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New Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
UK, India say no room for double standards on terrorism in Modi–Starmer talks
NEW DELHI: India and the United Kingdom on Thursday sent a strong, united message against terrorism, with both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer agreeing that there can be no double standards in tackling extremism. Following a bilateral meeting at the Chequers Estate, Modi thanked Starmer for the UK's strong condemnation of the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. 'We are united in our view that there can be no place for double standards in the fight against terrorism,' Modi said. 'We also agree that forces with extremist ideologies must not be allowed to misuse democratic freedoms. Those who misuse democratic freedoms to undermine democracy itself must be held to account.' The statement, also seen as a veiled reference to pro-Khalistani activities abroad, comes amid growing Indian concern over threats to Indian diplomats and missions in the UK. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri later said that India had raised the issue during the bilateral talks. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation between their security agencies, including on the extradition of economic offenders, a longstanding demand from India involving several high-profile fugitives residing in the UK. The two leaders also discussed regional and global challenges. 'We exchanged views on peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, the conflict in Ukraine, and the situation in West Asia,' Modi said. 'India supports the early restoration of peace and stresses that respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations is essential. The demand of today's era is not expansionism, but developmentalism.' Modi also expressed condolences for British nationals who died in last month's Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The meeting, which included a private one-on-one between the leaders, also laid the foundation for a long-term bilateral agenda. A 'Vision 2035' roadmap is being drafted to energize the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership over the next decade, spanning trade, defence, clean energy, and technology cooperation.
Hindustan Times
13 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi meets King Charles, presents tree sapling under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King Charles III at Sandringham House on Thursday as part of his official visit to the United Kingdom. PM Narendra Modi meets King Charles at Sandringham House during UK visit. (X-@RoyalFamily) During the meeting, Modi presented the King with a sapling of Davidia involucrata 'Sonoma', commonly known as the Sonoma dove tree or handkerchief tree. The gesture was made under the Prime Minister's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative, which encourages people to plant a tree in tribute to their mothers. 'This afternoon, The King received the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, @NarendraModi, at Sandringham House. During their time together, His Majesty was given a tree to be planted this Autumn, inspired by the environmental initiative launched by the Prime Minister, 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', which encourages people to plant a tree in tribute to their mothers,' the Royal Family said in a post on X. The Sonoma dove tree is an ornamental species known for its large white bracts that resemble handkerchiefs or doves. Unlike the standard Davidia involucrata, which can take up to 20 years to bloom, the 'Sonoma' cultivar flowers within two to three years of planting.
Time of India
13 minutes ago
- Time of India
Empowering smallholder farmers & marginal farmers through formation & promotion of FPOs
Dr. Prashant Prabhakar Deshpande has post-graduated in Economics with a Gold Medal in 1976 and was awarded a Ph.D in Social Sciences from Nagpur University in 2007. Introduction The Central Sector Scheme for Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 29th of February, 2020. The scheme was launched with a budget outlay of Rs 6,865 crore till 2027-28. Since the launch of the scheme, Rs 254.4 crore in equity grants have been released to 4,761 FPOs and credit guarantee cover worth Rs 453 cr has been issued to 1,900 FPOs. Recently, FPOs were in the spotlight as India reached a transformative milestone by establishing 10,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), ahead of the March 31, 2025, deadline, collectively bringing together nearly 30 lakh farmers across the country, 40% of whom are women. These FPOs are now conducting business worth thousands of crores of rupees, contributing immensely to the growth of the agricultural sector. On the occasion of the release of the 19th instalment of PM-KISAN in Bhagalpur, Bihar, the Prime Minister launched the 10,000th FPO, a milestone marking a significant leap in Farmer Welfare and inclusive agricultural development. The 10,000th FPO was registered in Khagaria district and focuses on maize, banana, and paddy. The concept behind the Farmer Producer Organisations Farmers who are the producers of agricultural products can form groups. To facilitate this process, the Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) was mandated by the department of agriculture and cooperation, ministry of agriculture, government of India, to support the state governments in the formation of FPOs. Objectives To provide a holistic and broad-based supportive ecosystem to form to facilitate the development of vibrant and sustainable income-oriented farming and overall socio-economic development and wellbeing of the agrarian communities. To enhance productivity through efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable resource use to realise higher returns through better liquidity and market linkages for their produce and become sustainable through collective action. To provide handholding and support to new FPOs up to five years from the year of their creation in all aspects of management of FPO, inputs, production, processing and value addition, market linkages, credit linkages, and use of technology etc. To provide effective capacity building to FPOs to develop agriculture entrepreneurship skills to become economically viable and self-sustaining beyond the period of support from the government. The Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) The FPOs are collectives formed by farmers to: Enhance productivity; Reduce costs, and; Improve market access through cooperation. The primary aim of an FPO is to enable farmers to benefit from the economies of scale, enhancing overall Farmer Welfare. The Small Farmers' Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) under the Ministry of Agriculture plays a pivotal role in supporting the formation of the FPOs, which are registered under either: The Companies Act, or; The Co-operative Societies Act. Need for FPOs Small, marginal, and landless farmers face challenges during the agriculture production phase, such as: Access to technology; Quality seeds; Fertilisers and pesticides, and; Requisite finances. Challenges in marketing their produce due to a lack of economic strength. FPOs help in the collectivisation of such small, marginal, and landless farmers, giving them collective strength to deal with such issues. managing their activities together to get: Better access to technology; Inputs; Finance, and; Market for faster enhancement of their income. The way FPOs help Smallholder Farmers Achieving Economies of Scale FPOs help small and marginal farmers reduce input costs and secure better prices by aggregating purchases and sales. Enhanced Credit Access Access to institutional credit since long a barrier for smallholders, is improved through FPOs, aligning such support with ongoing government schemes for farmers aimed at financial inclusion. Accessing Global Markets FPOs enable smallholders to access international markets. Overcoming Shrinking Farm Sizes With average landholding size shrinking from 1.08 hectares in 2015–16 to just 0.74 hectares in 2021–22, FPOs help farmers aggregate resources and invest in modern equipment. This consolidation enables economies of scale: Allowing for bulk purchases; Shared services, and; Use of advanced machinery is improving productivity, a key enabler of agricultural sector growth. Supporting Value-Addition & Processing Through shared infrastructure like mini-mills and cold storage FPOs help farmers earn more by adding value to raw produce, strengthening Farmer Welfare through diversified income streams. Key Features of the Scheme Up to Rs 18 lakh financial aid over 3 years Matching equity grant of Rs 2,000 per farmer (max Rs 15 lakh) Credit Guarantee up to Rs 2 Crore in project loans Cluster-based handholding support for 5 years Challenges Faced by FPOs Many farmers joining FPOs have limited exposure to modern agricultural practices, quality standards, and market requirements. Most farmer-leaders lack formal training in business management, financial planning, human resources, and strategic planning. Most FPOs begin with minimal capital contributed by farmer members who themselves have limited financial resources, creating a precarious situation where the organisation struggles to invest in necessary infrastructure, working capital, or growth opportunities. Farmer members often expect immediate benefits from their FPO membership but are reluctant to make significant financial contributions. Traditional financial institutions often view these organisations as high-risk borrowers due to their agricultural focus, limited collateral, and perceived management weaknesses. Many FPOs lack the market intelligence necessary to make informed decisions about what to produce, when to sell, and at what prices, putting them at a disadvantage competing with established suppliers or negotiating with buyers. Epilogue By fostering collectivisation, enhancing market access, and providing financial and institutional support, the initiative has empowered millions of small and marginal farmers, including women and economically weaker sections, boosting agricultural productivity and income, contributing to rural job creation and economic resilience. As FPOs continue to evolve, they promise a more equitable and resilient future for India's agricultural landscape, it is opined. Critics however state that it is critical to move beyond numbers. They opine a target-oriented approach may work in the initial phase. As such, although reaching the target of 10,000 FPOs ahead of the March 31, 2025 deadline is commendable, there is now a need to focus on better outcomes. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
