balasingh, assistant director of agriculture, vilathikulam, who...

30.06.2016

Awareness programme in silk worm rearing

Importance of sericulture as a component of agriculture underlined

About 70 farmers were exposed to the latest technologies in silk worm rearing

at an awareness programme organised by the CREED Krishi Vigyan Kendra at

Cholamadevi here on Wednesday.

The programme was organised in association with the Central Silk Board and

the State Sericulture Department, a KVK press release said.

Inaugurating the programme, S.Rajakumar, Scientist, Regional Sericulture

Research Station, Salem, said that there was good demand for silk and

underlined the importance of sericulture as a component of agriculture.

G.Alagukannan, Senior Scientist and Head of CREED KVK, said it was

important for rural farmers to adopt an integrated farming system by taking to

sericulture for sustained income.

L.Chandrasekar, Assistant Director of Sericulture, Tiruchi, elaborated on the

government subsidy schemes available to farmers for taking up sericulture.

Farmers can avail a subsidy of Rs.10,500 for cultivating mulberry in one acre.

They can avail subsidy for establishing sericulture shed and installing drip

irrigation systems.

S.Arilingam, Sericulture Inspector, explained the process of mulberry

cultivation, rearing of silkworm, harvesting of cocoon and marketing.

N.G.Selvaraj, scientist, Central Silk Board, Tiruchi, spoke.

Awareness programme on integrated crop management

An awareness programme on ‘Integrated crop management – pulses’ was

organised by Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA) -

SSEPERS (Support to State Extension program for Extension Reform Scheme)

at Velidupatti near Vilathikulam on Wednesday.

Balasingh, Assistant Director of Agriculture, Vilathikulam, who presided, spoke

on farming practices. Ilamathi, Professor and Head, Agriculture Research

Station, Kovilpatti, spoke on pulses cropping and its management for farmers.

Murugan from mobile medical team on safety usage and handling of pesticides

explained the precautionary measures to be followed during the application of

pesticides and the negative impacts due to mishandling.

Balamurugan, Agricultural Officer, Vilathuikulam, highlighted the legal aspects

involved in pesticides purchase and effective usage of pesticides at field level.

Muthusamy, Deputy Agricultural Officer, explained the upcoming farmer

schemes and their subsidies. Farmers and pesticide shop owners from

Vilathikulam block participated. Sudhakar, Assistant Agricultural officer,

proposed a vote of thanks.

The programme was coordinated by Govindharaj, Block Technology Manager,

Nithya, Assistant Technology Manager, Saranya and Arulprakash, Assistant

Agricultural Officers, from Vilathikulam block.

Kharif sowing gains momentum in Ballari

Woman farm workers engaged in sowing operations in Ballari taluk on

Wednesday.

With excessive, that too, widespread rainfall recorded all over Ballari district,

sowing for the kharif season has been picking up gradually. Sowing, which was

around 10 per cent during the first fortnight of June, has now been completed in

23.2 per cent of the targeted area.

Sources in the Agricultural Department told The Hindu that the district had

received an actual average rainfall of 120.4 mm up to June 27 which was almost

double the normal rainfall of 63.8 mm.

Ballari received 101.5 mm (55.3 normal), Hadagali 121.8 (66.3), Hosapete

150.9 (67.7), Hagari Bommanahalli 106.3 (68.0), Kudligi 111.9 (57.6), Sandur

122.0 (73.7) and Sirguppa 146.9 mm against a normal of 67.2 mm.

As against a sowing target of 3.65 lakh hectares, including 1.55 lakh hectares

with irrigation cover, sowing had been completed in 62,054 hectares. Sowing

was expected to pick up briskly during the week with all the taluks experiencing

good rainfall during the past two days.

Sowing of jowar, maize, tur, cotton, sunflower, among other major crops, were

being taken up in the rain-fed areas and also in areas with tubewell facilities.

Sowing of groundnut, which is a major oilseed crop, has started in a small way

and is expected to pick up. The percentage of sowing would further go up in the

irrigated belts in Ballari, Sirguppa and Hosapete when the canals of the

Tungabhadra reservoir are opened.

Coconut growers in a spot

A coconuts that until recently cost anywhere between Rs. 25 and Rs. 33 in the

wholesale markets has now crashed to below Rs. 10 this season. It was a decade

ago, in 2006, that coconut prices had had fallen below Rs. 10.

With rates plummeting to Rs. 6,500 from Rs.18,000 per thousand coconuts in

the wholesale market in Tumakuru, one of the major coconut growing areas in

the state, farmers are in deep distress.

Farmer Marimuthu of Gollarahalli in Chikkanyakanahalli taluk told The Hindu

that the situation was so dire that his son, who had completed SSLC, had now

dropped out of education. “He is working as an agricultural labourer,” he said.

Many farmers are unable to get back even the amount invested in the farms for

the past one year. Paramashivaiah of Dodda Agrahara in Sira taluk told The

Hindu, “I have stopped watering my 200 coconut trees as it is of no use.”

Add to the low prices what is adding more burden on the farmers is the

traditional practice of sodi, where farmers are forced to give 100 coconuts extra

at the mandi for every 1000 coconuts, says B.S. Devaraj, State secretary of

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha.

While, farmer leader Kodihalli Chandrashekar blamed Union Government’s

policy of allowing imports from Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines, for the

fall in prices, sources in the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee

(APMC) in the state, denied that imported coconuts have flooded the state’s

markets. However, they said that they were not in knowledge of imported

coconuts in any other markets leading to a fall in demand for coconuts from the

state.

Officials in APMC blame the fall in business from Tamil Nadu for the state’s

coconuts as the main reason for the crash in prices. “Tamil Nadu segment

usually buys up around 45 per cent of our coconut produce. But this year, since

they have had a good yield, business from Tamil Nadu is almost nil, leading to

huge suplus and crash in prices,” the official said.

S. H. Keshav, manager, Marketing, Hopcoms said that coconut prices are

usually cyclical and was presently down due to fall in demand due to long

period of high prices and a good yield this year.

Benefits yet to be reach consumers

Bengaluru: While farmers are struggling with their yield getting poor prices,

consumers continue to pay high prices. A large-sized coconut in Bengaluru is

around Rs 20. The prices have started falling in the HOPCOMS. “The prices

have also started coming down in the retail market and it is just a matter of time

before the coconuts will be available at below Rs. 10 levels even in the retail

market,” said S. H. Keshav, manager, Marketing, Hopcoms.

Farmers call for Bundh, APMC may propose buying coconuts

Bengaluru: Miffed at the government’s inaction and non-intervention over

crashing prices of coconut and arecanut, Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha has now

called for a bundh in eight districts of the state – the coconut and arecanut

growing areas in the state. The bundh is planned on June 27.

A senior official in APMC said that while the Minimum Support Price (MSP)

for coconut announced by the union government was Rs. 1600 per quintal, it

was being traded at Rs. 1300 to Rs. 1400 in the wholesale markets in the state.

“We are collecting data from various APMCs’ and coconut mandis in the state

and plan to soon submit data to the state government to take a call on whether to

buy coconuts from the farmers at MSP,” he said.

Tumakuru district

* Tumakuru district has the largest coconut cultivation area in India with

1,45,616 hectares. It produced 12,377 lakh nuts in 2014-15.

* Coconut is grown in 18 states and 3 Union territories in India. Kerala stands

first with 6,49,850 hectare of cultivation area and Karnataka stands second with

5,15,030 hectares.

* Over 50,000 lakh coconuts are produced per year in Karnataka.

Quarantine centre to identify diseases in flowers and fruits

Awareness programme on impact of phytoplasmas on crops held

A quarantine centre will be set up near here to identify diseases in fruits and

flowers being imported from other countries and to provide healthy plants, said

Dr. BMC Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Dr. YSR Horticulture University,

Ramannagudem here on Wednesday.

He took part in an awareness programme on the impact of phytoplasmas on

horticulture crops with the nursery farmers held under the aegis of the

Directorate of Floriculture, ICAR, Pune, Dr. YSR Horticulture University and

Indian Nurserymen Association at Sri Anam Kalakendram here on Wednesday.

Mr. Reddy said the Centre had agreed to sanction Rs. 6 crore and appoint two

staffers provided the State government gave the site and building.

Two such centres were already functioning in Hyderabad and Vizag. Farmers of

Kadiyam nurseries would be benefited a lot if this centre was set up in this

region.

He reminded that a floriculture research station was already sanctioned for the

region at Vemagiri. Scientists would always be there to help out farmers to sort

out their problems. If the quarantine centre was set up in this region, it would be

easy for farmers to import and export based on the certification issued for their

product.

Dr. Srinivasulu, Registrar, Dr. YSR Horticulture University, said diseases in

plants occurred due to phytoplasma which was like slow poison and the diseases

would spread quickly if not prevented earlier.

Damage to roots

He said there were 20 to 30 varieties in phytoplasmas and farm yield would

decrease drastically due to their effect. Losses could be contained if proper steps

were taken. He called upon scientists to do research in order to benefit farmers.

K.V. Prasad, Director, Directorate of Floriculture, ICAR, Pune, said that

phytoplasmas caused diseases silently and the farmers were unaware of this and

hence the programme was conducted. He made it clear that coconut pith and

husk, which was being used as an alternative for soil, absorbed 6 to 8 times of

moisture causing damage to roots.

M. Krishna Reddy, Head, Division of Plant Pathology, ICAR, Indian Institute of

Horticulture Research, Bangalore, made it clear that there was no medicine for

diseases caused by phytoplasmas. They could be prevented by eradicating

insects which caused diseases.

He explained that plants such as mirchi, papaya, brinjal, lemon carrot, water

melon, bitter gourd and cucumber were vulnerable to phytoplasmas.

Pall Subrahmanyam, head of All India Nurserymen Association, spoke on

behalf of nurserymen.

From tobacco to potato for better returns

Farmers in Hassan, who cultivated tobacco for decades, are cultivating other

crops

Many farmers have been moving to other crops after a fall in income from

tobacco.— Photo: Prakash Hassan

Parts of tobacco-growing regions in Karnataka have for some time now been

witnessing a change. Many farmers, who cultivated tobacco for decades, have

been moving to other crops after a fall in income from tobacco. They find

cultivation of potato or maize to be more profitable, given the labour cost and

work hours that the commercial crop demands.

India is one among the signatories to the UN-framework Convention on

Tobacco Control, which mandates phasing out tobacco cultivation by 2020, and

the growers here are ready to give it up if they are offered a comprehensive

package, besides waiving of loans.

Ninge Gowda, a farmer in Belavadi in Arakalgud taluk, said his father started

tobacco cultivation in the late 1970s when cigarette manufacturers promoted the

crop in the region. “In our family, we have three licences. Of them, only one is

active now,” he said. The Tobacco Board issues licences to the grower, and with

each licence, a grower can produce 1,750 kg of tobacco leaves a year. “In the

last 30 years, the price of tobacco has gone up 10 times, whereas the labour cost

has gone up 100 times. Besides that, we have to spend on constructing barns

and fuel necessary to dry the leaves,” Mr. Ninge Gowda said.

Raje Gowda of Kurana Koplu said he had stopped tobacco cultivation for the

past two years. “With minimum expenses and least labour cost, we get good

income from potato or maize. I have borrowed over Rs. 4 lakh to cultivate

tobacco. Overburdened with loans, I stopped growing it,” he said.

Of the 8,000 licence holders in Hassan, nearly 1,000 have stopped cultivating

tobacco. S.V. Yoganna, a tobacco grower and Arakalgud taluk, and president of

Raitha Sangha, said, “Many have stopped cultivating tobacco, and the rest are

ready to give up the crop, provided the government gives us a package. How

can the Prime Minister give a call for Swachh Bharat all the while allowing

tobacco cultivation to continue in farm fields?” he added.

Six more rythu bazaars to come up in State

Agriculture and Marketing Minister P. Pulla Rao on Tuesday announced the

sanction of six rythu bazaars in North Andhra and East Godavari.

Inaugurating a cold storage and fruit ripening chamber at the MVP Colony

Rythu Bazaar here, he said the government sanctioned new rythu bazaars at

Mulagada and Narsipatnam in Visakhapatnam district, S. Kota in Vizianagaram

district, Tekkali and Kotabommali in Srikakulam district, and Mandapeta in

East Godavari. While the ripening chamber, installed at a cost of Rs.18 lakh,

has a five tonne capacity, the cold storage, set up at a cost of Rs.30 lakh, can

stock 10 tonne of vegetables.

Ripening centres

After banning calcium carbide for artificial ripening of fruits, the process will

be taken up at the rythu bazaars by using ethylene gas.

Ripening centres are proposed at Gopalapatnam, Yelamanchili, and

Narsipatnam. In all, 36 ripening centres will be set up with a storage capacity of

675 tonne at a total cost of Rs.13.7 crore across the State.

With the establishment of 10 new markets in the recent past, the total number of

rythu bazaars across the State had gone up to 80.

Visakhapatnam has 12 rythu bazaars, where the existing facilities are being

upgraded with modern storage and fruit ripening chambers and rest rooms for

Girijan farmers.

Mobile bazaars

Mr. Rao said mobile rythu bazaars would become a reality soon with the

government focusing on developing road linkages to interior areas to help the

farmers deliver fruits and vegetables at the doorstep of people in urban

localities.

He said they would also encourage dairy, cattle and goat-rearing farms in a big

way.

They will be set up in North Andhra and East Godavari districts, says

Agriculture Minister

Ostrich farming rich in commercial value

Every part of the bird can be converted into a product

The hurly burly of the Grand Southern Trunk (GST) road suddenly disappears

as if by magic and an endless stretch of greenery begins. A flock of ostriches

running hither and thither takes you to another world.

The ostrich farming experiment at the Post Graduate Research Institute in

Animal Sciences of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University

at Kattupakkam offers clear answers to the many unanswered questions to the

failure of emu farming in the state.

“When it comes to ostrich and emu, you cannot rear them just for meat and egg.

They have a market potential and every part of these birds can be converted into

a commercial value added product,” said C. Pandian, Assistant Professor of the

research institute, who has done his doctoral thesis on the bird.

The research centre imported 100 South African birds in 2000 from Malaysia

and they have adapted themselves to the Indian conditions. It has a modern

hatchery.

Even though scientists at the centre had made many achievements in ostrich

farming, including semen collection and artificial insemination, farming so far

has not been converted into full-fledged commercial activity.

“We are selling the birds to zoos across the country. The birds offer high quality

leather. Recently, we have started producing leather goods using the skin of the

bird and the processing is done by the Central Leather Research Institute

(CLRI). Stitching is done outside,” said V. Ramesh Saravanakumar, director of

the institute.

The institute slaughters a bird once a month and the meat is sold for Rs. 200 per

kg. It also sells unfertilized eggs for cooking purposes and one egg costs Rs.

150. Empty egg shells are used for decorative purposes and feathers are used for

making dolls and brushes for cleaning computer peripherals.

Medicinal value

“Molecules in the oil extracted from the fat of the bird are found to have anti-

inflammatory analgesic properties and it is used to treat joint pain, arthritis and

skin disorders,” said Mr. Pandian.

Training on pest management in turmeric

A free one-day training programme on ‘Integrated pest and disease management

in turmeric’ will be held on the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Veterinary College and

Research Institute premises on July 8.

A press release from N. Akila, Senior Scientist and Head, said that the training

will focus on identification of diseases, managing pest in each growth stage of

the crop, use of pesticides that will not affect the crop and also measures for

improving productivity.

Farmers, members of self-help groups, youth and interested persons can

participate in the training programme. Interested should register themselves for

participating in the training before July 6.

For details, visit the KVK in person or register through phone: 04286-266345

and 266650, the release added.

Farming, with a digital touch

Kharif agricultural activities in Ballari district is going on with a digital touch,

with farmers using their mobile phones for information on improved

agricultural practices, steps to be taken before sowing, importance of crop

insurance scheme, among other things.

“As per instructions of Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, we have

created a group of progressive farmers in each one of the 27 hoblis in the

district.

Agricultural Officer manning the Raitha Samparka Kendras will pass on all

required information about crop insurance, suitable crop to be cultivated,

precautionary measures to be taken to protect crops from pests and diseases,

among other things, through social media (WhatsApp). The use of social media

has been very easy and helpful to convey the message to farmers. Gradually, we

would include more number of farmers in the group,” Sharnappa Mudagal, Joint

Director of Agriculture, told The Hindu .

T. Satyanarayan, a farmer and a member of the group, said that farmers can now

access the required information with much ease.

Shantala, Agricultural Officer, Raitha Samparka Kendra, Ballari, said that the

response from farmers to messages/information sent has been very encouraging.

Banks asked to enroll farmers for crop insurance scheme

The district bankers’ committee on Wednesday warned banks that they would

be held responsible for failure to enrol farmers under the Phasal Bima Yojana of

the Union government even as the last date for enrolment, June 30, would not

be extended.

Addressing a meeting here, lead bank manager Raghava Yajamanya said that if

there was failure of premium payment, banks would be held responsible.

He urged the banks to enrol as many farmers as possible within the available

one day. Banks would have to coax farmers to get enrolled otherwise, they

would be made responsible when insurance amount would have to be paid, Mr.

Yajamanya said.

Meanwhile, there are complaints of banks levying service charge to issue ‘no-

objection certificate’ with regard to farmers’ loans in semi-urban and rural

areas. No such fee can be charged as per the Reserve Bank of India guidelines,

Mr. Yajamanya said.

Gopinath, Assistant General Manager, RBI Bengaluru regional office, said that

though there was 85 per cent achievement in lending towards priority sector, not

much growth was visible in MUDRA, education loan and solar loan sectors.

Some banks have sent back customers saying MUDRA scheme had been

stopped, he said cautioning that the scheme was continuing in nature.

Insufficient rain affects farmers in Erode

Farmers in the district have their fingers crossed as the water situation is

precarious. With the hope of rainfall from South-West monsoon receeding,

farmers in all the three ayacuts: Thadapalli-Arakankottai, Kalingarayan and

Lower Bhavani Project, are in a dilemma, unable to decide on getting prepared

for the Kharif season.

Water requirement during the season for Thadapalli-Arakankottai canal’s ayacut

spread over about 25,000 acres is 10.6 tmc and and in Kalingarayan canal's

ayacut of around 15,700 acres, there is a requirement for 8 tmc, according to

farmers' organisations.

But, the storage in Bhavani Sagar Reservoir, the water source for all the three

canals is just 2.8 tmc, against the capacity of 32.8 tmc. On Monday evening, the

depth was at 42.45 feet and the inflow was a dismal 711 cusecs, official sources

said.

A crisis is looming in Kalingarayan canal area where there are standing crops of

sugarcane on 5,000 acres and banana on about 2,000 acres. But, with the current

availability, the water will not last even for 10 days.

The PWD will be in a position to release water only if there is a storage of at

least 50 per cent of the required extent, official sources said. The cause for

concern is that the storage position in the hydel reservoirs in The Nilgiris

district, from where surplussing water reaches the Bhavani Sagar Reservoir, is

also dismal.

The farmers in Kalingarayan canal ayacyut have started the process of turmeric

cultivation in Kodumudi and Unjalur belts with well water, replicating the

practice in the delta districts. But, the well water availability is too low for

sustaining the standing crops, representative of Kalingarayan Pasana

Vivasayigal Sangam S. Kulandaivelu said.

Nobel winners slam Greenpeace on GM crops

In this 2013 photo, a scientist shows Golden Rice (right) and ordinary rice at the

International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, Laguna south of Manila. A

patented strain developed in the 1990s, Golden Rice contains an artificially

inserted gene which boosts the level of vitamin A-rich beta-carotene.

The laureates, including DNA co-discoverer James Watson, singled out Golden

Rice as a genetically modified crop with huge potential to improve health and

save lives in the developing world.

About a third of living Nobel laureates — 108 at last count — have signed an

open letter on Thursday which attacks Greenpeace for campaigning against

genetically modified crops, especially one called Golden Rice.

Addressed to the global environmental group, the United Nations and

governments, the letter says Greenpeace has “misrepresented the risks, benefits

and impacts” of genetically altered food plants.

“There has never been a single confirmed case of a negative health outcome for

humans or animals from their consumption,” wrote the top scientists.

The group included 41 Nobel medicine laureates among them James Watson,

honoured in 1962 for co-discovering the basic structure of DNA.

The letter called on Greenpeace to “cease and desist” in its efforts to block GM

crops, and on governments to embrace “seeds improved through biotechnology.

“Opposition based on emotion and dogma contradicted by data must be

stopped.”

The Nobel winners singled out Golden Rice as a genetically modified crop with

huge potential to improve health and save lives in the developing world.

A patented strain developed in the 1990s, Golden Rice contains an artificially

inserted gene which boosts the level of vitamin A-rich beta-carotene.

The World Health Organisation estimates that a quarter of a billion people in

developing nations suffer from vitamin A deficiency, causing up to two million

preventable deaths per year and half-a-million cases of childhood blindness.

Golden Rice’s developers say a single serving provides about 60 percent of

daily vitamin A requirements. It is currently distributed royalty-free to indigent

farmers on a humanitarian basis.

Greenpeace however hit back at the Nobel laureates.

“Accusations that anyone is blocking genetically engineered ‘Golden’ rice are

false,” Wilhelmina Pelegrina of Greenpeace Southeast Asia wrote in a

statement.

Corporations are using the strain “to pave the way for global approval of other

more profitable genetically engineered crops”, she said.

Greenpeace’s longstanding position is to oppose all patents on plants or

animals, or their genes, and that “life is not an industrial commodity”.

Previously, the environmental NGO has said Golden Rice was “environmentally

irresponsible, poses risks to human health, and could compromise food,

nutrition and financial security”.

The NGO also maintains that genetically modified organisms should be held

back “since there is not an adequate scientific understanding of their impact on

the environment and human health”.

Farm realty check: Back to good old paddy

In the Majha region, whose three districts — Tarn Taran, Amritsar and

Gurdaspur — have large basmati-growing tracts, annual charges for leased land

have come down by anywhere from 25 to 40 per cent since 2014.

Collapsing lease rentals are the clearest indicator of Punjab’s declining

agricultural fortunes.

There can be no better indicator of an agricultural downturn — crop loan

defaults or farmer suicides apart — than falling lease rentals on farmland.

This is manifesting itself most clearly in India’s granary state, Punjab, where

farmers are returning to cultivating ordinary “safe haven” paddy, after

significantly ramping up acreages under cash crops like basmati and cotton

while realisations were good.

In the Majha region, whose three districts — Tarn Taran, Amritsar and

Gurdaspur — have large basmati-growing tracts, annual charges for leased land

have come down by anywhere from 25 to 40 per cent since 2014.

Thirty-year-old Davinder Singh, a farmer from Khuh Raje Wala village in Tarn

Taran block, had, in 2014, shelled out Rs 45,000-50,000 per acre for leasing in

100 acres in addition to his own 30 acres of land. But in 2015, this rate dropped

to Rs 36,000 and further to Rs 33,000 this year.

Inderjit Singh, Khuh Raje Wala’s sarpanch (head), informs that some of the

village’s lands went for just Rs 28,000-30,000/acre this time, as the lessors did

not want to leave these vacant.

Sukhpal Singh Bhullar, the Congress Tarn Taran district president and a large

landowner himself, reckons that lease rents in Majha are now roughly Rs 20,000

down from their Rs 50,000/acre peaks of 2014. The main reason for this is the

collapse of basmati prices.

Punjab farmers sold Pusa-1509 basmati paddy last year at Rs 900-1,200 per

quintal, as against Rs 2,100-2,200 in 2014 and Rs 3,400-3,500 in 2015. The

Pusa-1121 basmati variety, likewise, fetched only Rs 1,600-1,800 per quintal,

compared to the Rs 3,000-3,300 and Rs 5,000-5,100 levels of the preceding two

years.

Lower profitability has meant that farmers aren’t any longer keen to expand

basmati area through leasing in additional land. Davinder Singh was until 2014

dedicating his entire 130 acres for Pusa-1121 and Pusa-1509. But this year, he is

growing normal parmal (non-basmati) paddy on 100 acres. On the remaining

30, he has sown maize in 25 and a mere five acres under basmati.

Amrik Singh of Khatrai Kalan, a village in Amritsar’s Ajnala block, had taken

4.5 acres on lease at Rs 38,000 per acre last year to grow basmati paddy.

“I got a rate of barely Rs 1,100 per quintal, below even the Rs 1,450 minimum

support price (MSP) for regular paddy. Moreover, the yields in basmati are just

16-18 quintals/acre, as opposed to 30-32 quintals for parmal paddy. My

landowner returned an amount of Rs 16,000 to partly compensate for my losses

and has also reduced the current year’s rent to Rs 33,000 per acre,” he notes.

Kewal Singh, a landowner, and the managing committee of the Baba Bahadur

Singh gurdwara in the same village were both leasing out their 12 acres and 25

acres respective holdings at Rs 40,000 per acre. But for this year, the former has

reduced his rate to Rs 30,000 and the latter to Rs 25,000 per acre.

“They had no alternative because the gross revenue from basmati (a so-called

cash crop) was not even Rs 20,000 per acre, while the parmal paddy sold to

government agencies at the MSP was giving more than twice that,” points out

Dhanwant Singh, Amritsar district president of Kirti Kisan Union, which

represents small farmers.

But it isn’t only Majha. Even the Doaba and Malwa regions have shown sharp

declines in lease rentals.

“Last year, I gave out my 30 acres for Rs 33,000 per acre. This time, I had to

settle for Rs 28,000; my lessee was refusing to pay even that,” admits Sunny

Shergill of Binpalke Nangal village in Jalandhar’s Bhogpur block.

Navtej Singh Cheema, Congress MLA from Sultanpur Lodhi in Kapurthala

district, says that farm lease rentals in his area are today about Rs 15,000 lower

than the average Rs 50,000 per acre two years ago. Cheema has 50 acres that he

farms himself.

Jalandhar and Kapurthala, along with Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr, are part of

the Doaba region that lies between the Beas and Sutlej rivers.

In Malwa, Punjab’s main agricultural heartland south of the Sutlej, the fall in

lease rates has been largely courtesy Bt cotton. In this case, though, it is not

prices alone — kapas realisations have dipped to Rs 4,000-4,500 per quintal,

from Rs 5,000-5,500 in 2013-14 – but also large-scale damage to last year’s

crop from whitefly infestation that has prompted farmers to plant less cotton this

time.

In the main southwest cotton-growing districts of Firozpur, Fazilka, Faridkot,

Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Mansa and Sangrur, lease rentals have plunged by 40

per cent or so since 2014.

Vinod Jiyani and Sanjiv Puniya, farmers in Katehra village of Fazilka, were till

last year exclusively growing Bt cotton, including on land taken on lease. But

the huge crop loss suffered from whitefly attacks has led them to go back to

parmal paddy cultivation. The annual rent for land in their area, too, is down to

as low as Rs 26,000-28,000 per acre. At the height of the Bt cotton and basmati

paddy boom, these had reached as high as Rs 60,000 per acre in the Malwa

region.

The Punjab farmer’s flight to safety is also seen in the latest official kharif crop

acreage data. Farmers in the state have brought a mere 2.56 lakh hectares (lh)

under cotton this time, compared to 5.30 lh in 2014 and 4.36 lh in 2015.

Similarly, for basmati, the total area covered had soared from 3.50 lh in 2008 to

8.61 lh in 2014. This year, the state agriculture department expects it not to

exceed 5.50 lh.

The reduced cotton and basmati area is going mainly to non-basmati paddy. The

latter area is projected at 24.50 lh, the highest since 2007 and a substantial jump

over the 19.78 lh of 2014 and 20.57 lh in 2015. This, despite a marginal 4.1 per

cent increase in the MSP to Rs 1,510 per quintal!

32 lakh Maharashtra farmers face uncertainty over crop loans

These 32 lakh farmers owe Rs 12,000 crore to cooperative banks.

The refusal of district cooperative banks to restructure loans of farmers with

more than one-year-old outstanding debts is likely to deprive 32 lakh farmers of

fresh loans in the kharif and rabi season.

The 32 lakh farmers have payments pending since 2010-11, and owe Rs 12,000

crore to the cooperative banks.

This means while the government has hiked its credit crop plan from Rs 42,000

crore last year to Rs 54,000 crore this year, the benefits may not reach the

farmers. The government had directed national and district cooperative banks to

restructure loans of all farmers, but they have refused, claiming the order has to

come from Reserve Bank of India and NABARD.

Restructuring involves keeping interest rate zero for the first year and extending

period of repayment of loans to five years from three. Banks are reluctant to

offer this benefit to farmers with long-standing debts as they do not wish to

increase non-performing assets (NPAs). Farmers cannot be eligible for new

loans unless they pay existing debts.

Banks argue that under the Banking Negotiation Instrument Act, the

restructuring of loans can be confined to crop loans availed by farmers for only

a year.

At a recent agriculture review meeting, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had

directed NABARD officials and district cooperative banks to evolve a

mechanism to accommodate larger sections of farmers in the increased credit

plan. There are 28 district co-op banks under the nodal Maharashtra State

Cooperative Bank, which account for 60 per cent of crop loans extended. The

remaining 40 per cent is through national banks.

“At present, 78 per cent of farmers have land-holdings of less than two hectares,

and almost 80 per cent of the land is non-irrigated. As a result, they have to

make higher investments to cultivate crops,” said Fadnavis. This means it is

difficult for farmers to do without fresh loans. Experts said the government

needs to come up with a mechanism to tackle the outstanding loans of Rs

12,000 crore owed to the banks.

Former minister for Cooperation and Marketing Harshvardhan Patil said, “I

think the chief minister should personally intervene in the matter urgently. On

one hand, we have almost 50 per cent farmers being left out of crop loans cover,

and on the other, there is no mechanism to mitigate financial implications of

these loans.”

Patil said while big credit plan of Rs 54,000 crore may appear very promising, it

would not help many farmers on the ground. The restructuring will help only

five to six lakh farmers in Maharashtra, he said. The government has claimed

that of the 1.3 crore farmers in the state, the restructuring policy has already

helped 17 lakh in just one year.

“The farm debt has been accumulating since my government — in the years

2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 — and has now added up to a massive

Rs 12,000 crore for 32 lakh farmers,” Patil admitted. Unless this riddle is

solved, farmers will be forced to seek help from private money lenders, and be

vulnerable to exploitation.

Software to connect departments linked to food

HARTRON managing director said the software would be used on a pilot basis

in two mandis by September or October.

The move by Haryana Electronic Development Corporation is being made to

connect all food departments to one platform. (Express Photo by: Sumit

Malhotra)

TO BRING all departments connected with food on one platform, Haryana

Electronics Development Corporation (HARTRON) is developing a software

through which all information, from the stage of procuring seeds to sale of the

foodgrains and their storage, will be available online.

From the kind of crop that a farmer is growing on a piece of land to which

foodgrains are stored where, the rates that the produce would give among other

information could be accessed by all the concerned departments.

HARTRON managing director A Sreenivas said the software would be used on

a pilot basis in two mandis by September or October. By next year, the software

will be fully operational. He said that at present all departments connected with

food function in isolation and the software would bring these on one platform.

“Once the stock is purchased either by the government or the commission

agents it needs to be stored. Sitting in his officer, the official concerned would

know how many tonnes of which kind of grain is present at what place.

Till now, the practice followed is that the foodgrains are stored in a particular

place and when the space is filled in the next district. At times, there is some

item required at Rewari which is available at Yamunanagr and then it has to be

transported. Through the new software, it can be ascertained that which

foodgrains might be needed in a district and stored there,” said Sreenivas.

The Haryana government has already announced that the Public Distribution

System will be made online. All information from lifting of ration from

godowns to sale point would be provided on cellphones of consumers so as to

check corruption at all levels.

HARTRON is also in the process of providing e-office facility in all the

departments of the state. This will ensure that there is no paperwork involved.

The official communication will be made online.

The number of Common Service Centres in the state will be increased. At

present, there are around 3,000 common service centres in different districts

where 130 services are being provided. A total of 16 lakh transactions take

place at these centres.

Sreenivas informed that HARTRON was also working on a proposal to provide

Wi-Fi hotspots at parks, schools and colleges. A similar facility will be provided

in villages through National Fibre Optical Network. At present, Faridabad

district is the most connected, with the network present in more than 30

villages. The modalities of the system are being worked out, officials said.

Crashing lease rentals in Punjab spell agricultural downturn

This has been brought about mainly by declining price realisations in basmati

paddy and Bt cotton, the two crops profitable enough to make it worthwhile for

farmers to expand acreages.

Farmers have, in the current kharif season, reduced area under both these cash

crops and opted, instead, to plant more of parmal paddy varieties.

Lease rentals on farmlands in Punjab — India’s granary state — have collapsed,

providing the clearest indication of an agricultural downturn and farmers

choosing to go back to growing parmal paddy in place of high-risk basmati and

cotton crops.

Davinder Singh, a farmer from Khuh Raje Wala village in Tarn Taran district,

had, in 2014, paid Rs 45,000-50,000 per acre for leasing 100 acres of land. But

in 2015, this rate dropped to Rs 36,000 and to Rs 33,000 this year.

In most parts of Punjab, annual charges for leased land have come down by 25-

40 per cent since 2014. This has been brought about mainly by declining price

realisations in basmati paddy and Bt cotton, the two crops profitable enough to

make it worthwhile for farmers to expand acreages.

As a result, farmers have, in the current kharif season, reduced area under both

these cash crops and opted, instead, to plant more of parmal paddy varieties.

Castor seed futures declines

Castor seed price was moved down on futures trading as market participants

booked the profit. However it was marginally increased in spot on delay in

monsoon at the producing belt. Though according to market analyst, profit

booking on the back of good sowing and nominal hope for fresh demand pull

down price in futures. About 50,000-55,000 bags arrived in Gujarat and price

were increased by 5 to 645-650 per 20 kg. About 1200-1300 bags arrived in

Saurashtra and price gained by 10 to 651-661 per 20 kg. Castor oil declined

marginally by 2 to 658 per 10 kg. At Rajkot Commodity Exchange (RCX)

castor September contact declined by 31 to 3,338 per quintal. RCX spot

moved up 28 to 3,221 per quintal.

Chana rises on demand

Chana prices in Indore mandis are on the boil with demand outstripping

supplies. Chana (kanta) being quoted at 7,400, while chana (desi) ruled at

7,300, chana (mausmi) at 7,600, while Kabuli Bitki quoted at 8,700-8,800.

Rally in chana lifted its dal with chana dal (average) today 8,900-9,000, chana

dal (medium) ruled at 9,000-9,100, while chana dal (bold) quoted at 9,300-

9,400 a quintal.Weak arrival and improved domestic demad have lifted dollar

chana with its prices in local mandis being quoted at 11,500. In container

dollar chana ruled higher prices of dollar chana (42/44 count) being quoted at

12,700, dollar chana 44/46 count ruled at 12,500, dollar chana 58/60 count at

11,600, while dollar chana (60/62 count) ruled at 10,500 a quintal

respectively.

Seeds of desi cotton revival sown in North India

Leaps and bounds A file photo of desi cotton variety MCU-5 on sale at the

Boothapadi regulated market in Erode, Tamil Nadu. The area under desi cotton

cultivation in North India is at a decade high

Whitefly attacks drive farmers away from Bt cotton in Punjab, Haryana and

Rajasthan

Stung by the whitefly attack that caused heavy crop losses last year, a section of

farmers in North India — mainly in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, have

preferred to plant the desi or indigenous cotton varieties.

As a result, the area under desi cotton varieties has taken a quantum leap and the

acreage is at a decade high, although the overall area under the fibre crop this

year has declined 30 per cent in the region, where the kharif planting has ended.

“Desi cotton has been planted on about 72,280 hectares in North India this

kharif. Last year, the acreage under desi cotton in the region had barely touched

3,000 hectares,” said KR Kranthi, Director of Nagpur-based Central Institute for

Cotton Research (CICR). In the last 10 years, it had not exceeded 5,000

hectares, he added.

Desi cotton, which is resistant to dreaded disease like leaf curl virus and pest

attacks such as whiteflies, accounted for 7 per cent of the total cotton acreage of

10.17 lakh hectares in North India this year. “We expect the acreages

under desi cotton to increase to 25 per cent in the next two to three years,”

Kranthi said. He added that the acreage could have gone up further, if only more

seeds were made available to the farmers this year.

Despite lower cultivation costs compared to the Bt varieties, the short staple

length is seen as a disadvantage for the desi cotton. The short staple and

coarse desi variety cotton is mostly being used as surgical cotton due to its

better absorption capacity and also in making denim.

The genetically modified Bt cotton hybrids had seen a steady increase over the

past decade and now accounts for over 96 per cent of the total cotton

area. Desi varieties account for less than two per cent of the country’s cotton

area.

Acreage rises

Also, the campaigns by respective State governments promoting the desi cotton

varieties has also helped boost acreage this year.

“There is an increase in the area under desi cotton varieties in North India this

year. We are going to keenly watch the performance this year,” said M

Ramasami, Chairman of Rasi Seeds.

Though the acreages in North India are down this year, Rasi has seen a 15 per

cent growth in its seed sales in the region. “We have gained market in North

India. Growers, who had seen the benefits of our products that are tolerant to the

leaf curl virus, have come back to us,” Ramasami said adding that the company

sold some 18 lakh packets (of 450 gm) of Bt cotton seeds in North India this

year.

Good domestic demand

“There is a lesser possibility of whitefly attacking the desi varieties and as a

result growers are seen shifting to these varieties,” said MB Lal, former

Chairman of Cotton Corporation of India and Managing Director of Shail

Exports. There is a good demand for the desi cotton within the country also, he

added.

Till June 24, cotton was planted on about 19 lakh hectares (lh) as against 34 lh

in the corresponding period last year. With the progress of monsoon, the

planting is expected to gain pace in the days ahead and the shortfall is likely to

be made up, Kranthi said.

Arecanut growers seek Centre’s support for sector

A delegation of arecanut cooperatives and elected representatives from

Karnataka has urged the Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Nirmala

Sitharaman, to ban the import of arecanut and to promote the production of

value-added arecanut-based products.

The Members of Parliament from Karnataka, BS Yeddiyurappa and Nalin

Kumar Kateel, and the President of Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and

Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd SR Satishchandra, were part of the

delegation that met the minister in Delhi on Tuesday.

SR Satishchandra told BusinessLine that the memorandum highlighted issues

such as arecanut production in the country and the impact of import on its

economy.

The production of arecanut increased from 3.30 lakh tonnes to 6.09 lakh tonnes

during the period between 2001 and 2013. The current production might have

crossed eight lakh tonnes, he said.

Since the production fulfils the domestic demand, even a small amount of

import will also damage the economy in the arecanut-growing areas.

Any fall in the price of arecanut affects the stakeholders in the arecanut sector.

He said the price of red variety of arecanut has come down from 800 a kg to

220 in the last two years. The delegation requested the minister to ban the

import of arecanut immediately, and to promote the production of arecanut-

based products such as mouth fresheners and other healthcare products.

The delegation was of the opinion that any move to promote new products will

provide new market for arecanut, which is now being used in products such as

‘gutkha’ and ‘paan masala’.

The minister has been requested to focus on these initiatives to help stabilise the

price in the arecanut market, Satishchandra said.

Watch out for a fresh ‘low’ as monsoon eyes Punjab, Haryana, Delhi

The India Met Department has put out a watch for a fresh low-pressure area in

the Bay of Bengal in what is a clear pointer to a productive session of the

monsoon through the first week of July.

This is the second in a row to materialise in the Bay, even as a predecessor

parked over South Chhattisgarh blinked in tandem, since both cannot exist at

the same time.

In view of this development, the Met has assessed that conditions are favourable

for the rains to march into most parts of North-West India, including west

Rajasthan, the last outpost, over the next three days.

Forecast

Accordingly, over the next three days, the monsoon will enter more parts of

Gujarat and West Rajasthan, the remaining parts of Himachal Pradesh,

Uttarakhand, west Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, most parts of Punjab

and Haryana and the whole of Chandigarh and Delhi.

Seasonal rains would have mostly made good the eight-day delay that had

hindered the monsoon’s spread and advance from Kerala on the south-west

coast.

During the 24 hours that ended on Wednesday morning, the West Coast

continued to witness heavy to very heavy rain with Honnavar recording 20 cm;

Harnai-18 cm; Mormugao and Karwar-15 cm each; Ratnagiri-14 cm; Vengurla-

13 cm; Panjim and Alibagh-11 cm each; and Mumbai Santa Cruz- 10 cm.

Monsoon activity towards the East of the country was not that pronounced,

principally because an existing low-pressure area over South Chhattisgarh had

weakened overnight. Still it was enough to bring heavy rainfall of 11 cm of rain

to Kothagudem in Telangana.

Reading from the preparedness at the ground level and distribution of helpful

atmospheric features, it is more or less clear that the monsoon is readying for an

expansion over North India in the first week of July.

On Thursday, heavy to very heavy rain has been forecast at isolated places over

Konkan-Goa; heavy rain in most places over west Madhya Pradesh, the hills of

West Bengal and Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, south Odisha, south Chhattisgarh,

coastal Andhra Pradesh, coastal Karnataka and Kerala.

On Friday, July 1, the rains are seen breaking heavy over parts of North-West

India, especially over Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi,

west Uttar Pradesh, and east Rajasthan.

Mills have cleared 92% cane dues to farmers, says Food Ministry

Sugar mills have paid about 92 per cent of their 52,900 crore cane dues to

growers so far, with only 4, 225 crore pending for the current sugar season

(2015-16), a statement issued by the Food Ministry said on Wednesday.

A major portion of the pending arrears – about 1,600 crore – belongs to five

sugar group companies —Bajaj, Mawana, Modi, Simbhaoli and Rana, the

Ministry said.

Out of the total pending cane arrears for the current sugar season, about 1,975

crore pertains to Uttar Pradesh, which is about 14 per cent of its dues payable, it

added.

Maharashtra has cleared almost 96 per cent of sugarcane arrears payable to

growers and only 5.90 crore are pending. The other major sugar producing

States, such as Karnataka, have also paid 94 per cent dues to farmers, it said.

The Ministry said during the sugar season 2014-15, cane price arrears had

peaked at 21,800 crore in April 2015, which is now reduced to 684 crore,

adding that the Centre had been consistently monitoring the position of arrears

and advising the State governments for their speedy liquidation.

During sugar season 2015-16, about 230 million tonnes of sugarcane was

procured from the farmers by the sugar mills across the country.

India offers to buy tur dal from Mozambique at MSP plus cost

India, which is under pressure to check price rise in pulses, has offered to buy

tur dal from Mozambique for the next five years at the support price plus

additional transportation cost.

Pulses in domestic markets are retailing as high as Rs. 198 a kg due to shortfall

in the local output in the wake of two consecutive droughts.

According to sources, India has asked the Mozambique government if it can

supply tur dal for the next five years on a government-to-government basis.

India has offered to buy tur dal at the minimum support price (MSP) plus

carrying and transportation cost. A draft proposal has been submitted to the

African nation, which is yet to respond, they added.

The MSP of tur dal has been fixed at Rs. 5,050 per quintal, which includes a

bonus of Rs. 200 for 2016-17 crop year (July-June).

An Indian team headed by Consumer Affairs Secretary Hem Pande, recently

visited the African nation to negotiate the long-term arrangement for tur dal

supply.

Long-term solution

After the visit, Pande said, “The delegation is back with long-term solution in

sight. The final draft is awaiting response of the Mozambique government. The

Government of India is expecting positive response as soon as possible.”

The talks were “positive” and the country’s pulses supply would improve once

the long-term arrangement is signed, he had said.

Mozambique grows around 70,000 tonnes pulses, mainly tur dal and some urad.

The entire quantity is exported to India and for meeting NRI demand in other

parts of world. Its rabi tur crop is expected to arrive by September-October.

In talks with Myanmar

India is also negotiating with Myanmar for the long-term supply of tur dal at

similar rates and the latter is yet to respond.

In the domestic market, retail prices of pulses have risen unabated for more than

a year and at present rules close to Rs. 200 per kg in view of 7-mt (million

tonnes) shortfall in domestic output following two drought years.

To tame prices, the government is creating buffer stock of pulses of up to 8 lakh

tonnes from domestic procurement and imports. It has imposed stock holding

limits to check hoarding and banned chana futures.

India’s pulses output is estimated to be 17.06 mt in 2015-16 crop year (July-

June), marginally lower than the previous year’s production of 17.15 mt. But

the estimated output is lower than the overall demand of 23.5 mt.

Sugar mills have paid about 92% of their cane dues so far: Government

During the current sugar season 2015

was procured from the farmers by the sugar mills across the country.

KOLKATA: Sugar mills have paid about 92% of their cane dues so far,

according to a release issued by the ministry of consumer

public distribution on Wednesday.

During the current sugar season 2015

was procured from the farmers by the sugar mills across the country. Out of the

total cane price dues payable of Rs 52, 900 cr

Remunerative Price (FRP), only Rs.4, 225 crore is pending as cane price

for current sugar season.

Out of the total pending cane price arrears for current sugar season, about Rs

1,975 Crore pertains to Uttar Pradesh which is about 14% of its dues payable. A

major portion of the pending arrears about Rs.1,600 crore belongs to five sugar

group companies namely Bajaj, Mawana, Modi, Simbhaoli and Rana, the

release added.


During the current sugar season 2015-16, about 230 million MT of sugarcane



according to a release issued by the ministry of consumer affairs, food and

public distribution on Wednesday.

During the current sugar season 2015-16, about 230 million MT of sugarcane


total cane price dues payable of Rs 52, 900 crore, on the basis of Fair and

Remunerative Price (FRP), only Rs.4, 225 crore is pending as cane price




amely Bajaj, Mawana, Modi, Simbhaoli and Rana, the


about 230 million MT of sugarcane



affairs, food and

16, about 230 million MT of sugarcane


ore, on the basis of Fair and

Remunerative Price (FRP), only Rs.4, 225 crore is pending as cane price arrears




amely Bajaj, Mawana, Modi, Simbhaoli and Rana, the

Maharashtra being the major sugar producing state has cleared almost 96% of

sugar cane dues payable and only Rs 590 crore is pending as arrears. Other

major sugar producing state like Karnataka have also paid 94% dues to farmers.

During sugar season 2014-15, the cane price arrears had peaked at Rs.21,800

crore in the month of April, 2015 which is now reduced to Rs 684 crore only.

Central government has been consistently monitoring the position of cane price

arrear and advising the state governments for speedy liquidation of arrears, the

release further added.

Maharashtra farmers can now directly tap wholesalers

Farmers allowed to bypass APMC mandis so that they can get good rates:

Minister

PUNE: The Maharashtra Cabinet has given in-principle approval to farmers to

sell fruits and vegetables directly to wholesalers, bypassing the APMC mandis.

However, it has held back the decision by a few days, handing it over to a

cabinet sub-committee. "A cabinet sub-committee will take a decision on the

matter in four days. We want to examine different angles such as the risk

involved in farmers getting payment when they sell outside the APMC

premises," said Chandrakant Patil, cabinet minister (agricultural marketing).

One of the reasons for deferring the decision was because of the current price of

vegetables. "Farmers are affected by the drought, and if they can't benefit from

the high prices, there could be unrest," said an official, who did not want to be

identified.

However, Patil refuted this logic by saying that the decision to de-list is

expected to give good rates to farmers. The decision will enable 30 APMCs to

become part of National Agricultural Market and do e-trading, getting access to

the national market.

The daily need for vegetables in Mumbai is about 2500 tonne. "We have asked

the Farmer Producer Companies, farmers' groups and organised retail chains to

be ready to supply vegetables in case there's any disruption," said Milind Akre,

managing director, Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board

(MSAMB).

Expecting some disruptions in supplies by middlemen and other stake holders in

the current system, Maharashtra's revenue, marketing and law and order

machinery have been preparing to deal with the `aftermath' of giving farmers

direct access to retail markets.

"If the government decides to de-list fruits and vegetables, we will not obstruct

movement of farmers' vehicles. Our only concern is that farmers will not be able

to leave farming and spend enough time to market their products, which will

lead to some traders trading in the name of farmers."

"Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has 12 wholesale markets and

we have decided to allow entry of farmers' trucks to all the 12 wholesale

markets," said an official of the BMC.

The central government wants to create a unified National Agricultural Market,

for which states are expected to reform their agricultural marketing acts and this

decision is a step in that direction.

balasingh, assistant director of agriculture, vilathikulam, who...

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