temporal distribution of rainfall in the second half of the season, … · 2020. 11. 17. ·...

28.07.2016

‘GDP growth for FY17 may accelerate to 7.9 per cent’

Distribution of rainfall in the second half of the season, especially in August, is

crucial

MONSOON EFFECT:Excess rainfall could impact sowing and, therefore, the

agricultural output.— FILE PHOTO

India’s GDP growth could rise to 7.9 per cent because of good monsoon so far,

with agriculture expected to grow by 4 per cent and consumer price inflation

likely to be restricted to 5 per cent in 2016-2017, rating agency Crisil said.

Although the rainfall levels this year have been better than normal, the rainfall

has not been well-distributed, leaving some places with surplus rainfall and

others deficient, according to the report.

“Going ahead, assuming rainfall is evenly distributed across time and regions,

we expect GDP growth to rise to 7.9 per cent, agricultural growth to come in

above trend at 4 per cent and CPI inflation to remain contained at 5 per cent in

fiscal 2017,” according to the report.

“Excess rainfall in 89 districts across eight States could impact sowing and,

therefore, the agricultural output for the kharif season. Therefore, spatial and

temporal distribution of rainfall in the second half of the season, especially in

August, will be crucial.”

Mapping rainfall

Crisil has developed a Deficient Rainfall Impact Parameter (DRIP) index,

which measures the impact of rainfall levels on each crop across geographic

regions.

“As of July 25, the crop-wise DRIP scores are lower (better) than the average of

the last six years. Also, compared with last year, coarse cereals, soybean,

groundnut and pulses such as tur are doing better. Even rice, which was slightly

worse off than last year as of last week, has caught up and improved.”

The Crisil analysis shows that rainfall was deficient in the middle of June in all

regions except for the southern peninsula. However, the situation has

dramatically improved since then. “Latest data shows rainfall is normal or

above normal in all regions barring the east and northeast, which account for 16

per cent of total food grain production in India,” according to the report.

“However, rainfall has not been well distributed,” it said.

Poor returns nip guar production

Little overseas demand and poor returns have forced guar-seed farmers in

Rajasthan and Haryana to cut down on production this kharif.

In Rajasthan, the area is down to 14.27 lakh hectares from 28 lakh hectares in

the same period last year, according the Agriculture Department.

In Haryana, farmers have sown guar-seed on 91,000 hectares, far below the

target of three lakh hectares set by the government for this year.

“Farmers are unhappy with poor returns and are shifting to pulses and bajra. We

could see a 40 per cent reduction in guar-seed area in Rajasthan alone, if it

doesn’t rain in the coming days,” G.L. Sarda, president of the Guar Gum

Manufacturers Association of India, told The Hindu .

Guar gum is extracted from the guar seed.

Rajasthan and Haryana account for 80 per cent of India’s guar-seed production.

“The next 7-10 days are critical... If there is good rain in the major growing

areas, sowing may pick up,” Mr. Sarda said.

Guar seed price has dipped 40 per cent to Rs. 3,150 a quintal, from Rs. 5,000

last year. In 2014, it was around Rs. 5,500.

Since the late 2009, the price had risen from below Rs. 2,700 a quintal to Rs.

30,000 because of the huge demand from the crude oil industry overseas.

‘Difficult now’

“Till a couple of years ago, guar-seed cultivation was profitable; but with the

price falling steadily, it is difficult now,” said Rakesh Kumar, a farmer in Sirsa

district of Haryana. He has switched to pulses this year on his 15 acres. “I still

have last year’s stock and I hoped the price would recover. But so far, it has

not,” he said.

Purshotam Hisaria, former president of the Indian Guar Gum Manufacturers

Association, said the huge carryover stock and the poor demand from the crude

oil sector forced the farmers to abandon guar. “Unless inventories dry up and

the demand for guar gum picks up again, the prices in domestic markets may

not rise significantly,” Mr. Hisaria said.

‘Father of Hybrid Sorghum’ passes away

Noted agricultural scientist Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao, passed away in

Hyderabad on Wednesday. He was 89 years. Dr. Rao was well-known for basic

and applied research in breeding and agronomy of several dryland crops

especially towards sorghum improvement, hence also earned the title of ‘Father

of Hybrid Sorghum’ in India.

Due to his efforts sorghum hybrids CSH1 CSH5 and CSH9 became very

popular and were cultivated. He also made significant contributions to the

improvement of crops like long staple desi cotton, pigeonpea, castor, and novel

cropping systems. Born in Korisapadu, Prakasam district (AP), he studied at

Agricultural College, Bapatla, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New

Delhi and the Bihar University.

Change in vegetable auction day, time

The day and time of vegetable auction at the Maradu market is being changed

from August 4. The market, under the Department of Agriculture, will now see

auction on all Thursdays from 7 a.m. Over the last five years, vegetable auction

has been taking place from 8 a.m. on Wednesdays. – Special Correspondent

With copious rain, officials expect crop area to expand

Suggest cultivation of pulses as the first crop and paddy as the second crop

Against the normal average of 44 mm rainfall recorded in July, Madurai had

already recorded 87 mm this month, said Joint Director (Agriculture) S.

Kanagaraj here on Wednesday.

Speaking to The Hindu , he said that the district had received copious rain to

usher in high hopes among the farmers. “We expect more crop area to be

covered during this season,” he noted.

Observing 2016 as “Year of Pulses,” the district administration had planned to

encourage farmers to grow millets/pulses in their fields. With good rainfall,

farmers in Tirumangalam, Kalligudi, Kallupatti and Sedapatti have started

procuring pulse seeds.

In about a week’s time, there would be brisk activity in the region, he hoped.

Last year, the district had produced 3.14 lakh tonnes of paddy, pulses and

millets. This year, the target had been fixed at 3.57 lakh tonnes, which looked

achievable under the given circumstances, Mr. Kanagaraj said, and added that

despite precarious conditions, farmers had achieved in a big way last season.

Subsidy

The Joint Director said under the National Food Security Mission, to give a

boost to pulses production the farmers were offered subsidies to the tune of Rs.

5000, which were in the form of seeds, micronutrient mixture, power sprayer,

rotovator, etc.

The water required for irrigation might be considerably less for pulses when

compared to paddy. Hence, farmers could examine the possibility of cultivating

pulses as the first crop and take up paddy as the second crop. This method

would not only ensure judicious use of water, but also make copious water

available for irrigation even for those in tail-end areas. At a recent interface with

farmers at Chatirapatti near here, there was a good response to the idea of

growing pulses, he said.

Recently, Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao told reporters that PWD engineers

had been instructed to remove all encroachments on the channels, especially

those carrying water for irrigation, in the district. With the rain likely to

continue, keeping the channels free of encroachments would help recharge

water table besides preventing flooding.

PWD engineers instructed to remove all encroachments on channels,

especially those carrying water for irrigation: Collector

Use technology to revive farm sector: CM

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for integrating traditional methods of

farming with modern agricultural science to revive the State’s agricultural

sector.

Speaking after inaugurating the new UG academic block and the Advanced

Research Centre for Plant Disease Diagnosis at the College of Agriculture here,

he stressed the need to make agriculture research relevant for farmers.

“Though the Kerala Agricultural University has made significant strides in

research, there is a delay in making research findings accessible for farmers. It

requires a coordinated approach by scientists and farmers to find solutions to the

crisis facing the agricultural sector in Kerala,” he said.

Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar who presided over the function stressed

the need for better coordination between the Agriculture Department and the

Kerala Agricultural University.

The Chief Minister presented the Dr.N. P. Kumari Sushama memorial award to

Aruna S. for the best performance in the B.Sc. agriculture course.

Dr.Salini Pillai received the award for the best teacher and Dr. Sheela K.R,

Head, Department of Agronomy was presented the award for the best

department in the college. Another student, Athira M. Nair won the award for

the best agricultural extension activity while Akshaja Suresh received the Prof.

P.A. Rajan Asary endowment award.

Good monsoon robs farmers of their profit

Hard days ahead:Women labourers getting ready to remove weeds in a field

near Gimma in Jainad mandal of Adilabad district.— Photo: S. Harpal Singh

The heavy rainfall has resulted in fields witnessing heavy weeding

A good monsoon can rob cotton and soyabean farmers a part of their profit, that

is if the rainfall is not spaced out so as to give the fields sufficient moisture as

well as sunlight.

The current spell of rains in Adilabad district is a case in point, as the 42 per

cent excess rainfall so far has resulted in fields witnessing heavy weeding,

making farmers invest more to remove them.

“I have already spent Rs. 15,000 on removing the weeds. Usually, I spend only

about Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 for this kind of work on my nine-acre land,” said

cotton farmer Gangadhar Shinde of Kokasmannu in Ichoda mandal, adding that

there is hardly any respite from rains since the last 15 days.

The rainfall has also caused loss to farmer by way of loss of nascent plants

wherever the water flowed through the fields. “Excess rainfall and lack of

sunlight for a long period has also resulted in stunted growth of plants at many

places, and we would need extra dose of fertilisers if the rains continue with the

same tempo,” added Addi Ramchander Reddy, also a cotton farmer from Jamidi

village in Tamsi mandal.

Not all bad news

The heavy weeding of fields, however, has brought a good amount of work for

women labourers, as weeding operations cannot be conducted using a plough in

the highly-moist black cotton soil.

There are an estimated 2 lakh women in the district who get seasonal

employment as agricultural labourers, each earning an average of about Rs.

12,000 to Rs. 15,000 for the 150-day employment during the six-month cotton

season and the concurrent 90-day soyabean crop period.

The labourers, nevertheless, complain that they are working for lesser number

of days owing to the prolonged spell of rain. “We cannot enter fields in these

conditions,” said Balera Vasantha of Bazarhatnoor mandal headquarter village.

“We are getting paid only Rs. 120 per day, which is not commensurate with the

effort we put in,” said Potharaju Lavanya, another labourer from the same

village. The case was worse at Gimma in Jainad mandal, where women

labourers said they received a wage of Rs. 100 for a 7-hour stint in the fields

removing weeds.

I have already spent Rs. 15,000 on removing the weeds. Usually, I spend only

about Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 5,000 for this kind of work on my nine-acre land.

Gangadhar Shinde,cotton farmer

Fodder centres to help milch farmers in Chittoor district

They will supply silage at Re.1 per kg to their doorstep, says official

Fodder raised over extensive stretches near Chittoor intended for supply to

landless farmers at their doorstep.

Chittoor district administration is gearing up to set up fodder centres in as many

as 300 villages as part of the State government's fodder security policy to

sustain the landless poor with milch cows.

The centres, scheduled to come up in the first week of August, will target

distribution of fodder to over one lakh heads of cattle maintained by about

50,000 families considered landless. The estimated heads of cattle contributing

to production of 34 lakh litres a day is put at 5.5 lakh, of which one lakh

animals are from the landless poor.

Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), M. Srinivasa Rao told the media here that

to achieve the target of distributing fodder to the landless milch farmers, fodder

production would be entrusted to the interested landholders to raise the stocks,

for which Rs.12,000 would be paid per acre for annual variety of fodder, and

Rs.32,000 for perennial category.

Fodder raising process will have the labour component of the National Rural

Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). “As per instructions of District

Collector Siddarth Jain, each landless milch farmer will be supplied with fodder

at Re.1 per kg at his doorstep as against Rs.3 in the open market,” the official

said.

No fodder scarcity

The requirement of fodder is much felt in the villages of western mandals with

low availability of the stocks and reduction in fodder production levels.

“Thanks to the November 2015 rains in the district, we could overcome the

fodder scarcity all over the district. In May 2015, the milk production stood at

27 lakh litres a day, while in May 2016, the production touched 34 lakh litres a

day. During the last one year, absolutely the fodder scarcity is zero per cent.

Going by present conditions, the scarcity is ruled out till May 2017 as we have

given top priority to silage fodder stocks,” he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao said that to totally eliminate the human mistakes and

exploitation factor through middlemen, all the private and public sector dairy

units were advised to follow automated modules in collection of milk stocks.

“We want to streamline the industry in more number of ways,” he added.

Implement research done, says Tanuvas official

In a bid to give a push to the extension activities at Sri Venkateswara Veterinary

University (SVVU), which according to the officials has been struggling

without a centralised extension system and decentralised dissemination pattern,

a State-level workshop on ‘Redefining the extension action policy of university’

was held at the varsity premises here on Tuesday.

Stress on roadmap

N.K. Sudeep Kumar, Director of Extension, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal

Sciences University (Tanuvas), who presided over the inaugural ceremony,

stressed on the need for identifying the prevailing weaknesses in the system and

evolve a concrete roadmap to address the needs of livestock farmers.

“Emphasis should be laid on implementing the research done in the institutions,

breaking free from the publicity. Those associated with extension activities

should spend more time in the field, instead of the cosy office rooms, and gather

the existing issues. They should in turn extract the outcomes and go ahead with

the solution,” he remarked.

Dr. Kumar further urged the policy makers to give a structured framework for

extension activities, with sufficient, but dedicated, human resources and budget.

“Validation of research output from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), varsities

and other organisations should be channelised, including the economic

feasibility, before delivering it to the livestock farmers,” he added.

‘Check raw materials’

With rain continuing, poultry farmers should be cautious while procuring raw

materials. They should check for mycotoxin, especially aflatoxin.

A press release from the Agromet Field Unit of Veterinary College and

Research Institute and Regional Meteorological Centre, Chennai, said that sky

will remain cloudy with chance of scattered rainfall in the next two days.

Maximum and minimum temperatures respectively will be 35 degree Celsius,

and 24 degree Celsius, it added.

Wind speed will be around 10 km an hour, mostly from west.

Though ground water is not expected to rise, it is good for poultry operations as

duration of high temperature will not last long.

The release said that feed intake will be normal.

Adopt technologies early, farmers told

Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University Vice-

Chancellor C. Renuka Prasad garlanding a cow in Bidar on Wednesday.

Farmers can help farm universities by adopting advanced technologies early,

Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University Vice-

Chancellor C. Renuka Prasad said on Wednesday.

“Scientists will be greatly helped if farmers used their methods and gave them

actual feedback from the field,” he said at a workshop on advanced animal

husbandry methods in Gadagi village on Wednesday.

He said that even after 10 years of the founding of the university, farmers were

yet to utilise its services fully. Mr. Prasad said that apart from producing

vaccines for various disease, the university had introduced several animal, bird

and fish varieties. “We are working on projects like enriching fodder, making of

fodder blocks using farm waste like sugarcane tops, developing anti snake

venom, selecting high yielding Deoni native breed strains and producing hybrid

sheep,” he said.

Mr. Prasad pointed out that Kolar district that was slightly smaller than Bidar in

population, produced seven times more milk.

“While Kolar farmers produce five lakh litres milk per day, Bidar manages to

produce only around 69,000 litres per day, he said. Farmers should develop

entrepreneurship and increase milk productivity in backward district,” he said.

Around 30 progressive farmers were felicitated.

Training for farmers

Scientists will interact with farmers on ‘crop protection during monsoon’ at the

Krishi Vigyan Kendra here on Thursday. They will give information on pest

and insect attacks, weeding and crop protection practices, and advanced farming

methods, said a release.

— Special Correspondent

Coffee growers’ meet on July 29

The Belur Taluk Coffee Growers’ Association will organise a coffee growers’

convention in Belur on July 29. Coffee growers of the taluk are expected to take

part in the programme to be held at Manjunath Kalyan Mantap in the town.

The former Lokayukta, N. Santosh Hegde, will inaugurate the programme.

Progressive farmers Abdul Ravoof Saheb and Seetaram Hegde would be

felicitated on the occasion.

Release of water from KRS to canals from today

Deputy Commissioner M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan has announced that the farmers

in the Cauvery command area will get water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS)

from Thursday. This decision was taken at the Irrigation Consultative

Committee (ICC) meeting of the KRS in Bengaluru recently.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Nagabhushan said that the

Irrigation Department will discharge Cauvery water into all major waterways

and their distributaries from the KRS for irrigation purpose on an “on-and-off”

basis for the next six months.

The DC has asked farmers to grow only one short-term crop in the 2016-17

season, according to the decision taken at the ICC meeting. Farmers will

cultivate in at least 63,000 hectares in the district, he said and added that steps

will be taken to supply water to the tail-end areas.

Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the district in-charge Minister,

will hold a janaspandana (public grievances meeting) in the town on July 29 to

provide an open forum for people to present their complaints, Mr. Nagabhushan

said.

Meanwhile, the modernisation works of Visvesvraya Canal is almost complete,

Shankaregowda,

Superintending Engineer of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd. said. SP C.H.

Sudheer Kumar Reddy and others were present on the occasion.

Farmers enthused by apple season

Hopes are high for a good harvest of the fruit at Kanthallur

The apple season is on at Kanthallur, raising hopes of farmers at Perumala,

Puthur, and Guhanathapuram.

Though apple cultivation is not spread over a wide area, the fruit grown in

fragmented farms is known for its quality. At times, climatic conditions spoil

the spirit of farmers but this season is said to be a favourable one.

Farmers say the harvest is better this season in terms of colour and size. Nestled

on the border with Tamil Nadu, Kanthallur is the only winter-fruit growing

centre in Kerala. The fruits grown at Kanthallur include orange, cherimoya,

plum, guava, peach, passion fruit, strawberry, and blackberry. The months of

July and August are exclusively for apple, for which the flowering season is

January and February. Apple is the main attraction of visitors to farms and the

farmers get better prices on the spot. “The tourists visiting Munnar often come

to the farms and offer better prices,” says Sasi Chini, an apple farmer.

“Farmers at Kanthallur had traditionally grown a variety of fruits. However,

apple is the main attraction of the visitors to the farms. The climatic and soil

conditions are suited for almost all fruits,” Mr. Chini says. A few farmers

started apple cultivation on an experimental level nearly 15 years ago and their

success prompted many others to shift to apple farming.

“If the climatic conditions and prices are favourable, it is the most remunerative

fruit crop,” he says adding that the shelf life of apple is longer when compared

to other fruits. “Moreover, there is not much price fluctuation and the market is

almost steady for apple,” Mr. Chini added.

Climate change worsens conflict, say scientists in new study

A wheat field is seen in Arbeen, in the eastern Damascus suburb of Ghouta

May. War and drought have cut Syria's wheat production in recent years. File

photo: Reuters

Scientists draw up statistical correlation between outbreak of conflict in

ethnically divided regions and climate disasters.

Climate change can worsen ethnic conflict, climate scientists have shown in a

research paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences (PNAS) of U.S.A. The main hypothesis of the paper, that was first

published online on Monday, July 25, is that climate-related disaster enhances

the risk of armed conflict outbreak in ethnically divided countries. They

conclude that climate change acts as a threat multiplier during conflict, though

not a direct trigger.

The authors of the report, Carl-Friedrich Schleussner, Reik V. Donner and Hans

Joachim Schellnhuber, are affiliated with the Potsdam Institute for Climate

Impact Research, Germany; and Jonathan F. Donges is with the Stockholm

Resilience Centre. Using event coincidence analysis, they tested their

hypothesis based on data on armed-conflict outbreaks and climate-related

natural disasters for the period 1980–2010. Globally, the researchers found a

coincidence rate of 9 per cent regarding armed-conflict outbreak and disaster

occurrence such as heat waves or droughts. The analysis also reveals that during

the 30-year study period about 23 per cent of conflict outbreaks in ethnically

highly divided countries robustly coincided with climatic calamities.

The authors note that several of the world’s most conflict-prone regions,

including North and Central Africa as well as Central Asia, are both

exceptionally vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change as well as

characterised by deep ethnic divides. To make the study findings more realistic,

the authors have based their analysis on disaster occurrence characterised by the

economic impact of a climate-related event, so as to account for the effects of

population vulnerability, instead of only using meteorological data that may

miss out on the social impact of climate disasters.

The scientists have admitted to the challenge of accounting for damages by

climate disasters that do not directly affect economic assets but rather living

conditions and subsistence agriculture, such as droughts, as they are difficult to

quantify in economic terms. Nevertheless, the paper is clear that African as well

as Central Asian nations, are potential hot spots for further conflict enhanced by

climatic disasters.

The scientists also clarify that there is no evidence that climate-related disasters

act as direct triggers of armed conflicts. However, they do warn about increased

risk of armed-conflict outbreak for climatological events globally because of a

projected drying trend in already drought-prone regions such as Northern Africa

and the Levant, which includes Egypt and Syria

“It is clear that the roots of these conflicts are case specific and not directly

associated with climate-related natural disasters. Nevertheless, such disruptive

events have the potential to amplify already existing societal tensions to further

destabilise several of the world’s most conflict-prone regions,” the authors

conclude.

Compound in turmeric may treat colon cancer: study

Looks like your simple turmeric could hold the secret for colon cancer cure..

Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric may play an important role in

treating such cancers, researchers from Saint Louis University in the United

States have found.

Researchers from Saint Louis University in the United States have said that

curcumin, an active ingredient in the spice, holds promise in treating such

cancers.

An ingredient found in turmeric, which is present in spicy curry dishes, may

play an important role in treating colon cancer, researchers including one of

Indian-origin have found in a new study.

The combination of two plant compounds that have medicinal properties —

curcumin and silymarin — holds promise in treating colon cancer, researchers

from Saint Louis University in the United States have said.

“Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which is present in

spicy curry dishes, and silymarin is a component of milk thistle, which has been

used to treat liver disease,” they said.

Colon cancer cells in lab model

Researchers studied a line of colon cancer cells in a laboratory model. They

found treating the cells initially with curcumin, then with silymarin was more

effective in fighting cancer than treating the cells with either phytochemical

alone.

“The combination of phytochemicals inhibited colon cancer cells from

multiplying and spreading. In addition, when the colon cancer cells were pre-

exposed to curcumin and then treated with silymarin, the cells underwent a high

amount of cell death,” said Uthayashanker Ezekiel from Saint Louis University.

Alternative approaches

“Phytochemicals may offer alternate therapeutic approaches to cancer

treatments and avoid toxicity problems and side effects that chemotherapy can

cause,” he said.

Mr. Ezekiel saw promise in using the phytochemicals to help prevent colon

cancer, which frequently is caused by lifestyle factors, such as diet.

“Concentrations of curcumin and silymarin that are too high could be harmful to

people. We still have much to learn, and for now, it is so much safer to add a

little spice to your diet and get your curcumin from foods that contain turmeric,

such as curry, rather than taking high doses of the compound,” he said.

The findings were published in the Journal of Cancer.

Finance Ministry to banks: Hike credit flow to small farmers by 10 per

cent every year

Credit from SCBs to small farmers less than 6% of ANBC as of March 2015.

The government has asked public sector banks (PSBs) to increase the credit

flow to small and marginal farmers by 10 per cent every year and remove

regional imbalances in disbursal of agriculture credit in the country.

According to a finance ministry note to the CEOs of PSU banks, the committee

of secretaries has recommended that coverage of small and marginal farmers

needs to be increased by 10 per cent every year.

“PSBs are requested to firm up effective strategy so as to ensure 10 per cent

increase in coverage of small and marginal farmers every year. To achieve this

goal, PSBs may take innovative measures such as financing of joint liability

groups and producers organisations of small and marginal farmers,” the

ministry note said.

As per the Agriculture Census (2010-11), out of the 138 million farming

holdings in the country, 117 million (85 per cent) are small and marginal

holdings covering about 43 per cent of net sown area.

The credit extended by domestic scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) to small

and marginal farmers was less than 6 per cent of ANBC (adjusted net bank

credit) as of March 2015, with varied degree of achievement by different

players within the industry, it said. “Hence there is an urgent need to increase

coverage of small and marginal farmers under bank credit,” the note said.

The revised guidelines on Priority Sector Lending issued by the RBI focus on

credit to small individual farmers as a new sub-target of 8 per cent for small and

marginal farmers (to be achieved in a phased manner — 7 per cent by March

31, 2016 and 8 per cent by March 2017) has been introduced to help in

increasing the flow of credit to small and marginal farmers.

On removing regional imbalance in disbursement of agriculture credit, the

ministry note said, “Although agriculture credit targets have been surpassed by

banks over the years, there are sharp regional imbalances in disbursement of

agriculture credit.

It has been observed that flow of credit is not adequate in north-eastern states,

eastern and central regions and Jammu & Kashmir.” The Department of

Financial Services has fixed the region-wise target of agriculture credit for

2016-17, which has been conveyed to the RBI, NABARD, PSBs and SLBCs.

The ministry note also said PSU banks should set internal targets for including

new farmers or farmers not having Kisan Credit Card (KCC) under the KCC

fold in view of the gap between the number of operational agricultural

landholdings and the number of live/operative KCCs in the country.

“Branches may be instructed to launch a special drive for the purpose. Further,

the phase-wise target for conversion of operative KCCs into ATM-

enabled/RuPay KCCs fixed by DFS must be achieved scrupulously,” it said.

As on March 31, 2016, the percentage of ATM-enabled KCCs as compared to

operative KCCs works out at 67.44 per cent.

It is the need of the hour to convert all KCCs into ATM-enabled/RuPay cards.

DFS has been undertaking periodic review of conversion of KCCs into ATM

enabled/ RuPay cards by PSU banks, fixing a phase-wise target for the purpose.

The ministry also took up the issue of people getting reliefs very late after

natural calamities.

“It has been observed that on many occasion special state-level bankers meeting

or district co-ordination committee meetings are held very late after declaration

of natural calamities. The data regarding relief extended by banks is also not

readily available with SLBCs,” it said, asking banks to ensure that necessary

relief as per RBI’s guidelines is extended to farmers or borrowers in quickest

possible time.

The target for agriculture credit for the year 2016-17 has been fixed at Rs

9,00,000 crore. The credit flow to agriculture in 2015-16 was Rs 8,77,224 crore

as against the target of Rs 8,50,000 crore. Gross advances of PSU banks grew

by 4 per cent from Rs 49.17 lakh crore as of March 2015 to Rs 51.16 lakh crore

by March 2016.

Rajasthan farmers ditch guar, switch to pulses this time

The Rajasthan government, too, is providing a subsidy of Rs 2500 per quintal

for certified seeds, besides a 50 per cent subsidy on micronutrient and bio-

pesticides.

Last year, farmers in Rajasthan planted a record 47.87 lh area under guar, the

seeds from whose harvested pods yield a gum used by the fracking industry as a

thickening agent to extract oil and gas from shale rocks.

Farmers in Rajasthan are looking towards pulses to reap, what seems for now, a

double dividend from good southwest monsoon rains as well as remunerative

prices.

Sowing of kharif pulses — mainly moong, moth and urad — has already been

completed in 22.75 lakh hectares (lh) and is likely to cross 30 lh this time. Much

of it is at the expense of guar or cluster bean that scripted the desert state’s farm

miracle story not too long ago.

Last year, farmers in Rajasthan planted a record 47.87 lh area under guar, the

seeds from whose harvested pods yield a gum used by the fracking industry as a

thickening agent to extract oil and gas from shale rocks. During the shale boom,

guar-seed prices scaled Rs 30,000 per quintal levels in March 2012. That,

however, is an old story: Spot prices in Jodhpur are currently ruling at Rs

3,650/quintal.

This time, a mere 14.26 lh has been covered under guar so far and the final

figure may not even reach 30 lh, say state agriculture department official. Total

kharif sowing in Rajasthan has already touched 105 lh. Another 50 lh is still to

be sown, much of it in western Rajasthan that has recorded deficient

precipitation. But even in this region, which has just started getting rains,

farmers are more inclined towards pulses than guar.

Surendra Kumar, a farmer from 21 ML village in Ganganagar tehsil of Sri

Ganganagar district, grew moong in three bighas last year, entirely for personal

consumption. This year, he has brought 25 bighas under the crop, while slashing

his guar area from 50 to 12 bighas (one bigha equals 0.16 hectares).

“I chose moong, as it is a 60-day crop and fetched Rs 7,000 per quintal last

year. Guar has a 90-day cycle and there are no signs of prices picking up,” says

Kumar.

Last year, post-harvest prices of guar-seed ranged between Rs 3,000 and Rs

4,000 a quintal.

Many farmers stocked up, believing that a production shortfall due to drought

would help them realise a windfall similar to that in 2012. Instead, prices

crashed to Rs 2,800 this June, before recovering a tad to current levels. Clearly,

demand factors from the collapse of the shale boom far outweighed any supply-

side concerns.

“Over the last two years, farmers have been waiting for guar prices to go up.

Last year’s experience, of prices falling despite a poor crop, may have sealed

the bean’s fate,” notes Ram Gopal Sharma, joint director of Rajasthan’s

agriculture department.

With moth and moong selling for Rs 75 and Rs 80 per kg, respectively, and

urad going for over Rs 100, pulses appear a far more lucrative option. The fact

that moong and moth require only 60-75 days to grow, which means less water

consumption as well, would also spurred farmers to switch from guar, adds

Sharma.

For the current kharif season, the Centre has hiked the minimum support price

(MSP) for pulses. The Rajasthan government, too, is providing a subsidy of Rs

2500 per quintal for certified seeds, besides a 50 per cent subsidy on

micronutrient and bio-pesticides.

Balvinder Singh Kang, a farmer from 2 JRK village of Hanumangarh

teshsil/district, reckons that in much of northern Rajasthan, the 80:20 acreage

ratio for guar and moong last year has almost reversed to 40:60 this time.

However, he believes that this has little to do with government policy or

incentives:

“The MSPs may have gone up. But farmers have shifted because market prices

for pulses are ruling even higher and guar has really disappointed. We wouldn’t

have seen such an acreage shift had guar prices even been Rs 4,500 per quintal”.

Last year, Kang grew moong on 10 bighas of his own land. This time, he has

leased a 150-bigha plot from the Swami Keshwanand agricultural university in

Bikaner to cultivate pulses.

According to Kang, there is lot of untapped potential for pulses production in

Rajasthan. Also, unlike in other crops, increased production may not bring

down prices too much, since demand for pulses, which is a major vegetarian

source of protein, would remain high.

“The government wants to now promote cultivation of pulses on lakhs of

hectares in African countries. If they increase the support prices for our farmers,

we could grow all that here in India,” he points out.

The Agriculture department fears that a jump in production this year could

result in traders manipulating a price slump.

“What else can explain moong prices falling to Rs 5,000/quintal levels in the

Jaipur mandi now (below the MSP of Rs 5,225)? This, when sowing is still on

and we don’t know what the crop would be like till it is close to harvesting,”

quips an official.

Farm incomes: Dreaming to double

The Modi government should spell out clearly what it wants to double by 2022

— nominal or real incomes.

The CAGR of farmers’ nominal incomes between 2002-03 and 2012-13 was

11.8 per cent at an all-India level. Within this, Haryana registered the highest

growth (17.5 per cent) and West Bengal the lowest (6.7 per cent). Express

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s (NABARD) 34th

foundation day celebrations on July 12 saw a day-long deliberation on Prime

Minister Narendra Modi’s call for “doubling farmers’ incomes by 2022”. This

was an event at Vigyan Bhavan in the national capital, where the ministries of

agriculture and finance and the NITI Aayog also pitched in.

The Prime Minister had shared his “dream” first at a kisan rally. From there, it

found formal mention in the finance minister’s Budget speech for 2016-17.

Subsequently, the Centre even constituted a special inter-ministerial committee

to prepare a blueprint for realising this dream.

Sadly, for all these concerted official efforts, there are ambiguities surrounding

the dream itself. As professional economists, we feel compelled to state the

challenges as explicitly as possible.

We may start by saying that nothing is impossible; dreaming big, that too for

the long-neglected cause of farmers, is a sign of boldness. But realisation of any

bold dreams requires four things: a clearly defined vision, a carefully crafted

strategy for achieving it, sufficient financial resources to support the efforts and,

above all, a champion minister/official/technocrat to lead and persevere on the

path until the goal is reached.

In this case, the Centre seems to have faltered on the very first step, by not

clarifying the vision itself. Consider the following:

First, there are no current estimates of farmers’ incomes. The latest available

survey from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) is for 2012-13. There

is an obvious need to launch a survey of farmers’ incomes for the current year

(2016-17), which would provide a base against which the 2022 income levels

can be compared. That would allow for assessing the actual performance vis-à-

vis the dream outlined by Prime Minister Modi. Such a survey should be

repeated, if not every year, at least every three years.

Second, it isn’t clear whether the target for doubling incomes is in real or

nominal terms. This is critical, as the vision loses its novelty and valour if the

target is in nominal terms.

Nominal incomes, in any case, double in 6-7 years. The government’s grit is

tested only when the dream is of doubling real incomes. Linked to this is the use

of the right price deflator for estimating real growth in incomes.

Here, it has to be the consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPI-AL),

not the wholesale price index or the GDP deflator. The reason for it is that we

are looking not at the farm sector’s income, but the incomes of farmers

emanating from diverse sources.

Using any other deflator — like that used in one of the NABARD’s background

papers for the event — yields misleading results.

Third, there are significant lessons to be gained by looking at historical

performance. The NSSO’s situation assessment surveys (SAS) for 2012-13 and

2002-03 give a fair idea of the movement in farmers’ incomes, which we can

term a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario.

The SAS categorises farmers’ incomes under four heads: (1) net receipts from

cultivation; (2) net receipts from farming of animals (including poultry and

fishery); (3) incomes from non-farm businesses; and (4) incomes from wages

and salaries.

The accompanying charts give the compounded annual growth rates (CAGR) in

nominal as well as real incomes (deflated by state specific CPI-AL) of farmer

households during 2002-03 to 2012-13, apart from the changing composition of

these incomes over the same period.

Important takeaways from our analysis are:

* In 2012-13, an average Indian farmer’s monthly income was Rs 6,426.

Punjab’s farmers had the highest income at Rs 18,059, followed by those in

Haryana (Rs 14,434), Jammu & Kashmir (Rs 12,683) and Kerala (Rs 11,888).

Bihar’s farmers earned the least, with their monthly incomes averaging Rs

3,558.

* The CAGR of farmers’ nominal incomes between 2002-03 and 2012-13 was

11.8 per cent at an all-India level. Within this, Haryana registered the highest

growth (17.5 per cent) and West Bengal the lowest (6.7 per cent).

* In real income terms, Odisha emerged as the top performer with a CAGR of

8.3 per cent, closely followed by Haryana (8 per cent), Rajasthan 7.9 (per cent)

and Madhya Pradesh (7.3 per cent), as against a national average of 3.5 per cent.

The worst performers were Bihar and West Bengal, with negative real growth

rates in their farmers’ incomes.

* Coming to sources of farmers’ income, the share from cultivation rose from

45.8 per cent in 2002-03 to 47.9 per cent in 2012-13. But the share of income

from farming of animals was the one that grew the most, from 4.3 per cent to

11.9 per cent, while the contribution from both non-farm business and wages &

salaries declined over this period. Thus, the highest growth was registered in

receipts from livestock farming. And this was true, especially in states that

showed overall higher real income growth rates.

The above data corroborates the fact that under a BAU scenario, nominal farmer

incomes can double almost every six years, whereas doubling of real incomes

needs a time horizon of more than 20 years. Clearly, if the aim is to double real

incomes by 2022, the effort and resources necessary to achieve it would have to

be at least three times that of current BAU-scenario levels.

One can cite just one example to illustrate the challenge this would entail. Most

experts at the NABARD deliberations agreed that investing more in irrigation

was critical to raising farmers’ incomes and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi

Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was an important step in this direction.

The Central allocation under PMKSY is Rs 5,767 crore in the latest Budget,

while states put together provided over Rs 104,000 crore for irrigation in 2015-

16. If one really wants to do justice to the Prime Minister’s dream, by trebling

resources for irrigation in order to ensure water for every farm (“har khet ko

paani”), the minimum annual investment needed would be Rs 300,000 crore for

the next five years.

Is anyone ready to commit this level of resources for irrigation? Even if money

were allocated, do the concerned government arms, including in the states, have

capacity to spend that productively? Further, assuming they do have the

capacity and it leads to, say, a doubling of crop production, can the system

absorb it? Can this additional output be exported competitively? One has to

think through all these before raising the pitch on doubling real incomes of

farmers.

That apart, some out-of-the-box thinking could also help. For example, can

farmers’ fields be used to generate solar power by putting solar panels on them?

Can this solar power further be given priority for feeding to the grid, and at 15-

20 per cent higher tariffs than what it costs to generate power by burning coal?

This could, indeed, help Prime Minister Modi kill two birds with one stone:

doubling real incomes of farmers and also achieving the targeted 100 gigawatts

of solar energy generation by 2022!

West Bengal: Illicit poppy cultivation now a principal source of funds for

terror outfits at border

The youths involved in illegal poppy cultivation are also being used in drug-

peddling, besides smuggling fake currency.

The Narcotics agency had destroyed poppy crops cultivated in around 714 acres

of land in the state. (File)

Illicit poppy cultivation in the border districts of West Bengal and smuggling of

the contraband across the border to Bangladesh and elsewhere are worrying

intelligence authorities because it has turned out to be among the the principal

sources of funds for terror outfits like the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh.

CID sources told PTI that the strategic position of these districts facilitated rise

in illegal cultivation of poppy, which “has become a major fund generating

business drawing several hundreds of youths into it”.

Apart from Malda district’s Ratua, Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar, poppy is also

allegedly secretly grown at Nowada and Beldanga in Murshidabad district

besides Dubrajpur, Ilambazar and Kankartala in Birbhum district.

Such cultivation was also found in Patrasayar, Indas, Onda and Barjora in

Bankura and Ketugram, Mangolkote, Kaksa, Purbasthali, Katwa, Galsi and

Laodaha in Burdwan, the sources said.

“Much evidence is there that the money earned from this cultivation goes to the

terror groups through different channels including hawala. The money might

have also gone to suspected ISIS agents through JMB,” the source said.

“A large number of locals, mainly youth, are involved in cultivating it mostly in

areas which are not frequented by locals,” he said. The district administration

with the assistance of the NCB, local police and the BSF had destroyed 4,000

acres of poppy crop last year, whereas around 1,000 acres have been destroyed

this year so far, police sources said.

According to a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) report compiled in 2011-2012,

the agency had destroyed poppy crops cultivated in around 714 acres of land in

the state, out of which 711 acres lay in the Malda district while the other three

were in Hooghly and Burdwan districts.

“It must be mentioned that the illicit cultivation of poppy is spread over Malda’s

Kaliachak and Baishnabnagar and these are the areas where the fake Indian

currency notes (FICN) cartels are also tracked,” he said, adding that in the last

couple of years several raids and arrests had been made in Kaliachak.

The CID source said that illegal poppy cultivation had spread to villages on the

zero line where the Border Security Force had almost no reach. According to

him, the link between FICN and poppy was helping the growth of terror

networks in the state.

The youths involved in illegal poppy cultivation are also being used in drug-

peddling, besides smuggling fake currency. According to the source, there is a

close connection between the fake currency rackets and cultivators of illegal

poppy in the state.

The bean that has once been

Soybean was grown in 11.63 million hectares (mh) in India last year, with

Madhya Pradesh (5.91 mh), Maharashtra (3.77 mh) and Rajasthan (1.10 mh)

being the main cultivating states.

Few major agro-based industries in India have gone through the turmoil that

soybean has in recent times.

In 2012-13 and 2013-14 (fiscal years ending March), export of meal, cake and

other solid residues obtained after extraction of oil from soybean stood at 44.84

lakh tonnes (lt) and 39.23 lt, valued at Rs 13,357.49 crore and Rs 13,246.29

crore, respectively. But in the subsequent two fiscals, these collapsed to 13.73 lt

(Rs 4,515.34 crore) and 3.55 lt (Rs 1,279.30 crore), respectively.

The same period has, moreover, also seen a surge in imports of soybean oil into

the country — from 11.23 lt (Rs 7,611.61 crore) in 2012-13 and 13.45 lt (Rs

8,308.08 crore) in 2013-14 to 23.17 lt (Rs 12,910.93 crore) in 2014-15 and

39.65 lt (Rs 19,428 crore) in 2015-16. This double whammy, from meal/cake

export shipments plunging to below a tenth and oil imports soaring 3.5 times

over their levels three years ago, has hit both soyabean processors and farmers

hard.

“In the 2011-12 and 2012-13 oil years (October-September), our units crushed

105.16 lt and 101.21 lt of soybean, respectively. This fell to 81.26 lt in 2013-14

and 68 lt in 2014-15, and we expect it to drop further to 59 lt in the current oil

year. At this rate, there will be no industry left,” says Davish Jain, chairman of

the Indore-based Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).

He blames the situation mainly on large-scale oil imports: “Wholesale prices of

refined soybean oil in Indore averaged Rs 69,984 per tonne in 2012 and Rs

67,808 in 2013, but in the last two years, they have been ruling at about Rs

62,000 per tonne. In 2011-12 (oil year), we produced 18.93 lt of soybean oil and

imported 10.79 lt. This year, we would probably produce 10.6 lt of oil and

import over 50 lt”.

For every 100 kg of soybean crushed, processors produce roughly 18 kg of oil.

The balance 82 kg comprises protein-rich cake, meal and other solid

extractions. Till over a couple of years ago, 40-42 per cent of the extraction

produced was being exported.

The ratio of realisation from soybean crushing between meal and oil used to be

55:45. That has now changed to 72:28 because of falling oil prices.

And lower realisations from oil has made it difficult to export our meal at

competitive rates, especially when the latter prices (free-on-board, Indian ports)

have dipped to around $415 per tonne from $ 550-600 levels three years ago,”

notes Jain.

The ultimate sufferer has been the farmer. From Rs 4,000-plus per quintal two

years ago, prices of soybean at Indore mandi have come down to Rs 3,100-

3,200. With a good monsoon this year, there could be further pressure on prices

in the months ahead.

SOPA has sought a tariff rate quota regime, under which the current 12.5 per

cent customs duty on crude de-gummed soybean oil would be applicable only

on imports of up to 10 lt. Imports beyond this quota can attract a higher 45 per

cent duty, which is also the ‘bound’ tariff rate that India can charge under the

World Trade Organization agreement. “If domestic realisations on soybean oil

improve, we will be able to competitively price our meal for exports. This will

benefit the industry and farmers, besides turning our soybean sector into a net

foreign exchange earner, which it was until three years back,” adds Jain.

Soybean was grown in 11.63 million hectares (mh) in India last year, with

Madhya Pradesh (5.91 mh), Maharashtra (3.77 mh) and Rajasthan (1.10 mh)

being the main cultivating states.

Dry State: Gujarat hoping rain forecasts come true

tate faces 73% deficit in rainfall;next 10 days most crucial, says farm minister

Even though overall monsoon rainfall has been a tad above the Long Period

Average (LPA) for the country, Gujarat remains the driest place and faces a

severe rainfall deficit of 73 per cent of the LPA.

As the key sowing period of July nears its end, the State government is betting

big on the optimistic forecasts by weather watch agencies, including the India

Meteorological Department and a few private ones.

As of 8 am on July 27, the State has received 215.38 mm of rainfall as against

the LPA of 797 mm. The impact of deficient rainfall is clearly visible on the

sowing pattern with a significant drop of around 28 per cent in cotton acreage.

But groundnut has managed to maintain its acreage as farmers chose the oilseed

over the fibre crop, which repeatedly faces pest attacks. Surprisingly, acreage

under pulses has registered an increase of over 30 per cent in the state.

“The situation is serious in most parts as there is no water for irrigation. Only

those areas that had received scattered rains have some water stored in water

bodies,” Babubhai Bokhiriya, Gujarat’s Minister for Water Resources and

Agriculture, told BusinessLine.

“There is water in the Narmada Dam (to supply canals), with which we can

supply the command area for the next 8-10 days. This is the most crucial period.

The forecast hints at a good rainfall during this time and we are hopeful of it,”

he added.

However, Bokhiriya also expressed his concerns about a possibility of

insufficient rainfall in the season.

“If it doesn’t rain in this period, we will not have water available for irrigation.

Water for drinking purpose will get priority. We are also preparing to deal with

employment issues and fodder,” he said.

Dire situation

The 202 reservoirs in the State have only 27 per cent of live water storage. The

condition of reservoirs in Saurashtra and Kutch is worse with water storage

dipping below to as low as zero in several districts.

Already reports have started coming about crop damage due to non-availability

of water.

“We had sown cotton and groundnut on 40 bighas (approx 20 acre) of land

when it rained last month. But since the last week of June, it hasn’t rained. We

have no hope for cotton as it has already dried, but we look forward to save

groundnut at least, otherwise it will be a complete loss,” said Rameshbhai Pan, a

farmer in Morbi.

Some hope

The Met Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Gujarat on

July 28, while heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places in Saurashtra and

Kutch.

“Rainfall activity is likely to increase over north-west India from July 26

onwards,” the IMD has stated.

In its forecast for the week ending July 31, private weather agency Skymet

reported that Central India, including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and East

Rajasthan, will receive moderate to heavy showers. But the intensity will

decrease after July 27.

Rajasthan seeks technology, investments to boost agri sector

State to hold GRAM event in November

Seeking technological innovation and investments to strengthen agriculture

sector in the State, Rajasthan looks to host investors and delegates from

Netherlands, Israel, Australia and Canada to be partner countries for the

forthcoming Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet-2016 or 'GRAM 2016' to be held

at Jaipur during November 9-11, 2016.

Kiran Maheshwari, Minister for PHED (Public Health Engineering Department)

& Ground Water, Government of Rajasthan reached out to the farmers,

industrialists and agriculture experts in Gujarat on Wednesday to partner with

Rajasthan in agriculture and allied sectors.

Maheshwari called for a joint initiative of both the States to achieve the vision

of doubling the farm income by 2022. “This will be done through a strategic

alliance focusing more on R&D in seeds, livestocks and dairy processing. An

advanced single window clearance system has been created to digitally

streamline all process concerning industries," she said.

The event focuses on technological innovations and high-yield practices in

agriculture and allied sectors, thereby ensuring economic empowerment of the

farmers through accelerated yet sustainable growth in agriculture and to double

farmer’s income by 2022.

Rajasthan would showcase investment opportunities in the sector involving

products like pressure irrigation, solar pumps, custom hiring of farm machinery

& implements, farm mechanisation, agro-processing at the event, which is

expected to draw over 50,000 farmers and delegates from different countries.

GRAM will also offer a platform for companies and service providers to

showcase their latest offerings and global best-practices in farming and allied

activities to over 50,000 agriculturists from Rajasthan.

Centre asks States to speed up e-NAM

The Centre has asked State governments to speed up implementation of

electronic-national agriculture market (e-NAM) to achieve the target of

integrating 200 mandis by September this year.

At present, only 23 mandis in eight States have been integrated with the e-

NAM. The government has kept a total target of 585 by March 2018.

Official meeting

A meeting was called here today to discuss with State government officials the

progress made in the implementation of e-NAM in various States.

Agriculture Secretary Shobhana K Pattanayak in the meeting directed State

officials to fasten the process and put in place infrastructure at the earliest so

that more mandis are integrated with the e-platform, sources said.

Some States, especially Uttar Pradesh which at present has integrated only six

mandis, have promised to integrate 60 mandis by August 15, while Madhya

Pradesh has said it will integrate at least 10 mandis by that date.

Eight States – Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand,

Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka – which have already integrated

some mandis have informed the Centre that they will bring more to the e-NAM

platform by next month, sources added.

The Secretary also urged the State governments to popularise e-NAM among

the farming community by putting up billboards as well as logos at appropriate

locations.

Arecanut imports down in 2015-16

The import of arecanut, which had gone beyond 1 lakh tonnes during 2014-15,

has come down in 2015-16.

The figures given by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Lok

Sabha show that the country imported 67,824 tonnes of arecanut worth $159

million during 2015-16 as against 1.10 lakh tonnes (lt) worth $229.96 million

during 2014-15.

Import of arecanut is a cause of concern for growers in the country. The

arecanut co-operatives have been asking the government to control the import

of arecanut as India is self-sufficient in its production.

India produces around 7 lt of arecanut every year. The total production in the

country stood at 7.02 lt in 2015-16 against 7.27 lt in 2014-15. While the import

crossed 15 per cent of the total production in 2014-15, it stood at 9.66 per cent

of total production in 2015-16.

In one of the interviews to BusinessLine, SR Satishchandra, President of Central

Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Co-operative (Campco) Ltd, had

expressed concern over the large-scale import of arecanut as it would have an

impact on the livelihood of arecanut growers in the country.

In a reply to the Member of Parliament from Dakshina Kannada Nalin Kumar

Kateel, in Lok Sabha on Monday, the Union Minister of State for Industry and

Commerce Nirmala Sitharaman said that India imported 31,571 tonnes of

arecanut from Sri Lanka and 11,283 tonnes from Indonesia during 2015-16.

Though the volume of import has come down from countries such as

Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka during 2015-16, it has gone up in the case of

Indonesia.

The country imported 11,614 tonnes of arecanut from Bangladesh during 2015-

16 as against 39,176 tonnes in 2014-15.

In the case of Nepal, it came down from 12,232 tonnes in 2014-15 to 4,474

tonnes in 2015-16.

Sri Lanka, which is another major exporter of arecanut to India, exported

31,571 tonnes in 2015-16 against 40,856 tonnes in 2014-15.

ICAR working on paddy that can withstand high temperatures

The heat tunnel set up by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research at the Rice

Research Institute to develop climate-change ready paddy

Heat tunnel helping create strain that will be ready for climate change

With climate change impacting agriculture, particularly key crops such as wheat

and paddy, the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) is in the process

of developing varieties that can withstand higher temperatures.

Besides impacting productivity significantly, higher temperatures would mean

higher levels of nitrogen losses, putting a burden on farmers.

How the tunnel works

ICAR has set up a Heat Tunnel at the Indian Institute of Rice Research

(formerly Directorate of Rice Research) here to carry out the research.

“We are working on developing efficient nitrogen use and temperature tolerant

rice lines. The tunnel can simulate higher temperatures of up to 5 degrees

Celsius,” V Ravindrababu, Director of IIRR, toldBusinessLine.

Behaviour under lens

He said scores of germplasm resources available in the country are being used

to develop improved rice varieties that can withstand increasing temperatures.

The tunnel system could detect an increase in temperatures up to 5 degrees.

The ICAR scientists are studying how the germplasm reacts and how pathogens

behave as temperatures go up.

“The first batch of Nitrogen (N) efficient rice lines and hybrids were tested at

multiple locations. It confirmed tolerance to this stress. Stability of these lines is

in progress,” an IIRR scientist said.

Much more to do

It, however, will take at least 5-6 years before farmers get a climate change-

ready variety that can tolerate higher temperatures.

Meanwhile, the institute has developed a paddy variety fortified with zinc.

“This would mean a lot for expecting mothers — a healthy level of zinc in the

polished rice. It is ready for commercial use,” he said.

States urged to examine panel’s views on farm land leasing

Full report of expert committee to be circulated to all States

The Centre will circulate the model agriculture land leasing Act 2016, which

suggests legalising land leasing to promote farm efficiency. It will also circulate

the full report of the expert committee that drafted it to all States to allow them

to examine it and enact the legislation if they found merit in it.

“The model law seeks to strike a balance between the interests of the cultivator

and the owner by ensuring that the owner doesn’t lose ownership while the

cultivator is assured security of tenure.

“Those States that see value in it should go ahead and make it into a statute,”

said Alok Kumar, Adviser, NITI Aayog, in a presentation at the national

conference of Chief Secretaries and Planning Secretaries of states and Union

Territories on Wednesday.

The Centre has come up with the model agriculture land leasing Act as it felt

that the land reform laws in most States had not resulted in the desired results of

giving ownership rights to tenants and the caps on land holdings prevented

economies of scale. “More than 90 per cent of landholdings in the country are

below one acre which makes farming economically unviable while 40 per cent

land-owners are absentee land-owners which means that the land is cultivated

by others,” pointed out Kumar.

The model Act seeks to legalise land leasing in all areas to ensure complete

security of land ownership rights for owners and security of tenure for tenants

for the agreed lease period. It allows automatic resumption of land after the

agreed lease period without requiring any minimum area of land to be left with

the tenant even after termination of tenancy, as laws of some States require.

It also permits land owners and tenants to determine the terms and conditions of

lease mutually and facilitates all tenants including share-croppers to access

insurance and credit against pledging of expected output.

“Agricultural land is a State subject and it is up to States to make laws.

“The model Act is just a template given to States which they could build on to

make their own legislations,” Kumar added.

Odisha extends help to fishermen hit by ban

The Odisha government has decided to start a fiscal incentive scheme to

compensate the loss of livelihood of fishermen due to periodic prohibition on

marine fishing.

Sea-going fishermen suffer badly following ban on fishing activities during

olive ridley sea turtles’ nesting season and breeding period of sea fish.

Fishing activities come to a grinding halt from November 1 to June 15 as the

ban remains in force to protect turtles and breeding fish.

While a seven-month ban is clamped in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary from

November 1, a two-month prohibition on marine fishing is enforced every year

from April 15 throughout the 480-km-long sea coast.

Coverage

A total of 2,000 marine fishermen from Kendrapara, Ganjam and Puri districts

who are affected due to the fishing ban are to be brought under fiscal incentives

from the 2016-17 fiscal, Deputy Director of Marine Fisheries, Basant Kumsar

Das, said.

They are virtually rendered jobless for most part of the year due to the ban. To

economically uplift them, the affected fishermen will be disbursed an amount of

5,000 per annum, he said.

State Plan scheme

The sole objective is to provide financial assistance to poor marine fishermen

and fish workers adversely affected due to the ban on account of sea turtle

protection and marine fisheries resources conservation, Das said.

A new state Plan Scheme ‘Livelihood support to marine fishermen during

fishing ban periods’ would be operational from the current financial year to

strengthen the livelihood support of fishermen, said officials.

Relief too meagre

“We are happy as the government has decided to extend monetary aid. But the

5,000 per annum is too meagre to make up for the losses. The sum needs to be

revised.

“We lose almost two-thirds of the fishing season each year. People sustaining

on sea-fishing have switched over to other income sources,” said a marine

fisherman from Paradip, Radhakant Maiti.

Noted sorghum expert NGP Rao passes away

Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao

Distinguished agricultural scientist Neelamraju Ganga Prasada Rao, fondly

referred to as the `father of hybrid sorghum’, passed away today in Hyderabad

after a brief illness.

The 89-year-old NGP Rao is well-known for basic and applied research in

breeding and agronomy of several dryland crops. Due to his efforts, sorghum

hybrids CSH1 CSH5 and CSH9 became popular and were cultivated in over 8

to 10 million hectares.

His contributions in dryland crops, particularly long staple desi cotton,

pigeonpea, castor and novel cropping systems, were well recognised. He has

around 200 research publications in national and international journals. He won

the SS Bhatnagar Prize for Biological Sciences.

The advent of hybrid sorghum gave rise to the sorghum seed industry on a

large-scale. The growth rates of sorghum during the 1970s and 1980s were

comparable to irrigated wheat and rice. Kharif sorghum represented an

important change in dryland agriculture of India.

Born in Korisapadu, Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh, Rao had his early

education in the Agricultural College, Bapatla, moved on to the Indian

Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi and then Bihar University.

Rao held various positions such as Consultant to the Food and Agricultural

Organization (FAO), Project Coordinator (Sorghum), All

Sorghum Improvement Project, IARI, ICRISAT's Regional Sorghum Breeder

for West Africa, Vice

Parbhani, Maharashtra, and Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment

Board, ICAR.

Nudging India out from water stress through plasticulture

With plasticulture, ie using plastics in agricultural activities, India can incre

per capita water availability to more than 1,750 m3 from current 1,588 m3




e for Biological Sciences.


scale. The growth rates of sorghum during the 1970s and 1980s were


nge in dryland agriculture of India.




held various positions such as Consultant to the Food and Agricultural

Organization (FAO), Project Coordinator (Sorghum), All-India Coordinated


for West Africa, Vice-Chancellor, Marathwada Agricultural University,


Nudging India out from water stress through plasticulture

With plasticulture, ie using plastics in agricultural activities, India can incre






scale. The growth rates of sorghum during the 1970s and 1980s were





held various positions such as Consultant to the Food and Agricultural

India Coordinated


ada Agricultural University,


With plasticulture, ie using plastics in agricultural activities, India can increase


Sustainability of agriculture is under stress due to depleting natural resources

and increasing carbon footprint. There is a need for the government to mandate

farmers to use micro irrigation and plasticulture techniques for all the water

guzzling crops. This has the potential to nudge India from water stressed zone

by improving per capita availability to more than 1,750 cubic meters (m3) from

current 1,588 m3.

Back to basics

The recent GHI (Global Hunger Index) rating of 2015 puts India at 63rd

position among the 76 developing nations covered. India supports nearly 16

percent of world’s population with 2.4 percent land and 4 percent water

resource. Current per capita availability of water is at 1,545 m3 and is to go

down to 1,401 m3 by 2025.

Agriculture in India is highly dependent on monsoon and water available for

irrigation is around 78 percent. It is expected to come down to approximately 72

percent by 2025. Ground water table has fallen more than 4 meters during last

two decades and in some high agricultural productivity, it is falling at rate on

one meter per annum. As per estimates by 2025 about a third of India would be

under absolute water scarce condition.

Table 1 (top) and Table 2

India is a major producer of cereals and cash crops. Of these, rice, wheat,

sugarcane, soybean and cotton are the main water guzzling crops (refer Table

1). The sustainability of the agricultural is under stress due to consistently

dropping water table, uncertain monsoons and quality of water.

Plasticulture: A boon to agriculture

Plasticulture, which implies using plastics in agricultural across the production

and post-harvest value chain, could be an answer to this rallying cry. It

improves farm productivity, optimises the input resources and reduces the

overall farming cost.

Based on the water consumption in agriculture, as per Tata Strategic

Management Group (TSMG) analysis, the water savings from plasticulture

adoption could improve the per capita availability of water by about 160 m3

from 1,545 m3 to approximately 1,705 m3, thereby significantly reducing water

stress in the country (refer Table 2).

Plasticulture techniques are well established across the world. In India there has

been significant progress in the adoption of plasticulture techniques in the last

decade. However, the penetration levels are still low (refer Table 3).

As per the 12th five year plan by the Government of India, 100.8 lakh hectares

of land is expected to adopt micro-irrigation methods with drip irrigation

covering about 48 lakh hectares and sprinkler irrigation covering approximately

53 lakh hectares.

Table 3

The latest initiative, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY),

launched in 2015 with motto of ‘per drop more crop’ focuses on micro

irrigation as an integral component. Large scale projects have been successfully

implemented by Gujarat and erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Today, Karnataka and

Maharashtra are leading the way in making drip irrigation mandatory for the

water guzzling cash crops.

Relevant government interventions could further speed up the adoption of

plasticulture in India. For example, providing an encouraging environment to

the industry for investments in R&D which brings down the capital cost,

supports farmers with initial subsidies as per the local conditions, improves

timely disbursements of subsidies to the supplier and helps farmers with easy

financing options would positively influence the industry structure.

Towards sustainable agriculture

Building awareness about the relevance and benefits of the plasticulture

techniques would help farmers and will drive adoption rate. Agrochemicals,

agri-services and plastics manufacturing companies could jointly work together

to build awareness and to spread their costs for such initiatives. This could be

accomplished through demonstrations (both physical and through digital

mediums), conducting pilot runs and showcasing performance improvements at

panchayats, farmer associations etc.

It is clear that adoption of plasticulture is the need of the hour for India to

remain self-sufficient in food & water security. We are at the cusp of changing

paradigm in agriculture and it is an opportunity we have to tame efficiently and

swiftly to build a sustainable agriculture in India.

Agri sector may grow 4%: CRISIL

GDP growth to rise to 7.9% in FY17

After two years of moderation, the country is likely to achieve four per cent of

growth in the agriculture sector this year, following normal rainfall so far and

expectation of a surplus monsoon during the rest of the period.

The southwest monsoon began slowly, with an overall rain deficiency of 12 per

cent at the end of June. It has accelerated since and as of Monday, was only one

per cent below normal. Data from the India Meteorological Department showed

28 of 36 sub-divisions, 73 per cent of the country's total area, have had excess to

normal rain so far. It has been normal or above normal in all regions barring the

east and northeast (the latter account for 16 per cent of total foodgrain

production).

"We expect GDP (gross domestic product) growth to rise to 7.9 per cent in

FY17, with agriculture growth at four per cent, assuming a normal monsoon.

Rural consumption is expected to revive, pushing up private consumption. This,

in turn, will raise capacity utilisation and kick-start the investment cycle by the

end of this fiscal," said Dharmakirti Joshi, chief economist at ratings agency

CRISIL.

Agricultural growth was 0.12 per cent last year. As of July 15, the total area

sown was 55.97 million hectares, about 10 per cent above normal on that date,

compared with 22 per cent below normal in the middle of June. Sowing has

picked up pace for most crops in the past few weeks and is higher than last year

(up two per cent), driven by foodgrain, especially pulses (up 39 per cent over a

year).

Sub-normal monsoons took a toll on agricultural production in the past two

financial years. In the third advance estimate for 2015, output was down two per

cent in rice, 12 per cent in coarse cereals, 0.5 per cent in pulses, four per cent in

sugarcane and six per cent in oilseeds. Agricultural GDP growth averaged 0.4

per cent in the past two years, much below the long-term trend of three per cent.

CRISIL estimates consumption-oriented sectors to gain, especially as rural

demand soars. These include automobiles, particularly two-wheelers, and

consumer durables.

"In a positive scenario of a good monsoon, backed by favourable temporal and

spatial distribution, agriculture growth can surge to six per cent from a weak

base of last year and, therefore, push up GDP growth above eight per cent. On

inflation, we expect ample kharif production to boost supply and bring down

food inflation. This will help offset sticky services inflation and higher crude oil

prices. We expect consumer price inflation to average at five per cent this

fiscal," said Joshi.

A similar study from CARE Ratings estimates the farm sector to perform well

this year and help the economy in two ways, keeping prices in control and

providing higher incomes to the farmers that could be spent on industrial goods

and, hence, contribute to a revival in demand.

"The industries that would be affected by the kharif crop would be edible oils,

sugar, textiles, other food products and packaging. From the point of view of

consumer spending, the industries that tend to be related positively to the

harvest are automobiles, including tractors, fertiliser, pesticides, consumer

durable goods (including telecom) and services. There would also be less strain

on the banking system in terms of generation of fresh non-performing assets in

case the harvest is satisfactory," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, CARE

Ratings.

Ramgarh farmers prefer tractors to plough fields

Ramgarh farmers now prefer tractors when ploughing their fields as the number

of tractors in villages have increased. Educated farmers, especially the youth do

not like to plough fields with traditional 'hal-bail' (home-made wooden

ploughing tools driven by oxen). They prefer using mechanized systems while

sitting in the operator seat, enjoying music and taking selfies with their smart

phones.

Jaleshwar Mahto, farmer of Gola block and block pramukh said that now the

youths are educated and even use smart phones. They do not like the traditional

forms of agriculture work. They dress in fashionable jeans and T-shirts and

have no interest in the field work, but most only agree to plough the fields with

tractors.

Every village has tractors which are being used for transportation of

construction materials such as bricks, sand and stone chips and agricultural

products that now are being used for ploughing the fields this season, said an

official of agriculture department. Farmers that own tractors loan it to other

farmers on hire after they complete ploughing their fields which earns them

extra income during agricultural season.

Mukesh Kumar Sinha, project director of Agriculture Technology Mission

Association (ATMA) Ramgarh, said the agriculture department and ATMA

regularly holds meetings with farmers to provide them training on the modern

agriculture system to get more increase production.

This has impacted the mindset of farmers and has attracted them to adopt the

modern agriculture system. Sinha however said that ploughing field with

tractors has increased in the district over the years, but there still are a majority

of farmers who do not have tractors but hire them from their neighbouring

farmers.

Prices of oxen is also out of reach for a marginal farmer and ploughing fields

with traditional 'hal-bail' has become more expensive owing to the promoted use

of tractors, said a farmer Dhaneshwar Mahto of Dulmi block. Most farmers of

district Ramgarh took to the fields and started preparing them for paddy

cultivation, after the monsoon season began.

With 49% rain deficit, Gujarat crops worst affected: Study

Ahmedabad: After a slow start, good monsoon has brought cheers to farmers in

all the states except Gujarat and Odisha. Faced with 49% deficient rainfall,

crops in Gujarat are the worst affected, says a CRISIL report.

With a score of 28.2 - higher than six-year average of 22.4 -Gujarat tops

Deficient Rainfall Impact Parameter (DRIP) index, prepared by rating and

research agency CRISIL. Higher score means worse impact on crops.Gujarat is

followed by Odisha with a score of 12.2.

DRIP score is the index, computed as a product of the percentage deviation in

rainfall and in unirrigated area, captures both magnitude of the shock

(deficiency of rainfall) and the vulnerability of a region (percentage of

unirrigated area) "CRISIL's DRIP indicates better prospects for all crops

compared to last year.Among states, it is upbeat for all except Gujarat and

Odisha as of July 25, though Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala are also

witnessing some stress," the report adds.

Gujarat, which accounts for 11% of India's bajra production, 9% of tur, 39% of

groundnut and 29% of cotton, was the worst-affected as on July 25.

"Gujarat, especially Kutch and Saurashtra regions, has received deficient

rainfall. If the rainfall remains deficient it definitely has its impact on the

agriculture output. The pattern (rainfall) across India is relatively much better

than Gujarat," said V K Joshi, chief economist, CRISIL. Unlike Punjab and

Haryana, where irrigation cover is above 90%, Gujarat's irrigated land is 46% at

par with national average. Lesser

having higher irrigation cover. "However, Gujarat can bounce back with

forecast of better rains in next couple of weeks," he added.

The latest government data shows that sowing has taken place in over 57 lakh

hectare in Gujarat against the normal sowing of 86.80 lakh hectare. While

temporal distribution of rainfall in the second half of the season, … · 2020. 11. 17. ·...

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