02.02.2016

Punjab asks PM to push for public stock-holding of food grains

In a bid to ensure country’s food security, Punjab wants the Centre to push

for finalising the work programme for public stock holding of food grains

and Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) in the special sessions of

committee on agriculture during the upcoming negotiation meet of World

Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday wrote a letter to Prime

Minister Narendra Modi urging for his personal intervention in the matter.

“India should mobilise an opinion amongst the developing countries to

support these issues during the negotiations in the committee in the larger

interest of small farmers of these countries and more importantly, food

security of our country,” Mr. Badal said. The food-grain requirements would

increase with the rise in population in the coming years and to ensure the

food security for the people, the public stock holding was necessary so that

requirements under the National Food Security Act could be met.

“We don’t consider the public stock holding as a distortion in the market as

it is important for us to provide access to food at affordable prices to our

growing population. Besides, sufficient stocks need to be maintained to

ensure availability in case of a crop failure in a situation where more than

half of the agriculture production is received from un-irrigated areas,” he

wrote.

Mr. Badal expressed concern that absence of SSM would expose the

domestic market to the cheap imports from the developed countries and

would impair the agricultural production and thereby the livelihoods of

small farmers of the country.

WTO ministerial meeting in Nairobi in December 2015 ended with a

declaration welcoming the progress on Doha development agenda.

M.P. farmers to felicitate Modi on Feb. 18: Chouhan

The farmers of Madhya Pradesh will felicitate Prime Minister Narendra

Modi for implementing the crop insurance scheme, during his visit to the

State on February 18, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

Describing the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ as “best”, Mr Chouhan

said, “Now farmers will get 25 per cent amount immediately.”

Mr Chouhan was addressing a function at his residence on Sunday evening

to felicitate agriculturists at a farmers’ convention on the conferment of

‘Krishi Karman Award’ to Madhya Pradesh for fourth time for its

outstanding performance in food grain production.

He informed that farmers of the State will felicitate the Prime Minister

during his visit to the state on February 18.

On the occasion, he also honoured field officers for extending cooperation to

farmers in increasing farm production and productivity.

The convention was organised by Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture

Development Department.

“Madhya Pradesh has won this award due to the hard work of farmers who

produced good crops despite adverse conditions,” the Chief Minister said.

On the suggestion of farmers, he announced to re-structure the ‘Balram

Talab Yojana’.

“A scheme will also be chalked out to take water of rivulets and nullahs to

fields. It is a priority of the State government to irrigate every field,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Chouhan also announced that 1,000 progressive farmers will

be sent to foreign countries to study modern farming systems and that a

farmers’ advisory board will also be constituted.

“The board will comprise progressive farmers of every crop to give advice

to government to frame policies and strategies,” he said. - PTI

Handloom expo in Ongole wows visitors

Prakasam district In-charge Collector Dr. M. Hari Jawaharlal at the

handloom expo in Ongole on Monday.- Photo: Kommuri Srinivas

A nine-day handloom exhibition began on a colourful note on Monday to

woo the fashion-conscious with a variety of eco-friendly handloom products

including silk and cotton saris.

Inaugurating the expo, Joint Collector and In-charge Collector M. Hari

Jawaharlal exhorted people to give a helping hand by buying exquisitely

woven garments by expert weavers who carried forward the artistic legacy

for generations.

“Handloom products represent India’s civilisation,” he said, taking a cue

from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called for promotion of Khadi

which provided employment to crores of people in the country. As many as

29 stalls were put by the handloom cooperative societies at the Fancy Goods

Merchants Association hall displaying eye-catching saris and dress material

and shirts to suit the budget of different sections of people, said Handlooms

Regional Deputy Director V.Kamaleshwar Rao.

The saris on display included those from the world famous Venkatagiri,

Pochampally, Chirala and Mangalagiri.

Saris woven by master weavers from Warangal hogged the limelight as also

soft cottons from Ponduru. The expo will remain open between 9.00 am and

9.00 pm.

Handlooms Assistant Director M. Ramamurthy Naidu brought cheers to

weavers by announcing that the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development (NABARD) had sanctioned Rs. 2.70 crore for 29 of the 53

cooperative societies in the district.

Needed, a comprehensive view of conservation

The Pallikaranai marsh came into focus in December when large tracts were

dry just a few days after the floods —Photo: Shaju John

Environmentalists and naturalists decry a key-hole view of conserving

wetlands. Protection of any major wetland is possible only if the health of

buffer wetlands around it is taken into consideration.

Similarly, the pollution levels in the whole region and threat from

encroachments have to be factored in.

“There is no point in calling a place like Pallikaranai a wetland if no

cognizance is taken of the pollution the whole area is subjected to. Instead of

simply focussing on the wetland alone, the buffer wetlands around it, which

are 32 in number, need to be treated as ecological extensions with equal

importance,” said Jayashree Vencatesan, founder of Care Earth Trust.

The Trust, which had worked on an adaptive management plan for the

conservation of the marsh, stressed on the need for people to be a major part

of the process.

Even though the northern side of the wetland has becoming a dumping spot

for garbage, the southern side, which has fresh water flowing into it, has

been a home for many rare migratory birds.

“From clearing out weeds to ensuring that there are no obstructions for the

water which flows into the wetland, attention should be given to ensuring

water retention in Pallikaranai. With several birds making the place their

home, it is the best we can do to ensure that the ecosystem is protected,” said

K.V.R.K. Thirunaranan, founder of The Nature Trust, adding that the

wetland attracted over 140 species of birds.

The area came into focus, when after being flooded in the first week of

December, large tracts of the wetland were suddenly almost dry a few days

later.

The tranquil Pulicat lake, which is the second largest brackish water lake in

the country, has long been attracting people as well as winged visitors.

“Despite having all the necessary characteristics, the place has not been

declared as a Ramsar Site. Such a declaration would have probably assisted

efforts to protect it,” noted T. Murugavel, a naturalist. Stating that the at

least 10 km of the area around Pulicat should be declared as a ‘No-

development zone’, Mr. Murugavel pointed out that the Nellapattu channel

as well as other surrounding tanks, which are breeding spots for birds, were

being appropriated for other purposes.

“Many birds roost and nest in the surrounding wetlands and come to the lake

for feeding. Many of these places are being earmarked for real estate and

other development,” he said.

In a similar context, environmentalists pointed out that agricultural lands

surrounding Vedanthangal, which are also considered wetlands, were being

fast taken over for other purposes, robbing migratory birds of their food

source, including insects and reptiles.

The southern side of the Pallikaranai wetland has been a home for many

rare migratory birds

Educating farmers on climate change

A seminar was organised at Agricultural College and Research Institute

(ACRI), Killikulam, on Monday.

During the programme, H. Annamalai, Senior Researcher and Scientist

International Pacific Research Centre University of Hawaii, in his lecture,

said the global temperature was increasing year by year due to the increased

levels of carbon dioxide along with the water vapour.

The black carbon aerosols were abundant due to the pollution. Climate

models had been developed at the University of Hawaii to help the farming

community in the prediction of climate change.

In a statement, he emphasised the need for awareness of climate change to

the farmers so as to plan their agricultural activities and types of crops

according to their knowledge. At the programme on Clima Rice jointly with

University of Hawaii and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, concentration

was more on the deltaic regions of Tamil Nadu.

Earlier V. Subramanian, Dean, ACRI, welcomed. D.Shoba, programme

coordinator of science, proposed a vote of thanks. Postgraduate students and

professors of various disciplines attended.

‘Make funds available for farm research’

While pointing out at the challenges before the agriculture sector in the wake

of climate change, degradation of soil and increasing population, Bikram

Gill, senior professor at the Kansas University, U.S., has said that the Union

and State governments should ensure the availability of sufficient funds for

research in the agriculture sector.

Delivering the keynote address at a national seminar on Genetics and

Cytogenetics at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, here on

Monday, Mr. Gill said that the lack of amenities and resources were coming

in the way of agricultural research in India.

Survey to assess livelihood of fishers

: The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute on Monday began the

National Marine Fisheries Census 2016, which is a month-long survey to

assess the livelihood and living conditions of fisherfolk.

While this is a national-level exercise to obtain baseline data for the Union

government on the livelihood needs of fishermen, Principal Scientist P.K.

Asokan said in a press release that at the regional level, the institute would

coordinate the census in Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode and Malappuram.

The Fishery Survey of India would supervise the census on Andaman and

Nicobar and the Lakshadweep islands.

Ealier, the survey was carried out once in 10 years. Now, it would be done

every five years, with funding from the Department of Animal Husbandry,

Dairy and Fisheries of the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’

Welfare, he said.

Information on the families of fishermen, the fishing craft and gear, social

and educational profile and demographic features of fishing villages would

be collected to provide the baseline data.

Survey will obtain baseline data for Union government

It will be carried out once in five years

Agro industries to check migration

People migrating from Itchapuram, Srikakulam.– Photo: BASHEER

Srikakulam has a population of around 25.6 lakh and around 4.3 lakh

people have migrated in search of greener pastures

The State government which is worried with the large scale migration of

labourers, farmers and youngsters from Srikakulam district has come out

with a new action plan for the promotion of multi zone and agro-based

industries in all the three divisions of the district.

Srikakulam has a population of around 25.6 lakh and around 4.3 lakh people

have migrated so far in search of green pastures. The figure is expected to

cross 5 lakh this year with the migration of low-income group farmers is on

the rise, according to officials. Many of them are opting for Tamil Nadu as

they get more wages and food at affordable cost in Amma canteens where

each meal is served at Rs.13 only. Others are looking for livelihood options

in places such as Bengaluru, New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad

and other cities.

The locals are strongly objecting the thermal plants and pharmaceutical

companies, fearing pollution and other problems. In this background, the

government has allowed proposals selectively for establishment of industries

in the district to curb migration.

It has planned to encourage establishment of 6,274 small and medium

industries with an estimated outlay of Rs. 460 crore.

As many as seven major companies have come forward to set up units in the

district. They have already signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs)

with the government during the Partnership Summit held recently in

Visakhapatnam.

According to an official report, Dr. Reddy’s Labaratories will invest Rs.184

crore and Vizianagaram Foods Company will set up an industry at Rs.142

crore.

Trimex Sands Private Limited planned to invest Rs. 4,500 crore and

Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) will invest Rs. 150 crore in a

mega food park in Sompeta region.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly directed Collector P.

Lakshmi Narasimham to provide all the necessary support to the

entrepreneurs and find out a permanent problem for migration. The

government has observed that many migrated persons are facing difficulties

in Gulf countries and other places. The officials also fear that agriculture

activities would also come down, if farmers continue to migrate. The

government is hopeful of beginning of Bhavanapadu port and harbor in

Kalingapatnam this year.

“People will not leave the district if they are assured of proper income here.

Elderly persons and children have become victims with the migration of

middle-aged people and youngsters. Now, those can look after them easily,”

said P. Rambabu, a social worker.

Investments galore

Dr. Reddy’s Labaratories to invest Rs.184 cr. in the district

Vizianagaram Foods Company to set up industry at Rs.142 crore

Trimex Sands Pvt. Limited to invest Rs. 4,500 crore

Nagarjuna Construction Company to invest Rs. 150 crore in a mega food

park in Sompeta

CMFRI to be open to public tomorrow

In connection with its 69th foundation day on February 3, the Central

Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) is conducting various

programmes for school and college students.

The objective is to create awareness among the younger generation on the

research activities of the institute.

The programme is being conducted in accordance with the policy of the

Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Government of India to attract

youngsters to agriculture and allied sectors with a view to sustain

agriculture.

Students can walk in to CMFRI, interact with scientists, visit various

laboratories, aquariums and the marine biodiversity museum on the day

between 10 a. m. and 1 p. m., said a press release here. The CMFRI museum

accommodates over 2,200 specimens of marine flora and fauna. Public also

can visit the institute on the day.

There is no fee for the visit to the CMFRI.

Marine fisheries census gets under way

National marine fisheries census began on Monday across the country under

the aegis of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, carried out by the

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute covering the maritime States and

Union territories.

Around 3,000 enumerators will visit an estimated 11 lakh fishermen families

in 4,250 marine fishing villages in 73 districts in the country.

The data collection will be supervised by 220 officials of ICAR-CMFRI

across the country.

The 30-day exercise is to collect primary data on marine fishermen families

and fishing craft and gears. The census will also yield data on the social and

educational condition of the marine fishermen community.

Rs. 4 crore

The fisheries census involves an expenditure of nearly Rs. 4 crore and it is

being funded by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and

Fisheries.

More schemes for coir sector

The government will spend more money on research and development in the

coir sector to bring out more quality products, Home Minister Ramesh

Chennithala has said.

He was inaugurating Coir Kerala 2016, the sixth edition of the annual trade

event on coir and natural fibres, at the EMS stadium here on Monday. The

Minister said the event was aimed at increasing exports. The ultimate

beneficiary of the success of the event would be the toiling masses. The coir

sector had about 3.75 lakh workers, the majority of whom were women.

Earlier, Minister for Coir Adoor Prakash said the government was keen on

procurement of husk to tide over shortage of husk faced by the industry. The

State government had already provided Rs.11 crore this year for husk

procurement, he said.

Coir Kerala showcases an array of innovative coir products and

technologies. The international pavilion will have 125 stalls, while the

national pavilion will feature 135 stalls. Over 150 international buyers from

54 countries in addition to domestic buyers will participate in the five-day

event.

The fair offers a forum for scientists, researchers, and policymakers to

discuss initiatives to create jobs, to improve condition of coir workers, and

to raise productivity and earnings.

It will also serve as a platform for the State’s coir producers and exporters to

explore and pursue opportunities for marketing their products across the

world. Coir Secretary and Coir Kerala 2016 chairperson Rani George

welcomed the gathering. Minister for Agriculture K.P. Mohanan will

inaugurate an international seminar on February 2. A number of experts and

senior officials will attend the international seminars on February 2 and 3 on

the theme of ‘‘Product diversification in natural fibre scenario with emphasis

on coir sector.’’

Farmers cautioned about blast disease in paddy

“Take all preventive measures and monitor the crop consistently”

Considering the prevalence of blast disease (or rice blast) in paddy crops in

Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts, Agriculture Department officials have

cautioned the farmers in Madurai district to be vigilant about the disease.

Speaking to The Hindu , S. Kanagaraj, Joint Director (Agriculture), urged

the farmers to take all preventive measures and monitor the crops

consistently. He said that if there were any symptoms of the disease, the

farmers could immediately touch base with Agriculture Department for

assistance.

According to the officials, preliminary symptoms of blast disease, caused

by Magnaporthe griseafungus, will include white to gray-green lesions or

spots with brown coloured borders in any part of the rice plant.

An official said that during the monitoring taken up two weeks ago for the

weekly Pest Surveillance Report, it was found that paddy crop on around

300 hectares in the district was affected. However, a week later, the area had

come down by around 100 hectares due to preventive and control measures

taken, he said.

He also said that the disease was more prevalent in Tirumangalam and

Chellampatti regions compared to regions like Melur, Madurai East and

Madurai West which come under Periyar-Vaigai irrigation system.

He added that BPT rice variety (or commonly called Andhra Ponni ) was

more susceptible to the disease in these regions.

Temperature conducive

He added that low night time temperatures prevailing at present in the

district provided apt conditions for the spread of the fungus.

Officials said that apart from preventive measures like avoiding late

planting, avoiding grasses and weeds, several chemical methods were also

available to control the disease. “Affected farmers can contact us and all

help and guidance will be provided,” Mr. Kanagaraj said.

During the monitoring taken up two weeks ago, it was found that paddy

crop on around 300 hectares in the district was affected: official

Indian mills set to sell 1 m tonnes more sugar

Of the total 1 million tonnes contracted, around 700,000 tonnes have already

moved out of the country. —file photo

Indian sugar mills have contracted to sell one million tonnes of sugar in the

2015-2016 season and expect to sign deals for another million tonnes this

season as exports head for China, the president of an industry body said on

Monday.

“One million tonnes have been contracted and another one million tonnes

will be contracted,” Tarun Sawhney, president of Indian Sugar Mills

Association, told a conference in Dubai.

Of the total 1 million tonnes contracted, around 700,000 tonnes have already

moved out of the country.

Mr Sawhney said many of the current and future contracts were with

Myanmar, where they are expected to be smuggled into China, the world’s

top importer.

“It will go to China,” he said. “The contracts are all through Myanmar and

from there it’s just being taken up country.”

The smuggling of agricultural products along China’s borders with Vietnam

and Myanmar has long been a problem.

China’s sugar industry has urged the government to tackle resurgence in

smuggling across the country’s southern borders, after huge volumes of

cheap sugar were estimated to have illegally entered the country in recent

months.

Mr Sawhney also said domestic sugar production would reach 26 million

tonnes in the 2015/2016 season, which runs from October to September, and

would probably see the same figure for the coming 2016/2017 season.

India produced 28.3 million tonnes in the 2014/2015 season. “It is too early

to tell but most likely there will no decrease and no increase,” Mr Sawhney

said.

“Uttar Pradesh will most likely compensate for the drop in Maharashtra and

Karnataka.”

The first back-to-back drought in nearly three decades has hit cane

plantation in India’s key producing states Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar

Pradesh.

One Indian official previously estimated that the drop in plantings for the

2016/17 season means that acreage could fall by about a third after a

faltering monsoon damaged thousands of hectares of cane in the world’s

second-biggest producer.

Mr Sawhney said India would meet its target of blending five per cent

ethanol in all gasoline sold this sugar year for the first time and surpass it.

“We can cross five per cent ethanol blending.”

Oil companies have never met the current five per cent blending target as

ethanol derived from molasses, the thick syrup produced by boiling down

sugarcane juice in sugar refining, costs more than gasoline without including

taxes. — Reuters

FARMERS-MP

MP FARMERS TO FELICITATE MODI ON FEB 18: CHOUHAN

The farmers of Madhya Pradesh will felicitate Prime Minister Narendra

Modi for implementing the crop insurance scheme, during his visit to the

state on February 18, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

Describing the ‘Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana’ as the “best”, Chouhan

said, “Now farmers will get 25 per cent amount immediately.”

Chouhan was addressing a function at his residence on Sunday to felicitate

agriculturists at a farmers’ convention on the conferment of ‘Krishi Karman

Award’ to Madhya Pradesh for the fourth time for its outstanding

performance in food grain production.

On the occasion, he also honoured field officers for extending cooperation to

farmers in increasing farm production.PTI

World’s first robot-run farm to open in Japan

A Japanese firm said on Monday it would open the world’s first fully

automated farm with robots handling almost every step of the process, from

watering seedlings to harvesting crops.

Kyoto-based Spread said the indoor grow house will start operating by the

middle of 2017 and produce 30,000 heads of lettuce a day.

It hopes to boost that figure to half a million lettuce heads daily within five

years.

The farm, measuring about 4,400 square metres, will have floor-to-ceiling

shelves where the produce is grown.

Seed planting by people

“Seed planting will still be done by people, but the rest of the process,

including harvesting, will be done (by industrial robots),” company official

Koji Morisada said.

The move to robot labour would chop personnel costs by about half and

knock energy expenses down by nearly one third, he added.

The pesticide-free lettuce will also have more beta carotene than other farm-

grown lettuce, the company said.

Robot-obsessed Japan has repeatedly turned to automated workers to fill

labour shortages that are projected to get worse as the country rapidly ages.

— AFP

The country has turned to automated workers to fill labour shortages

Water-level at KRS stands at 100 ft

The not-so-rosy situation has been attributed to the Cauvery catchment areas

in Kodagu district not receiving good rain in 2015.— photo: By special

arrangement

Water-level in Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) near Srirangapatna, the main

drinking water source to Bengaluru and other districts, stood at 100 ft on

Monday evening.

The Cauvery catchment areas in Kodagu district and along the upstream of

the KRS did not receive good rainfall in 2015.

The water-level in the reservoirwas 100.16 ft at 7 a.m. on Monday and 100 ft

on Monday evening, a senior officer at the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd.

(CNNL), told The Hindu.

The full reservoir level (FRL) is 124.8 ft and the dead storage level is 74 ft.

The inflow into the reservoir was at the rate of just 224 cusecs, while the

outflow was at the rate of 3,420 cusecs on Monday, the officer said.

According to the CNNL source, of the outflow quantum, at least 3,000

cusecs is being released from the KRS to save the standing crops as decided

at the recently held meeting of the Irrigation Consultative Committee of

KRS, Cauvery command area.

Sugarcane gutted

About 480 tonnes of sugarcane grown in 12 acres belonging to Maningappa

Hadpad, Dadabai Kumbi, Yellappa Kambar and Ramappa Kambar of

Hulihonda village in Nandikatta Gram Panchayat in Mundgod taluk were

gutted on Sunday, according to a report here on Monday.

Fire broke out following a short circuit, according to the report. With the

help of a the Fire and Emergency Services and local people, the fire was

brought under control but 90 per cent of the crop was lost.

Village Accountant A.V. Naik visited the spot. The loss has been estimated

at Rs. 9.6 lakh, according to the report.

Farmers producers’ company in Tiruchirapalli clocks profit

The Tiruchi District Farmers' Producers Company has been gradually

gaining ground in Thuraiyur. File photo

The company plans to diversify into retail trade; to set up grocery business.

The Tiruchi District Farmers’ Producer Company, which was floated in July

last year, has been registering a steady growth and has netted a profit of

about Rs. 2 lakh so far. It has planned further to diversify its trading activity

to strengthen its financial base.

The company, which was started on July 5 last year, with strength of about

352, now has 1,000-odd members from a cluster of villages in and around

Thuraiyur. The members have dairy farming as their main occupation and

the company had been selling the milk to a private dairy. “The company has

netted a profit of Rs. 2 lakh so far and we plan to diversify,” said R. Kiruba,

Joint Director of the company which has so far implemented two

programmes: sale of fodder and supply of sprayer to the members.

Ms. Kiruba and R. Arunachalam, its director, said the company had planned

to sell provisions at a fair price to the members of the company.

They said the company had identified a shed belonging to the Cooperative

Marketing Committee in town where the provisions unit would be started by

next month.

Mr. Arunachalam said the facility would be made available for the members

of the public next month. He said the company was now issuing share

certificates to its members.

Agriculture in Vidarbha, Marathwada at high risk to climate

change: Report

State working with Centre for bringing changes in crop patterns, modifying

investments.

The districts of Marathwada and Vidarbha witnessing maximum farmer

suicides in Maharashtra face higher risk to climate change. A report by the

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

recommends the state government to initiate policies and measures to adapt

to climate changes that would be detrimental to the agro-sector in 14

districts affected by severe drought across Vidarbha and Marathwada.

According to the Central Research Institute for Dryland Farming, “The

districts in Marathwada and Vidarbha face very high risk to climate change.

Studies warn that if no action is taken, financial implications on account of

damages due to climate change would be massive. Mumbai alone can incur

financial damages of as much as Rs 2 trillion due to climate change-related

damages.”

CRIDA has also mapped the vulnerability atlas of India, a collection of maps

showing parts of India vulnerable to natural disasters.

At least 80 per cent of the total area under agriculture cultivation is rainfed

in Maharashtra. “Climate change was never factored in our policy-making or

annual state budget. Now, for the first time in 2014-15, unseasonal hailstorm

and changing rain patterns extending to longer dry spells have come as an

eye opener to policymakers in the state,” said sources in the agriculture and

irrigation ministry.

Out of the total 355 talukas in the state, 226 talukas received deficiant rain.

While 112 talukas received normal rainfall, only 17 talukas received excess

rainfall.

According to officials, a study done by TERI has identified Maharashtra as

one of the most vulnerable states in India. Based on biophysical, social and

technological indicators, the state has low “adaptive capacity” to climate

change, meaning that it has little potential to respond successfully to climate

variability and change, including adjustments in resources and technologies.

The state falls in the zone of high to very high climate sensitivity, with a

widespread dependence on agriculture.

The region is also interpreted as an area of “double exposure” where

globalisation and climate change pose simultaneous challenges to the

agriculture sector.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with the Ministry of Environment,

Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has sought funds to undertake

adaption and mitigation measures to tackle climate change.

The ministry has approved a proposal submitted by the state government

related to challenges in agriculture growth due to climate change.Apart from

the “Jalyukt Shivar” water conservation project, the government has

emphasised on crop pattern changes and promoting horticulture.

Water management has been accorded the highest priority and the

government is pushing for the adoption of new technologies to cope with the

shortage in rainfall.

The policy also includes agriculture practices to improve soil fertility.

Higher yield and lower input cost is being modelled to help farmers.

Indian scientists unlock the paan leaf’s health secrets

Indian scientists have identified five varieties of betel leaf that have anti-

inflammatory properties.

Modern Indian scientists are validating Ayurveda’s claims about the humble

paan’s medicinal and therapeutic properties. (Source: Thinkstock Images)

The next time you hear the words ‘Meetha patta’ or ‘Madrasi patta’, don’t

ignore the humble heart-shaped popular mouth-freshener. Paan — or betel

leaf — could provide the key to unlock an arsenal of anti-inflammatory

drugs, claim Indian researchers.

Scientists at University of Calcutta and Indian Institute of Chemical Biology

in Kolkata, have examined nine varieties of betel leaf and identified the ones

that can reduce inflammation.

A part of India’s food culture, Ayurvedic texts have mentioned the

medicinal properties and therapeutic effects of betel leaf.

“Usually people generalise paan as one variety and don’t know that some

varieties could be causing them harm in the long run,” said Ena Ray

Banerjee, of the university’s Immunology and Regenerative Medicine

Research Laboratory.

“Among the nine varieties, five showed anti-inflammatory properties, one

showed the tendency to cause inflammation, and three didn’t show

significant anti-inflammatory activity,” Banerjee said on the sidelines of the

‘Frontiers in Translational and Regenerative Biology’ conference on January

31.

According to Banerjee, the findings presented at the conference will pave

the way for the “possible development of new class of anti-inflammatory

drugs”.

Inflammation — such as pain, soreness or swellings — are important

immune responses and several naturally occurring products like leafy greens

have the power to curb inflammation and prevent diseases.

Banerjee said the study also links environmental influence to the anti-

inflammatory attributes of paan. “The soil and nutrient conditions, climate

and farming profile impact the kind of functional role the leaves have,”

Banerjee said, adding that focused biodiversity conservation policies should

be a major thrust area.

3 cases of mangrove destruction reported in Mumbai last month

Navi Mumbai, India-April 24 : Mangroves destroyed at Sector 20, Airoli

Navi Mumbai India on Friday,April 24,2015 (Photo By Bachchan kumar /

HindustanTimes) (Freelancer) (File photo)

December 2013: The state government, following orders by the Bombay

high court (HC), issues direction to all civic bodies to enforce a ban on

reclamation or construction on wetlands.

March 2014: A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice Anil Menon

impose an interim ban on reclamation and construction in wetland areas

across the state.

January 2016: A division bench of justice VM Kanade and justice Revati

Mohite-Dere states that wetlands have to be strictly protected.

A week before the court’s recent observation, activist Reji Abrahami filed a

complaint with the civic body alleging that about 350 illegal hutments had

cropped up on the wetlands at Charkop, Kandivli (West), in connivance with

local slumlords. While civic officials demolished a majority of the hutments

after the complaint, the shanties resurfaced a day later.

Almost two years since the HC ordered an interim ban across the state,

destruction of wetlands continues unabated. With an average of one reported

case of wetland destruction every month in the Mumbai Metropolitan

Region – January alone witnessed three incidents – there have been as many

as 14 reported cases in the past one year alone. Of this, action has only been

taken in five cases.

“There is a scant respect for the orders passed by the high court,” said

Godfrey Pimenta, convener, Watchdog Foundation that has highlighted

several cases of wetland and mangrove destruction around Malad-Malwani,

Madh Island and Navi Mumbai.

“Only when officers are picked up individually or newspapers highlight an

issue, some action is action,” he added.

No cognisance to the court’s directions led petitioner Vanashakti, an NGO,

to file a contempt petition in December. “It’s shocking that despite the court

orders, wetlands are being destroyed. It’s a mockery of the whole exercise,”

said Stalin D, project director, Vanashakti.

In 2013, Vanashakti filed a PIL stating that rampant reclamation and

destruction of wetlands and that Wetland Rules 2010 were not being

implemented in the state. It claimed that the state had failed to prepare a

‘brief document’ to survey and protect wetlands such as marshes, lagoons,

lakes and mangroves as mandated by the Wetland Rules, 2010.

While the court had directed the state to put together a brief that will map

wetland areas with their zone of influence in 2014, not much has been done.

“We will outsource the work for 598 wetlands across the state that falls

within the forest department. The wetlands outside the forest areas will have

to be prepared by the state environment department,” said N Vasudevan,

chief conservator for the mangrove cell, and member secretary of the

wetland monitoring committee as directed by the HC. “The document will

be ready by the year end.”

With five mangrove destruction cases at Dahisar and Borivli over the past

year, New Link Road Residents’ Forum (NLRRF) said around 4,500

mangrove trees have been destroyed. Of the five cases, an FIR was filed

only in one.

“That reclamation of wetlands and destruction of mangroves continues even

after the HC ban goes to show that the environment is never a priority for the

government,” said Harish Pandey, secretary, NLRRF.

Indonesia working on rice import deal with India

The two countries likely to ink a pact this month

NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 1:

In a move that could boost sagging rice exports from the country, Indonesia

is working on an agreement with India to buy rice to get over its temporary

deficit of the cereal.

“The details of price and quantity are yet to be arrived at. We are currently

negotiating it,” a Commerce Ministry official told BusinessLine.

Both sides are working out details of a memorandum of understanding

which is expected to be signed when Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas

Lembong visits New Delhi later this month.

Non-binding deal

“Although the MoU will be a non-binding one, it would at least give us an

indication of the business that we might do with Indonesia,” the official said.

Lembong had indicated last month that his country may consider buying rice

from India to get over the temporary shortage it would face in early 2016.

Although it had traditionally purchased rice from ASEAN countries,

Indonesia is now looking beyond to widen its options.

The Minister had said that Indonesia may include India in a list of countries

from which rice imports could be authorised.

Gain for India

The development comes at an opportune time for India as export of the

cereal in the current financial year has been declining, compared to previous

year, mostly due to a fall in imports by large buyers, such as Iran and

Nigeria.

New Delhi is hopeful that the MoU would be for a longer period, on the

lines of the one it recently signed with Islamabad.

Indonesia has reportedly agreed to import one million tonnes of rice from

Pakistan valuing around $400 million over the next four years.

Indian exports

“Indonesia is a net importer of rice, while India is one of the top exporters.

We are happy that it has finally shown interest in buying from us,” the

official said.

India had exported a total of 11.92 mt rice in 2014-15.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Sugar mills set to sell 1 mt more as exports head for China

India's 2016/2017 production seen stable

DUBAI, FEB 1:

Indian sugar mills have contracted to sell one million tonnes of sugar in the

2015/2016 season and expect to sign deals for another million tonnes this

season as exports head for China, the president of an industry body said on

Monday.

"One million tonnes have been contracted and another one million tonnes

will be contracted," Tarun Sawhney, president of the Indian Sugar Mills

Association, told a conference in Dubai.

Of the total 1 million tonnes contracted, around 700,000 tonnes have already

moved out of the country.

Smuggling

Sawhney said many of the current and future contracts were with Myanmar,

where they are expected to be smuggled into China, the world's top importer.

"It will go to China," he said. "The contracts are all through Myanmar and

from there it is just being taken upcountry."

The smuggling of agricultural products along China's borders with Vietnam

and Myanmar has long been a problem.

China's sugar industry has urged the government to tackle a resurgence in

smuggling across the country's southern borders, after huge volumes of

cheap sugar were estimated to have illegally entered the country in recent

months.

Production

Sawhney also said domestic sugar production would reach 26 million tonnes

in the 2015/2016 season, which runs from October to September and would

probably see the same figure for the coming 2016/2017 season.

India produced 28.3 million tonnes in the 2014/2015 season.

"It is too early to tell but most likely there will no decrease and no increase,"

Sawhney said.

"Uttar Pradesh will most likely compensate for the drop in Maharashtra and

Karnataka," he said.

The first back-to-back drought in nearly three decades has hit cane

plantation in India's key producing states Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar

Pradesh.

Ethanol blending

One Indian official previously estimated that the drop in plantings for the

2016/17 season means that acreage could fall by about a third after a

faltering monsoon damaged thousands of hectares of cane in the world's

second-biggest producer. Sawhney said India would meet its target of

blending 5 per cent ethanol in all gasoline sold this sugar year for the first

time and surpass it.

"We can cross 5 per cent ethanol blending," he said.

Oil companies have never met the current 5 per cent blending target as

ethanol derived from molasses, the thick syrup produced by boiling down

sugarcane juice in sugar refining, costs more than gasoline without including

taxes.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Milk procurement, supply – just an app away

MANGALURU, FEBRUARY 1:

Now milk collection from farmers, processing by the dairy and order

placement by dealers will be an Android app’s distance in Dakshina

Kannada district.

To begin with, the Dakshina Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union

Ltd has launched an Android app for its network of 800-plus dealers in

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

Order details

The dealers can now place their indent for milk and other products through

an Android app on their smartphones.

After placing the indent, the dealer gets an SMS giving details of his/her

order details.

He said the app helps the dealer to get details of his/her deposit with the

union and amount outstanding.

The union will equip the milk supply vehicles with GPS facility soon. With

this, the dealer will be in a position to know the real-time status of the arrival

of the vehicle at the supply point, he said.

Terming this as one of the modules of the enterprise resource planning

(ERP) software of the union, Satyanarayana told BusinessLine that the

Android apps for dairy farmers and for factory will be launched in the next

few months.

The union procures milk from 680 co-operative societies in Dakshina

Kannada and Udupi districts.

How it works

In the procurement module, the Android app (which is yet to be launched)

will give farmers info on the quality of milk, time at which it was collected

and the amount to be paid to them.

The factory module helps the person in charge of the dairy to get the

production information and the quantity of milk used for different products

among others. It helps provide inventory status of milk.

He said that the Hyderabad-based company Vasista has developed this

cloud-based dairy resource planning software called ‘Milkosoft’. Raviraj

Hegde, President of the union, said that 14 milk unions, including Dakshina

Kannada Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, come under Karnataka

Milk Federation.

However, Dakshina Kannada union is the first among the 14 to implement

this ERP solution at a cost of ₹ 1.47 crore, he said.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Vietnam lifts ban on import of Indian groundnuts

NEW DELHI, FEB 1:

Vietnam has formally lifted the ban on import of Indian groundnut, thereby

providing market access after nine months, the Agriculture Ministry said

here on Monday.

“The Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD) has

formally communicated the decision to the Indian Government stating that

the Plant Protection Department of Vietnam (PPD) will issue import permits

for groundnuts for January 18, 2016,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The country had temporarily suspended import of groundnuts from India

from April 6, 2015, due to interception of quarantine pests -- Caryedon

serratus and Trogodrma granarium – in consignments exported since

January, 2015, the statement said.

The lifting of ban comes in the wake of the visit of a delegation from

Vietnam to India in December 2015, which was satisfied after seeing the

fumigation facilities, export procedures and export certification system for

export of groundnuts from India, as per the Standard Operating Procedure

developed by the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage,

Faridabad.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Kerala varsity takes steps to promote farming of native fish

KOCHI, FEB 1:

Aimed at conserving the native fresh water fishes, Kerala University of

Fisheries and Ocean Studies will popularise the diversified aquaculture

practices of several species.

Efforts are on to promote farming of the native fish, which are facing threat

of extinction, under the Prof. Alikunhi Chair for Sustainable Aquaculture

System functioning at KUFOS. The species identified included snake heads,

climbing perch, cat fishes, large barbs and ornamental varieties.

The Chair has adopted strategies for conserving the species by developing

standardised breeding protocols for the species having commercial value. It

aims at reducing the fishing pressure on wild stock by popularising the

species specific breeding techniques among the farmers.

As part of familiarising the artificial breeding and seed production

techniques of the species, the Chair will organise a national workshop on

‘Recent Advancements in the Breeding and Seed Production Techniques of

Native Fishes’ at KUFOS on February 8 and 9.

Experts from the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA),

Bhubaneshwar, College of Fisheries Mangalore, Madras University, Kerala

University, Fisheries Department will speak at the workshop, which targets

fish farmers, researchers and students.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Fisheries workshop on Feb 8

KOCHI, FEBRUARY 1:

Aimed at conserving the native fresh water fishes, Kerala University of

Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) will popularise the diversified

aquaculture practices of several species. The efforts are on to promote the

farming of the native fishes, which are facing threat of extinction, under the

Prof Alikunhi Chair for Sustainable Aquaculture System functioning at

Kufos. The species identified included snake heads, climbing perch, cat

fishes, large barbs and ornamental varieties. The Chair has adopted

strategies for conserving the species by developing standardised breeding

protocols for the species having commercial value. As part of familiarising

the artificial breeding and seed production techniques of the species, the

Chair will organise a national workshop on ‘Recent Advancements in the

Breeding and Seed Production Techniques of Native Fishes’ at Kufos on

February 8 and 9.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Kerala to organise Jackfruit Pro 2016 from February 4

Three-day event to find markets outside Kerala

KOCHI, FEB 1:

The ubiquitous jackfruit has, it seems, never been given its due. In a bid to

change its fortunes, the Kerala Industries and Commerce Department is

taking efforts to give a commercial twist to the jackfruit by promoting it in

the markets outside Kerala.

Jackfruit Pro 2016 – a three-day event will be organised by the department at

VMG Hall, Athani near Nedumbassery from February 4 to 6. The function

will be held on the sidelines of the Kochi B2B meet meant for small and

medium enterprises at CIAL Trade Fair & Exhibition Centre.

P.M. Francis, Director of Industries and Commerce, told Business Line that

the objective of the three-day function is to find markets for the jackfruit and

its value-added products outside Kerala especially in malls and

supermarkets.

It is estimated that the jackfruit trading business in the country is worth

₹ 18,000 crore annually. However, in Kerala, 97 per cent of the fruit is lost

due to lack of processing and organised marketing. The recent consumer

shift towards healthy food habits has given scope for promoting native

cuisine made out of local agri-farm products.

Thus, the neglected jackfruit, which has ample nutrient content and dietary

fibre, can find its way as a prominent food item on the menu. It can be used

as an ingredient for traditional dishes, fried or dried chips.

The objective of the event, he said, is to bring commercial producers of

jackfruit value-added products in the State and potential buyers for a

business linkage. Besides the B2B meet, he said a technology clinic and

cookery competition will also be arranged, apart from technical sessions by

experts from various research institutions.

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Rubber skids to ₹ 93/kg

KOTTAYAM, FEBRUARY 1:

Spot rubber weakened on Monday as the market continued to remain under

pressure on buyer resistance. The trend was mixed. RSS 4 declined to ₹ 93

(₹ 94) a kg, according to traders. The grade dropped to ₹ 93.50 (₹ 94) and

₹ 90.50 (₹ 91) respectively, according to the Rubber Board and the dealers.

February futures slid to ₹ 95.50 (₹ 95.91), March to ₹ 97.98 (₹ 97.99) and

April to ₹ 100.25 (₹ 100.42) on the National Multi Commodity Exchange.

RSS 3 (spot) firmed up to ₹ 86.38 (₹ 85.92) at Bangkok. February futures

closed at ¥151.3 (₹ 84.66) on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange. Spot rubber

rates (₹ /kg): RSS-4: 93(94); RSS-5: 89.50 (90); Ungraded: 83(83); ISNR

20: 84(84) and Latex (60% drc): 79(80).

(This article was published on February 1, 2016)

Castorseed contract rigging: NCDEX bans four members from trading

MUMBAI, FEB 1:

The National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) has banned

four members from taking fresh position following investigation of

members’ role in manipulation in castorseed contracts.

The trading terminals of members – Mid India Commodities, Investsmart

Commodities, Neer–Ocean Multitrade and Leo Global Commodities – have

been put on ‘square-off mode’ until further notice, said the exchange in a

statement on Monday.

NCDEX has suspended trading in all castorseed contracts last week and

decided to settle them on the closing price of January 27, the day when the

contract was abruptly suspended.

The exchange initiated investigation through external audit firm into the role

of members and their clients in bring down castorseed prices consistently.

Any member found guilty of violations of regulations of the exchange shall

be strictly dealt with in accordance with the provisions, said NCDEX in

statement.

Food imports rise as PM Narendra Modi struggles to revive rural India

Back-to-back droughts, absence of long-term investments in agriculture and

rising demands from growing population is making India import key

commodities

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a late night meeting with food and farm

officials last week to address falling agricultural output and rising prices,

and traders warn the country will soon be a net buyer of some

key commoditiesfor the first time in years.

Back-to-back droughts, the lack of long-term investment inagriculture and

increasing demands from a growing population are undermining the

country's bid to be self-sufficient in food.

That is creating opportunities for foreign suppliers in generally weak

commodity markets, but is a headache for Modi, who needs the farm sector

to pick up in order to spur economic growth and keep his political ambitions

on track.

“The top brass is dead serious about the farm sector that is so crucial to our

overall economic growth and well-being," said a source who was present at

the recent gathering of Modi, his agriculture and food ministers and other

officials.

Modi sat through presentations and asked the ministers to ensure steady

supplies and stable prices, urging them to find solutions, the source said.

Modi did not suggest any immediate interventions of his own.

The long term impact on commodity markets could be significant.

Last month, India made its first purchases of corn in 16 years. It has also

been increasing purchases of other products, such as lentils and oilmeals, as

production falls short.

Wheat and sugar stocks, while sufficient in warehouses now, are depleting

fast, leading some traders to predict the need for imports next year.

"There's a complete collapse of Indian agriculture, and that's because of the

callous neglect by the government," said Devinder Sharma, an independent

food and trade policy analyst.

"Given the state of agriculture, I'm not surprised to see India emerging as an

importer of a number of food items. Maize is just the beginning."

Growing Distress

Agriculture contributes nearly 13% to India's $2 trillion economy and

employs about two-thirds of its 1.25 billion people.

Government sources said that boosting irrigation, raising crop yields and

encouraging farmers to avail of a new crop insurance scheme unveiled in

January will help address growing distress in the countryside caused by poor

harvests.

Modi has already loosened controls on some imports.

But one of his biggest dilemmas is that although imports can help cool prices

— a key concern for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's core middle-class

voter base — farmers see them as benefiting foreign producers at the cost of

locals.

In a recent interview with television channel ET Now, Finance Minister

Arun Jaitley said the government was aware of the impact two bad

monsoons have had.

“That now tells me, please spend more on irrigation,” he said.

The farm sector needs to grow at about 3% to help Jaitley achieve his target

of 7 to 7.5% economic growth in the 2015/16 fiscal year.

In the first half of this fiscal year, agricultural growth fell to 2% from 2.4% a

year earlier.

Who are the Winners?

India's entry into the market as a net importer is good news for suppliers like

Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Canada, which are suffering from a

global commodity glut.

India's move to import corn, for example, has supported global prices. Corn

values rose 2.6% after India said on January 13 that it would launch a second

tender for 200,000 tonnes, its second since announcing plans to buy half a

million tonnes.

Traders say India may need to import another 1.5-2 million tonnes.

The next big import item on the list could be oilmeals, an animal feed, which

India used to export in large quantities until last year.

“Very soon we'll be left with no choice, but to import oilmeals, largely

because our oilseed production has failed to keep pace with our demand for

both vegetable oils and oilmeals," said B V Mehta, head of trade body

Solvent Extractors' Association.

Surinder Sud: Needless politics over khesari dal

The new varieties bred by research institutes and agricultural universities do

not pose any health hazard

The government's plan to lift the ban on the sale of khesari dal (grass pea) is

needlessly being politicised. The marketing of khesari pulse was barred in

1961 following reports that its consumption caused lathyrism, a neurological

disorder affecting lower limbs. This menace has since been suitably

addressed by developing safer strains of grass pea, thus, doing away with the

need to continue this embargo. Yet, some Opposition parties have chosen to

criticise this move for no tenable reasons.

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a sturdy, high-yielding and nutritious pulse

that is a boon for the resource-poor farmers tilling marginal, unirrigated

lands. It grows under harshest conditions, including drought, when most

other crops fail to survive. This has earned it the reputation of being a

"safety net" or an "insurance crop" for farmers.

The risk of physical debility due to its consumption was attributed to the

presence of a neuro-toxin known commonly as ß-ODAP (ß-N-oxalyl-L-a, ß-

di-amino propionic acid) in its grains. Traditional varieties had a high ß-

ODAP content of between 0.5 and 2.5 per cent, against less than 0.1 per cent

deemed safe for consumption. Another, and more important, reason for this

hazard was excessive intake of khesari due to scarcity or high prices of its

alternatives. In some areas, farm labourers gotkhesari dal as part payment

for their wages, thus, resulting in its over-consumption.

Since the bar has only been on its marketing - and not its cultivation or

consumption - farmers have continued to grow it for self-consumption and

feeding livestock. They even eat its succulent leaves as "sag". However,

over-dependence on it as food has now stopped thanks to the improved

availability of other foodgrains. Besides, people have learnt simple and

effective ways of detoxifying khesari grains by boiling them and discarding

the water or by soaking seeds overnight and draining away the excess water.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, there has been no report from anywhere of any ill-

effect of eating khesari dal for several decades.

This cheap pulse has, indeed, been in demand for some other reasons as

well. It is used for adulterating arhar (pigeon pea) as also for admixing with

gram to produce besan (refined gram flour) to improve its lustre and

enhance crispiness of the products made from it. The absence of normal

trading channels due to the existing ban has allowed the middlemen to

exploit the growers by acquiring the stocks at throwaway prices, rather than

the market-determined rates. The farmers are, therefore, denied the

opportunity to realise better prices.

The low ß-ODAP grass pea is, in fact, useful for consumers from nutritional

viewpoint. It contains 26 to 32 per cent high quality proteins apart from

natural antioxidants which reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and

cancer. The new varieties bred by farm research institutes and agricultural

universities, besides the International Center for Agricultural Research in

Dry Areas(ICARDA), have less than 0.1 per cent ß-ODAP and do not pose

any health hazard. Three of these varieties - named Ratan, Prateek and

Mahateora - which the government proposes to formally release for

commercial cultivation after their safety assessment, have merely 0.05 to

0.08 per cent ß-ODAP - well below the safety threshold.

Indeed, the seeds of some of the improved strains of khesari have already

reached the farmers. ICARDA, in partnership with other institutions and

non-governmental organisations, has followed a unique method of

introducing new khesari varieties. The seeds of local varieties with high

toxin content are taken from all the khesari growers in a village and are

replaced with new non-hazardous seeds free of cost. The old seeds, too, are

crushed and returned to the farmers for use as livestock feed.

Removal of trade embargo can be expected to encourage poor farmers who

cannot invest in cash inputs to grow grass pea as this crop requires no input

other than the seeds. Hopefully, the political parties opposing revocation of

the embargo would see logic and revisit their stands for the benefit

of khesari growers as well as consumers.

India's fastest-growing state: Meghalaya (and other North-East

surprises)

The eight north-eastern states are growing fast and generally prospering, but

the growth is not creating enough jobs and livelihood opportunities

* India’s fastest-growing state is Meghalaya, with a growthrate of 9.7% in

2013-14, higher than the fastest-growing big state, Madhya Pradesh, at

9.5%. Arunachal Pradesh grew faster than Gujarat.

* Fewer people, 12.8 million, live below the poverty line in the entire

northeast than in just one large state, Karnataka, which has 12.9 million poor

people.

* Tripura reported India’s highest unemployment rate, 25.2% in urban areas,

followed closely by Nagaland with 23.8% in 2011-12. The highest

unemployment in the urban areas of a large state was 7%, in Jammu and

Kashmir.

The eight north-eastern states–Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur,

Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim (added in 2002) and Tripura–are

growing fast, educating their people at a rate much faster than the rest of

India, reducing their dependence on agriculture, and generally

prospering, IndiaSpendresearch has revealed, but the growth is not creating

enough jobs and livelihood opportunities.

Other thing evident is that while northeast states are often clubbed together,

we found, in many cases, wide differences; for example, Manipur’s high

poverty rate and Sikkim’s prosperity. Some of the economic indices are

India’s highest, and some are India’s lowest.

Today, in the first of a three-part series, we analyse the northeast’s economic

indicators, such as gross state domestic product (GSDP), unemployment,

and population below the poverty line.

Growth driven by services, industry

Meghalaya, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh recorded the highest growth

rates in GSDP in 2013-14.

Meghalaya’s growth in GSDP of 9.7% was equivalent to Bihar, which had a

GSDP growth rate of 9.1%.

Arunachal Pradesh, with a growth rate in GSDP of 8.9% grew faster than

Gujarat, which reported 8.7%.

The share of the industrial sector for all eight states has increased while the

share of https://datawrapper.de/chart/DanbZ/agricultureand allied activities

has declined.

In Mizoram, for example, the growth rate for agriculture and allied activities

went down from 16.4% in 2010-11 to 0.07% in 2013-14.

Unemployment higher in urban areas

Unemployment in urban areas across all north-eastern states is higher than

rural areas, and is in line with the national pattern.

“The growth in manufacturing has not been accompanied by a

commensurate growth ofemployment opportunity for the local population,”

Sumarbin Umdor, professor of Economics at North-Eastern Hill

University, wrote in The Shillong Times. “Given the lack of job creation in

other formal sectors, most of the employment outside agriculture is therefore

in the low productivity informal sector, particularly in informal construction,

retail trade and transportation.”

Tripura recorded the highest unemployment rate in urban areas at 25.2% in

2011-12, India’s highest jobless rate, followed by Nagaland with 23.8%,

India’s second-highest rate, and Manipur with 7.1%.

Meghalaya had India’s second-lowest unemployment rate (after Gujarat),

with 0.4% in rural areas and 2.8% in urban areas in 2011-12.

A caveat: Unemployment rates in rural India are always lower than urban,

since they do not account for hidden or partial employment. In general,

employment rates do not adequately reflect reality, but only offer an

indication.

Poverty unevenly spread: Manipur is poorest; Sikkim richest

The northeast has widely varying rates of poverty, which largely reflect

unrest and insurgency.

While 36.9% people live below the poverty line (the ability to spend Rs

1,170 per family per month in urban areas, Rs 1,118 in rural) in Manipur,

where a cocktail of insurgent groups have crippled the economy, only 8.2%

of the population is below the poverty line in Sikkim (Rs 1,226 in urban, Rs

930 in rural), where plentiful hydro power has raised incomes, as IndiaSpend

has reported.

Meghalaya and Sikkim have seen some of the largest falls in poverty in

India.

For instance, the percentage of population below the poverty line in Sikkim

was 13.1% in 2009-10 and it fell to 8.2% in 2011-12. In comparison, poverty

in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh–the large states most successful in cutting

poverty–fell from 36.7% to 31.7% and 37.7% to 29.4% over the same

period.

Similarly, in Meghalaya, the percentage of population below the poverty line

was 17.1% in 2009-10 and fell to 11.9% in 2011-12.

Although the number of people below the poverty line might be lower than

the national average, the intensity of poverty in these states is much higher,

according to the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD).

Poverty in the northeast, like the rest of India, is a more rural phenomenon

than urban: 11.6 million people of the 12.8 million living below the poverty

line are in rural areas.

The two main reasons for poverty are under-developed agriculture and

unskilled labour, according to NIRD.

To address the region’s development challenges, including infrastructure,

the Central government created the Ministry of Development of North

Eastern Region in 2004, allocating Rs 2,362 crore to the ministry in 2015-

16. The grants from the Centre and their share in Central taxes together form

79% of their total revenue, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

Some of the grants like the ones given out by the Ministry are influenced by

politics as well. For example, from 2010-11 to 2012-13, Arunachal Pradesh

received the highest grants with almost 19% of the total allocations. Later,

when the government wanted to sign the Naga Peace accord of 2015, the

allocation to Nagaland was increased (to 20%) and Arunachal Pradesh had

come down. (IndiaSpend is a data-driven, public interest journalism non-

profit)

App to take farmers across borders

Vadodara: An array from Indian food produce finds its way to the

international market annually, yet four-city based businessmen are aiming to

increase the market exponentially. The group has developed a mobile

application to bridge the gap between exporters and farmers.

'Food from India' a mobile-based application will be launched as a business-

to-business (B2B) application and include a database of exporters, importers

and farmers to ensure smoother transactions without the interference of

middlemen.

"Farmers are still far from understanding the international markets and the

profits they can earn from ear-marking a part of their produce for export.

Similarly, a lot of exporters are unaware of the proper regions where specific

crops are grown. Our attempt is to try and bring both of them on a common

platform and ease business," said group member Mihir Dave, adding that the

application will transform the agricultural market.

The brainchild of Dharmendra Patel and Hiren Parmar will also include

targeted tutorials for producers to meet the international food standards.

"The producers from the country through this portal can reach to markets in

as many as 182 countries. To help the farmers ensure that their produce is

accepted by exporters, farmers will be counselled and trained in organic

farming and other ways to reduce the usage of chemical pesticides and

fertilizers," said another group member Amit Pandya.

After developing this app for over nearly three years, the group is now

rolling out the test version for the play-store.

"We are giving it two years' time to reach every farmer and exporter across

India. Once the database is up and working for farmers it will mean just

posting a photograph of their produce with the rate to reach the exporters.

And exporters can just scroll through the options available," Dave told TOI,

adding that the in-built translator in the multi-lingual app will automatically

translate the message according to the user's setting.

Tips to successfully grow tomatoes in your backyard

Advisers breifs about how to yeild tomatoes. (Photo: Pixbay)

Gardening in winter hardly seems ideal to those of us in cold climates, but

for Craig LeHoullier, the season of snow brings the first opportunity to plan

his summer tomato crop.

A tomato adviser for Seed Savers Exchange and author of the book "Epic

Tomatoes: How to Select & Grow the Best Varieties of All Time,"

LeHoullier is an expert in the field, having developed, introduced and named

almost 200 tomato varieties.

Over the past 30 years, LeHoullier has brought a number of heirloom tomato

varieties back from the brink of extinction. Perhaps his most notable

contribution is the Cherokee Purple, a tomato that came to him as an

envelope of seeds sent by John D Green and is now one of the most popular

varieties in the Seed Exchange catalog.

LeHoullier's love for heirloom tomatoes began as a hobby, but after retiring

from his career as a chemist and project manager in the pharmaceutical

industry in 2007, this passion blossomed into a second career. LeHoullier

lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Susan, and is known within

the heirloom tomato community as NCTomatoMan.

I caught up with LeHoullier before the launch of his book tour and got his

advice on how to successfully grow heirloom tomatoes in my own backyard.

Winter Gardening: Prime Time For Research

LeHoullier says he gets about a monthlong break between digging up the

last of his dead tomato plants each fall and the appearance of the first seed

catalogs, when the real work of planning the garden begins. This lull in the

action is prime time for research.

Online sites such as Dave's Garden, Tomatoville and GardenWeb can

provide a good starting point for new gardeners. LeHoullier recommends

searching for "garden discussion groups," "tomato discussion groups" and

"top 10 tomatoes" to begin your reading.

Determine Your Gardening Goals

LeHoullier points out that gardening is a personal experience and that "Each

one of us will choose how much of our lives we'll pour into it." Growing

great tomatoes requires figuring out what kind of gardener you are or would

like to be.

LeHoullier suggests that you think about what you want to get out of your

tomato garden. Before you place your seed order, consider whether you want

to garden because you want to grow food; because it's a good hobby to work

off a few extra pounds; or because you want to use it as a teaching tool for

your friends, family or children.

Ask yourself: Do I want a high yield? Am I looking for huge tomatoes to

impress my friends? Do I want an incredible flavor experience? Or do I want

to grow something that I've never seen before? The answer to these

questions will help you focus your research on the tomato varieties that suit

your gardening goals.

Figure Out What Kind Of Tomatoes You Like To Eat

Tomatoes come in a wide variety of colors, flavors and sizes. Most of us

have not tried many of the thousands of tomato varieties that exist in the

world. LeHoullier believes that the best way to know which tomatoes you

should grow is to decide which tomatoes you'd like to eat. Visit farmers

markets and stores such as Whole Foods to try tomato varieties you've never

eaten and notice which flavor profiles excite you.

Get To Know Your Gardening Climate

Epic Tomatoes

Understanding your growing season is crucial. If you live in a warm climate

where summer lasts more than 150 days, then the maturity date doesn't

matter much. But if you're in a colder climate, pay close attention to the

maturity date of the tomatoes you want to grow. Talk to friends in your

neighborhood who are avid gardeners and vendors at local farmers markets

to see which tomato varieties grow best for them.

Seeds vs Seedlings

LeHoullier says that "At a basic level, people will want to understand that

growing tomatoes from seed opens up the world for you to try different

colors, sizes and shapes." That said, starting tomatoes from seeds can be a

tricky proposition. Consider your capabilities and experience with growing

tomatoes from seed. If your tolerance for failure is low, begin by planting

seedlings.

Hybrids vs Heirlooms

Although LeHoullier says he "won't make the blanket statement that some

make that heirlooms are always more disease susceptible and difficult to

grow than hybrids," he does allow that heirlooms can be finicky and that

"every tomato including the hybrid varieties has its own personality and

foibles."

Start Small (Do as I say, not as I do.)

After you've familiarized yourself with the seemingly endless choices in the

tomato world, it's time to get planting. Showing restraint is key, especially

for new gardeners.

Raising thousands of tomato varieties isn't for everyone. (Or in fact, for most

people.) LeHoullier cautions new growers to start small, in spite of the fact

that he has a huge and ever-growing tomato collection. LeHoullier identifies

himself as a "hobby collector" he's into beer brewing, roasting his own

coffee, bird watching, kayaking, and has countless other hobbies in addition

to what he calls "the tomato thing." He describes himself as a "seeker who is

never satisfied." It is this tendency that has led LeHoullier to raise a

collection of tomatoes that now hits the 3,000 mark.

One reason that LeHoullier's collection has grown so large is that he has

inherited the collections of gardeners who have become overwhelmed.

"People send me entire collections because they can't take care of them."

Disappointment Is An Opportunity For Learning

A scientist by training and experience, LeHoullier sees gardening as "an

exciting hobby to learn stuff" and reminds us that "Each year, X number of

plants are gonna die. Critters are gonna eat another bunch of plants, but

that's great because we learn from it and the next year we try different things

to avoid that problem, knowing that other problems will arise."

The Bottom Line

LeHoullier asserts some basic goals: Do a lot of searching. Ask a lot of

questions. Make an accurate assessment of your interest level.

Taste every tomato you can get your hands on. Recognize that there aren't a

lot of hard and fast answers to gardening questions.

There are just, as LeHoullier says, "an infinite number of variables for every

act a gardener takes."

Perhaps most important, LeHoullier cheers us on in our tomato-growing

efforts by reminding us that, "If you can find them, and buy them, and taste

them, and like them, there's no reason you can't grow them."

Food imports rise as PM Modi struggles to revive rural India

Modi sat through presentations and asked the ministers to ensure steady

supplies and stable prices, urging them to find solutions

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a late night meeting with

food and farm officials last week to address falling agricultural output and

rising prices, and traders warn the country will soon be a net buyer of some

key commodities for the first time in years.

Back-to-back droughts, the lack of long-term investment in agriculture and

increasing demands from a growing population are undermining the

country's bid to be self-sufficient in food.

That is creating opportunities for foreign suppliers in generally weak

commodity markets, but is a headache for Modi, who needs the farm sector

to pick up in order to spur economic growth and keep his political ambitions

on track.

"The top brass is dead serious about the farm sector that is so crucial to our

overall economic growth and well-being," said a source who was present at

the recent gathering of Modi, his agriculture and food ministers and other

officials.

Modi sat through presentations and asked the ministers to ensure steady

supplies and stable prices, urging them to find solutions, the source said.

Modi did not suggest any immediate interventions of his own.

The long term impact on commodity markets could be significant. Last

month, India made its first purchases of corn in 16 years. It has also been

increasing purchases of other products, such as lentils and oilmeals, as

production falls short.

Wheat and sugar stocks, while sufficient in warehouses now, are depleting

fast, leading some traders to predict the need for imports next year.

"There's a complete collapse of Indian agriculture, and that's because of the

callous neglect by the government," said Devinder Sharma, an independent

food and trade policy analyst.

"Given the state of agriculture, I'm not surprised to see India emerging as an

importer of a number of food items. Maize is just the beginning."

Growing distress

Agriculture contributes nearly 13 percent to India's $2 trillion economy and

employs about two-thirds of its 1.25 billion people. Government sources

said that boosting irrigation, raising crop yields and encouraging farmers to

avail of a new crop insurance scheme unveiled in January will help address

growing distress in the countryside caused by poor harvests. Modi has

already loosened controls on some imports.

But one of his biggest dilemmas is that although imports can help cool prices

- a key concern for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's core middle-class

voter base - farmers see them as benefiting foreign producers at the cost of

locals.

In a recent interview with television channel ET Now, Finance Minister

Arun Jaitley said the government was aware of the impact two bad

monsoons have had. "That now tells me, please spend more on irrigation,"

he said.

The farm sector needs to grow at about 3 percent to help Jaitley achieve his

target of 7 to 7.5 percent economic growth in the 2015/16 fiscal year. In the

first half of this fiscal year, agricultural growth fell to 2 percent from 2.4

percent a year earlier.

Who are the winners?

India's entry into the market as a net importer is good news for suppliers like

Brazil, Argentina, the United States and Canada, which are suffering from a

global commodity glut.

India's move to import corn, for example, has supported global prices. Corn

values rose 2.6 percent after India said on Jan. 13 that it would launch a

second tender for 200,000 tonnes, its second since announcing plans to buy

half a million tonnes.

Traders say India may need to import another 1.5-2.0 million tonnes. The

next big import item on the list could be oilmeals, an animal feed, which

India used to export in large quantities until last year.

"Very soon we'll be left with no choice but to import oilmeals, largely

because our oilseed production has failed to keep pace with our demand for

both vegetable oils and oilmeals," said B.V. Mehta, head of trade body

Solvent Extractors' Association.

Explain move to introduce GM mustard: SC asks government

The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the central government

on its proposed move to introduce herbicide resistant mustard, cotton and

corn in the face of a court-imposed ban on their introduction.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the

central government on its proposed move to introduce herbicide resistant

mustard, cotton and corn in the face of a court-imposed ban on their

introduction.

A three-judge bench, comprising Chief Justice of India TS Thakur and

justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi asked Attorney General of India Mukul

Rohatgi to explain his stand on a contempt petition filed against the

members of the committee which cleared the proposal.

The petition, filed by Aruna Rodrigues against the environment and forests

ministry's move, sought action against chairperson Hem Pande and the co-

chairperson and member secretary of the Genetic Engineering Approval

Committee for flouting court orders. The petition was mentioned by her

counsel Prashant Bhushan at the close of proceedings in the CJI's court on

Monday. It will now be heard after two weeks.

The top court had in a series of orders passed in February 2007, April 2008

and August 2008 sought to restrain both small-scale and largescale field

trials in any food crops as well as their commercial introduction in the

country.

Rodrigues said the government wilfully and deliberately not only conducted

small-scale field trials but also large-scale field trials for commercial

introduction of herbicide tolerant crops of mustard, cotton and corn in India

for the first time.

"These field trials have ignored fundamental bio-safety precautions as

ordered by the court. Contamination during open field trials is specifically

barred in the order of May 8, 2007," the petition said. "In the light of this

specific order... regulatory adventurism... is particularly unconscionable as

they expose India to undue and high risk of GMO contamination of our food

crops," it said.

The petition claimed that smallscale field trials of mustard were undertaken

in July 2014, as also of corn. "Large-scale field trials are the final stage of

field trials before commercialisation and are especially risky for

contamination as their focus is seed-setting for commercial planting, not for

conducting bio-safety studies which must be completed and the crop

signalled as utterly safe... precisely because seed-setting entails

contamination risks of an exceedingly high order of magnitude.”

Bio-safety studies and risk assessment protocols must be addressed and

essentially completed during the first stage, she said. Gene sequencing at

that stage provides the bio-safety assurance for approvals to proceed to the

next stage, Rodrigues said.

This is the sequencing required by a five-member court appointed technical

expert committee.

The risk of contamination from GM mustard and corn is of an

unprecedentedly high order and proven in other cases involving Canada,

Japan and Mexico (corn) and US (rice), the petition said.

"The case of mustard DMH 11 is especially critical since the application for

commercialisation has reportedly been sent by crop developer Dr Deepak

Pental of the Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGCMP) to

the GEAC in Sept 2015," the petition said.

It is considered for surreptitious approval for commercialisation, Rodrigues

said, even as the issue of setting up an independent and efficacious protocol

for their approval is pending before the court for adjudication.

This shows the collective irresponsibility displayed by the regulators,

ministries concerned (agriculture, science and technology, and environment)

and institutions of GMO governance (ICAR, DBT), in approving it,

demonstrating a clear agenda to push GMOs into India's agriculture, the

petition said.

"This is now undeniable because approval of LSTs (large-scale trials) is

undisguised malfeasance and regulatory delinquency. The risk of

contamination in such trials and especially from GM mustard will be hard to

avoid," it said. The government will have to respond to all these charges in

two weeks.

Rice procurement up 25% to 24.47 Million Tonnes

Government's rice procurement has increased 25 per cent to 24.47 million

tonnes in the 2015-16 marketing year so far despite prospects of lower

production due to poor monsoon.

NEW DELHI: Government's rice procurement has increased 25 per cent to

24.47 million tonnes in the 2015-16 marketing year so far despite prospects

of lower production due to poor monsoon.

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government owned agencies

undertake the procurement operations. The Centre has kept rice procurement

target of 30 MT for the current marketing year, which started in October.

These agencies had procured 19.66 million tonnes in the year-ago period,

while the total purchases had reached 32 MT.

At present, procurement has been completed in Punjab and Haryana, while

the operations are in full swing in Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Andhra

Pradesh and Telangana.

As per the government's latest data, rice procurement in Uttar Pradesh has

risen to 2.15 MT so far this year as against 1.15 MT in the year-ago period.

Procurement in Chhattisgarh risen to 3.72 MT from 2.86 MT, while that of

in Andhra Pradesh has increased to 1.92 MT from 1 MT in the said period.

Rice purchase in Telangana was lagging behind at 0.99 MT so far this year

as against 1.48 MT in the same period of the 2014-15 marketing year.

In Punjab, rice procurement rose to 9.34 MT from 7.7 MT, while that of in

Haryana jumped to 2.85 MT from 2.01 MT in the period under the review.

Though rice production is estimated to be lower because of deficit rains,

procurement of the grain has been on rise mainly due to fall in prices of

common variety in most mandis after basmati rice rates declined sharply.

If the current trend continues, a senior Food Ministry official said the overall

rice procurement could surpass the last year's level.

In its first estimate, the Agriculture Ministry has projected a fall in kharif

rice production to 90.61 MT in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June) from

90.86 MT in the year-ago period due to 14 per cent fall in monsoon rains.

The agencies buy paddy from farmers and give to millers for conversion into

rice. The government has fixed the minimum support price of common

variety of paddy at Rs 1,410 per quintal for 2015-16 kharif season.