Agriculture News for NABARD Grade A, ICAR and IBPS AFO Exam 2021. Read Latest Agriculture Current Affairs for ICAR, NABARD, IBPS AFO and Other Agriculture Jobs. Agriculture Current Affairs is most important section of Exams Like NABARD Grade A, IBPS AFO, IBPS RRB Scale - I (Agriculture) etc.
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Amazon Retail announced its Agronomy services for Indian farmers
- Online Retail giant ‘Amazon Retail’ has announced the launch of its agronomy services for Indian farmers, which will provide them with timely advice that will enable them to make accurate and quick decisions on crop-related practices.
- Proactive crop planning is based on scientific crop and soil management practices, with the goal of increasing yield and quality. The Reactive crop planning is an intervention-based program that enables farmers can raise alerts on diseases, pests and other farming problems and receive remedial solutions.
- Agronomy is derived from a Greek word ‘agros’ meaning ‘field’ and ‘nomos’ meaning ‘management’. Principles of agronomy deal with scientific facts in relations to environment in which crop are produced
- It is defined as an agricultural science deals with principles and practices of crop production and field management
- Agronomy is branch of agricultural science, which deals with principles, & practices of soil, water & crop management.
- It is branch of agricultural science that deals with methods which provide favorable environment to the crop for higher productively
- NCDEX, the country’s largest agriculture-based commodity exchange, started trading in futures of soydex
- NCDEX SOYDEX is a price-based index that tracks price movement in the futures contracts of its underlying, Soybean and Refined Soy Oil, on a real-time basis.
- In a statement, the exchange said this is the second successive offering in the sectoral indices in agri-commodities basket, the first being the NCDEX GUAREX that was launched on August 16.
- The weightage of Soybean and Refined Soy Oil in the new index will be 67.92 per cent and 32.08 per cent, respectively.
- Every year, India produces 10-12 million tonnes of soybeans. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are the country’s top two producers, accounting for 70-75 percent of total output
All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers – July, 2021
The All-India Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural Labourers and Rural Labourers (Base: 1986-87=100) for the month of July, 2021 increased by 4 points and 5 points to stand at 1061 (One thousand and sixty one) and 1070 (One thousand and seventy) points respectively.
- Point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL and CPI-RL stood at 3.92% & 4.09% in July, 2021 compared to 3.83% & 4.00% respectively in June, 2021.
- The inflation based on food index of CPI-AL and CPI-RL decreased to 2.66% & 2.74% in July, 2021 from 2.67% & 2.86% respectively in June, 2021.
Amongst states:
- The maximum increase in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Punjab State (13 points & 14 points respectively)
- The maximum decrease in the Consumer Price Index Numbers for Agricultural and Rural Labourers was experienced by Tamilnadu State (7 points and 6 points respectively).
The CPI – AL and RL for the month of August, 2021 will be released on 20th September, 2021.
CPI-AL and CPI-RL are released by the labour bureau, a wing under the Union labour ministry
Union Minister for Power and MNRE takes review of implementation of PM-KUSUM and Rooftop Solar Programme Phase-II
Shri R.K Singh emphasised on the importance of the PM-KUSUM Scheme for the farmers providing them day-time reliable source of power for irrigation activities and also increasing their income.
About PM-KUSUM
PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) Scheme is aimed at ensuring energy security for farmers in India, along with honoring India’s commitment to increase the share of installed capacity of electric power from non-fossil-fuel sources to 40% by 2030 as part of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).
The PM-KUSUM Scheme was launched in 2019 with 3 components:
Component-A: For Setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralized Grid Connected Renewable Energy Power Plants on barren land.
Under this component, renewable energy based power plants (REPP) of capacity 500 kW to 2 MW will be setup by individual farmers/ group of farmers/ cooperatives/ panchayats/ Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO)/Water User associations (WUA) on barren/fallow land.
- These power plants can also be installed on cultivable land on stilts where crops can also be grown below the solar panels.
- The renewable energy power project will be installed within five km radius of the sub-stations in order to avoid high cost of sub-transmission lines and to reduce transmission losses.
- The power generated will be purchased by local DISCOM at pre-fixed tariff
The amendments/ clarifications in Component-A are:
- Besides barren, fallow and agricultural land, solar power plants can also be installed on pastureland and marshy land of farmers.
- To support small farmers, the solar power projects smaller than 500 kW may be allowed by States based on techno-commercial feasibility.
- The selected Renewable Power Generator (RPG) shall commission the solar power plant within twelve months from date of issuance of Letter of Award (LoA).
- There shall be no penalty to RPG for shortfall in solar power generation from minimum prescribed Capacity Utilization Factor (CUF).
Component-B: For Installation of 17.50 Lakh stand-alone solar agriculture pumps.
Under this Component, individual farmers will be supported to install standalone solar Agriculture pumps of capacity up to 7.5 HP for replacement of existing diesel Agriculture pumps / irrigation systems in off-grid areas, where grid supply is not available.
- Pumps of capacity higher than 7.5 HP can also be installed, however, the financial support will be limited to 7.5 HP capacity
Amendments/clarifications for Component-B
As part of amendments/ clarification in Component-B, MNRE will retain 33% of eligible service charges for nation-wide Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities.
- CFA will be allowed for solar pump capacity of higher than 7.5 HP considering upto 5 HP capacity for each individual in the group.
Component-C: For Solarisation of 10 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps.
Under this Component, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pump will be supported to solarise pumps.
The farmer will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and the excess solar power will be sold to DISCOMs at pre-fixed tariff
Amendments/clarifications for Component-C
- As part of Component-C Ministry will also use 33% of service charges for IEC activities.
Under Component-C, individual farmers having grid connected agriculture pumps are being supported to solarise their pumps.
Farmers will be provided solar panels and they will be able to use the generated solar power to meet the irrigation needs and sell the surplus solar power.
DISCOMs will buy surplus power from them at the per-determined rate to be decided by the respective State/SERC.
CENTRAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (CFA)/ STATE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
Component-A: Procurement Based Incentive (PBI) @ 40 paise/kWh or Rs. 6.60 lakhs/MW/year, whichever is less, will be provided for the first five years by MNRE to DISCOMs, for buying the power from farmers/developers
Component-B & C:
- CFA of 30% of the benchmark cost or the tender cost, whichever is lower. State Government subsidy 30%; Remaining 40% by the farmer
- In North Eastern States, Sikkim, J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Lakshadweep and A&N Islands, CFA of 50%, State Government subsidy 30%, Remaining 20% by the farmer
Financial Implication:
The Component-A and Component-C will be implemented initially on pilot mode for 1000 MW capacity and one lakh grid connected agriculture pumps respectively and Component-B will be implemented in full-fledged manner with total Central Government support of Rs. 19,036.5 Crore.
- After successful implementation of pilot project of Components A and C, the same shall be scaled up with necessary modifications based on the learning from the pilot phase with total Central Government support of ₹ 15,385.5 Crores.
- All three components of the scheme aim to add Solar capacity of 25,750 MW by 2022 with the total Central Financial Support of ₹ 34,422 crore.
In News: Gobardhan scheme
The Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a unified portal on the government’s ‘Gobardhan’ scheme.
The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR-DHAN) scheme is implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-Phase 2, by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Jal Shakti ministry.
Silent Features:
- It was launched in 2018.
- The scheme aims to augment income of farmers by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG).
- The initiative aims at attracting entrepreneurs for establishing community-based CBG plants in rural areas.
Potential and Benefits:
- Effective biodegradable waste management.
- Reduction of GHG emission.
- Reduction in import of crude oil.
- Employment opportunity for the local community.
- Boost to entrepreneurship.
- Additional income for farmers/ local village community from organic waste.
- Promotion of organic farming
Project Set Up Eligibility
Individual Household: This model can be adopted by households which have three(3) or more cattles. The biogas and slurry generated from the plants are used for cooking and as manure by the households.
Community: The biogas plants can be constructed for a minimum number of households (5 to 10). The plants can be operated and managed by GP/SHGs. The gas generated will be supplied to households/restaurants / institutions and slurry can be used by the community as organic manure in agriculture or sold to farmers.
Cluster: In this model , individual biogas plants are installed in number of households in a village/ group of villages. The biogas generated is used by the households and the slurry is collected at a common place, separated to solid and liquid parts and then fortified and sold as biofertilizers.
Commercial CBG: CBG plants can be set up by Entrepreneurs / Cooperative Societies/ Gaushalas etc. The raw biogas produced is compressed and can be used as vehicular fuel and / or sold to industries. The slurry generated is converted into organic manure / bio-fertilizer and can be sold to farmers.
Export of agricultural and processed food products in April-June (2021-22)
India achieved a significant increase of 44.3 percent in export of agricultural and processed food products in the 2021-22 (April-June) in comparison to the corresponding period of 2020-21.
According to WTO’s trade map, with the total agri exports of USD 37 billion in the year 2019, India is ranked at 9th position in the world ranking.
- In April-June, 2020-21, fresh fruits and vegetables were exported to the tune of USD 584.5 million which rose to USD 637.7 million in April-June 2021-22.
- The export of other cereals increased from USD 44.9 million in April-June 2020 to USD 231.4 million in April-June 2021 and the export of meat, dairy and poultry products increased from USD 483.5 million in April-June 2020 to USD 1022.5 million in April-June 2021.
- The export of rice, which recorded a positive growth of 25.3 percent, increased from USD 1914.5 million in April-June 2020 to USD 2398.5 million in April-June 2021.
- The overall export of APEDA products increased from USD 3338.5 million in April-June 2020 to USD 4817.9 million in April-June 2021.
APEDA also organizes National events like AAHAR, Organic World Congress, BioFach India etc. to promote agri-exports.
