Latest news with #AgricultureandFarmers'Welfare
Business Standard
14-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Agriculture Minister directs states to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers
Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, has written to the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories, directing immediate and strict action against the issue of counterfeit and substandard fertilizers. This letter has been issued with the objective of curbing the sale of fake fertilizers, black marketing of subsidized fertilizers, and illegal activities such as forced tagging across the country. The Union Minister emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of India's economy, and to ensure stability in farmers' income, it is essential to provide them with quality fertilizers at the right time, at affordable prices, and of standard quality. He also highlighted that the sale of counterfeit or substandard fertilizers is prohibited under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985, which falls under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The Union Minister noted that it is the responsibility of the States to ensure adequate availability of fertilizers at the right places and locations where it is required. Therefore, States must strictly monitor and take swift action against activities such as black marketing, overpricing, and diversion of subsidized fertilizers. Regular monitoring of fertilizer production and sale, as well as strict control over counterfeit and substandard products through sampling and testing, must be carried out. Forced tagging of nano-fertilizers or bio-stimulant products along with conventional fertilizers should be stopped immediately.
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Efforts to make cotton farming profitable: Union Minister Shivraj Singh
COIMBATORE: The penalty and legal action against firms selling substandard cotton seeds and fertilisers will be reframed, stated Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Coimbatore on Friday. He also said the ministry is working to make cotton farming a profitable business for the farmer. The minister participated in an event named 'Consultation with Stakeholders on Enhancing Cotton Productivity' at ICAR-Sugarcane Breeding Institute. Addressing the press, the minister said, "We will start a new cotton revolution from Coimbatore. We had a discussion on the problems faced in cotton production and how to increase its productivity.? Ways to combat diseases affecting cotton were also discussed, he added. "Our farmers should produce the kind of cotton that the industry needs so that the profit of the farmers should increase. We will do research after listening to all these problems. Many experiments are going on. We are using AI to trap and kill the bacteria and viruses that cause diseases in cotton," Chouhan stated. On the increasing human-wildlife conflict issue, the central minister said, "Agriculture and forest are State Subjects. The Union Government has been providing necessary cooperation altogether whenever the State Government requires it."
New Indian Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Farmers advocate for revised water diversion scheme in TN
COIMBATORE: Farmers demanded the implementation of a modified version of the Pandiyaru-Moyyar link scheme so that water of the west-flowing rivers could be utilised in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts. The scheme envisages the diversion of Pandiyaru River to Moyyar River. In a petition submitted to the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan by Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam on Friday, they claimed the modified scheme would be a finacially viable option too and would not face delays. "A part of the Western Tamil Nadu, including Coimbatore and Tiruppur and a part of Erode, come under the rain shadow region. Also a major portion of the zone does not have any irrigation scheme. A proposal to divert west-flowing rivers in the Nilgiris Hill region into Tamil Nadu under the Pandiyaru-Punnapuzha Scheme has been discussed at different levels for more than 60 years," they said. This project has not seen the light of the day as the project considered originally required the acceptance of Kerala government. Also successive Tamil Nadu state governments were not inclined towards such an irrigation scheme, the farmers explained. Recent reports by experienced irrigation experts suggested that a modified Pandiyaru-Moyyar scheme may not require any consent from the Kerala government and that could be implemented for a project cost as low as Rs 90 crore," they added. They urged the ministry to put pressure on the Tamil Nadu government in this regard to at least implement this to help farmers reduce dependency on ground water.
United News of India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Rs 141.82 cr sanctioned for tribal welfare under DAJGUA
Agartala, July 2 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned Rs 141.82 crore under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA) for Tripura, which has been implemented across 392 revenue villages of the state to facilitate tribal welfare. Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath said today that the amount was sanctioned last year for development activities in the next five years. An amount of Rs 81.69 crore has been allocated for the construction of 20 new hostels, two Multi-Purpose Marketing Centres (TMMC), renovation of 16 hostels attached to Ashram, Government, Residential Schools, and establishment of nine Barmadhikar (FRA) Cells. Additionally, Rs 14.28 crore has been approved for the construction of 119 Anganwadi Centres, Rs 1.12 crore for fish farming in 28 hectares of water bodies, hostels under Samaras Shiksha Abhiyan, Rs 2.36 crore under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, and Rs 42.37 crore for providing electricity connections to 7,677 households and 512 public places. The minister further said that the present government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is working for the development of the tribal community. The PM has announced the PM Janman scheme. The government is focused on the upliftment and development of tribal people, which is why this movement is underway. Earlier, there were hardly any schools, but now you will find many—English medium schools, pre-primary, LKG, and UKG, Nath said and added. 'We are working to provide better quality education, and that's why we are stressing students' development. They are the future of the country.' UNI BB ARN 1157
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bihar has tremendous potential for agricultural development: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Shivraj Singh Chouhan (ANI) MOTIHARI: Maintaining that Bihar has tremendous potential for agricultural development, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said for a "developed India, agriculture must develop and farmers must also prosper". Chouhan said this on Monday when he visited Motihari, the district headquarters town of East Champaran district and interacted with farmers as part of his nationwide tour under the VKSA campaign. "I have come to Bihar to support and serve the farmers here and help increase agricultural productivity. For me, serving farmers is like worshipping God... 'Ek Rashtra, Ek Krishi, Ek Team' (one nation, one agriculture, one team) is the motto of this campaign," he said. "The Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan (VKSA) of the Central government is a landmark initiative aimed at transforming Indian agriculture. For a developed India, agriculture must develop and farmers must also has tremendous potential for agricultural the VKSA campaign will accelerate the state's agricultural transformation and empower farmers through greater access to innovation, infrastructure, and institutional support," he said. The VKSA campaign aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a self-reliant and sustainable India, and seeks to promote the widespread adoption of advanced agricultural technologies across the nation as well as in Bihar, said the union minister. The campaign's ambitious goal is to reach farmers across India through technology dissemination, capacity building, and grassroots engagement, he said adding the path to national development passes through agricultural prosperity and farmers' welfare. "Around 16,000 agricultural scientists are engaging directly with farmers. Scientists, state and central agriculture departments and agricultural universities, are working together to find ways to increase production, reduce input costs, ensure fair prices for farmers, and provide compensation in case of losses. Efforts are being made to increase the production of Bihar's famous jardalu mango, shahi litchi and marcha rice by helping farmers through advanced agricultural technologies. ..", said the Union minister. The government in April 2023 awarded the 'Geographical Indication' (GI) tag to 'marcha rice' (appears like black pepper). This rice is famous for its aromatic flavour, palatability and aromatic chura (rice flakes) making qualities. Prior to this, Bhagalpur's jardalu mango, katarni dhaan (rice), Nawada's maghai paan and Muzaffarpur's shahi litchi have already been awarded GI tag. A GI is a label applied to goods with a particular geographic origin and characteristics or a reputation derived from that origin. An indication that a product is made in a specific location is necessary for a sign to be considered for GI tag. Bihar's famous shahi litchi is worldwide popular and this fruit has only 48 hours of shelf-life, now the government is exploring options to preserve it for a longer period so that farmers get better prices, said Chouhan. Also, cold storages should be built so that farmers can get the facility to store litchis, he added. Maize production is increasing rapidly in Bihar and maize is also getting good prices. "It is the result of the policy of our PM that maize is now also being used to make ethanol," he said. "Today I got the opportunity to come to this holy land of Champaran," he said, adding this land where the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, started a movement (Champaran movement) against the atrocities and injustice being done by the British on the farmers. The VKSA-2025 campaign, which started on May 29 will continue till June 12, engaging farmers across all districts in a mission to build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready agricultural sector, said a senior official of the state agriculture department. Lok Sabha MP from East Champaran, Radha Mohan Singh, several party MLAs and senior officials of the state agriculture department and district administration were also present on the occasion.
