural
department and Cherthala South Cooperative Bank. The scheme has been
taken up in 50 acres by a few farming groups. Loans up to Rs.25,000 will be
allocated to each farming group. The plan is to develop a marketing setup
for collection and sale of the produce.
‘One paddy, one fish’ scheme mooted for expansion of paddy farming
Organic horticulture project launched in Elanji
Fruit and flower show begins tomorrow
Flowers being cultivated in pots for the fruit and flower show at the Flower
Auction Centre in Udupi.
The Department of Horticulture is organising a fruit and flower show at the
Flower Auction Centre at Doddanagudde here from January 29 to 31.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, K.A. Vijaykumar, Deputy
Director of Horticulture, said that 32 varieties of flower saplings had been
specifically grown for display at the show. These included marigold,
petunia, verbena, coleus, impatiens, celosia, gomphrena, dahlia and
sunflower. Other decorative flowers would also be on display, he said.
The department had cultivated flower saplings in 5,000 flower pots, which
would be available for sale. Saplings of various decorative trees too would
be on display.
In addition, there would be an exhibition of Shankarpura Mallige and Mattu
Gulla vegetable, both from Udupi district, which enjoy geographical
indication tag. Vegetable carvings and pictorial drawing of national leaders
through “flower rangoli” would be other attractions.
The figures of a boat, fish and heart, made out of either flowers or fruits,
would be on display. The vegetables which could be cultivated on terrace
gardens, too would be exhibited. Various horticultural crops grown by
progressive farmers would be on display.
A number of stalls selling agriculture and horticultural equipment would be
set up at the venue. The department was spending Rs. 5 lakh on organising
the fruits and flowers show.
The soil and climate of Udupi district was suitable for the cultivation of
horticultural crops.
The main source of income for farmers in the district was from horticulture
crops such as coconut, arecanut, cashew, spices, black pepper, ginger,
turmeric, fruits such as mango, banana, pineapple, and sapodilla, and
vegetables such as brinjal, cucumber, okra, and cowpeas.
Horticultural crops and vegetables and fruits had vital role in the economic
growth of both rural and urban areas of the district. If cultivated, they would
increase their income and also generated jobs. Value addition to some
horticultural produces also increased their value.
With the increase in their shelf life due to modern technology, the
horticultural products also had export potential. There were 200 cashew
factories in the district, Mr. Vijaykumar said.
Badal seeks modifications in PM Fasal Bima Yojna
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday sought
modifications in the recently launched Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna
(PMFBY) to make it more farmer-friendly and result-oriented.
“The PMFBY falls short of the farmers’ expectations,” the Chief Minister
said in separate letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh.
The scheme provides insurance cover and financial support to farmers in the
event of failure of any of the notified crops as a result of natural calamities,
pests and diseases.
“The scheme is a step forward as it has greatly improved insurance product
as compared to earlier schemes, but still falls short of the farmers’
expectations,” he said, saying the situation in Punjab was totally different
from rest of the country.
He said an indemnity level of 90 per cent for cereal crops would be
completely “unsuitable” for Punjab.
The Chief Minister advocated higher level of indemnity for Punjab because
of its special and different position in agriculture.
He said even if it was kept at 90 per cent, it should be based on last year’s
yield of the insured and affected farmers.
“Such a step will help cover more farmers on voluntary basis, minimising
State’s contribution in providing calamity relief which otherwise is likely to
continue unabated, ” added Mr. Badal.
Dwelling on another issue, the Chief Minister said the scheme provides for
insurance cover for losses suffered due to drought, but Punjab has never
declared drought.
Mr. Badal said in case of drought like situation as a result of deficit rains, the
cost of cultivation of farmer increases due to increase in cost of irrigation
and labour but the new insurance scheme does not provide for compensation
for such increases and situations.
“Further the scheme also does not provide for losses due to unseasonal rains
in Rabi crops. I feel that such increased costs and losses should be covered,”
said Mr. Badal.
Post harvest losses covered in the scheme were for crops kept in “cut and
spread” condition in the field whereas the harvesting of cereal crop in the
State was fully mechanized and the crop was immediately taken to market
but losses due to natural calamities during marketing in the mandis were not
covered.
Such losses should also be covered if the crop remains unsold in the mandi
at the peril of farmers.
He said given present the agrarian crisis and financial stress on farmers,
insurance cover should be provided to them as a measure to save them from
natural calamities and climate variability.
It may be appropriate to cap the farmers’ contribution to the premium at Rs
100 an acre to begin with, and to share the balance cost of insurance in the
ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State as done in most other schemes of
agriculture development, said Mr. Badal. - PTI
Permaculture meet in Hyderabad
The Aranya Agriculture Alternatives (AAA), Hyderabad, an NGO working
on promotion of permaculture, will host the three-day national permaculture
convergence (NPC), 2016 between February 5 and 7 at the University
auditorium of Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agriculture University,
Hyderabad. Participants include eminent agriculture and environmental
scientists with the keynote address to be delivered by renowned seed activist
and conservationist, Dr. Vandana Shiva.
Productive systems
AAA secretary Narsanna Koppula said that permaculture is a philosophy
and practice which helps people to design and establish productive systems
to provide for their food, energy, shelter and other material and non material
needs in harmony with nature.
It is more relevant to India given the declining water resources, soil health
and bio diversity.
TS to host meet on livestock
College of Veterinary Science to hold event from tomorrow
The youngest State of the country, Telangana, will host the first ever
international conference of the Indian Society of Animal Production and
Management (ISAPM), a body that is 33 years old and has 1,200 members.
The College of Veterinary Science affiliated to the P.V. Narasimha Rao
Telangana State University of Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences
(SPVNR-TSUVAFS) will host this prestigious event between January 28
and 31, as a part of the 23{+r}{+d}annual convention of the ISAPM on the
concept of ‘Indigenous’.
At a curtain raiser press conference on Wednesday, faculty experts and
scientists of the varsity working in Rajendranagar and in Maamnoor of
Warangal district, A. Sharat Chandra, K. Mahender, N. Rajanna and Ch.
Harikrishna said that a road map would be chalked out at the plenary session
on January 31. To be prepared with inputs from experts across the country
and abroad, it would then be sent to the Central Government, the Indian
Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Veterinary Council of India,
Dr. Mahender said.
Of the 12 foreign experts from 10 countries, Donald M. Broom from the
University of Cambridge and John Williams of the University of Adelaide
would be the keynote speakers with their papers on the subjects of animal
welfare and livestock production in different climatic zones, respectively. A
highlight of the 4-day programme would be the National Quiz on Livestock
for students on the last day, Dr. Rajanna said, adding that in all, 44 awards
would be given away to post-graduate students, subject experts and
scientists.
Dr. Harikrishna, who works in Mamnoor as head of Livestock Research
Station said the 10 technical/workshop sessions would be on specific
subjects including animal behavious and welfare, climate effect, modern
livestock farming practices, different breeds of farm animals, their
reproduction, animal health, value addition and veterinary education.
organic paddy farming
Plan to expand area under Pokkali farming in phases
The Cherthala Assembly constituency is planning to take up organic paddy
farming. A project for total conversion of paddy farming into organic mode
has been envisaged in a development report prepared by the Kerala Institute
of Local Administration (KILA), which was approved by people’s
representatives recently.
The project targets expansion of area under Pokkali farming in phases. The
constituency has about 200 hectares of fertile land where Pokkali farming
could be taken up, including 160 hectares in Pattanakkad panchayat, 40
hectares in Vayalar panchayat and six hectares in Kadakkarapally panchayat.
One of the measures mooted for expansion of organic farming is to adopt
‘one paddy, one fish’ scheme which entails fish farming in the fields after
one crop of paddy every year. Extension of subsidy for taking up Pokkali
cultivation, and development of suitable machinery for harvesting of Pokkali
crop are envisaged under the programme.
Irrigation
This apart, the farming pattern would have to be changed so that the
harvesting operations are done in tandem with the farming season in
Kuttanad which would facilitate the use of harvesting machines employed in
Kuttanad. The shutters of Andhakaranazhy would have to be mechanised to
ensure proper irrigation facilities and to control brackish water incursion into
the fields.
An awareness campaign would have to be taken up prior to the
implementation of the project. A marketing network for sale of organic
produce and establishment of quality-control laboratories are among other
measures required. Starting of units to make organic manure and organic
pesticides and funding schemes for marketing are also necessary.
Meanwhile, an organic horticulture project has been launched in Elanji in
Cherthala south grama panchayat. The scheme is supported by agricultural
department and Cherthala South Cooperative Bank. The scheme has been
taken up in 50 acres by a few farming groups. Loans up to Rs.25,000 will be
allocated to each farming group. The plan is to develop a marketing setup
for collection and sale of the produce.
‘One paddy, one fish’ scheme mooted for expansion of paddy farming
Organic horticulture project launched in Elanji
Water release ordered
Considering the pleas of farmers in the Cauvery delta region, who were
planting crops in a delayed manner, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on
Wednesday has ordered the release of water from the Mettur dam till
February 25. Everyday 6,000 cubic feet per second of water would be
released for irrigation.
In a statement, she said usually water from the dam is let out only till
January 28. The dam was opened on August 9, 2015. Around 70,000 acres
require irrigation at present.
Subsidy for ‘pack house’ under National Horticulture Mission
The Department of Horticulture has appealed to farmers to construct ‘pack
houses’ for cleaning, grading and packing their produce so as to get the right
price for farm products.
Farmers can get the right price for their produce only if it is clean, graded
and packed properly. Since most of the farmers are not aware of these things
and are getting very low price even during the ‘peak season’, the Department
of Horticulture has come to their rescue by providing 50 per cent subsidy, to
a maximum of Rs. 2 lakh, under National Horticulture Mission (NHM) for
grading and packing the farm produce in an attractive manner.
The NHM, which was introduced with the objective of increasing the area of
cultivation and thus increasing production, also provides room for carrying
out ‘project activities’ such as ‘pack house’ with which the farmer can get
the right price for his produce.
A ‘pack house’ can be used for temporarily storing, cleaning, grading and
packing the farm produce. The ‘pack house’ should be 30 feet in length and
20 feet in breadth with a minimum surface area of 600 sq. m having
galvanized iron, asbestos or concrete roof. It should have cement flooring,
six windows and two double doors.
Equipment such as weighing machine (to weigh up to 300 kg), grading table
with provision to drain water, plastic or cement tubs, overhead or synthetic
water tank with 2,000 litre capacity, etc. should be provided.
After inspection by a team of officials, it will be recommended for subsidy.
“Four ‘pack houses’ have been constructed in the district. Farmers, who
want to get the right price for their produce, should construct a ‘pack house’,
clean the produce and pack it in an appropriate manner,” said an official.
Farmers to congregate in Delhi on March 10
They are seeking farm loan waiver, among other measures
President of the State Sugarcane Growers’ Association Kurubur
Shanthkumar has said that farmers from across the country would
congregate before Parliament on March 10 seeking waiver of farmers’ loans
and implementation of the recommendations of the Dr. Swaminathan
Committee Report.
Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, he said that farmers from
across the country would march to Parliament under the aegis of ‘Bharatiya
Kisan Manch.’
He said that due to the increasing number of farmers’ suicides and the farm
scenario becoming furthermore complex, the farmers were demanding
waiver of Rs. 5.30 lakh crore of farm loans.
Mr. Shanthkumar said, “We are also demanding implementation of the Dr.
M.S. Swaminathan Committee Report for ensuring fair prices for farm
produce. The compensation guidelines fixed by the Union government for
the loss suffered by farmers due to natural calamities like drought and floods
is very much unscientific and we are demanding remedial steps.”
‘Organic tag to boost Sikkim’s cardamom exports’
Organically-grown large cardamom may be priced higher than its fertiliser-
fed counterpart but the former has burgeoning premium-class consumers
abroad
Organically-grown large cardamom may be priced higher than its fertiliser-
fed counterpart but the former has burgeoning premium-class consumers
abroad
The global demand for large cardamom grown in India is expected to rise
with Sikkim, which produces a chunk of this highly-valued spice, being
declared an organic-farming state, according to Spices Board.
“Organically-grown large cardamom may be priced higher than its fertiliser-
fed counterpart but the former has burgeoning premium-class consumers
abroad whose number are increasing of late,” said A. Jayathilak, Chairman,
Spices Board.
“Discerning users are willing to pay the extra money,” Mr. Jaythilak
emphasised. He said organically-raised large cardamom was another
initiative under the present government’s Make in India mission which aims
to make the country a global hub of indigenously-developed products.
India exported 665 tonnes of large cardamom in 2014-15. In the first half of
the current fiscal, the powerful flavouring spice, endemic to a certain section
of the Himalayan terrain, has earned the country Rs. 2,011.50 lakh in the
international market, statistics show. Sikkim, which grows large cardamom
in 17,000 hectares of land, produces 4,000 metric tonnes (90 per cent of the
country’s production) of the spice annually. The Spices Board had designed
the ‘Organic Sikkim’ logo that was released on January 18.
“Our message to farmers is this: ‘You become exporters’. It is simple but
strong,” Mr. Jayathilak said. Spices Board has a team of 50-odd employees
working in Sikkim to not just sustain organic farming but empower the
growers to earn more from their produce in the coming years.
“The work of our personnel is multi-disciplinary. We do not just marketing
but research, spread of information, linkages between farmers and
mediations to resolve issues,” he said. The cultivation of large cardamom
will receive impetus in six months from now as the Spices Board is set to
unveil an e-platform for its famed fortnightly auction in Sikkim’s traditional
spice market of Singtam. This is in accordance with the Digital India
campaign, Mr. Jayathilak said.
“The idea is to cut down on middlemen. This will ease the post-harvest flow
in the trade of the crop,” he said.
After Paris, keep the heat on
“While it is important to promote and use solar pumps in agriculture in
India, the crisis caused by over-extraction of groundwater and its
contamination can only be addressed if regulation plays a critical role.”
Picture shows a farmer using a solar pump for his paddy field in Podavoor
village in Tiruchirapalli district, Tamil Nadu. Photo: M. Srinath
In order to have a chance of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees
Celsius, we need suitable technologies to make low-carbon transitions in
development right away
Now that the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP) meet is long over,
countries need to concentrate on global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
which need to peak soon and go to zero by mid-century if there is to be a