Latest news with #KrishiVigyanKendras
News18
a day ago
- Business
- News18
Tun Wood More Valuable Than Teak, Rosewood, Mahogany; One Tree Can Earn You Rs 2 Lakh
Tun saplings are ready in 6-12 months and mature in 3-5 years. With little care and no chemicals needed, it's an easy, low-cost option for organic farming The mountainous state of Uttarakhand, long celebrated for its natural beauty and biodiversity, is now gaining attention for its economic potential. A major contributor to this new wave of prosperity is Tun wood, grown extensively in the Kumaon and Garhwal regions. This durable and attractive timber is not only meeting local demands but is also in high demand across major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Tun wood is prized for its strength, smooth texture, and high-quality finish. What makes it especially valuable is its natural resistance to fungus and termites, making it an ideal material for furniture, musical instruments, carved idols, and architectural elements like doors and windows. Its glossy surface and sturdiness ensure long-term durability, which is why it is being used extensively across industries without hesitation. According to RP Kandpal, a resident of Bageshwar, cultivating Tun trees is relatively easy. The hilly terrain and climate of Uttarakhand are well-suited for its growth. Tun saplings are ready for planting within 6-12 months and mature within 3 to 5 years. Remarkably, it requires minimal care and no chemical pesticides, making it a cost-effective and organic farming option. A fully grown Tun tree can fetch anywhere between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh in the market, offering farmers a significant boost in income. This has made it an increasingly popular choice among local farmers and youth, many of whom are now shifting from traditional agriculture to commercial Tun farming. Recognising the potential, the government is also stepping in to support its cultivation. The Forest Department and Krishi Vigyan Kendras are providing free saplings and training to promote Tun farming. Encouraged by the rising demand and profits, many young people have returned to the hills to take up this sustainable farming practice. The growing popularity of Tun cultivation is not just generating income, it is also addressing the serious issue of migration from hill regions. With minimal investment and high returns, Tun farming is becoming a viable and promising source of 'green income' for Uttarakhand's youth and farmers. If properly promoted and supported, this could well spark a new economic revolution in the state. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
Kerala delegation to undergo intensive training in natural farming in Andhra Pradesh
A 34-member high-level delegation from Kerala will visit Andhra Pradesh from July 26 to 29 for an intensive training programme on natural farming. The team comprises scientists from agricultural universities, experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and farmer mentor trainers. This initiative, part of the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), represents a significant step in fostering inter-State collaboration in sustainable agricultural practices. The training will be hosted by the Indo-German Global Academy for Agro Ecology Research and Learning (IGGAARL), recognised as a Centre of Natural Farming under the Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) programme. IGGAARL is operated by the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, a government-supported entity promoting natural farming in Andhra Pradesh. During the programme, the Kerala delegation will receive classroom training on the core principles and practices of APCNF. They will also visit model farms and best-practice sites across Guntur and Prakasam districts, where they will engage with farmer groups, practitioners, and field facilitators who have successfully implemented natural farming methods. This visit follows an earlier exposure tour in April 2025, during which Kerala's Agriculture Minister and a team of farmers expressed strong interest in adopting APCNF models in their home state.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
House panel expresses concern over 30% staff gaps in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
A parliamentary committee on agriculture has expressed concerns over the 30 per cent staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which is 'affecting their core functions'. KVKs are the frontline of agriculture extension and are run by a plethora of organisations, starting from state agriculture universities (SAUs) to even social organisations and state governments. Recently, the Union agriculture ministry along with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other associations undertook a fortnight-long campaign to understand and address farmers' issues and their concerns. The over 730 KVKs across the country were at the forefront of the campaign. In its report on 'Promotion of Climate Resilient Agriculture, and Natural & Organic Farming through KVKs', which was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Parliamentary Committee on Estimates said that the agriculture ministry's decision to increase staff strength from 16 to 20 per KVK is a welcome step but it will be ineffective without prompt recruitment. The panel said that the ministry should urgently address disparities in service conditions across KVKs by revising the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for non-ICAR KVKs — especially those hosted by SAUs and other organisations — to align their service conditions and benefits with those of ICAR KVK employees. It also said that the agriculture ministry needs to chalk out a robust and consistent funding strategy with long-term vision for the development of KVKs. The committee said while the proposed one-time grant of ₹2,500 crore may provide some immediate relief, it cannot serve as a substitute for predictable annual funding, reflecting the evolving needs of KVKs. The report also said that the current level of financial support of ₹31,500-46,500 per hectare over three years is grossly inadequate for farmers to transition towards organic farming due to low yields and economic strain. It batted for increased direct benefit transfer (DBT) for organic farming and also for continued support for a longer period of time. The report said that due to budget constraints, only 151 out of 310 districts, which are highly and very highly vulnerable to climate change, have been selected for National Innovations in Climate Resistant Agriculture (NICRA) adaptation activities. While acknowledging the importance of natural farming (NF) as a chemical-free, sustainable practice promoted under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF), the House panel underscored the need for a standardised yet adaptable protocol, and recommended expanding NF beyond the Ganga corridor to ecologically sensitive and degraded regions.
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Business Standard
7 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Parliamentary panel flags 30% staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
The panel said 30 per cent staff shortage in KVKs is hurting core functions and called for higher per hectare support and longer assistance for organic farming under DBT New Delhi A parliamentary committee on agriculture has expressed serious concerns over a 30 per cent staff shortage in Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), which, according to the panel, is affecting their core functions. KVKs are the front-line institutions for agricultural extension and are run by a variety of organisations, including state agriculture universities, social organisations, and state governments. Recently, the Union Ministry of Agriculture, along with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other associations, conducted a fortnight-long campaign to understand and address farmers' issues and concerns. Over 730 KVKs across the country were at the forefront of the campaign. The parliamentary panel on the promotion of climate-resilient agriculture and natural and organic farming through KVKs, in its report tabled in the Lok Sabha, said the agriculture ministry's plan to increase the sanctioned staff strength in each KVK from 16 to 20 is a welcome step, but would be ineffective without prompt recruitment. It recommended that the ministry urgently address disparities in service conditions across KVKs by revising the memorandum of understanding for non-ICAR KVKs, especially those hosted by state agriculture universities (SAUs) and other organisations, to align service conditions and benefits with those of ICAR KVK employees. The panel also urged the agriculture ministry to establish a robust and consistent funding strategy with a long-term vision for KVK development. It said that while the proposed one-time grant of ₹2,500 crore may offer immediate relief, it cannot substitute for predictable annual funding increases that reflect the evolving needs of KVKs. The report further stated that the current level of financial support of ₹31,500–46,500 per hectare over three years is grossly inadequate for farmers transitioning to organic farming, owing to low yields and financial strain. The panel recommended increasing the direct benefit transfer for organic farming and extending the duration of such support. It noted that due to budget constraints, only 151 of the 310 districts identified as highly and very highly vulnerable to climate change have been selected for adaptation activities under the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programme. On natural farming, the panel acknowledged its importance as a chemical-free, sustainable practice promoted under the National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF). It underscored the need for a standardised yet adaptable protocol and recommended expanding natural farming beyond the Ganga corridor to ecologically sensitive and degraded regions.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Dwarf virus hits paddy fields, farmers forced to re-sow stare are financial loss
1 2 Patiala: Farmers across several sub-mountainous districts of Punjab are grappling with a resurgence of the Southern Rice Black-streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), locally known as the Fiji or dwarf virus. The outbreak has affected paddy fields and threatens the yield of the upcoming kharif season. In response, some farmers have uprooted infected crops and re-sown paddy, incurring significant financial losses. Agriculture director Jaswant Singh confirmed that the virus has been detected in a few districts -- Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Patiala, Mohali, and Nawanshahar -- but has not yet spread widely. "We are monitoring the situation and guiding farmers for timely action. It is critical to detect symptoms early and act promptly," he said, urging farmers to report any signs of dwarfing immediately to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or Panjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts. In Ropar, chief agriculture officer Rakesh Kumar reported virus infestation in around 100 acres. Awareness camps are being held in villages alongside ongoing field surveys. The district has a total paddy cultivation area of 39,000 hectares. Patiala district has also reported infections in villages under Samana, Rajpura, Ghanaur, and Patiala subdivisions. About 300 acres show signs of infestation, though actual crop uprooting remains limited, only a few acres in Mohabbatpura and three acres in Ghanaur, according to agriculture department officials. SRBSDV is transmitted by the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) and severely stunts plant growth. Infected plants develop narrow upright leaves, weak roots, and are nearly half or one-third of their normal height. In advanced stages, the crop may die prematurely, leading to near-total yield loss. "This year, most of the affected crop belongs to the PR 131 variety. Farmers, in panic, have started uprooting the affected paddy and resowing either Basmati or PR 126," said Jaswinder Singh, chief agriculture officer, Patiala. He noted that nearly 2.33 lakh hectares in the district are under paddy cultivation this year, with 20% under PR 131. Farmers say they are bearing heavy losses due to re-sowing. "We are spending between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre on re-sowing and about Rs 1,500 per acre for spraying insecticides to manage the infection," said Sarbjit Singh, a farmer from Mohabbatpura village in Patiala. "There will be yield loss for this late-sown crop, and we may face hurdles during the late procurement period due to high moisture content," he added. Despite following recommended preventive measures such as nursery sprays and sowing after June 15, some farmers still faced infections, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current advisories. "Even after spraying during the nursery stage and sowing after June 15, our recommended PR 131 and 132 crops were hit. Only my PR 126 was safe, but rice millers don't buy it readily, so we avoid growing it," Sarbjit said, also recalling similar infections in 2022 when no compensation was offered despite multiple representations to authorities. Bhagwant Singh, another farmer from the same village, said he had uprooted paddy on around seven acres and re-sown another variety. PAU and the state agriculture department reiterated the importance of preventive measures. They attributed the outbreak to early sowing, inadequate insecticide application during the nursery stage, and conducive humidity levels for virus transmission. AS Dhatt, director of research at PAU, stated, "Early sowing, before June 15, has been one of the major contributing factors. In 2022, similar patterns were observed. Proper spraying during the nursery phase is critical to preventing virus transmission." This year, the state government had allowed paddy sowing from June 1, advancing it from the previous year's June 10 window. PAU has released an insecticide advisory for managing WBPH, recommending targeted spraying of approved chemicals. Farmers are advised to apply these sprays at the plant base using flat-fan or hollow-cone nozzles and avoid indiscriminate use to prevent pest resistance and ecological damage. Experts also recommend weekly field inspections and simple detection methods, such as tapping the base of plants to spot WBPH, which float to the surface of standing water when disturbed. As the situation unfolds, agricultural authorities continue field surveillance and farmer outreach. However, growers remain wary, citing their experience in 2022 when significant crop losses went uncompensated, leaving them sceptical of state support.
