The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of India has released its Potential Linked Credit Plan, encouraging banks to finance the purchase of farm machinery such as combine harvesters and also to extend credit for farm implements, in addition to supporting agri centers and clinics, seed processing centers, and agri business centers. http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/article2658910.ece
Crop Insurance Extended to Over 176 Million Farmers in India
The Indian National Agriculture Insurance Scheme has been able to help 47.6 million farmers, and is being extended to cover 176 million. The program helps to protect farmers from catastrophe-related PHL and provides an actuarial premium with the government paying a subsidy from 40% to 75% to farmers. http://www.domain-b.com/finance/insurance/20111028_farmers.html
Rs2 Billion Package Approved for Punjab Growers
The Punjab Agriculture Department launched the “Supply Chain Improvement of Selected Agriculture and Livestock Products” Project along with an incentive package of Rs 2 billion to help system stakeholders to acquire Global GAP and International Featured Standards certifications in order to produce traceable products. By adopting new technology, PHL could be reduced by 30%. http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=74960&Cat=2
Now, Architecture to Ensure Uniform Crop Growth
Indian research has found that architecture has an effect on crop growth. The Indian Institute of Pulses Research and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research have identified the importance of crops growing uniformly, with even height, and its significance in avoiding disease, as well as importance in efficient harvesting. http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/agri-biz/article2476866.ece
Rabi Conference Accords High Priority to Enhancing Food Grain Production to Achieve 245 MT Target
The recent two-day National Conference on Agriculture for Rabi Campaign 2011 has led to the outcome that 245 million tons of Rabi as needing to be produced for the next season, as well as a focus on location-specific high yielding crop varieties. “The conference advised the States to specially concentrate on critical areas such as […]
Functioning of MoFPI Comes under Scanner with Report Presented to the LS
The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is under scrutiny for the past two decades of work as the Committee on Agriculture recently published a document in which it detailed the shortcomings of the food processing industry. This included a lack of information and data which has been the particular jurisdiction of the MoFPI, as […]
Tackling the Burgeoning Agrarian Crisis in India
India’s agrarian crisis has led to the suicides of over 250,000 farmers since 1995. Current programs and ‘new’ organizations are not aiding the root issue – farmers still lack access to credit, have high transaction costs, are exposed to exploitative middlemen, and poor quality technologies and contracts that are difficult to acquire. The author suggests […]
Private Players to Help Government Stem Rot in Godowns Soon
10% of total grain production was lost in the postharvest system due to lack of proper storage facilities – India has only about 17% of the needed storage facilities available currently, which is decreasing as the government continues to push for increased grain acquisition. The government is pushing for the design and implementation of such […]
Tapping the Huge Potential of Food Processing Sector of India
India is one of the leading counties in fruit, vegetable, milk, poultry and meat production. Lack of supply chains and processing infrastructure results wastes in agricultural productions. A study carried by the Central Institute for Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology indicated that the losses in 2009 reached Rs. 44,000 crore. The Mega Food Parks Scheme (MFPS) […]
Surinder Sud: Give Food Some Thought
Foodgrain mismanagement, imprudent trade decisions, and lack of advanced supply chain infrastructure have had high impacts on Indian farm-to-market connections, resulting in high PHL. Policy changes and reform of the ‘mandi’ system are seen as solutions to the issue, as well as private investment – and a reformation of the entire agribusiness chain of activities. […]