The revised draft Seeds Bill 2019, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare placed in the public domain recently for suggestions and comments, seems to be a watered down version of a draft prepared about nine years ago by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Among other things, …
To promote crop diversification programme in Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today announced to provide maize seed at 75 per cent subsidy to farmers in 12 districts during the next kharif season. An official spokesman said the Chief Minister had directed the Agriculture Department to ensure the installation of …
More than 90 per cent paddy transplantation has been completed in the state. However, the area under paddy cultivation has been reduced by 60,000 hectares this year. An official of the Agriculture Department said the government was encouraging farmers to diversify from paddy to maize and the farmers were being …
This is the first judgement citing Section 3(j) that says plants & animals aren’t patentable India’s patent appeals board has denied Monsanto a patent for a genetically-engineered method of increasing climate resilience in plants. The decision is significant not only for Monsanto’s loss of possible exclusivity in an increasingly important …
Tuda Planning To Sow Seeds For Green Dist Thrissur: Thrissur Urban Development Authority (Tuda) is planning a massive afforestation project in the district by roping in colleges, schools and youth clubs. The project -- ‘One Million Shade’ --plans to plant 10 lakh saplings in a span of five years in …
The biggest advantage of developing seed banks is reduced cost About 500-odd organic farmers in Gujarat are trying to develop individual seed banks in a bid to resist the onslaught of genetically modified seeds. "The farmers are now developing seed bank as a measure against the invasion of genetically modified …
As shortage of seeds is a major problem for farmers in the state, the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) here has started a novel initiative to help them. The CRRI has introduced a project on seed production among small farmers in Cuttack region to make good quality seeds available for …
With Kasaragod having declared an organic district, the State-owned Seed Farm here has decided keep all chemical fertilizers and pesticides away from its 25-acre paddy field at Karanthakad this season. The Farm cultivates paddy to supply hybrid seeds to farmers. Deviating from its earlier practice, the Farm this year is …
United Phosphorus Limited (UPL) today launched rice herbicide 'Saathi' in Uttar Pradesh, a major paddy producer in India. The product would control all types of weeds and cost about Rs 1,000 a acre, increasing the farmers' profit margin, Head (integrated business unit) Bhupen Dubey said. He said the biggest challenge …
Failure to implement legislation hurting farmers Poor quality seedlings and lack of monitoring of nurseries selling seedlings of fruits and vegetables to farmers are the main reasons why horticulture farmers in the State are losing out on their crop yield, said Dr M Krishna Reddy, Principal Scientist, Plant Pathology, Indian …
Monsanto Co. on Monday won another round in a legal battle with U.S. organic growers as an appeals court threw out the growers' efforts to stop the company from suing farmers if traces of its patented biotech genes are found in crops. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal …
Agricultural research in India has hit a major roadblock in the last three years with several States deciding not to give no-objection certificates (NOCs) and Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) not meeting ahead of the crucial kharif season. If it fails to meet in the next 2-3 weeks to consider …
Finance Minister has proposed an overall allocation of Tk. 12,275.98 crore to this sector for FY 2013-14 in the development and non-development budgets combined. It include enhancing crops production and providing all possible support to inputs used by farmers to sustain to attain the desired growth. The government has introduced …
The implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has resulted in an increase in food grain production by 42 million tonne as against the target of 20 million tonne set for the Eleventh Plan. Agriculture and Food Processing Industries minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday informed members of parliamentary Consultative …
In March, US President Barack Obama signed the HR 933 continuing resolution — popularly known as the Monsanto Protection Act — that effectively divests the federal courts of their constitutional power to stop the planting or sale of genetically modified (GM) seeds and crops regardless of the health and environmental …
After almost a decade, the Jharkhand state seed subcommittee released nine high-yielding varieties of rice, groundnut, soya bean, sugarcane and chickpea crops, following a notification by the Government of India last month. These are resistant towards major diseases and pests. The release got a final nod from the committee chaired …
Of the total amount, Rs 3,500 cr will be disbursed in the khariff season and another Rs 2,500 cr during rabi plantation Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government on Monday announced to provide Rs 6,000 crore loan to the farmers at two percent interest rate through co-operative societies. This …
After cancelling its licence to sell 12 varieties of Bt cotton seeds last year, the State government has allowed Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) to sell the seeds in the coming kharif season, subject to certain conditions. Confirming this, State agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat told The Hindu on Monday that …
The Maharashtra government has lifted the ban on sale of Bt Cotton seeds supplied by Mahyco Seeds for the coming Kharif season "in public interest". The ban was imposed last year with the Agriculture Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil being upset over the company allegedly for "not furnishing its marketing plan and …
The Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hassan Mir today dedicated the Mobile Plant Health Clinic van for district Udhamur under ATMA at Kissan mela held at village Neeli Nallah Jib. The MLA Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia was also present on the occasion. Over 500 farmers including women participated in the Kissan …
"Climate change is projected to reduce timely sown irrigated wheat production by about 6% in 2020. In case of late sown wheat, the projected levels are to the extent of 18%," Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha. Climate change is likely to bring down the production of key foodgrain crops …
