Land diversion makes case for intensive, modern farming

The Economic Times dt.27/11/2010

NEW DELHI: The acquisition of farm land for industrial and infrastructure use is beginning to show up in substantial numbers, indicating an urgent need to get more out of declining agricultural land to moderate the price pressure on food items.

Government data shows agricultural land has declined to 182.4 million hectare in 2007-08 from 183 million hectares in 2004-05 , a drop of nearly 600 thousand hectares, slightly less than that used for jute cultivation every year.
Land acquisition has increased for various non-agricultural needs such as special economic zones, urbanisation , power projects, roads and mining. As a result, the percent share of agricultural land has declined to 59.7% in 2007-08 from 59.9% in 2004-05 , the agriculture ministry said in response to a question in Parliament.

The impact of this diversion would depend on whether the land was yielding two crops or a single one.

India is already battling a double digit food inflation, which is now beginning to be blamed on structural reasons and not just temporary demand-supply mismatch because of one off reasons such as drought or floods. "Continued stickiness in Primary Articles is possibly due to the growing dominance of structural factors (rising incomes, changing dietary patterns towards protein-rich items, and stagnant yields),” said Citi economists Rohini Malkani and Anushka Shah in a recent research note.

Inflation in food articles has dropped to 10.15% for the week ended November 13 from over 20% at the beginning of the year, but a large part of the decline is because of the base effect, or rising inflation at the same time last year. However, farm experts are not perturbed by the diversion of farm land for other use, saying that the real issue is not land, but farm productivity.

“Over the years, agricultural area will come down as there are other uses where returns are more,” said PK Joshi, director, National Academy of Agricultural Research and Management , Hyderabad.
India has more agricultural land than China, but its farm output is much less because of a sharply lower per hectare yield for most crops, thanks to outdated agricultural practices, poor use of inputs and fragmented land that makes mechanisation difficult.

Independent estimates put India’s crop land at 170 million hectare as compared to 135 million hectare for China, but the latter manages to produce more from the smaller area it has under cultivation.
In 2008, for instance, China produced 112 million tonne of wheat, but India managed only 78.6 million tonne, says Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Similar differences exist in other farm produce as well. "We need to increase the cropping intensity, plot more shorter duration crops, and also target higher productivity. These will help compensate for the decline in land,” Mr Joshi said.

Nabard may soon fund Indians setting up farms abroad

Business Line - Hyderabad, Nov 26

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is likely to extend funding to agricultural enterprises wishing to set up farming estates abroad, according to its Managing Director, Dr K.G. Karmakar.

Speaking at a seed-industry-bankers workshop, organised by the Andhra Pradesh Regional Office of Nabard here on Friday, Mr Karmakar said there are opportunities for Indian farmers to take up agriculture in countries in Africa, Georgia, Ukraine and Ethiopia, among others.

Nabard was also in the process of concluding a deal with an Israeli Fund for research and technology transfer in agriculture, he said.

“I will be travelling to Israel soon for taking this forward. The fund could also be utilised for promoting Indian agri ventures overseas,” he said.

Mr Karmakar also asked the seed industry to come up with specific research proposals especially in pulses and oil seeds and other vegetable oils as there was a definite need. Nabard was keen on furthering research in the seed-industry, he added.

Currently, it has three funds — R&D fund, rural innovation fund and farmer technology transfer fund with a combined outlay of about Rs 200 crore.

On the concerns in the seed industry, he said: “At present, the major concern is lower seed germination rate. It should not be anything less than 90 per cent. But today, 55-60 per cent is also being accepted.” The rising cost of seeds, replacement of seeds (at 15 per cent currently), lack of any break-through in oilseeds, pulses research, thinning of talent were other major concerns, he added.

Mr P. Mohaniah, Chief General Manager, Nabard, Andhra Pradesh, said the one-day workshop was being organised to draw a framework for addressing the credit needs of the seed industry and public private partnership.

“Another issue is how to make quality seeds available to farmers,” he said.

Mr Karmakar had earlier formally released a national status paper on the seed industry. The seed industry had a turnover of Rs 4,900 crore last year with a growth rate of 1.3 per cent a year. The production of seeds had grown from one lakh quintals in 1960 to 120 lakh quintals in 2009-10. About 60 per cent of the market is catered to by 600 private companies including multinationals.

Tata Chemicals launches customised fertiliser

The Hindubusinessline -New Delhi, Nov. 22

Tata Chemicals Ltd (TCL), on Monday, announced the launch of ‘Paras Farmoola', the country's first ever customised fertiliser product specifically targeted at farmers in western-central Uttar Pradesh (UP).

“The first truckload has already been despatched to the trade for use by wheat farmers this rabi season. We hope this will encourage others to also come out with products customised for specific crops and regions,” Mr R. Mukundan, Managing Director, TCL, told presspersons here.

Deepak Fertilisers, Nagarjuna Fertilisers & Chemicals and Coromandel International are among those which propose to introduce customised fertiliser formulations.

TCL's first ‘Paras Farmoola' offering – designed for wheat grown in the Agra, Meerut, Bareilly, Moradabad and Kanpur commissionerates – contains 10 per cent nitrogen (N), 18 per cent phosphorus (P), 25 per cent potash (K), 3 per cent sulphur (S) and 0.5 per cent zinc.

“Wheat farmers now apply one 50 kg bag of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) costing around Rs 500, half-a-bag of muriate of potash (MOP) costing Rs 130 and 10 kg of zinc sulphate (ZnS) costing Rs 400 on every acre at the time of sowing. Besides, they use two bags of urea (Rs 265 each) while irrigating the standing crop. The total cost of fertilisers comes to roughly Rs 1,560 an acre, against which they obtain an average yield of 12 quintals,” noted Mr B.B. Singh, General Manager (Business Development), TCL.

With the customised fertiliser, the farmer can do away with DAP, MOP or ZnS and, instead, just apply four bags of ‘Paras Farmoola' (costing Rs 600 each) as a basal dose, followed by the usual two bags of urea.

“The total fertiliser cost here works out higher (at Rs 2,930). But then, the farmer will get 22 quintals an acre, with this additional 10 quintals worth over Rs 11,000,” claimed Mr Singh.

In the pipeline

TCL would be launching a similar customised product for sugarcane farmers of western-central UP next month, containing 7 per cent N, 20 per cent P, 18 per cent K, 6 per cent S and 0.5 per cent zinc. This would also be priced at Rs 600 a bag to the farmer.

“Cane growers in the region now use as many as four bags of DAP, two bags of MOP, 10 kg of ZnS and three bags of urea and get 25-26 tonnes an acre. We are recommending just four bags of Paras Farmoola and three bags of urea for obtaining 35 tonnes. In this case, the farmer not only harvests a higher yield, but also saves on fertiliser cost,” Mr Singh added.

Two more plants

For manufacturing the customised fertilisers, TCL has set up a Rs 60-crore 130,000 tonnes per annum facility at its existing urea unit at Babrala in UP, with technology sourced from A.J. Sackett of the US. The company intends to establish two more plants, involving a total outlay of Rs 110 crore, in West Bengal and UP.

Customised fertiliser manufacture basically involves mixing and crushing of urea, DAP, MOP, ZnS, bentonite sulphur and boron granules for obtaining the desired proportion of N, P, K, S and micronutrients. The mixture is subjected to steam injection, drying, sieving and cooling, so as to get a uniform product with every grain having the same nutrient composition.

Customised fertilisers are currently not covered under the Centre's nutrient based subsidy (NBS) regime. Companies, however, are entitled to claim subsidy on the urea, DAP and MOP used in their manufacture. “If the idea to deliver nutrients to crops, there is no reason why the NBS should not be extended to customised fertilisers,” noted Mr Satish Chander, Director-General, Fertiliser Association of India.

'Let's give a better deal to farmers'

The Economic Times dt/2011/10

US President Barack Obama recently spoke of India and US jointly strengthening agriculture and sparking a second evergreen revolution. A breakthrough in agricultural research and technology is imperative to raise yields across crops, give a better deal to farmers and provide food security to millions of poor. Rajju D Shroff , chairman of Delhi-based Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) and managing director of United Phosphorous, is convinced about better farm practices leading to a dramatic improvement in yields.
"In Tamil Nadu, Rallis India successfully demonstrated a 40% jump in pulses yield with proper farm practices. This was replicated by United Phosphorous for sugarcane in south Gujarat. However, we need to increase the awareness among farmers to adopt better practices. Experts from UPL guided farmers on scientific methods such as seed dressing where the seeds are dipped with fungicides before they are sown to prevent soil-borne diseases, the distance at which they should be planted, how much and when water, fertilisers, and what preventive pesticide-sprays should be used. The results made our demonstration farm alive learning example for farmers from all parts of the country," Shroff says.

CCFI plans to bring together stakeholders not just from the agrochemicals industry, but also sectors like seeds, farm machinery, irrigation and the dairy sector to brainstorm on ways to improve low farm yields. "We expect these issues to be debated well at a seminar early next month on rural prosperity through better agriculture," he says.

The production of pulses, for instance, has stagnated over the years, forcing the country to depend on imports. Prices have soared globally, too. Clearly, augmenting domestic production is the key challenge before the technology mission on pulses.

According to Shroff, a major problem bogging down farm yields is the supply of spurious agrochemical products. Duplicate pesticides, valued at Rs 1,500 crore, are sold in the domestic market annually. "Those indulging in the supply of spurious pesticides escape with minor penalty. This has encouraged even larger players to indulge in such malpractices. Recently, for instance, a publicly listed company was found to be illegally exporting herbicide glyphosate to an African country using the brand name and registration number of another listed company. The CCFI has sought a cancellation of the former's licence," he said.

Shroff says it is not easy to discover spurious products and hundreds of small offenders who go scot free. "Spurious products give insufficient pest protection. Farmers lose money buying these products and also their crops to pest attacks, leading to a vicious cycle of debt and poverty," he says.

The other problem that the CCFI wants to deal with is the poor public perception of the agrochemical industry, with reports on pesticide residues, many of which are dubious. "We have proved, many times, that the data used by researchers is faulty. Most of them are unwilling to share their raw data. So, we are using the RTI Act to obtain data, but that is a time-consuming process. Unfortunately, even the legal system today doesn't take any punitive action against claims that have been proven as false," he said.

In one case, an NGO found traces of harmful agrochemicals in vegetables in Delhi's mandi, but it was eventually proven that the data was fabricated. In another instance, pesticides were claimed to have found in vegetables that have been banned not just in India but the world over for decades. If the products have long been discontinued, how can one find its traces today?

In fact, the country's premier institute for agricultural research Indian Agricultural Research Institute conducts annual surveys of agricommodities at farm level with over 5,200 samples. "Their research shows not more than 3% of samples at the farm level have agrochemical traces. Even in a country like Germany around 5% of farmgate samples have agrochemical traces," Shroff says.

The process of negating false claims takes long. In fact, India's agrochemical consumption is abysmally low at below 600 gram per hectare as compared with between 3 kg and 10 kg in advanced countries such as the US or Japan. Raising consumption - right type of agro-chemicals at right time - holds a key to improving to farm yields. This has been demonstrated in other developed countries, he claims. Rajju D Shroff

Double kisan credit card cap, banks told

The Economic Times 20/11/10

NEW DELHI: The finance ministry has nudged banks to double the limit on short-term crop loans under collateral-free loans under the kisan credit card scheme, as it looks to increase agricultural credit, but banks are wary of an increase in bad loans.

“We are not forcing banks,” said a senior finance ministry official, admitting that the ministry has suggested banks to explore the opportunity. “They should do their due diligence as required. However, if there is a case they may ease the norms as applicable,” he said, requesting anonymity.

State Bank of India , the country’s largest lender, has already raised the limit to . 2 lakh. “We’ve increased the limit for loans under kisan credit card scheme by . 1 lakh to provide further support to both small and medium scale farmers,” said a senior official with State Bank of India.

Under the new guidelines, the bank will lend collateral-free loans up to . 2 lakh to farmers with a clean track record for the three previous years.

Under the kisan credit card scheme, banks offer short-term credit to farmers for meeting expenses on seeds, cultivation and purchase of inputs such as read fertilisers.

In 2009-10 , banks disbursed . 34,982 crore under the scheme. The total credit offered by banks to agriculture sector was . 3,66,919 crore. By the end of March 2010, . 4,17,326 crore was extended to farmers through the kisan credit card scheme. Banks are upset about coercion by the government to increase lending limit under the scheme.

“The government should look whether they are pushing farmers into a debt trap by easing norms. Already there have been issues with recovery of loans under the debt relief scheme,” said the chairman of a south-based public sector bank.

RBI data shows that the total non-performing assets of public sector banks in agriculture stood at . 8,330 crore at the end of March 2010.

Domestic banks are required to set aside 40% of their credit towards priority sectors. Within this, the target for agriculture loans is 18%.

NABARD, the apex institution for the development of farm sector, had recently suggested deeper penetration for KCCs, citing evidence that crop yield per hectare was higher for farmers holding these cards as their crops received timely inputs.

Climate change will prove a blessing for AP: Study

Times of india dt.19/11/10

‘Rising Temperature Will Increase The Productivity Of Rice, Maize And Coconut In Coastal Andhra In The Next Two Decades’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad: After a series of natural calamities that wreaked havoc on the state in the last two years, a major government study has concluded that Andhra Pradesh will be a major beneficiary of the climate change that will take place in the country in the next 20 years.
Commissioned by the Union environment and forests ministry, the study titled ‘Climate Change and India: A 4x4 Assessment-A Sectoral and Regional Analysis for 2030s’ was conducted by Indian Network of Climate Change Assessment which comprised 120 institutions and over 220 scientists and the report was released by the ministry last Tuesday.
The study focused on the four climate sensitive regions of India, namely, the Himalayan, Western Ghats, Coastal and North-Eastern region. The four key sectors that were taken up were agriculture, water, natural ecosystem & biodiversity, and health. Of these, AP is slated to considerably gain in the agriculture and health sectors.
As per the study, the temperature in 2030 in comparison to the temperature in the 1970s in the eastern coastal region will increase by 1.6 degrees Celsius to 2.1 degrees Celsius. By 2030, the number of rainy days in the coastal region including AP is likely to decrease by 1-5 days, while the intensity of rainfall is likely to increase between 1 mm to 4 mm per day. With regard to increase in rainfall, the eastern coastal region is likely to see an increase of annual rainfall between 0.2 to 4.4 per cent. While the study predicted that the cyclonic disturbances in both the coasts will decrease by 2030, it cautioned that they would be more intense.
This warming of the climate and increase in precipitation over the next two decades will work to the advantage of Andhra Pradesh by increasing the productivity of rice, maize and coconut, the major crops of the state’s coastal region, the study held.According to the report, the changes in the weather are conducive to fertilization in the major crops. As for rice, the yield will increase by 10 per cent throughout the coastal region while the rise in north Andhra Pradesh will be less than 5 per cent.
As far as maize crop is concerned, the study predicts that the climate change will adversely affect most of the 9,000-km long coast of the country, but benefit most of the coastal districts in the state. While the changes will lead to a much higher projected yield loss of irrigated maize between 15 and 50 per cent, the yield loss of rain-fed maize will be about 35 per cent. “In some districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh, rain-fed maize yields are likely to increase by 10 per cent,” the study said.
With regard to the coconut crop, the study predicted a 10 per cent increase in coconut yield in north-coastal Andhra but said the yield in other coastal Andhra districts, Orissa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will be adversely affected by about 40 per cent.
For AP, an important benefit with regard to the climate change is in the health sector. According to the study, the rise in temperature over the next two decades will become unfavourable for the spread of malaria, which kills thousands of people in the state every year. “In southern coastal districts of AP, the transmission window for the malaria parasite will be only 4-6 months in 2030 in comparison to 7-9 months in the baseline scenario of 1970,” the study said, adding that this would mean that the chances of getting infected by the parasite will drastically fall in the north coastal part which bears the brunt of the disease every year

Kissan Call Centres gaining popularity among Indian farmers

Indian Express 17/11/10

With over 55 lakh calls received till October this year since its launch, Kissan Call Centres (KCC), established to provide instant farm solutions, are increasingly gaining popularity among Indian farmers.

Launched in 2004, at present 25 KCC (Kissan Call Centres) are functioning at different locations across the country.

According to official data, these centres received 55.75 lakh calls till October 2010.
The Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) under the Agriculture Ministry, had launched KCC service in January 2004 to deliver extension services to the farming community. The purpose of these call centres is to instantly respond to the issues raised by farmers and provide them solution in their local language.
An evaluation study of KCC conducted by Hyderabad-based Administrative Staff College, which submitted its report in July 2007, had pointed that the current level of participation of women farmers was negligible.

Global Agriculture machinery makers bullish on Indian market

The Economic Times dt 18/11/10

growing shortage of farm hands and smaller land holdings are forcing many farmers to mechanise their farms, allowing multinational agri implement companies to tap into Indian market. A 2006 study by consulting firm Zinnov said that the agri equipment market in India would grow at a compounded rate of 5% between 2006 and 2010 to touch $8 billion.

Today, a large number of Chinese, Japanese, American and Italian firms has forged alliances with Indian companies. These include Kuboto and Mitsubishi of Japan, Zhejiang Sifang of China, John Deere of the US and New Holland of Italy .

With most of these implements eligible for bank funding, financing is also not a major issue. In Punjab, for instance, the state government has been giving subsidies to farmers purchasing farm machineries like tillers and paddy transplantors through a central scheme from the Agricultural Product Pattern Adjustment Programme .

HR Ravindranath, regional manager of Kolkata-based Ganga Motors, which sells the Sifang range of tillers, says Indian farmers prefer to buy their equipment as the product is competitively priced. The market for tillers in India is placed around 45,000 units of which close to 6,000 are sold in Karnataka alone. Similarly, John Deere, which recently introduced heavy duty 89-HP tractor, is also looking at entering the tiller market.

Zhejiang Sifang, which was founded in 1961, has a number of tie-up including Souza Machinery of Bangalore and Ganga Motors. It is the growing demand for tillers which saw Bangalore-based VST Tillers partner with Mitsubishi over three decades to launch the first of its tillers in the country.

Potato farmers in Punjab have been aggressively buying a variety of imported implements. These include potato graders from New Zealand’s Wyma, potato planters from Italy’s Spedo and potato harvetser from Italy’s Titunni.

However, not all are convinced with the utility of agri implements. Vikram Ahuja of Zamindara Farm Solutions recounts how square balers and rakes (used to collect paddy straw) were found to be economically unviable by marginal and medium farmers. Farmers are often forced to undertake change in planting methodologies.

M&M to expand tractor output to 3 lakh units

Hindu Businessline dt .12/11/10

Mahindra & Mahindra plans to expand its tractor production capacity to over three lakh units in two years.

This marks a 50 per cent jump from the present level of two lakh units from the Mahindra and Swaraj brands across five plants. The company will expand capacity in its existing units by ten per cent and set up a new plant in South India, with a capacity of 75,000 to one lakh tractors.

“The new plant will be ready by financial year 2013,” said Mr Avinash Patankar, Senior Vice-President, Mahindra Farm Equipment Sector.

Yuvraj

M&M is also doubling production of its low-cost tractor Yuvraj at local partner Deepak Diesel's plant at Rajkot. Monthly sales of the Rs 1.75 lakh product are around 750 units and test marketing is underway in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.

“We will sell Yuvraj in six States by the end of this year. The national launch will be next year,” said Mr Sanjeev Goyle, Senior Vice-President, Marketing.

The company has targeted annual sales of at least 25,000 units of Yuvraj in the immediate future. It has worked out a production model where the tractor will be assembled by a local partner in regional markets. Output from Rajkot is adequate to meet market demand for the next two years.

Awards

Mahindra FES has instituted the ‘Mahindra Samridhi India Agri Awards' which will recognise contributions from individuals and organisations towards development of Indian agriculture, thereby enhancing rural prosperity.

The award will also acknowledge the best farmer, lady farmer, agricultural university, non-government organisations, and individuals for their contribution to agriculture growth at regional and national levels.

AP to offer subsidy for rabi paddy seeds

Hindu Businessline dt.10/11/10

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Tuesday approved a proposal to provide subsidy for paddy seeds for rabi season cultivation to all the farmers affected by the recent floods.

As per preliminary estimates, about 2.93 lakh hectares of agricultural crops were affected due to heavy rains across 13 districts and over 2.85 lakh hectares of paddy crop.

ID cards

Following a review meeting with the Agricultural Department, the Chief Minister agreed to the proposal of issuing identity cards for tenant farmers for every crop or for one year so that they can get seeds and fertiliser subsidy, crop loans and crop insurance.

He approved a proposal to fill up vacancies of 561 posts of scientists in the AP Agricultural University. This will help to impart quality education, high-end research and better coordination and linkages with farming community. The Agriculture Department was directed to notify the worst flood affected mandals to facilitate rescheduling of crop loans and issue of fresh loans to farmers.

JUDICIAL PROBE

Earlier, Mr Rosaiah while expressing anguish at the charges of corruption made by the Telugu Desam President, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, said “he would order a judicial probe into the wealth owned by him and Mr Naidu, provided this proposal is agreeable.”

Reacting to some recent accusations against his Government, Mr Rosaiah said that the Government has made all necessary arrangements to provide relief and rehabilitation to those affected by floods.

DuPont eyes $1 b India sales by 2012

Hindubusinessline dt.10/11/10

DuPont is eyeing a turnover of over $1 billion from its India operations by 2012.

“Emerging markets accounted for 31 per cent of our $26.1 billion sales in 2009. We see this share rising, in which India will certainly have a part to play”, Ms Ellen Kullman, Chair and CEO of the Wilmington (Delaware)-headquartered US multinational, told select media persons here on Tuesday.

DuPont India expects do business of $700 million in the current calendar year, about 32 per cent of which would come from its crop protection chemicals (such as ‘Coragen' and ‘Avaunt' insecticides) and seeds (Pioneer Hi-Bred) operations. Another 25 per cent would be accounted for by automotives (paints, engineering polymers, ‘Kevlar' brake linings, etc), with construction (20 per cent) and others (23 per cent) making up the balance.

“Our sales growth averaged 21 per cent during 2003-08, which we anticipate at 26 per cent during 2009-12. India is currently our tenth largest geography and we aspire to take this up to No. 5”, said Mr Balvinder S Kalsi, President (South Asia), DuPont.

Ms Kullman was particularly bullish on the company's agriculture business.

“Out of the $1.4 billion that we invested in R&D in 2009, 50 per cent was dedicated for increased food production. We are working on developing traits for drought tolerance and improved nitrogen use efficiency in crops such as rice and corn that has relevance for India”, she noted.



DuPont India has three production facilities at Savli (near Vadodara, for crop protection products, performance polymers and refinish paints), Medchal (near Hyderabad, for ‘Pioneer' seeds) and Madurai (for filaments and ‘Teflon' non-stick coatings). Besides, there is a DuPont Knowledge Centre at Hyderabad, which is one of its seven global R&D centres outside the US.

“We have invested over Rs 150 crore in this facility, which has 360-plus people from material sciences, biology, chemistry and engineering backgrounds working under one roof. The Centre has generated nine patent applications in less than two years' time,” said the Centre's Director, Dr Homi Bhedwar.

Ms Kullman was evasive on the company's future manufacturing plans in India, including the prospects of producing titanium di-oxide (which it now imports for various paints and coating applications). “We are the world's largest titanium di-oxide producer. Our last plant came up in Taiwan in 1994 and we may need one more for the next decade,” she added.

Nabard sanctions Rs 58 crore

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) on Tuesday sanctioned Rs 58 crore across the state under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).

Nabard has sanctioned Rs 49.11 crore for the construction of four horticulture degree colleges and Rs 8.91 crore for four polytechnic colleges in eight districts of Andhra Pradesh. The fund will be used to construct college buildings and hostels for the students.

The infrastructure will facilitate horticulture education, research, and technology transfer to the rural economy and the academic needs of the professional diploma and graduate students of horticulture, P Mohanaiah, chief general manager, Nabard, said in a press release.

The colleges will be located in rural areas, the release stated.

AP to reschedule crop loans in rain-ravaged mandals

Hindu Businessline

Hyderabad, Nov. 8

Faced with widespread loss to the farm sector due to the recent rains, the Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to reschedule crop loans, facilitate new loans for sowing during Rabi season and offer additional seed subsidy to farmers in the badly impacted mandals of the State.

This decision follows a meeting at State Secretariat where several Cabinet colleagues interacted with the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, to take stock of the latest flood situation and necessary follow-up measures.

Addressing a press conference, the Agriculture Minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, said more than 2.84 lakh hectares of paddy fields have been affected due to the recent rains.

This will not only impact the farmers financially but also hamper their ability to repay loans.

Rythu Pragati in guntur

Rythu Pragati is a 4 day tradeshow of agriculture inputs, equipments, technology, services, rural development and rural market.. The tradeshow is laced with seminar & conference. The event is scheduled from 6 to 9 March 2011 in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh Farmers from across AP and Agri stake holders from across the country will be mobilized for the event. Over 250 private, Govt organizations will showcase during the show.


Tradeshow:
Objective of the tradeshow is to provide knowledge to farmers about latest agri equipments, technologies and services. The event will also expose them to best farming practices, government/institutional assistance, various schemes, and post harvest management. Over 200 exhibitors representing private sector, government, financial institutions and development bodies will showcase various products and services such as farm equipments, schemes, inputs, technology, best agri practices etc.

Seminar
The concurrent Agriculture seminar will be attended by personal & policy makers from Central & State Governments, Department of Agriculture & Rural developments, Agriculture extension development bodies, private & public enterprises and scientific community. Experts will steer various topics/issues. The meet will also encourage & focus on opportunities for private investment in contract farming, food processing, storage, marketing, agricultural services and agri infrastructure. The Government will be encouraged to showcase investment opportunities as well as received and give clearance to project proposals from Private sector

For more Details
vinod@blazon.co.in