Latest news with #Kharif
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Business
- The Hindu
State govt. urged to bear additional interest sought by NABARD from Apex bank to ensure adequate credit facilities for farmers
Dinesh Gooli Gowda, Congress MLC, has urged the State government to bear the additional interest sought by NABARD from Apex bank to ensure adequate credit facilities for farmers. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna, and the State Chief Secretary, Mr. Gowda pointed out that NABARD provided ₹5,450 crore loan to the State Apex Bank last year at 4% interest rate, which facilitated the district Apex and District Central Cooperative (DCC) banks to provide loans to farmers. However, this year, NABARD had limited the loan amount to the Apex Bank at 4% interest to ₹2,700 crore. 'Every year, NABARD provides loans to DCC banks through the State Apex Bank at low interest rates. The DCC banks provide loans to farmers through Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies in their jurisdiction. As a result, farmers can grow food grains without heavy debt burden, improve their living standards and feed our people,' he said. With the State government setting a target of distributing ₹28,000 crore credit to 37 lakh farmers to sow crops in 114.40 lakh hectares during the kharif season, there is a possibility of capital shortage for the State Apex bank and DCC banks for loan distribution in view of NABARD's regulations. As NABARD is ready to provide additional loans as required by the State by levying an interest of 8.25%, which amounts to an additional interest of 4.25%, Mr. Gowda urged the government to bridge the interest difference and ensure timely credit facility for the farmers. 'This year, the State has set a target to produce a total of 160.74 lakh tonnes of grains, including 148.48 lakh tonnes of food grains and 12.26 lakh tonnes of oilseeds. The target is to sow crops in 114.40 lakh hectares during the Kharif season,' he said. Fearing that State's Apex Bank, DCC banks and Primary Agricultural Co-operative Societies may face financial difficulties if they have to pay the additional interest to obtain loans, Mr. Gowda said there is a possibility that the State may not be able to produce the targeted amount of food grains in this financial year if they are unable to provide adequate loans to farmers. With the kharif season already beginning in the State and agricultural activities gaining momentum, Mr. Gowda said the Agriculture Department too has made preparations to distribute the required seeds and fertilizers to the farmers in the State. 'For the Agriculture Department to meet its sowing targets, it is necessary to provide farmers with adequate credit facilities at zero interest rates in a timely manner,' he said. According to the Agriculture Department, the demand for sowing seeds is 5.99 lakh quintals and demand for chemical fertilizers is 26.77 lakh metric tonnes while the sowing target is 114 lakh hectares and food grain production target is 149 lakh tonnes, he said. Mr. Gowda also said several women's self help groups (SHGs) in the State were unable to avail the zero interest rate loan facility up to ₹3 lakh as they have not been registered on the relevant portal and hence paying interest. 'There are strict regulations in portal registration, and I request on behalf of the farming community of the State to simplify them,' he said in the letter.
Business Upturn
6 hours ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Escorts Kubota Tractor sales rise marginally to 10,354 units in May 2025
By Aman Shukla Published on June 1, 2025, 14:49 IST Escorts Kubota Limited's Agri Machinery Business Division reported tractor sales of 10,354 units in May 2025, showing a marginal increase over the 10,286 units sold in May 2024. Despite the overall growth being modest, a shift in the domestic and export market dynamics is evident. In the domestic market, tractor sales stood at 9,703 units in May 2025, slightly lower than the 9,906 units recorded in the same month last year. The decline of 2% is attributed to a high base and market adjustments. However, the timely onset of the monsoon has brought optimism to the agricultural sector. With preparations underway for the Kharif crop season, expectations remain positive due to an above-normal monsoon forecast, healthy water reservoir levels, and improved liquidity conditions across rural markets. Export sales presented a more robust picture. Tractor exports surged to 651 units in May 2025, marking a 71.3% growth compared to 380 units in May 2024. This strong export performance contributed significantly to maintaining the overall growth momentum for the company during the month. For the cumulative period of April to May 2025 (the first two months of FY26), total tractor sales stood at 19,083 units, slightly below the 19,125 units sold in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year. Domestic sales during this period reached 17,851 units, down 3% from 18,398 units a year earlier. Meanwhile, export volumes for the same two-month period rose to 1,232 units from 727 units, reflecting a 69.5% increase. Overall, Escorts Kubota Limited's performance in May 2025 indicates stable market conditions, with export growth playing a critical role in offsetting the slight decline in domestic sales. The company remains aligned with agricultural trends and seasonal dynamics, with the upcoming monsoon expected to support future demand in the rural sector. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Hans India
9 hours ago
- General
- Hans India
Seethakka chairs review meet
Mancherial: Panchayat Raj and District In-charge Minister D Anasuya (Seethakka) said that the authorities should take collective steps to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes provided by the government reach everyone who is eligible. On Saturday, at the conference hall of the Integrated District Offices in Naspur, Mancherial, along with the Collectors of Mancherial, Kumrambheem Asifabad, Adilabad, and Nirmal, and others she held a review meeting on Bhu Bharathi, Indiramma Indlu, Yasangi paddy procurement, and Kharif cultivation preparations. Speaking on the occasion, the minister assured that the soaked paddy will be purchased as per the rules and that the farmers need not worry. 'Revenue conferences will be held in all mandals from June 3 to 20 and applications on land issues will be received under Bhu Bharati Act,' she said. The Minister instructed the officials to prepare for Kharif-2025 cultivation, take steps to ensure that seeds and fertilizers are available as required due to the arrival of the southwest monsoon, and take strict action against those who sell them at high prices and create artificial shortages. In view of the commencement of the Academic year on June 12, the Minister suggested that schools and hostels should be prepared, that special attention should be paid to Anganwadi centers and chickpeas be given to adolescent children for nutritional purposes.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Adequate stock of seeds, fertilizers in Mandya for sowing: Agriculture Department
There is adequate quantity of seeds and fertilizers to meet the demand of farmers in Mandya district, and measures are in place for their proper distribution through Raitha Samparka Kendras. This was stated by V.S. Ashok, Joint Director of Agriculture, Mandya, on Saturday. He said the district was experiencing good rains which were uniform and widespread. There was also an expectation that the Krishnaraja Sagar, which is the lifeline of farmers in the region, would be filled ahead of normal time this year due to early onset of monsoon. As the monsoon has intensified so has the agricultural activity gathered momentum and currently seeds of ragi, pulses, cowpea, oilseeds, and green manure crops, along with micronutrients, are being distributed on a subsidised basis to the farmers, Mr. Ashok said. He said the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation and the National Seeds Corporation have adequately stocked the paddy seeds required for the district, and the Agriculture Department is facilitating their subsidised distribution through the Raitha Samparka Kendras, cooperative societies, and FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations). Mr. Ashok urged the farmers to procure only those varieties of seeds - both traditional and hybrid—that are recommended by the Agricultural University, for the current sowing season. For the Kharif season, the district requires 73,065 metric tonnes of fertilizers against which 36,598 metric tonnes of fertilizers have been stocked with retail fertilizer dealers, the Karnataka State Seeds Corporation, and the Karnataka State Cooperative Marketing Federation Limited warehouses. 'The remaining fertilizers will be supplied based on weekly demand raised by farmers and distributed appropriately,' said the Joint Director. At present, there is no shortage of sowing seeds, fertilizers, or pesticides for farmers in Mandya, he added. In a bid to discourage the sale of spurious seeds and fertilizers, meetings have been organised in all taluks of the district with seed, fertilizer, and pesticide dealers, with strict instructions to sell only quality agricultural inputs, according to the officials. Farmers have also been urged to contact the nearest Raitha Samparka Kendras for information on crop production techniques, crop variety selection, etc. They can also contact taluk assistant agriculture director's office, the Zonal Agricultural Research Center at V.C. Farm, or the scientists at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Telangana govt spent Rs 10,665 cr on fine rice: Uttam
1 2 Hyderabad: Irrigation and civil supplies minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy on Friday said the Congress govt has spent Rs 10,665 crore to provide quality fine rice to 89.90 lakh ration card holders, benefiting 2.81 crore people across the state. He described the initiative as a historic measure to ensure food security for the poor in Telangana. "Under the Congress govt, every beneficiary now receives six kg of fine rice free of cost. The state has achieved a record paddy procurement, marking the highest level of procurement in Telangana's 11-year history, even surpassing figures during the period of undivided Andhra Pradesh," the minister said. "In the last Kharif season, farmers cultivated paddy in 46.7 lakh acres and produced a record 1.03 crore tonnes. For the Yasangi season, cultivation extended to nearly 60 lakh acres, with an expected yield of 1.30 crore tonnes. The govt will ensure that every eligible family in Telangana receives ration card," he said. On irrigation projects, Uttam issued a strong directive to officials to expedite all land acquisition and forest clearance processes related to irrigation projects. He assured farmers that he would personally oversee the process to ensure fair compensation for their land. "For 45 years, no govt undertook desilting or de-sedimentation of SRSP, which has become heavily silted and unable to store water at its full capacity. The Congress govt has now launched a comprehensive desilting and de-sedimentation programme for major irrigation projects, including SRSP and Nagarjuna Sagar, to restore their water-holding capacity and ensure farmers receive the water they need," he added.
