Latest news with #ShivrajSinghChouhan
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Foodgrain production has seen a 2.5 to 3-fold increase over last 11 years
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has stated that the country's food reserves are abundant. We are now exporting wheat, and there has been a significant increase in rice production as well. The domestic rice storage, as production has reached such levels that additional storage facilities are being arranged. This marks a record growth in agricultural output. Singh stated that during the Green Revolution (1966-1979), India's foodgrain production increased by 2.7 million tonnes annually. Between 1980 and 1990, this annual growth rose to 6.1 million tonnes. From 2000 to 2013-14, the average yearly increase was 3.9 million tonnes. However, from 2013-14 to 2025, the annual growth in foodgrain production has reached 8.1 million tonnes. Over the past 11 years, foodgrain production has seen a 2.5 to 3-fold increase, reflecting a remarkable leap in agricultural productivity.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Govt not to allow sale of biostimulants without scientific approval: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Two days after he asked chief ministers of states to immediately stop forced sale of nano-fertilisers and biostimulants to farmers, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Tuesday said the government will not allow the sale of biostimulants without scientific nod. He directed the officials of his ministry to put in place 'clear rules and SOPs (standard operating procedures)' for the sale of biostimulants. Chairing a meeting, Chouhan said that farmers raised numerous complaints about the sale of fake fertilisers, seeds, biostimulants, and nano urea during his visits to villages as part of recently concluded 15-day 'Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan', where he held direct interactions with them. Chouhan questioned why biostimulants, despite repeated renewals and years of sales, were still in the market even after several complaints stated that they were ineffective. 'Now, only those biostimulants that meet all the criteria and are proven beneficial to farmers will be approved. Approvals will now be based solely on scientific validation, and the responsibility for this will rest entirely with the concerned officials,' he said, according to an official statement. Many companies started selling biostimulants without any rules, but the government will not let this happen at any cost, he said, adding that the government will take action against suspicious manufacturers of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' Chouhan said. He also emphasised the need for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to evaluate biostimulants. Chouhan instructed the officials to put in place clear rules and SOPs, and said that irregularities will no longer be tolerated. Biostimulants are substances or microorganisms (such as beneficial bacteria, fungi, or plant extracts) that, when applied to seeds, plants, or soil, stimulate natural plant processes. The minister pointed out that for several years, around 30,000 biostimulant products were being sold unchecked, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to around 650,' he said. It is learnt that the meeting was called impromptu and no notice was given to officials. The meeting was attended by the officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and the ICAR. The biostimulants market in India was valued at approximately USD 355–362 million in 2024 and is projected to reach between USD 1.13 billion and USD 1.2 billion by 2032. On July 13, Chouhan had asked the state governments to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers such as urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). In a letter to chief ministers, Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised conventional fertilisers such as urea, DAP, etc. to farmers unless they purchase nano-fertilisers or biostimulants.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab: Use of herbicide to expedite moong, maize harvest sounds alarm bells
BATHINDA: With the harvesting of moong and spring maize at its peak in Punjab, the rampant use of toxic herbicide has come to the fore. Paraquat Dichloride - a herbicide plant killer - is being used massively to quicken the drying time of both crops as farmers are in a hurry to transplant paddy or basmati. Though Paraquat Dichloride is widely used for weeding and grass control, it is being used in the fields in Punjab on moong, also called green gram, and maize. Immediately after the spray on the plants, it starts working, and the plant is ready to be harvested in the next 48-72 hours. In doing so, farmers even overlook the health hazards. The use of Paraquat Dichloride to expedite harvesting when the crop is nearing maturity is being seen as a cause of concern. Paraquat is a highly toxic compound that can cause serious health effects. "The Registration Committee (RC) constituted under Section 5 of the Insecticides Act, 1968, in its 361st meeting on Dec 12, 2015, deliberated to review 66 pesticides, including Paraquat Dichloride, and accepted its continued use with caution, improved packaging to prevent misuse, and training for medical personnel to handle poisoning cases. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo Further, a sub-committee was constituted to review the toxicity and safety of Paraquat Dichloride," Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Dec 3, 2024, when asked about the use of the toxic chemical Paraquat by the farmers. The Centre regulates the manufacture and use of pesticides in the country through the Insecticides Act, 1968, and Insecticides Rules, 1971, and pesticides are allowed for use in the country only after considering data on different parameters such as chemistry, bio-efficacy, toxicity, packaging, and processing to ensure efficacy and safety to human beings, animals, and the environment. The details of doses, crops, precautionary measures, and antidotes are prescribed on labels and leaflets of pesticides. Dr Hargurpartap Singh from the small town of Nihal Singh Wala in Moga district is running a campaign against the use of Paraquat. He deals with acute poisoning and regularly comes across cases of ingesting Paraquat. Normally, farmers keep the chemical in their motor room or homes after use on crops and sometimes even ingest it upon any disturbance on the economic front or familial issues. He came across two cases in the last week, and both died as the intake caused multi-organ failure. In Punjab, both moong and maize are being sold below the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 8,682 per quintal and Rs 2,225 per quintal, respectively. While moong is fetching Rs 7,000-Rs 7,500 per quintal, maize is being sold at Rs 1,700-Rs 2,000 per quintal, depending upon the quality of the crop Jagraon in Ludhiana district is the biggest market for marketing of moong. Commission agents at Jagraon grain market said the crop fetched Rs 7,000-Rs 7,500.
Business Standard
4 days ago
- 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.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers in Dewas village crawl on knees to demand moong procurement centre
Indore: Farmers in Dewas district resorted to crawling on their knees, partially clothed, to demand a procurement centre for moong (green gram) in the village of Gadia. The demonstration took place in Neemkheda village of Kannod tehsil, where farmers crawled approximately 200 feet towards administrative vehicles on Saturday. Their demand was to set up a procurement centre in Gadia village, roughly two km from Neemkheda. Neemkheda village falls within the Vidisha parliamentary constituency represented by Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The incident's footage circulated widely on social media platforms on Sunday. "We were forced to crawl on knees to press our demand of setting up a procurement centre in Gadia village. The waiting period is not less than 3-4 days at the existing procurement centres due to overcrowding. The daily expense of a rental trolley comes around Rs 2,000, and there is no arrangement for toilets," Bharatiya Kisan Union, Dewas district president Om Patel said. The demonstrators said they incur financial losses to sell their moong crop at existing procurement centres, and Neemkheda and Gadia villages have the maximum number of farmers registered for selling the moong crop. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 목에 주름이 생기는 '진짜' 이유 뷰앤디 더 알아보기 Undo Presently, residents of Neemkheda and Gadia travel to procurement centres at Annapurna warehouse near the Kasarni river on Indore Road and Shri Krishna warehouse in Ambada village on Satwas road near Kannod, located approximately 5-6 km away. On Saturday, approximately 150 farmers participated in the protest, blocking Highway 41 Khandwa-Pachor in Neemkheda village, with 12 farmers crawling on their knees. Tehsildar Anjali Gupta said, "We visited the protest site and informed the farmers that regulations prevent establishing a procurement centre in Gadia. A total of 3,186 farmers have registered for moong procurement, and already there are three centres located around a 10-15 km range. The rule says to set up a centre, the distance of the centre to the farm should be around 25 km." The farmers suspended the protest after the tehsildar assured them to address their concerns by next week.
