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HomePosts Tagged "Ministry of agriculture"
Horticulture, Supply Chain, Trade

The container was flagged off by Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA at MSAMB’s Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi

INI Farms, India’s leading F&V exporter flagged off the first container of ‘Kimaye’ pomegranates to the USA. This is a groundbreaking development for Indian F&V exports as it marks the start of fruit exports to the USA via the sea route. Travelling nearly 20,000 km, this is the longest distance travelled by any Indian fruit in the world!

The outcome is the result of more than year-long joint efforts of APEDA, Ministry of Commerce and Industry – GOI, Ministry of Agriculture Govt of Maharashtra, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB), United States Department of Agriculture APHIS (USDA APHIS), NPPO, Pomegranate National Research Center and INI Farms. This encompassed various initiatives from farm registrations, training & monitoring, air shipment trials, development of sea protocol, static trials for shelf life extension and post-harvest treatment.    

The container was flagged off by Rajesh Aggarwal, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA at MSAMB’s Irradiation Facility Center in Vashi (Navi Mumbai). The event was graced by dignitaries from MSAMB, Regional Plant Quarantine Station (RPQS – MoA&FW), US Consulate and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), APEDA and NRC Solapur. The consignment of 4200 boxes (12.6 tons) of ‘Kimaye’ pomegranates is set to sail to delight customers in the US

Today, India is the world’s largest producer of pomegranates, with over 2,75,500 hectares of land under cultivation. During the fiscal year 2022-23, the country exported over 60,000 metric tonnes of pomegranates to countries like UAE, the Netherlands, Oman, Bahrain and others. The successful export of pomegranates to the USA opens up a new opportunity for Indian pomegranate farmers and exporters and will open doors to other long-distance markets like Australia.

The container was flagged off by Rajesh

AgroPolicy, India, Sustainability

National Conclave aims to discuss and identify comprehensive support systems for Agri Startups in India that will foster innovation, sustainability, and profitability and make their solutions accessible to farmers

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in partnership with FICCI, CII & PHDCCI organised a National Conclave ‘Unleashing the Potential of AgriTech Startups for the Benefit of Farmers.’ Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, Additional Secretary, Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Joint Secretary (RKVY), Ashish Kumar Srivastav and Joint Secretary (Extn.), Samuel Praveen Kumar along with other senior officers from Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and representatives of FICCI, CII and PHDCII attended the conclave.

The conclave aimed to discuss and identify comprehensive support systems for Agri Startups in India that will foster innovation, sustainability, and profitability and make their solutions accessible to farmers. The conclave also explored strategies to overcome challenges, leverage technology, and capitalize on market opportunities to empower Agri Startups and drive positive impact in the agriculture sector.

FICCI organised two breakout sessions. The theme for session 1 was “The State Government’s Vital Role in Building Enabling Ecosystem for AgriTech in partnership with state governments”. Session 1 brought out the challenges faced by start-ups at the state level and recommendations on how the state governments can help in building an enabling ecosystem to overcome these. The major recommendations include- creating an AgHub: An inclusive agri innovation ecosystem, Agri Data Management Framework (2023), Creating a nodal agency for start-ups within the state governments, developing a start-up portal with a repository of information, knowledge and schemes with a chatbot facility, Start-up India can include an exclusive website with information on agriculture start-ups.

National Conclave aims to discuss and identify

Agrotech, Start ups

Collaborations between innovators and agrochemical companies would play an imminent role in flattening the learning curve

ThinkAg along with CropLife India, the leading voice of the plant science industry in India have organised an Industry Round table “AgLab” – Connecting innovators with corporates – Drone Applications in Agriculture & Crop Protection – bringing together all stakeholders of the Agriculture Drone ecosystem with a ‘focused platform for partnerships’ for the start-ups and stressed on the need of fast tracking and large-scale adoption of drone technology for agrochemical spraying in the country. 

Shomita Biswas, Joint Secretary (M&T), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India said, “It is time to make drones accessible for farmers. There are 200+ start-ups, engaged in manufacturing and providing drone services in agriculture, who would play a pivotal role. Empanelling with the State Governments and becoming custom hiring centres themselves; are the critical next steps for start-ups. 

The Government of India has added another intervention of involving the rural youth. Just with Bachelor in Science – agriculture degree, he/she can open a custom hiring centre, own a drone, and be an entrepreneur; employing others. Youth will be the ambassadors of Drone technology and hence we must leverage this segment. Start-ups in this sector can engage with the youth and other partners at village level and helping the growth of agricultural economy.

AsitavaSen, Chief Executive Officer, CropLife India, anchored the webinar shared, “CropLife India is committed to help develop a conducive ecosystem and quick adoption of Kisan Drones in India. Collaborations between innovators and agrochemical companies would play an imminent role in flattening the learning curve.” Sen added, “The purpose of the webinar is to offer a ‘focused and neutral platform for partnerships’ between the start-ups and Agrochemical/Agriculture input companies for knowledge sharing. Partnerships amongst stakeholders is critical to overcome the challenges and leverage the opportunities that this new technology offers.” 

Collaborations between innovators and agrochemical companies would

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Webinar

Programmes will be organised at the regional level for farmers

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will organise the ‘Kisan Bhagidari, Prathmikta Hamari’ campaign from April 25 to 30, 2022 under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ in association with various other ministries/ departments, Government of India. During the campaign, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare will organise countrywide programmes at the regional level for farmers.

The Department of Agriculture Research and Education will organise a Krishi Mela at each Krishi Vigyan Kendra and a field exhibition on natural farming. Union Agriculture Minister will launch a country-wide workshop on crop insurance organised by the common service centre (CSC).

A Discourse on agro-ecological and livestock practices would be held under DAY-NRLM along with the Ministry of Rural Development. During the week a webinar on One District One Product (ODOP) would be held by the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Food Processing Industries. A National Atma Nirbhar Bharat Conclave of 75 selected farmers and entrepreneurs would also be held.

During the week Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying will organise One District One Product based workshops, webinars and awareness programmes about various schemes of the Departments.

More than one crore farmers and stakeholders are expected to participate in the said campaign through direct (offline) and virtual (online) medium across the country.

The milestones of agriculture development in 75 years of Indian Independence will be highlighted during the said campaign.

Programmes will be organised at the regional

Pulses, Types

The estimated production of pulses in 2021-22 as per the DA&FW is 26.96 million tonnes

The Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha has informed that as per the report of Working Group constituted by NITI Aayog on Demand and Supply Projections Towards 2033 – Crops, Livestock and Agricultural Inputs (February 2018), the demand for pulses is projected to increase from 26.72 million tonnes in 2021-22 to 32.64 million tonnes in 2029-30. The estimated production of pulses in 2021-22 as per the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DA&FW) is 26.96 million tonnes.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare implements the National Food Security Mission (NFSM), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, which aims at increasing production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and nutri-cereals through area expansion and productivity enhancement in the identified districts of the country; improving soil fertility, farm level productivity besides, transfer of technology through demonstrations and trainings, incentives on critical inputs like quality seeds, water saving devices, farm equipment and machinery etc. 

To boost agricultural productivity, the Government is implementing various schemes for supply of farm inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, agricultural machinery and equipment, irrigation facilities, institutional credit, etc., at subsidised rates to the farmers.

The estimated production of pulses in 2021-22

AgroPolicy, Foodgrains, Oilseeds, Pulses

Record foodgrains production of 316.06 million tonnes is estimated in the country

The of production of major crops for the year 2021-22 have been released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Record foodgrains production of 316.06 million tonnes is estimated. 

As per 2nd Advance Estimates, the estimated production of major crops during 2021-22 is as under:

  • Food grains –316.06 million tonnes. (record)Rice –127.93 million tonnes (record)
  • Wheat –111.32 million tonnes (record)
  • Nutri / Coarse Cereals –49.86 million tonnes 
  • Maize –32.42 million tonnes (record)
  • Pulses –26.96 million tonnes (record)
  • Tur –4.00 million tonnes
  • Gram – 13.12 million tonnes(record)
  • Oilseeds –37.15 million tonnes
  • Groundnut – 9.86 million tonnes
  • Soybean –13.12 million tonnes
  • Rapeseed and Mustard –11.46 million tonnes (record)
  • Sugarcane – 414.04 million tonnes (record)
  • Cotton –34.06 million bales (each of 170 kg).
  • Jute and mesta –9.57 million bales (each of 180 kg).

As per 2nd Advance Estimates for 2021-22, total food grains production in the country is estimated at a record 316.06 million tonnes which is higher by 5.32 million tonnes than the production of food grain during 2020-21. Further, the production during 2021-22 is higher by 25.35 million tonnes than the previous five years (2016-17 to 2020-21) average production of food grains.

Total production of rice during 2021-22 is estimated at a record 127.93 million tonnes. It is higher by 11.49 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 116.44 million tonnes.

Production of wheat during 2021-22is estimated at a record 111.32 million tonnes. It is higher by 7.44 million tonnes than the average wheat production of 103.88 million tonnes.

Production of nutri / coarse cereals is estimated at 49.86 million tonnes, which is higher by 3.28 million tonnes than the average production.

Total pulses production during 2021-22 is estimated at 26.96 million tonnes which is higher by 3.14 million tonnes than the last five years’ average production of 23.82 million tonnes.

Total oil seeds production in the country during 2021-22 is estimated at a record 37.15 million tonnes which is higher by 1.20 million tonnes than the production of 35.95 million tonnes during 2020-21. Further, the production of oil seeds during 2021-22 is higher by 4.46 million tonnes than the average oil seeds production.                

Total production of sugarcane in the country during 2021-22 is estimated at 414.04 million tonnes which is higher by 40.59 million tonnes than the average sugarcane production of 373.46 million tonnes. 

Production of cotton is estimated at 34.06 million bales (each of 170 kg) is higher by 1.12 million bales than the average cotton production of 32.95 million bales. Production of jute and mesta is estimated at 9.57 million bales (each of 180 kg). 

Record foodgrains production of 316.06 million tonnes

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Agrotech

Ministry to provide grant of up to Rs 10 lakhs to agricultural institutes for purchase of drones

In a major boost to promote precision farming in India, the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has issued a guideline to make drone technology affordable to the stakeholders.

The guidelines of Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM) have been amended which envisages granting 100 per cent of the cost of agriculture drone or Rs 10 lakhs, whichever is less, as a grant for the purchase of drones by the farm machinery training and testing institutes, ICAR institutes, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and state agriculture universities for taking up large scale demonstrations of this technology on the farmers’ fields.

The Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) would be eligible to receive a grant up to 75 per cent of the cost of agriculture drones for its demonstrations on the farmers’ fields.

A contingency expenditure of Rs 6,000 per hectare would be provided to implementing agencies that hire drones for demonstrations from Custom Hiring Centres, Hi-tech Hubs, drone manufacturers and start-ups.

To provide agricultural services through drone application, 40 per cent of the basic cost of the drone and its attachments or Rs 4 lakhs, whichever less would be available as financial assistance for drone purchase by existing custom hiring centres which are set up by a cooperative society of farmers, FPOs and rural entrepreneurs.

The new CHCs or the Hi-tech Hubs that will be established by the cooperative societies of farmers, FPOs and rural entrepreneurs with financial assistance from SMAM, RKVY or any other Schemes can also include Drone as one of the machines along with other agricultural machines in the projects of CHCs/Hi-tech Hubs.

Agriculture graduates establishing custom hiring centres would be eligible to receive 50 per cent of the basic cost of a drone and its attachments or up to Rs 5 lakhs in grant support for drone purchases. Rural entrepreneurs should have passed the class tenth examination with the remote pilot license from the institute specified by the Director-General of Civil Aviation(DGCA) or from any authorised remote pilot training organisation.

The subsidised purchase of agriculture drones for CHCs/Hi-tech Hubs will make the technology affordable, resulting in their widespread adoption.

The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has also brought out Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for use of Drone application with pesticides for crop protection in agricultural, forestry, non-cropped areas.

Ministry to provide grant of up to