Height of another check dam raised: Activists

11.07.2016

Height of another check dam raised: Activists

Raging Controversy:The work was allegedly carried out over three months and

completed15 to 20 days ago. —Photo special arrangement

Weeks after the Andhra Pradesh government raised the height of a check dam

across the Palar near Pullur panchayat, activists are claiming that the

government has increased the height of another check dam, this time on the

western side of Kangundi village, Kuppam mandal of Chittoor district.

Palar activists A. Asokan and A.C. Venkatesan, who visited the check dam site

on Sunday, confirmed that the height has been raised. A few weeks ago, the

Andhra Pradesh government raised the height of the check dam near

Perumpallam by 10 feet, prompting protests from Tamil Nadu. The Palar flows

for 33 km in Andhra Pradesh.

“This check dam is located in Palaru village. This is on the west of Kangundi

village and is nearly half a km away from the village,” said Mr. Asokan, district

member of Reversal of Ecology Committee. The work was carried out over

three months and completed 15 to 20 days ago. “We spoke to people there, and

some of them told us that this was for the project to bring Krishna river water

here.”

The activists said the check dam can store at least four tmc of water.

Mr. Venkatesan, secretary of Vellore District Palar Paadhukaapu Sangam,

claimed that the Andhra Pradesh Forest department was planning to construct

check dams at five places across two tributaries of the river.

‘Will affect farming’’

“If this continues, agriculture will be badly hit in Vellore district. The State

government should take immediate steps. If Krishna water is being brought to

Kuppam, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister should take measures to bring it to

Vellore,” he added.

TNAU college raises ‘kal vazhai’ farm for treatment of wastewater

Agriculture college develops two-stage organic treatment of sewage

NATURAL CLEANING:The open well at the farm of the TNAU - Agricultural

Engineering College and Research Institute at Kumulur near Tiruchi where the

treated water is stored.— PHOTO: M. SRINATH

Every drop of sewage water collected from the girls’ hostel of the Tamil Nadu

Agricultural University – Engineering College and Research Institute at

Kumulur near here is being treated and let off into an open well of the institute

for irrigation for paddy, maize, and horticultural crops.

The availability of sprawling area on the campus has facilitated the purification

process. The wastewater, which contains heavy metals, is purified in two

phases. A channel has been dug for about 10 metres and the black wastewater is

first passed through a thickly grown reed bed. Outside the bed, the colour of the

raw sewage changes, indicating its partial purification. The semi-treated water

then is let into the thickly cultivatedkal vazhai (cana indica) plants. “It may be

hard for you to believe that the sewage water becomes pure beyond the kal

vazhai bed,” says K. Ramaswamy, Dean of the Institute.

He explained that the reed and kal vazhai acted as a natural agent for

purification of the sewage water. The sewage water from the hostel contains a

large number of organic impurities, which are first purified by the reed plants.

The kal vazhai absorbs heavy metals such as aluminium, iron, and phosphorous

and their compounds and grows on them.

“The water is purified and sent to an open well about 500 metres away from the

hostel. We have buried PVC pipes below the earth,” says V. Ravikumar,

Professor and Head of the Soil and Water Conservation Engineering

Department of the institute.

The institute has been using the water for irrigating the fields. “The well whose

water level was low about a year ago, has registered a sharp improvement,

thanks to the continued discharge of the treated water round the clock,” he said.

The daily realisation of purified water is about 10,000 litres, according to an

estimate. The well is overflowing now, in contrast to last when it the water level

was 10 to 15 feet.

The institute has developed a separate farm all around the well for treatment of

the sewage water.

Feeling the pulses pinch

MOONG AND RAJMA: “If India is able to restore the pulse intake level to the

years preceding the Green Revolution, it will raise per capita energy and protein

intake close to normative requirements.” An array of pulses. — PHOTO: AFP

As cereal consumption comes down despite higher output, India needs to ramp

up production of pulses to meet the nutritional requirements of the population.

Since the onset of the Green Revolution in the late 1960s, India has been

treading on a path towards self-sufficiency in food. The achievements have

remained highly skewed towards wheat and rice on account of technological as

well as policy support towards these two crops. With high and assured prices

paid through public procurement encouraging farmers to increase output, the

production of cereals in India has generally been greater than the domestic

demand since the mid-1990s.

The per capita production of cereals has steadily increased in each decade from

145 kg during the 1970s to 158 kg during the 2000s. Meanwhile, domestic

absorption of cereals has grown at a lower rate, leading to an increase in export

of cereals. Between 2000-01 and 2013-14, India has been exporting 8.94 million

tonnes of cereals per year on average while per capita domestic intake has fallen

despite increase in supply of grains at highly subsidised rate. The trends clearly

indicate that the increase in per capita cereal production in the country is not

leading to an increase in the domestic intake. This, in turn, is not bringing about

any improvement in nutrition intake.

Diet change and effect on nutrition

The primary reason for lower domestic intake vis-à-vis production is the

declining preference of consumers for a cereal diet. According to National

Sample Survey Organisation consumer surveys, between 1993-94 and 2011-12,

the per capita annual household consumption of cereals has declined

significantly from 155 kg to 129 kg, about 17 per cent in 18 years. In contrast to

cereals, the production of pulses, which are as important a staple food as

cereals, has not kept pace even with population growth. Per capita production of

pulses in India has declined from 18.5 kg during 1965-1970 to about 15 kg

during 2011-2014. It touched the lowest level of 10.5 kg in year 2002-03. Even

with imports, India has not able to meet the domestic demand for pulses. The

per capita net availability of pulses in the country, after factoring in for imports

and exports, has declined from 18.15 kg during 1965-70 to 15.4 kg during 2011-

14.

The changes in availability and intake of cereals and pulses have

serious implications for nutrition in the country. The decline in cereal intake

despite abundant availability has caused a decline in per capita dietary energy

intake. Although the per capita consumption of other food items like fruits,

vegetables, edible oil, sugar, eggs, meat and milk witnessed moderate-to-high

increase in the same period, it did not help in setting off the decline in dietary

energy intake and protein intake caused due to decline in cereal consumption.

As a result, dietary energy intake declined from 2,153 kcal per person per day in

1993-94 to 2,099 kcal per day in 2011-12 for rural India, and from 2,071 kcal

per day to 2,058 kcal per day in urban India. No wonder the level of

undernutrition (deficiency of energy intake and protein intake) as well as the

proportion of undernourished population, based on the dietary norm

recommended by Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of

Nutrition, have remained high and are worsening.

We need to look for alternatives which suit consumers’ preference. Some

experts feel that this deficiency will be filled by livestock products, as witnessed

in the dietary transitions in other emerging economies like China. Empirical

evidence shows that dietary diversification towards livestock products,

particularly meat products, in India has been slow and this can be attributed to

cultural factors. Presently, the predominant Indian population has preference

towards a vegetarian diet. Even for the population which is not strictly

vegetarian, livestock dishes (curry) are not part of their regular and staple food

diet. It is thus difficult to imagine livestock products substituting dishes such as

dal, vada, sambhar and various snacks and sweets made from pulses.

Some studies indicate that income elasticity of demand for pulses is close to one

and that for cereals is close to zero and even negative in some cases. With the

increase in per capita income, a consumer prefers to have a higher quantity of

pulses. Pulses are part of the staple diet and are highly preferred by Indians.

They are also a relatively less costly source of energy and protein as compared

to livestock products. Moreover, over the past few decades, the intake of pulses

did not decline because of choice but because of shortage in supply. So there are

strong reasons to believe that Indians would raise their consumption of pulses if

they are available at reasonable prices. Pulses are therefore the best candidate

for reducing hunger and improving nutrition of the Indian populace.

Raising production

If India is able to restore the pulse intake level to the years preceding the Green

Revolution (from 41.9 grams per capita per day presently to 69 grams per capita

per day as of 1961), it will raise per capita energy intake by about 100 kcal and

per capita protein intake by 4.63 grams. This increase will raise the nutrition

levels close to what is considered the normative requirement of energy (2,200

kcal per day) and protein (60 grams per day) for the Indian population.

The real problem, however, is how to increase the availability of pulses in the

country. At present, we are meeting about one-fifth of the domestic demand

through imports but such imports are getting difficult to arrange. Even after

tapping markets of 46 countries, we are able to arrange only around five million

tonne of pulses. Unlike edible oil, pulses are not easily available for import

from other countries, especially with the preference for pulse intake rising in

most of the developed countries. India, being the largest producer as well as

consumer of pulses, thus needs to tap the domestic potential of raising the

production.

The productivity of pulses in the country is very low because of several reasons.

High-yielding varieties of pulses haven’t been developed in the absence of any

technological breakthrough. Pulses are grown mainly in marginal and poor

environments under rainfed conditions. Low productivity is also associated with

the sharp year-on-year fluctuations due to high vulnerability to environmental

stresses as well as insects and pests. There is an urgent need to upgrade

varieties, practices and policy support for pulses. Both public and private sector

research should be encouraged and supported for breakthroughs in pulse

technology at the earliest.

India has reached a stage where cereals will continue to be important to sustain

the present level of nutrition. However, the reduction in hunger and the

improvement in nutrition require more of pulses. Going forward, the future

production targets should involve much higher growth in pulses than in cereals.

Ramesh Chand is Member, and Shambhavi Sharan a Young Professional with

NITI Aayog. Views are personal.

Coimbatore district to get more warehouses to store foodgrains

In an effort to have warehouses in all the taluks in the district, Tamil Nadu Civil

Supplies Corporation is constructing warehouses at Karumathampatti,

Kinathukadavu, and Paduvampalli at a total cost of Rs. 40.1 crore.

Two godowns

According to an official of the department, the warehouse at Paduvampalli (two

godowns of 1,500 tonnes capacity each) is almost ready and only electrical

works remain.

The warehouse at Karumathampatti is coming up at a cost of Rs. 28 crore and

will have five godowns of 4,000 tonnes capacity each and one godown of 2,000

tonnes capacity. The structural works are over. There is a proposal to have

complete automation in one 4,000 tonne capacity godown.

The facility coming up at Kinathukadavu will have a total storage capacity of

10,000 tonnes (two godowns of 4,000 tonnes capacity each and one of 2,000

tonnes capacity) and is built at a cost of Rs. 9.45 crore. The godown work is

over, the official said.

Funding

Works started for these by the end of 2014 and the funding for the warehouses

has come from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development under the

World Infrastructure Funding project.

All the amenities are likely to be ready for use in another three months.

Proposals submitted

Proposals have been submitted for warehouses at Kurichi and Perur and land

needs to be identified for one at Mettupalayam. The godowns will be used to

store food grains that are sent to PDS outlets. Usually rice, pulses, wheat, and

oil are stored. With storage facilities in each taluk, transportation becomes easy,

the official said.

Proposals have

been submitted

for warehouses

at Kurichi

and Perur

Cotton auction fetches Rs. one crore

Cotton was auctioned for Rs. one crore at the Konganapuram Agricultural

Producers Cooperative Marketing Society near here on Saturday. The farmers

of Edappadi, Sankagiri, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Tiruvannamalai had brought

the cotton stock to the society for the weekly auction.

While PT variety fetched a price between Rs. 5,500 and Rs. 6,060 per bag;

surabhi variety fetched a price between 5,900 and Rs. 6,420.

About 4,500 cotton bags were auctioned for Rs. 1.05 crore on the occasion,

according to society sources.

Agri society registers profit

The Salem Agricultural Producers Cooperative Marketing Society registered a

net profit of Rs. 50.21 lakh during the year 2014-15, said Minister for PWD,

State Highways and Minor Ports Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Speaking at a function to inaugurate the retail outlet for marketing the products

of Servo of Indian Oil Corporation Limited in the city on Sunday, he said that

the Society functioned as an agent for the marketing of groundnut, cotton,

turmeric and copra on behalf of the farmers of the district.

The Society runs 97 fair price shops and a kerosene bunk. It is also entrusted

with the responsibility of transporting essential commodities to 556 ration shops

in the district, he added.

The Society on its Vazhappadi branch premises opened a direct copra

procurement centre last month. The centre fetched copra at a reasonable price

from the farmers and has been widely welcomed by the farming community.

The headquarters of the Society in the city and its branches sanctioned jewellery

loan to a maximum extent of Rs. eight lakh to its members.

The society will market oil and grease for the bus, trucks and two-wheelers at

reasonable price.

R. Sukumar, District Revenue Officer, presided. Mayor S. Soundappan, V.

Panneerselvam, MP, and C. Srinivasan, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies

were present.

‘Mechanisation will boost paddy cultivation’

Farmers trying their hand at paddy transplanters at the inauguration of a

campaign in Brahmavar on Sunday.

Krishna Byre Gowda, Minister for Agriculture, said on Sunday that mechanised

farming was the only way for farmers to make paddy cultivation profitable.

He was here to inaugurate a mega campaign for mechanised paddy cultivation

organised by the Department of Agriculture at the paddy fields of Agrahara.

Mr. Gowda said that the traditional method of paddy cultivation was labour

intensive, time consuming and less profitable.

The traditional method of paddy cultivation cost nearly Rs. 24,000 an acre,

whereas mechanised cultivation would cost about Rs. 10,000 an acre.

Paddy was the main kharif crop of Udupi district. There was 1.3 lakh acres of

land under paddy cultivation here. But hardly 5,000 acres of cultivation was

under mechanised farming. Mechanised farming would solve a lot of problems

of farmers of coastal district, especially labour shortage.

Even when the farm workers were available, the farmers had to pay about Rs.

400 for a female farm worker and Rs. 600 for male farm worker.

This hiked the cost of production significantly. If paddy nurseries were raised

through the Paddy Nursery Raising Machine and transplanting in the fields was

done by the paddy transplanter, it would do away with the need for labour to a

large extent.

The harvesting too could be done with the help of a paddy harvester.

The Department of Agriculture had set up Customer Hire Service Centres,

where farmers could take some agricultural equipment on rent.

He directed officials of the Agriculture Department to take the help of women’s

self-help groups and NGOs to popularise mechanised paddy farming.

They could provide trays of paddy saplings made from Paddy Nursery Raising

Machines to farmers. They could also help in the use of paddy transplanters.

The Agriculture Department should hold a meeting of women’s SHGs, diploma

holders and train them in these matters. They should also be given a target to

achieve so that there was faster expansion of area under mechanised paddy

cultivation.

Package deals

The department could offer package deals for farmers. Farmers should be

encouraged to grow two crops of paddy under mechanised farming in a year in

the district, Mr. Gowda said.

Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Services and Sports;

Shobha Karandlaje, MP; and Dinaker Babu, president of Udupi Zilla Panchayat

were present.

Campaign to

promote

mechanised

paddy cultivation launched in Udupi

AP govt target larger kharif harvest, increase area under pulses cultivation

A senior government official said that on the back of good monsoons,

government has decided to increase kharif crop acreage from 38 lakh hectares to

43 lakh hectares

Andhra Pradesh government are expecting more rainfall come August and

September. (Representational Picture)

Andhra Pradesh government is targeting an acreage of about 43 lakh hectares in

this kharif season against last year’s total of 38 lakh hectares on the back of

good monsoon this season. The government would also be focusing on

increasing area under cultivation of pulses in view of shortage of lentils in the

country, a senior official said here on Sunday.

“As of now, things are going on well in kharif. As per the weekly report, as on

June 5, sowings took place in 10 lakh hectares as against 5.6 lakh heactares last

year. By any means, compared to last three years, it is a good progress,” State

Agriculture Commissioner Dhanunjaya Reddy said.

“We are expecting better rains in August, September than June-July. We are

hopeful that this time it will be a good season.

We are targeting about 43 lakh hectares for this Kharif season.

Last time, it was about 38 lakh hectares,” he said.

Except Srikakulam and Nellore districts, remaining 11 districts have received

excess rainfall from June 1 to July 6, according to official data.

The excess rainfall in June has led to brisk sowing of groundnut and pulses in

dry land areas, including Rayalaseema region (Kadapa, Chittoor, Kurnool and

Anantapur districts),

Reddy said. In an innovative measure, the government for the first time has got

pulses sown as a ‘pre-kharif’ season crop under about 50,000 hectares in

Nagarjuna Sagar and Krishna delta region as it rained in May and June.

“This was done as water cannot be given to the regions till August owing to

irrigation reasons.

The crop will be completed in about 90 days (by August),” the official said.

The farmers readily agreed to the idea as they had a bad last Kharif and Rabi

seasons and seeds were supplied on a subsidy, he said.

The department had planned fertilisers, micro-nutritients seeds distribution in

advance for the Kharif.

MP: Farmers at loss as rain hits soybean crop, re-sowing a must

Farmers began sowing soybean in mid-June after the arrival of Southwest

monsoon. (Shankar Mourya/HT file)

Soybean crop has been affected for the third consecutive year in Madhya

Pradesh as excessive rain in Satna, Rewa and Bhopal regions will necessitate re-

sowing once the water recedes, an agriculture expert said.

Madhya Pradesh is the top producer of soybean in the country and accounts for

53% of its production, according to government statistics.

“Farmers will have to go for re-sowing wherever there has been water logging

in fields due to excessive rainfall,” scientist and soybean expert Dr PS

Bhatnagar said. The re-sowing, he said, will have an impact on yield as ideal

time for sowing the crop is over.

Farmers began sowing soybean in mid-June after the arrival of Southwest

monsoon. Though weather has been conducive in southwestern part of the state,

experts are concerned over excessive rains in east and north Madhya Pradesh.

Rains are lashing many parts of the state for the last three days. Very heavy

rains are likely in Satna, Hoshangabad, Jabalpur, Raisen, Sagar and Damoh

districts in the next 24 hours, the Indian Meteorological Department’s Bhopal

director Dr Anupam Kashyapi said.

Bhopal, Narsinghpur, Vidisha and Betul districts are also expected to receive

heavy rain.

“The distribution pattern of monsoon is very crucial for the soya crop. The

performance of monsoon in the crucial months of July and August will

determine the final output,” Bhatnagar said.

Last year, the production was hit by white mosaic (a plant disease) and shortage

of water.

Mukund Patidar, a farmer in Rau near Indore, said he has partially switched to

‘tur’ as he did not earn much from soybean last year.

While Patidar was lucky to make some profit, many farmers incurred losses as

soybean crop was damaged due to erratic monsoon and pest attack. Many

farmers are likely to partially shift to growing pulses such as ‘tur’ and ‘urad’ for

their high prices.

Govt planning to attract more FDI in dairy sector

NEW DELHI: Aiming to double farmers’ income in the next five years, the

Centre is chalking out an action plan to attract more foreign investment in the

dairy sector.

“We want FDI in this sector in such a format that our farmers’ income goes up,”

animal husbandry secretary Devendra Chaudhury said.

The plan is to increase foreign investment from the current level of around 141

crore, he said.

India backs African countries’ demand for curbs on cotton subsidies at

WTO

Says countries should share information on subsidies per farmer

India is backing major cotton growing African countries in their demand for

immediate elimination of cotton export subsidies and a timeline for reduction of

domestic support by heavily subsidising members such as the US.

This was agreed to at the World Trade Organisation’s Ministerial meet in

Nairobi last December.

“While the four cotton growing African countries (C4) are leading the demand

for reduction and elimination of cotton subsidies, India, too, is supporting the

cause as its cotton farmers are adversely affected by cheap subsidised cotton

from the West both in the domestic and export market,” an official keeping

track of the on-going negotiations on agriculture at the WTO told BusinessLine.

At a meeting in Geneva earlier this month, New Delhi, which supports its cotton

farmers through a minimum support price (MSP), had underscored the

importance of focussing on how much support individual farmers get.

“India said that countries should give information on support per farmer, the

average earnings of farmers and the average size farm holding to ensure that all

are not painted by the same brush,” the official added.

In the last nine years, of the $47 billion handed out as cotton subsidies by major

players, over $24 billion has been given by the US, $15 billion by China, $7

billion by the EU and less than $1 billion by India, according to figures

compiled by international think-tank Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network.

Interestingly, Nobel laureate economist Joseph E Stiglitz, at an event in

Bengaluru last week, said that the Modi government, like Brazil, should drag

the US to the WTO for subsidising its cotton farmers as it was one of the

countries worst affected by it.

While India may not have any immediate intention of taking on the US

individually on the matter, it is adding its voice to that of the C4 (Burkina Faso,

Benin, Chad and Mali) which have pleaded that domestic support programmes

of major producers need to be slashed as these were forcing thousands of young

cotton farmers in their countries to turn to migration in order to earn a living.

The countries asked members to explain how they intend to implement the

Nairobi decision on cotton under the three pillars of export competition, market

access and domestic support.

The US is not just one of the biggest subsidy providers but is also the largest

exporter of cotton. According to the National Cotton Council of America, the

US is expected to export 10.2 million bales in 2016 capturing almost 30 per cent

of world trade in cotton of 35.8 million bales, while India would export half of

that at 5.4 million bales.

Farmers advised to go for cotton sowing in TN

With the price of good quality extra-long staple cotton expected to be over

around Rs. 6,000 to Rs. 6,200 per quintal in December and January next, the

farmers are advised to take sowing decision accordingly.

The Price Forecasting Scheme in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University has

analysed the cotton prices prevailed in Konganapuram Regulated market in the

state for the last 10 years and arrived at the price behaviour.

In Tamil Nadu, cotton was grown in an area of 0.1 million ha with production

of 0.53 million bales (170 kg a bale) during 2014-15 in major cotton producing

districts of Perambalur, Salem, Trichy, Dharmapuri, Ariyalur and Cuddalore.

Quoting trade sources, the analysis said that the area of cotton in India may

decline up to 35 per cent as the farmers have shifted to crops like groundnut,

pulses, paddy and sugarcane.

The white fly attack in major cotton growing regions during last season and the

above normal rainfall during monsoon as per the weather forecast had made the

farmers to go for other crops, the analysis said.

Kharif sowing of rice, pulses increases with rains

Acreage under cotton, oilseed cultivation still low but likely to improve

With surplus rain recorded between June 30 and July 6, sowing of rice and

pulses picked up pace with the total acreage under the two crops, since the

beginning of June, exceeding last year’s levels for the same period.

The sharp decline in acreage under cotton and oilseeds, however, resulted in

lower acreage under all kharif crops till July 8, at 406.27 lakh hectares,

compared with 431.82 lakh hectares in the same period last year, according to

data released by the Agriculture Ministry.

“While cotton sowing has been affected to some extent by the white fly attack

last year, the lower acreage in both cotton and oilseeds could be attributed to the

slow progress of the monsoon in parts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and

Gujarat. But with rainfall abundant in most parts of the country now, acreage is

likely to improve for both,” an Agriculture Ministry official told BusinessLine.

The country received 35 per cent surplus rainfall in the week ended July 6 with

all regions recording above-normal rainfall apart from the Peninsula, according

to the India Meteorological Department.

Deficit erased

The rainfall deficit of 11 per cent recorded till the end of June has hence been

wiped out with the country now recording a 1 per cent surplus in the period

starting June.

The acreage under rice till July 8 increased to 81.93 lakh hectares (77.31 lakh

hectares) as States such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Haryana, Andhra

Pradesh and Tamil Nadu witnessed a rise.

Cash crops

Sowing of pulses increased to 45.93 lakh hectares till July 8 this year, from

36.44 lakh hectares in the same period last year with a major spurt in acreage in

Karnataka, followed by Rajasthan, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra

Pradesh.

Acreage under sugarcane also rose, although at a relatively lower level, to 45.78

lakh hectares (43.68 lakh hectares) as sowing in Uttar Pradesh posted a

significant increase.

Cotton sowing dropped to 67.89 lakh hectares till July 8 compared to 87.83 lakh

hectares in the same period last year, with the fall most pronounced in

Maharashtra, where acreage declined to 18.97 lakh hectares (29.98 lakh

hectares).

Oilseed coverage down

The acreage under oilseeds was lower at 82.28 lakh hectares, compared to

101.15 lakh hectares in the same period last year, with Madhya Pradesh and

Maharashtra witnessing significant falls. Oilseed sowing in Gujarat, Andhra

Pradesh and Telangana recorded a rise.

Millers see sugar production dipping to 232.6 lakh t in 2016-17

India’s sugar output for the 2016-17 season starting October is expected to be

3.34 per cent lower at 232.6 lakh tonnes due to a decline in cane acreage,

according to the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

The area under cane has taken a beating in the major growing States of

Maharashtra and Karnataka due to lower rainfall and the drought-like situation

last year.

Acreage down

The total acreage under sugarcane in the country in 2016-17 sugar season is

estimated to be about 5.5 per cent lower at 49.91 lakh hectares compared with

52.84 lakh hectares in the previous year, ISMA said.

Sugar production during the 2016-17 season, as a result, is likely to be 3.34 per

cent lower at 232.6 lakh tonnes compared to 251 lakh tonnes (lt) produced in

the previous season.

The acreage estimates are based on satellite images procured in the latter part of

June 2016, according to an official release.

Balance sheet

With an estimated opening balance on October 1, 2016 of 71 lt and estimated

production of 232.6 lt, sugar availability during the next season will be 303.6 lt,

the release said.

It is enough to meet the domestic sugar consumption requirement of 260 lt in

2016-17.

Acreage in Uttar Pradesh, the top sugarcane producing State in the country, is

estimated to be marginally higher at 23.35 lakh hectares in the 2016-17 sugar

season (October-September), according to the preliminary figures.

This will lead to higher production in the State.

Maharashtra acreage

Sugar acreage in Maharashtra is estimated to decline in the 2016-17 sugar

season due to the drought-like situation last year, poor rainfall and less water

availability for irrigation, the release said.

“Acreage is expected to come down to 7.80 lakh hectares in 2016-17 against the

cane area of 10.5 lakh hectares in 2015-16. Sugar production is, therefore,

estimated to be around 61.5 lakh tonne in 2016-17, as against 84.08 lakh tonnes

in 2015-16,” according to ISMA.

Lower rainfall and the drought-like situation will also affect the sugarcane area

in Karnataka, which will decline in 2016-17 to 4.15 lakh hectares (5.10 lakh

hectares).

Sugar production in 2016-17 is estimated to be around 32.2 lt, as against the

40.71 lt expected to be produced in 2015-16.

The sugarcane area in Tamil Nadu in 2016-17 season is estimated to increase to

2.65 lakh hectares (2.50 lakh hectares).

Due to better rainfall and expected improvement in yields, sugarcane production

is also expected to increase to 15.6 lakh tonnes.

Centre launches KVK portal for monitoring of farm centres

The Centre has launched a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) portal for online

monitoring and review of the 645 centres focussing on farm knowledge and

research spread across the country and also provide a platform for providing

information and advisories to farmers.

“Each of the 645 KVKs has direct interface with at least 1,000 farmers. But the

information related to KVKs was not available at one place at the national level

and farmers and other stakeholders had difficulty in accessing the information.

Also there was no national online monitoring system,” Agriculture Minister

Radha Mohan Singh said, adding that the new portal would solve all these

problems.

The portal (http://kvk.icar.gov.in) was launched by Singh on Monday.

Apart from online monitoring of KVKs which will include reporting of major

events on a regular basis and submission of monthly reports online, the portal

will also provide information on different services being provided by them.

Weather and market related information can also be accessed on the portal, a

release said, adding that information on programmes such as training

programmes organised by the KVKs would be available too.

Farmers and other stakeholders can also pose agriculture related questions on

the website which will be answered by experts.

Nilgiris H1 tea output down 29%

Prolonged dry weather has taken a heavy toll on the Nilgiri tea production so far

this calendar.

June was another dry month with the rainfall being less in most agro-climatic

zones compared to June 2015 and the decennial (10-year) average for the

month.

The cumulative rainfall in the five months was far lower than 2015 and

decennial average in all agro-climatic zones.

Temperature was higher than last year with meteorological centre at Planiappa

Estate recording the highest temperature of 29 degrees Celsius.

Humidity, wind speed, evaporation and soil moisture recorded at various centres

showed an adverse ambience for tea cropping.

Consequently, tea companies have reported to Tea Board that their production

in June was 18 per cent less than in June 2015.

They have reported that their output in June dropped to 1.41 million kg (mkg)

from 1.71 mkg in June 2015 and the five year mean of 1.77 mkg for the month.

This pulled down the cumulative output in the first half of calendar 2016 by as

much as 29.40 per cent over last year.

The production till June dropped to 5.69 mkg from 8.06 mkg in January-June

2015 and the five-year mean of 7.68 mkg for the period.

Cotton remains strong

Cotton price traded unchanged on tight supply and good demand from domestic

mills. However price was not moved up as foreign market was decreased.

Trader said that, because of the weak arrival of the commodity price remained

steady at the higher level.

Gujarat Sankar-6 cotton traded flat on 43,500-45,000 per candy of 356 kg.

About 2,000 bales arrived in Gujarat and 5,000 bales arrived in India. Kapas or

raw cotton traded unchanged on normal demand from ginners.

Kapas quoted at 1,200-1,230 per 20 kg and gin delivery kapas was stood at

1,230-1,250 per 20 kg. According to traders about 8-10 lakh bales of unsold

cotton stock available in Gujarat.

Poultry dispute: US seeks WTO sanctions on India

The US is seeking trade sanctions against India after winning a dispute at the

World Trade Organization regarding Indian restrictions on import of American

poultry meat, eggs and pigs, the WTO said.

The US has requested a WTO meeting on July 19 to launch the claim for

compensation, according to an agenda circulated by the WTO. The agenda did

not give any details, but the US Trade Representative’s office has previously

said US annual exports of poultry meat to India could exceed $300 million.

The US won the dispute last June, when the WTO’s Appellate Body ruled that

India’s restrictions were discriminatory and based on unsubstantiated fears over

bird flu. The US argued that it had not had an outbreak of high pathogenic avian

flu since 2004, while India had 90 such outbreaks.

Dry weather likely to shrink coffee output by 8% next season

Production touches record high of 3.48 lakh tonnes in 2015-16

After hitting a record 3.48 lakh tonnes in 2015-16, India’s coffee production for

the year starting October 2016-September 2017 is set to drop by about eight per

cent to 3.2 lakh tonnes as a prolonged dry spell and drought-like conditions in

the key growing regions of Kodagu, Chikmagalur and Wayanad have taken a

toll on the output — especially the robusta variety.

Coffee statistics

According to the post blossom or initial estimates by the Coffee Board, the

overall robusta output is expected to be lower by a tenth at 2.2 lakh tonnes

against last year’s final output of 2.44 lakh tonnes (lt).

The total production of arabicas — the milder and premium variety which can

withstand drought-like conditions to some extent — is projected to be lower by

3.38 per cent at around 1 lt against last year’s final output of 1.035 lt.

“The reduction in post-blossom estimates of 2016-17 could be mainly attributed

to the delayed blossom and backing showers, coupled with high temperatures

especially in major coffee growing areas of Karnataka and to some extent in

Kerala,” Coffee Board said in a statement. Besides, the adverse weather

condition, 2016-17 is an off-year for the coffee crop in the country as 2015-16

happened to be a bumper year with the highest crop.

Karnataka data

In Karnataka, the largest coffee growing State, the post-blossom estimates for

2016-17 have been placed at 2.29 lt – about nine per cent lower than the

previous year’s 2.51 lt.

Arabica output is expected to be around 74,485 tonnes, about 5.3 per cent lower

than last year’s 78,650 tonnes.

The decline in Arabica output is largely on account of decline of about eight per

cent in Kodagu and around five per cent in Chikmagalur.

Similarly, the robusta output is pegged 10 per cent lower at 1.54 lt than previous

year’s 1.72 lt.

Major growing regions such as Kodagu and Chikmagalur are expected to see a

12 per cent and eight per cent drop in robusta output respectively.

Other areas

In Kerala, the 2016-17 output is projected to be 10 per cent lower at 62,440

tonnes (69,230 tonnes).

This is mainly on account of 10 per cent decline in output in Wayanad, the main

producing region.

In Tamil Nadu, coffee production is set to increase marginally on account of

higher output in the Pulneys, Shevroys and the Nilgiris region.

Elsewhere in the non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the

North-East, the coffee output is expected to be higher than last year.

Govt preparing action plan to attract more FDI in dairy sector

The Department of Animal Hus

is holding a series of discussion with private players in this regard

Aiming to double farmers' income in the next five years, the Centre is chalking

out a national action plan to attract more

The Department of Animal Husbandry under the aegis of Agriculture Ministry

is holding a series of discussion with private players in this reg

"We are preparing a national action plan to boost

FDI in this sector in such a format that our

income goes up," Animal Husbandry Secretary

The plan is to increase foreign investment in the

years from the current level of around Rs 141

Last week, the department held the first round of discussion on the issue with

private players including Amul, Mother Dairy, Paras and others.

17 output is projected to be 10 per cent lower at 62,440



higher output in the Pulneys, Shevroys and the Nilgiris region.

traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the

East, the coffee output is expected to be higher than last year.





out a national action plan to attract more foreign investment in the dairy sector.


is holding a series of discussion with private players in this regard.

"We are preparing a national action plan to boost FDI in dairy sector. We want

FDI in this sector in such a format that our farmers are benefited and their

income goes up," Animal Husbandry Secretary Devendra Chaudhury

The plan is to increase foreign investment in the dairy sector

years from the current level of around Rs 141 crore, he said.



17 output is projected to be 10 per cent lower at 62,440



traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and the

East, the coffee output is expected to be higher than last year.


bandry under the aegis of Agriculture Ministry



in the dairy sector.


ard.

in dairy sector. We want

are benefited and their

Devendra Chaudhury told PTI.

in the next five

crore, he said.



Chaudhury said these companies have been asked to submit their inputs on the

issue within two weeks, which will be again deliberated in the next meeting.

At present, FDI is allowed in most aspects of dairy sector, including machines

and equipment. Recently, the government relaxed norms for FDI in animal

husbandry by allowing research in non-controlled conditions as well.

The government, which is aiming to double farmers' income by 2022, wants to

supplement farm income by focusing on allied activities of agriculture like

dairy, poultry and fishery.

For instance, the government has decided to spend Rs 110 crore this financial

year under the National Programme for Dairy Development to

expand milk procurement mechanism at village level for the benefit of farmers.

It is also focusing on increasing the milk productivity of cows and buffaloes, for

which the government has set aside Rs 104 crore for the current fiscal on

breeding programme.

Milk output in India, the world's leading producer, was around 146.3 million

tonnes in 2014-15.

India allows import of 500,000 tonnes of duty-free, non-GM maize

India has asked a government-backed trader to import an extra half a million

tonnes of duty-free, non-genetically modified (GM) maize to keep a lid on

domestic prices and overcome any shortage, the trade ministry said on Sunday.

India, which allows cultivation and consumption of only genetically modified

cotton, has had difficulty in sourcing non-GM maize in late 2015 and earlier this

year, and New Delhi had to drop the plan to import more.

Experts have already voiced their concern over India's ability to find non-GM

maize, which only a handful of countries grow.

To check prices and prevent hoarding, Trade Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has

approved import of 500,000 tonnes, the trade ministry said in a Tweet.

Government sources on June 22 said India was considering importing 500,000

tonnes to bolster local supplies, after a second straight drought cut output.

Indian farmers grow maize twice a year. The winter crop is planted in October,

with harvests in March and April. The summer crop planting has started, but

supplies will become available only from end-September.

The government plans to import on behalf of major consumers like the poultry

industry and starch manufacturers.

Andhra Pradesh targets 43 lakh ha acreage in kharif season: Official

production of pulses grew by 30% last year in the state and AP was the only

state to have produced more than the target

Andhra Pradesh government is targeting an acreage of about 43 lakh hectares in

this kharif season against last year's total of 38 lakh hectares on the back of

good monsoon this season.

The government would also be focusing on increasing area under cultivation of

pulses in view of shortage of lentils in the country, a senior official said.

"As of now, things are going on well in kharif. As per the weekly report, as on

June 5, sowing took place in 10 lakh hectares as against 5.6 lakh hectares last

year. By any means, compared to last three years, it is a good progress," State

Agriculture Commissioner Dhanunjaya Reddy told.

"We are expecting better rains in August, September than June-July. We are

hopeful that this time it will be a good season. We are targeting about 43 lakh

hectares for this Kharif season. Last time, it was about 38 lakh hectares," he

said.

Except Srikakulam and Nellore districts, remaining 11 districts have received

excess rainfall from June 1 to July 6, according to official data.

The excess rainfall in June has led to brisk sowing of groundnut and pulses in

dry land areas, including Rayalaseema region (Kadapa, Chittoor, Kurnool and

Anantapur districts), Reddy said.

In an innovative measure, the government for the first time has got pulses sown

as a 'pre-kharif' season crop under about 50,000 hectares in Nagarjuna Sagar

and Krishna delta region as it rained in May and June.

"This was done as water cannot be given to the regions till August owing to

irrigation reasons. The crop will be completed in about 90 days (by August),"

the official said.

The farmers readily agreed to the idea as they had a bad last Kharif

and Rabi seasons and seeds were supplied on a subsidy, he said.

The department had planned fertilisers, micro-nutrients seeds distribution in

advance for the Kharif.

Reddy also said the construction of Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme on river

Godavari, linking it with Krishna, would help farmers dependent on Krishna

(Krishna delta) as they would not have got water by this time.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu recently inaugurated the transfer

of Godavari water to Krishna through the Pattiseema scheme recently and that

water is expected to reach Prakasambarrage in Vijayawada (Krishna delta) by

around July 15.

The state government is laying emphasis on cultivation of pulses as it is a major

problem (shortage) across the country, Reddy said.

The production of pulses grew by 30% last year in the state an

only state to have produced more than the target.

"We are vigorously campaigning for pulses. Farmers are also willing to grow

the crop as rates are good. Last two

25,000 to 30,000 hectares. But, by

It is a very good sign," he said.

AP is also ahead of other states in the distribution of soil health cards and

focusing on provision of micro

Kenya glut forces India to export cheaper tea to Pakistan

Indian tea exporters said Pakistani buyers are not keen to pay a higher price for

Indian tea even though it has produced better quality teas this year.

KOLKATA: Indian tea exporters are under pressure to lower prices for clients

The production of pulses grew by 30% last year in the state an

only state to have produced more than the target.


the crop as rates are good. Last two- three years, usually sowing was done under

25,000 to 30,000 hectares. But, by last week, it has reached 1.32 lakh hectares.

It is a very good sign," he said.


focusing on provision of micro- nutrients and farm mechanisation, Reddy said.

Kenya glut forces India to export cheaper tea to Pakistan


gh it has produced better quality teas this year.


The production of pulses grew by 30% last year in the state and AP was the


three years, usually sowing was done under

last week, it has reached 1.32 lakh hectares.


nutrients and farm mechanisation, Reddy said.


gh it has produced better quality teas this year.


in Pakistan in face of cheaper imports from Kenya, its largest supplier which

has seen a 68 per cent increase in production this year.

Pakistan is one of the top three tea importers, with annual consumption of 220

million kg.

In 2015, it had imported 19.45 million kg of tea from India at an average price

of $1.47 per kg. A year earlier, it had imported 15.8 million kg but at a higher

average price of $1.50 per kg.


Indian tea even though it has produced better quality teas this year in

comparison with 2015, when a long dry spell had damaged the crop.

According to traders, in the first four months of 2016, Pakistan imported 5.12

million kg of tea, down from the 5.63 million kg it had imported in the year-ago

period. Pakistan imports most of its requirement between August and October.

"Kenya has produced 177 million kg of tea this year, which is 72 million kg

more than last year. With this huge production, Kenya is in a position to offer

much competitive price to Pakistan than India," a senior tea planter told ET.

A merchant exporter said, "Last year, quality of Indian tea had suffered due to

erratic weather conditions. That is why Pakistan had offered less price for

Indian teas. But this year, quality is much better. Despite that, Pakistan is

offering an average price of $1.70 per kg for Indian tea, as availability from

Kenya is on the higher side."

However, fall in exports to Pakistan could be offset by demand from another

neighbour, Bangladesh, which is showing keen interest. India's tea export to

Bangladesh grew by 58.57 per cent in 2015 from a year ago even though the

country produces 80-85 million kg annually.

"Bangladesh is ready to buy Indian teas at a price of $1.90 $2.05 per kg. It is a

good market for Indian teas and is growing," said another merchant exporter.

A senior official of the Indian Tea Association said that apart from the

traditional EU market, Russia, the US, Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and Bangladesh

continue to be focus markets for Indian tea exporters. In 2015, Indian exported

232.92 million kg of tea compared with 199.08 million kg in 2014.

India to import 5 lakh tonnes of maize to check prices

Under Tariff Rate Quota Scheme, government allows imports of four products,

including maize (corn), at concessional rates of customs duty.

NEW DELHI: Government will import 5 lakh tonnes of maize to check price

rise and hoarding in the wake of fall in domestic production of the crop.

To check prices and prevent hoarding, Commerce and Industry Minister

Nirmala Sitharaman has approved importing 5,00,000 MT of maize under Tariff

Rate Quota by a state trading enterprise, her ministry said in a tweet.

Under Tariff Rate Quota Scheme, government allows imports of four products,

including maize (corn), at concessional rates of customs duty.

At present, maize attracts 50 per cent import duty. However, under the Tariff

Rate Quota Scheme, the import duty is zero.

Eligible entities for allocation of quota under the scheme in case of corn include

STC, MMTCBSE 0.84 % and PEC.

In June, state-owned trading firm PEC had invited bids for import of 50,000

tonnes of maize (non-genetically modified) to boost domestic supplies in view

of fall in production.

As per Agriculture Ministry's third advance estimate, maize production in the

country is estimated to have declined to 21.02 million tonnes in 2015-16 from

23.67 million tonnes in the previous year.

India has been traditionally a major corn exporter to southeast Asia but drought

and rising domestic demand has cut export supplies.

Poultry sector and starch manufacturers are the major consumer of maize.

The government is also importing pulses to boost domestic availability and

check price rise. As of now 46,000 tonnes of pulses have been contracted for

supply.

Commodity prices, construction key for rural economy: Icra

While favourable monsoon will be vital for rural recovery, the trend in

commodity prices and recovery in construction activities also hold equal

importance, domestic rating agency Icra said.

MUMBAI: While favourable monsoon will be vital for rural recovery, the trend

in commodity prices and recovery in construction activities also hold equal

importance, domestic rating agency IcraBSE 1.32 % said.

The earnings of rural households over the last few years have been impacted by

modest hikes in Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) and a decline in commodity

prices, which has mainly been influenced by global factors, Icra said.

For instance, domestic cotton prices weakened by 20 per cent from their peak in

FY14 to FY16, due to the change in China's procurement policy and the

declining competitiveness against PSF due to lower crude oil prices, it said.

Similarly, liquidity of farmers in the sugarcane producing belts was affected by

weak financial performance of sugar mills, which were operating in an

environment of surplus production (in the domestic market) over the past 5-6

years and subdued international prices.

"While agriculture plays an important role in the rural economy, it employs 64

per cent of rural manpower. The rest is contributed by sectors like construction

(11 per cent), manufacturing (9 per cent), trade and transport (9 per cent) and

others.

"Thus, revival in some of the key sectors will also be important for rural

demand recovery," Icra Ratings Senior GVP Subrata Ray said.

With the government's focus on reviving infrastructure projects, a gradual

improvement has been visible, especially in the execution of roads and highway

projects since second half of 2015-16.

The number of households getting employment under the MNREGA scheme

also increased in 2015-16 by 38 per cent to 176 million.

However, what still remains a challenge is the subdued pick-up in industrial

capex and the real estate markets, which are also an important source of rural

employment.

"Apart from the central government, many of the state governments have also

allocated a greater proportion of their annual budgets towards sectors that have

a direct influence on the rural economy.

"The other positives for the rural economy and consumption-driven sectors at

large include the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission

recommendations in FY17 and the recent roll-out of the One-Rank-One-Pension

scheme for the defence personnel," Ray said.

In contrast to the trends in rural economy, demand from urban markets has been

on a recovery trend over the past 4-6 quarters, led by lower inflationary

pressures, softening interest rates and improving consumer sentiments, Icra

said.

"In addition to these factors, we believe that aggressive promotional strategies,

discounts and other initiatives by companies have also supported demand

recovery to a great extent across sectors," it added.

Sluggish rain likely to lower coffee output by 8 per cent in 2016-17

The production fall is estimated in all coffee-growing districts in the state.

Maximum fall is estimated to be in Kodagu, followed by Chikmagalur and

Hassan. (In pic: coffee seeds)

NEW DELHI: Country's coffee production is projected to slip by 8 per cent to

3.20 lakh tonnes in the 2016-17 marketing year due to sluggish rains, state-run

Coffee Board said.

Coffee production in India, the world's sixth largest coffee producer, has

touched a record 3.48 lakh tonnes in the ongoing 2015-16 marketing year

(October-September).

"The post blossom crop forecast for 2016-17 is placed at 3.20 lakh tonnes. This

is an overall decrease of 8.05 per cent over the final production estimate of this

year," the Coffee Board said.

Of the total, production of Arabica variety of coffee is estimated at 1,00,000

tonnes in 2016-17 as against 1,03,500 tonnes this year, while that of Robusta is

pegged at 2,20,000 tonnes as against 2,44,500 tonnes in the said period, it

added.

"The reduction in post-blossom estimate of 2016-17 could be mainly attributed

to the delayed blossom and backing showers coupled with high temperatures

especially in major coffee growing areas of Karnataka and to some extent in

Kerala," the Board said.

Apart from adverse weather conditions, the 2016-17 is an off-year for coffee

crop in the country as the current year happened to be a bumper year with an

all-time record of highest crop, it observed.

The fall in coffee output in 2016-17 is mainly coming from Karnataka and

Kerala.

According to the Board, coffee output in Karnataka is estimated to be down by

22,175 tonnes to 2,29,345 tonnes as against 2,51,520 tonnes in 2015-16.

The production fall is estimated in all coffee-growing districts in the state.

Maximum fall is estimated to be in Kodagu, followed by Chikmagalur and

Hassan.

In Kerala, mainly a Robusta producer, coffee output is pegged at 62,440 tonnes,

down 9.81 per cent from this year's 69,230 tonnes.

However, in Tamil Nadu, coffee output may rise marginally to 17,560 tonnes

from 17,295 tonnes this year.

In non-traditional areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well as in North

Eastern Region, the coffee output is projected to be slightly higher at 10,655

tonnes as against 9,955 tonnes this year.

India accounts for only 4-5 per cent of the world's output, but exports 70-80 per

cent of its produce. Italy, Russia and Germany are the top three buyers of Indian

coffee.

Height of another check dam raised: Activists

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