Latest news with #VikshitKrishiSankalpAbhiyan
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Chouhan urges state CMs to combat counterfeit fertilisers, forced tagging
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written a letter to the Chief Ministers of all states and Union Territories, urging them to stop the forced tagging of nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulant products with conventional fertilisers. He also called for strict action against the sale of substandard fertilizers and their black-marketing. Sources said that Chouhan's letter followed feedback from farmers during the fortnight-long 'Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan,' which concluded last month, as well as from interactions outside the campaign. The minister had also stated during a review meeting of the campaign that special steps, including stringent laws, should be enacted to curb the spread of spurious seeds and fertilisers among farmers. Regarding the forced tagging of nano products such as nano urea and nano-DAP with conventional fertilisers, sources noted that companies have often been found resorting to such practices to boost sales. He highlighted that the sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilisers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which falls under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Furthermore, Chouhan stated in the letter that it is the responsibility of the states to ensure the adequate availability of fertilisers at the right places and locations where they are needed. Therefore, states must strictly monitor and take swift action against activities such as black-marketing, overpricing, and the diversion of subsidised fertilisers. He also instructed them to ensure regular monitoring of fertiliser production and sales, as well as strict control over counterfeit and substandard products through sampling and testing. On the forced tagging of nano-fertilisers or bio-stimulant products with conventional fertilizers, Chouhan insisted that it should be 'stopped' immediately. 'Strict legal action, including the cancellation of licences and registration of FIRs, should be taken against the culprits, and effective prosecution must be ensured to secure conviction,' the statement said. The letter also directed states to develop feedback and information systems involving farmers or farmer groups in the monitoring process and to make special efforts to educate farmers on how to identify genuine and counterfeit products. Chouhan urged all states to launch a state-wide campaign in line with these directions to eliminate the problem of fake and substandard agricultural inputs at its roots.
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Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Farmers want DBT for schemes, AI based price forecasting tools from govt
Direct benefit transfer (DBT) to farmers of all central and state schemes along with AI-based price forecasting tools for horticulture crops and basmati rice were among the main policy interventions and research gaps identified during the 15-day long mass contact programme aimed at increasing farmer productivity and income. A report on the actionable points based on the concerns and problems of farmers was presented to senior agriculture ministry officials during a review meeting of the campaign called- Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan- held on Tuesday. Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan chaired the meeting. The concerns raised by farmers were classified into different categories, namely actionable policy issues, key researchable issues based on farmers' feedback, knowledge and skill gaps identified, major learnings, and also long-term and short-term steps to be taken. In the short term, the agriculture ministry along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and its sister organisations plan to conduct village-wise soil and water testing camps, expand the outreach programme to twice a year, and also promote concepts such as crop residue management and quick adoption of super-seeder machines to handle paddy stubble. In the medium-term, the officials said that work will be done for setting up village-level 'plant clinics' and seasonal advisory centres. The minister had said that such clinics could see the light of the day sooner than later. These clinics could become part of the existing agriculture extension activities soon. Also, as a long-term goal, officials identified revamping the agriculture extension activities in the country. On DBT, sources said the officials in the agriculture ministry feel that as of now, financial assistance for lots of schemes, such as farm mechanisation, goes directly into the bank account of farmers, but input subsidies, such as fertilisers, are routed through intermediaries (companies). The companies, in turn, ensure that fertilisers are sold to the farmers at rates lower than actual market price. A rough calculation by experts some years back showed that if all input subsidies are transferred through DBT, it would mean direct transfer of around ₹23,000-₹24,000 per hectare at 2022-23 levels to farmers. Govt approves potato research centre The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to set up the International Potato Centre's South Asia regional unit in Agra with a financial support of ₹111.5 crore. The major objective of this investment is to increase food and nutrition security, farmers' income, and job creation by improving potato and sweet potato productivity, post-harvest management and value-addition, an official release said. Potatoes have the potential to generate significant employment opportunities in production, processing, packaging, transportation, marketing, and value chain, the release added.
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Business Standard
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Govt will tighten seed & pesticide laws, tackle stray animal issue: Chouhan
The Centre will consider solutions to address the problem of stray animals and it will tighten legislation on seeds and pesticides to ensure quality inputs for farmers, said Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday. The easy availability of substandard seeds and pesticides was among the main concerns raised by farmers, along with limited availability of climate-resilient seeds, the growing menace of stray animals, and the falling yield of soybeans, he said at a press conference at the conclusion of the fortnight-long mass-contact programme called 'Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan'. The campaign, which began on May 29, reached over 13.4 million farmers in 142,934 villages. 'The new amendments to the Seed Act will improve traceability, bring uncertified seeds under regulation, increase the quantum of penalties, and be more farmer friendly,' Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi told reporters on the sidelines of the conference. He said the amendments would be tabled in Parliament by the winter session at the latest. Chouhan said that scientists at Krishi Vigyan Kendras will be required to visit farmers' fields three days a week. 'I myself will go to the field among farmers two days a week,' Chouhan said, adding that a similar directive had been issued to officials in the ministry. He said the Centre would also launch a mobile application to provide real-time weather updates to farmers under the Digital Farming Mission. About wild animals damaging crops, the minister said farmers had suggested using modern technology such as artificial intelligence for crop monitoring and deterrent systems. The government is providing assistance under a scheme to build fencing that does not harm wild animals. States regulating already approved seeds The central government believes that states should not have a major role in regulating seeds already approved by official agencies. It holds that farmers should have the freedom to decide what to sow. Reacting to the recent order by the Punjab government banning the use of hybrid paddy seeds, a senior official said the matter is currently sub judice and should not be commented on in detail. However, as a matter of principle, the Centre maintains that farmers should have the choice to grow the seeds they prefer.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Scientists reach out to nearly 2L farmers through Krishi Sankalp drive in Tripura
Agartala: Tripura has achieved remarkable success in the fortnight-long Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA), which concluded on Thursday. Agriculture scientists and extension workers engaged with 1.95 lakh farmers, including 34% women, through 873 meetings held across 956 villages, minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare Ratan Lal Nath said on Friday. Talking to the media, Nath said scientists interacted with farmers and provided tips on increasing crop yields, reducing production costs, adopting natural and climate-resilient farming, improving sustainable marketing, and enhancing processing and value addition of agricultural products. "The success of VKSA in Tripura is the highest recorded in the northeast. The department has identified standout farmers whose success stories serve as inspiration nationwide. Fish cultivators, floriculturists, paddy growers, and vegetable farmers have been earning substantial incomes through agriculture, despite holding impressive degrees. Some have amassed significant wealth through farming," Nath said. He said three districts and 30 blocks in Tripura are now self-sufficient in paddy cultivation. However, the state remains short by 1.5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of paddy. "For the current Kharif season, we aim to produce at least one lakh MT more than last year. In the next two seasons, Tripura is expected to become self-sufficient in food grain production," he added. Tripura's farmers have been exporting pineapple, scented lemon, lotus, aromatic rice, and spices for the last seven years. The government continues to support them in adopting modern agricultural techniques to improve yields while also promoting organic farming. Additionally, 2.83 lakh farmers have received Rs 843 crore under PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, while Rs 1,750 crore was disbursed under PM Fasal Bima Yojana. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
India Gazette
30-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Tripura farmers to benefit from AI and Drone Tech: CM Manik Saha
Agartala (Tripura) [India], May 30 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has said that the primary goal of his government is to achieve food self-sufficiency through the use of advanced technology. 'The state government is working with special emphasis on increasing the income of farmers. Farmers' income has increased significantly compared to the financial year 2015-16. The aim is to achieve food self-sufficiency through the use of advanced technology,' he said. Saha was speaking at the Vikshit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan held at Bishramganj in Sepahijala district on Thursday, organised as part of a nationwide campaign. He was accompanied by Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath. 'This campaign has been launched with the objective of empowering farmers through advanced technology. The government is committed to ensuring the welfare of farmers through technological advancement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given special emphasis on financially empowering farmers, and our state government is working in the same direction,' the Chief Minister said. 'One of the key goals of this Abhiyan is to raise awareness among farmers about modern agricultural technologies. As a result, the agricultural sector will witness further improvement, enabling the cultivation of high-quality crops,' he added. Saha also highlighted the Rising Northeast Investors Summit held recently in New Delhi, where all eight northeastern states participated. 'MoUs worth Rs 30,000 crore were signed at the summit, out of which Tripura alone accounted for over Rs 15,600 crore. This clearly shows that investors are now willing to come to Tripura,' he stated. He asserted that the development of farmers is essential for the overall progress of the state and the country. 'In various districts across the state, farmers are being supported through the adoption of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and drone technology. Work is in progress in collaboration with NITI Aayog and the Union Ministry of Agriculture to improve the AI-based crop advisory system under the Digital Agriculture Mission in Tripura. This initiative has already yielded notable benefits,' the Chief Minister said. He further noted that since the BJP government came to power in Tripura, paddy has been procured from farmers at the minimum support price (MSP). 'Over Rs 446 crore has been disbursed so far, with paddy being purchased at Rs 23 per kilogram. Soil Health Cards have been distributed to more than 2.06 lakh farmers, and one Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) has been formed in each of the 58 blocks,' he informed. The program was attended by Sepahijala Zilla Parishad Sabhadhipati Supriya Das Dutta, Agriculture Department Secretary Apurba Roy, Sepahijala District Magistrate Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, and other senior officials. (ANI)
