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HomePosts Tagged "north east"
AgroPolicy, Allied Industry, India, Industry Reports / Analysis

The share of North East in India’s area under NR plantation before the launch of the INROAD project was 23%

The Natural Rubber (NR) plantation in the North East, part of the INROAD (Indian Natural Rubber Operations for Assisted Development) project for FY2024-25, has been successfully completed. Over the first four years of the project, an area of 125,272 hectares (ha) has been dedicated to new NR plantations, encompassing 94 districts in the North East and parts of West Bengal. This achievement represents one of the highest levels of NR plantation ever accomplished in the country within a four-year timeframe. INROAD is a significant and pioneering initiative, being the first of its kind globally where the tyre industry actively contributes to the development of rubber plantations. The project’s goal is to develop 200,000 ha of rubber plantation in the North Eastern states and West Bengal, with financial support from four members of the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA): Apollo, Ceat, JK, and MRF. The implementation of the project is overseen by the Rubber Board of India.

Rajiv Budhraja, Director General of ATMA, highlighted that despite facing challenges, project INROAD has successfully achieved nearly 90% of its plantation target within the first four years. In addition to expanding planting areas, the project has made substantial advancements in enhancing local nurseries and developing the capabilities of growers. This progress serves as a testament to the collaborative endeavors of tire companies and the Rubber Board of India, as emphasized by Budhraja.

Over the last four years, the project has distributed a record 5.3 crore planting materials to various areas. The project has specifically targeted resource-deprived populations in the designated states, focusing on engaging farmers with land holdings of less than one acre. Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly improve the economic and social status of 2.5 lakh beneficiaries.

Before the launch of the INROAD project, the share of North East in India’s area under NR plantation was 23%. Upon achieving the objective of developing plantations in an additional 2 lakh hectares under the INROAD project, it is estimated that the share of NE states will increase to 38%. Likewise, the share of North East in India’s NR production is projected to rise from the current 16% to 32%.

The share of North East in India’s

Agribusiness, Collaborations, India, Vegetables

The government had procured 4.7 lakh tons of rabi onion for the price stabilization buffer this year, and started the release from 5th September, 2024 through retail sale at Rs.35 per kg and also through bulk sales in major mandis across the country

The government has decided to upscale the onion disposal in order to address temporary constraint in onion supply observed in certain markets in the past 2/3 days owing to festival season and closure mandis. NAFED has indented two more rakes for Delhi-NCR and one for Guwahati this week. Similarly, dispatch through road transport would also be upscaled to ensure availability of onions in the market. The availability of onions would be further accentuated by more supplies from NCCF, both through rail and road transport. Additionally, the government has also decided to offload onions kept in cold storage at Sonipat to meet the requirements of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal, J&K, Delhi etc. The government is alive to the market developments and keeping close watch to take ameliorative action to stabilise the onion prices.

As per the assessment of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, actual kharif sown area this year was 3.82 lakh hectare which is 34% higher than 2.85 lakh hectare sown last year. Sowing progress of late kharif onion is also reported to be normal with coverage of 1.28 lakh hectare till first week of November.

Earlier, 1,600 MT of onion transported by Kanda Express and arrived at Kishanganj Station in Delhi on 20th October, 2024, and another shipment of 840 MT of onion by rail rake to Delhi arrived on 30th October, 2024. Bulk shipment of onions has also been sent to Chennai and Guwahati in recent past. On 23rd October, 2024, 840 MT of onion had been dispatched from Nashik by rail rake which arrived at Chennai on 26th October 2024. A shipment of 840 MT onion by rail rake arrived at Changsari Station in Guwahati on 5th November, 2024 which was distributed in various district of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and other NE States.

Retail prices of tomato are on the decline with the fall in mandis prices. At Azadpur mandi, the weekly average price is down by 27% to Rs.4,000 per quintal and at Pimpalgaon the weekly average price is down by 35% to Rs.2,250 per quintal. In Madanapalle the weekly average price is down by 26% to Rs.2,860 per quintal amidst a 20% increase in total weekly arrivals. In Kolar the weekly average price is down by 27% to Rs.2,250 per quintal.

The all-India average retail prices of potato are stable during last three months at about Rs.37 per kg. The weekly average mandi prices of Rs.1,860 per quintal at Agra has been down by 15% during last week. As per the market intelligence inputs, overall Potato acreage is expected to increase by 16% this year with expected 10% increase in Punjab and Farrukhabad region in UP. In Madhya Pradesh, 80% sowing is completed and sowing area in Indore and Shajapur are reported to be up by 8% other areas like Ujjain region is at par with last year. In West Bengal, the sowing is yet to begin, but the sowing intentions according to the seed sales is reported to be higher than last year.

The government had procured 4.7 lakh tons

Interaction

The meet focussed on agricultural products from the eight states of the North Eastern Region and witnessed the presence of multiple national and International Brands

With the vision to promote sustainable trade and create market linkages, a mega buyer-seller meet was organised at under One District One Product initiative of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry with the support of Ministry of Development of North East Region (MDoNER) and its PSUs, North Eastern Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (NEHHDC) and North East Regional Agriculture Marketing Corporation Limited (NERAMAC). The meet focussed on agricultural products from the eight states of the North Eastern Region and witnessed the presence of multiple national and International Brands.

Over 70 sellers, traders, farmers, aggregators from various districts of each of the NE States – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, and Sikkim – showcased their products to the buyers at the meet in Guwahati. Products included Meghalaya’s world-famous Lakadong Turmeric with more than 7 per cent curcumin content, the GI Tagged Large Cardamom from Sikkim and Queen Pineapple from Tripura, Orthodox Assam Tea, Manipur’s Black Chakhao Rice and more. These products have been showcased to over 30 large buyers representing big brands such as Reliance and ITC, as well as upcoming start-ups in India.

The keynote address for the event was made by Lok Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in the presence of officials and subject matter experts from the Agricultural and Horticultural Departments of the various state governments. B Ramanjaneyulu, Director DPIIT, Manoj Kumar Das, Managing Director, NERAMAC, and Brig R K Singh, Managing Director, NEHHDC were also present.

Through the joint efforts, the best-in-class products from the region are being matched with big brands to improve the earning potential of farmers. Focused trade discussions were also facilitated between the buyers, sellers and the State Government representatives from all the 8 NER states. Additionally, Letters of Intent (LOI) worth Rs 6 crores were signed during the event. 

The meet focussed on agricultural products from

AgroPolicy, Agrotech, Supply Chain

Discussions were held on horticulture, medicinal crops and natural farming

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar and Union Minister of Tourism, Culture and Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), G Kishan Reddy recently hosted a virtual meeting to take stock of various schemes of the Government of India in the sector of the North Eastern Region (NER). Agriculture ministers of the North-Eastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura discussed the issues and challenges they were facing in detail.

Union Minister of State for DoNER, BL Verma,. Ministers for Agriculture of all the eight North Eastern States accompanied by the Secretary, DoNER, Agriculture Secretaries from the NER states with senior officials also marked their presence.

Tomar in his speech quoted, “Our door is always open. I request all the state governments to come up with a proposal if you find any difficulty in any schemes related to the agriculture sector.” He said that about 9 lakh hectare land in the North East is well suited for oil palm production as it has the potential to benefit farmers at large. 

He also talked about horticulture and medicinal crops which are grown only in North-Eastern State. He said that Agriculture and Commerce Ministry are working together to tap such opportunities and to solve the logistic problems faced by the North Eastern States.

The minister urged the state governments to pay attention to natural farming.

Officials from Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Regions (MOVCDNER); National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP); Bamboo in North East Region and the mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) made presentations regarding various schemes.

Discussions were held on horticulture, medicinal crops

Agro Universities, AgroPolicy, Oilseeds

According to the union minister, North-Eastern States can be developed as a hub of organic farming along with natural farming

Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare virtually inaugurated the New Built Administrative Building of the ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone – 6, Guwahati, Assam.

The Union Minister applauded the unparalleled roles played by the Krishi Vigyan Kendras in providing crop diversification and good quality seeds in the country. This has accelerated the progress of the country, he added. Tomar emphasised the need to adopt natural farming practices on a larger scale. The Union Minister outlined the vision of promoting the oil palms’ farming in the North-East states.

Kailash Choudhary, Union Minister of State for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare regarded the inauguration of the New Administrative Building of ICAR-ATARI, Guwahati as a new dimension in the various progress made by the Council. The minister highlighted the aim to enhance the use of drones and nanotechnologies in the agricultural sector. The need to include the women farmers in the Farmers’ FIRST Programme was stressed by the minister. Choudhary accentuated on linking the country’s distant farmers with the Farmers’ Producers’ Organizations.

According to the union minister, North-Eastern States

Horticulture

Development of Horticulture at East Garo Hills, Meghalaya by NEC is working on to ensure employment opportunities for the villagers

To ensure direct and indirect employment opportunities to the villagers and nearby areas, North Eastern Council (NEC), under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MDoNER) have implemented a project for Horticulture Development at Nokrek Region, East Garo Hills, Meghalaya through Department of Horticulture, Government of Meghalaya at a total cost of Rs 439.94 lakhs with State Contributing Rs 44 Lakhs out of the total project cost. The project got completed on March 4, 2020.

Development of Horticulture at East Garo Hills, Meghalaya by North Eastern Council (NEC) is working on to ensure employment opportunities for the villagers. 

The Project aims to provide direct and indirect employment to the villagers and surrounding areas. It is also believed that by implementing the multiple cropping method there would be increased in the intensity of the crops which would later yield better results by making land more fertile. The hi-tech green house and drip irrigation system will also be introduced in the area. The system will promote agriculture entrepreneurship, thereby, reducing series of middleman in marketing.

Development of Horticulture at East Garo Hills,