Latest news with #Horticulture
Hans India
16 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
Minister urges banks to boost lending for farm sector
Hyderabad: Telangana's Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao has assured that farmers will repay their loans under any circumstances, urging banks to extend necessary credit facilities to the farming community. Participating in NABARD's 44th Foundation Day celebrations, the Minister requested banks to lend where they foresee development, whether in agriculture or any allied activity. He also appealed for the provision of infrastructure to Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in Telangana. He recalled NABARD's crucial assistance in completing 30 medium irrigation projects that had been languishing due to a lack of budgetary allocation at the time. B Uday Bhaskar, Chief General Manager, NABARD, stated that this year's Foundation Day is particularly special as NABARD is celebrating a decade of transforming rural lives in Telangana. He noted that the institution has refinanced to the extent of Rs 9,673 Crore as refinance support for Self-Help Groups (SHGs). NABARD is also focusing on natural farming through its JIVA programme. M Ravindar Rao, President, Telangana State Cooperative Apex Bank (TGCAB), mentioned that many programmes are being undertaken in the Cooperative Sector in the State with NABARD's assistance. He specifically highlighted assistance of Rs 200 Crore for strengthening Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), enabling them to undertake construction of godowns, petrol pumps, and other facilities. Surendra Mohan, IAS, Registrar of Cooperative Societies, affirmed that the state government gives top priority to rural development and the advancement of women and farmers.
The Sun
a day ago
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I'm a gardening expert – here's the post-heatwave flowers you need to plant now to inject vibrant, seasonal colour
AFTER a scorching weekend, the recent cooler and wetter weather will come as a a welcome relief – especially for keen gardeners. The turn in conditions give us a perfect opportunity to revive outdoor spaces that have been left looking dull, brown and lifeless by the dry conditions. 2 2 And it's the perfect time for gardens to come alive with colour. The experts say with just a few standout plants, even the smallest yards can feel refreshed and full of life. Emma Fell, Head of Horticulture at Hillier Garden Centres, has shared her top picks for injecting vibrant, seasonal colour – from bold dahlias to cheerful rudbeckias. Whether you're working with a small patio or a full garden bed, these low-effort selections are ideal for bringing gardens back to life. Dahlia These pretty flowers are celebrated for their impressive, sculptural blooms that come in an extensive palette of colours and forms. Emma said: "From delicate pastels to fiery reds and oranges, their versatility makes them an excellent choice for creating impact. They thrive best in full sun with well-drained, fertile soil. "Regular watering and deadheading will encourage continuous flowering, often lasting from midsummer right through to the first frost. Their striking presence makes them ideal for borders or large containers.' Garvinea These blooms bring the same joyful daisy-like blooms and vivid colours as traditional gerbera, but with the added benefit of improved hardiness, the experts say. Wake up to a weed-free lawn for months thanks to Aldi's £10 gadget that pulls them out without bending or kneeling down Emma explains: "Unlike typical gerbera, which are often treated as tender bedding or indoor plants, Garvinea are bred to be more robust – able to withstand cooler UK temperatures and even light frosts. "Available in vibrant shades of pink, red, orange and yellow, they flower prolifically from spring through to autumn. "Ideal for borders, containers or cut flower displays, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, with regular feeding and watering to keep the blooms coming.' Impatiens Also known as Busy Lizzies, they are a top choice for shaded areas where many flowering plants struggle. The expert says: "Their abundant blooms in shades of pink, red, white and purple provide much-needed vibrancy to darker corners of your garden. "These plants prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil (in full shade they will be reduced in flowering). "Because of their shade tolerance and ease of care, they're perfect for brightening patios, balconies and shaded garden beds.' Geraniums Bedding geraniums are a staple for summer colour due to their robust nature and prolific blooming. Emma says: "Offering bright, cheerful flowers in reds, pinks, whites and purples, these plants are drought-tolerant once established and perform well in full sun to partial shade. "Their versatility makes them ideal for edging beds, containers or hanging baskets, providing reliable colour throughout the warmer months." Rudbeckia These flowers bring warm, golden yellow blooms with dark centres that add a striking contrast to any planting scheme. And they flower from midsummer into autumn. The garden guru added: "They are excellent for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies. "Rudbeckias prefer full sun and well-drained soil, making them low maintenance yet highly effective plants for summer colour."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bill OBoyle: Ensuring the Christmas tree industry stays healthy
Jul. 13—WILKES-BARRE — You may have noticed recent stories about "Christmas in July" events happening throughout our region. It's a fun thought — especially with these recent hot and humid days we've been having. It's nice to think about Christmas and snow and Santa and family celebrations and, oh yeah, Christmas trees. So it was very comforting to hear that Pennsylvania's Christmas tree industry has a new, reliable, competent friend in Kelly Piccioni — Penn State Extension's horticulture educator — who has been hired to support the state's Christmas tree industry with field visits, scouting reports and clear, easy-to-follow guidance. Before I get into why this is so significant, just know that those of you who still enjoy the long-standing tradition of having a real Christmas tree adorn your homes for the holidays, Piccioni has your back. When I was a kid, my mom always insisted on having a perfectly proportioned Douglas fir in our front room — centered in front of two large windows for the neighborhood to see and admire. Mom, Dad and I would head over to Last Chance in Breslau to pick one out, strap it to our car and head home to set it up and then decorate. Back then, most homes had real trees of varying species, and all were magnificent. Which is why Piccioni has a big job to do — to see that the tradition of real Christmas trees continues and that tree farmers have all the information and guidance they need. A news release from University Park states, "At one time, Christmas Eve was the most popular day to buy and decorate a Christmas tree. The evergreen would stay up through the holiday season and into the winter, offering a symbol of life during the darkest months. "For Penn State Extension Horticulture Educator Kelly Piccioni, Christmas trees are a family legacy. Her roots in the Christmas tree business stretch back four generations, starting with her great-grandfather, who bought trees off the railroad and resold them. Her grandparents grew trees in Schuylkill County and sold them from their backyard on Centre Avenue in Reading, Berks County." Piccioni knows all about the Christmas tree tradition. "Growing up, we did every job on the farm," Piccioni said. "There's even a special 'Christmas tree waddle' we learned as kids for planting seedlings." Piccioni provides educational resources and support to commercial producers of Christmas trees, cut flowers and other horticultural crops in the region. Her role is especially significant given that Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for Christmas tree production. "I've been out as much as possible, which has been so fun," Piccioni said. "You see the challenges people face, their strengths and the progress on their farms. Christmas tree growers are some of the best people. That's always drawn me to the green industry and ag world. I get to geek out every day as they let me walk around their farms." Each Thursday, growers subscribed to the Christmas Tree Production Area of Interest list receive a new report noting pest and disease activity observed in the field, along with pesticide guidance and management tips. Piccioni collaborates closely with the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association to deliver content and support grower meetings and information sharing. "Yes, we're always competing with artificial trees, but so many people keep coming back to a real tree because they miss the tradition, they miss the smell, and they want their kids to experience it," she said. Piccioni cited a 2024 consumer survey by the Real Christmas Tree Board, in which more than 80% of respondents agreed that the scent of a real Christmas tree makes their home feel festive, relaxes them and enhances their holiday experience. "I think everyone feels a bit of the innocence of childhood seeping away with technology," she said. "There's so much pressure and chaos at that time of year, but going out to get a real tree forces you to slow down. It's childlike in the best way." For real. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Mail & Guardian
02-07-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Ample grain and oilseed harvest in SA bodes well for food price inflation
Agriculture in the country is experiencing a recovery season for its grain and oilseed production, although some areas may have quality problems Glimpses of positivity often arise from the agricultural data and are worth highlighting. These do not suggest that all is well with South Africa's agriculture; we continue to struggle with animal diseases in cattle farming and the poultry industry. But, if one is in horticulture or field crop production, the operating conditions are more favourable. The message I continue to receive from farmers of various fruits, vegetables, grains and oilseeds, as well as other field crops, suggests a promising agricultural season. The yields are up from last year's drought. For a moment, I was worried that the excessive rains throughout April would cause quality damage to some crops. At the start of the harvest season, particularly in some grains, some farmers also had this concern. But things seem to have changed quite significantly. I've heard that the quality of crops, especially soybeans, is not as bad as we anticipated, although there are areas with problems. Nevertheless, what is encouraging is seeing a continuous upward revision of the harvest. For example, on 27 June, the Crop Estimates Committee (CEC) released its fifth production estimate for the 2024-25 season, lifting the expected harvest. While there are five more estimates to come in the following months, when we reach the fifth estimate, we generally have more confidence in the size of the crop, as well as its quality, because some areas would have delivered a sizable share of their crop to the silos. The CEC raised South Africa's 2024-25 summer grains and oilseeds production by 3% from the May 2025 estimate to 18.43 million tonnes. This represents a 19% increase from the previous season. A closer look at the data shows that the monthly upward revisions were primarily in maize (+1%), soybeans (+14%) and dry beans (+4%). The other crops were roughly unchanged from the previous month. More specifically, the maize harvest is now forecast at 14.78 million tonnes, which is 15% higher than the crop for the 2023-24 season. Of these 14.78 million tonnes, about 7.65 million tonnes is white maize, and 7.13 million tonnes is yellow maize. Importantly, these forecasts are well above South Africa's annual maize needs of about 12.00 million tonnes, implying that South Africa will have a surplus and remain a net exporter of maize. Regarding oilseeds, the soybean harvest is estimated at 2.65 million tonnes, representing a 43% year-over-year increase. The annual uptick is primarily because of improved yields resulting from favourable rainfall. A significant portion of the soybean crop has already been delivered to commercial silos, and the quality is generally encouraging. Importantly, this is the second-largest harvest on record, and it is not even finished. The record harvest of 2.77 million tonnes was recorded in the 2022-23 production season. This ample harvest also means South Africa will remain a net exporter of soybeans and products. We are far from the time when we were a net importer of soybean products for animal feed, mainly oilcake. We are now in a net exporter position. Sunflower seeds are up 15% from the previous season and are estimated at 727.800 tonnes. The groundnut harvest is estimated at 63.510 tonnes (up 22% year-on-year), sorghum production is estimated at 137.970 tonnes (up 41% year-on-year), and the dry beans harvest is at 74.299 tonnes (up 47% year-on-year). The base effects and favourable agricultural conditions boosted the yields. We see the benefit of the solid harvest in generally softening commodity prices, which are now at lower levels than last year, boding well for the moderating food price inflation for the year. The benefits of these ample harvests may be more evident in the inflation data in the second half of the year. Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Lakhanpur facilitation centre all set to welcome Amarnath yatris
With the onset of Amarnath Yatra, the Lakhanpur corridor, the gateway to Jammu & Kashmir for pilgrims arriving via road, has been transformed into a well-equipped, multi-utility facilitation centre by the Kathua district administration to ensure a safe, smooth, and spiritually enriching experience for the yatris. Security personnel stand guard outside Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, a base camp, ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, in Jammu, on Monday. (PTI) Kathua deputy commissioner Rakesh Minhas said, 'Lakhanpur is all set to welcome the yatris with robust arrangements to ensure their comfort, safety, and spiritual satisfaction. Every aspect, from RFID registration to lodging and health care, has been carefully planned and executed.' The gateway to Jammu & Kashmir is now fully prepared to welcome thousands of pilgrims with comprehensive arrangements ranging from registration to accommodation, health care to cultural engagement. A reception centre has been set up to provide point-to-point information. Pilgrims are being extended facilities like hot meals, drinking water, sanitation, rest zones, and other essential services for their comfort during transit. A 24x7 information help desk has been made operational to respond to yatris' queries and assist them throughout their stay. For mandatory verification and tracking, 12 RFID registration centres have been established in the district, including a major hub at Lakhanpur. A dedicated facilitation centre is set up for the eKYC process and RFID tag issuance for pre-registered yatris, ensuring real-time tracking and improved security throughout their pilgrimage. Medical preparedness has also been prioritised. Besides, a five-bedded, fully-equipped hospital has been established at the Lakhanpur facilitation centre, offering emergency care and first aid. Doctors, paramedics and essential medicines are available round-the-clock to handle any medical situation. Cultural and promotional activities are adding a vibrant touch to the spiritual journey. An arcade of stalls by various government departments including AYUSH, Horticulture, Agriculture, and NRLM SHGs showcases local art, crafts, and public welfare schemes. Food stalls serve regional cuisines, offering yatris a taste of local flavours. Tourism department's digital displays highlight the scenic, spiritual, and cultural wealth of J&K, while the troupes of information department are all set to entertain crowds with devotional music and traditional performances (Shiv Tandava & laser & light show). Besides, the 24X7 help desk is manned by the information department to resolve queries of the yatris. Minhas further informed that a contingency plan has also been activated, with 36 lodgement centres across the district kept ready to accommodate yatris in case of unexpected halts. These centres are equipped with all basic amenities for a comfortable stay. On the security front, a multi-tier security grid comprising police, paramilitary and other forces has been deployed. The setup includes joint nakas, CCTV surveillance, QRTs, and area domination patrols to ensure 24x7 vigilance and a safe environment for the yatris. The DC appealed to all devotees to avail of the RFID facility at Lakhanpur, cooperate with the administration and follow the issued advisories for a peaceful and smooth yatra.
