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Policy & trade
Farm policy and regulation in India and the UK: support prices, procurement, schemes, standards and the rules of trade.
From the archive
Reporting from earlier editions of The Agrotech Daily. Figures, prices and policies may have changed since.
- Policy & trade, IndiaPM Modi marks continuity of PM-KISAN scheme with release of over Rs 18,000 crorePrime Minister Narendra Modi released Rs 18,000 crore under PM-KISAN to more than nine crore farmers, Rs 2,000 each, on Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary.
- Policy & trade, PunjabAmritsar rail tracks opened up after a dharna of 169 days by the farmersFarmers have ended a 169-day rail blockade at Devidaspura on the Amritsar-Delhi route, and railway officials say regular train services will resume soon.
- Policy & trade, GlobalAgricultural extension services and knowledge sharingExtension workers link farmers with research through training, advice and information, but face limited funding, language barriers and distrust, while digital tools open new ways to share knowledge.
- Policy & trade, IndiaExploding population: a hurdle in productivityPopulation growth has split India's landholdings and strained water for farming; raising productivity calls for agro-industrial units, processing incentives and market information.
- Policy & trade, IndiaGovernment to update PM Kisan scheme soon: farmers to stay updated and in waitingThe government may soon release the eighth PM Kisan instalment, awaited by about 11.74 crore farmers, who can check beneficiary lists and payment status online.
- Policy & trade, BiharFarm bills would benefit the farmers of Bihar: Narendra Singh TomarUnion minister Narendra Singh Tomar told Bihar farmers by video link that the agriculture bills passed by Parliament would bring modern practices and raise their incomes.
- Policy & trade, IndiaTea Board released subsidies worth rupees 13.88 crore to farmers, producers and employeesThe Tea Board has released about Rs 13.88 crore in subsidies this fiscal year to 1,112 tea growers, producers and plantation staff in south India, paid directly into bank accounts.
- Policy & trade, DelhiRepublic Day farmers’ tractor rally turns violent; farmers allege police brutalityThe farmers' Republic Day tractor rally in Delhi ended in clashes with police at ITO, the Red Fort and the borders, with farmers alleging police brutality and the SKM blaming infiltrators.
- Policy & trade, IndiaDelhi Police allege 300 Pak Twitter handles created to disrupt farmers’ tractor rallyDelhi Police alleged that about 300 Twitter handles traced to Pakistan were pushing hashtags to disrupt the farmers' Republic Day tractor rally.
- Policy & trade, Andhra PradeshAndhra Pradesh: Rs 510.3 crore to be paid to 14.5 lakh farmersAndhra Pradesh will credit Rs 510.3 crore to 14.5 lakh farmers under the YSR Sunna Vaddi scheme, refunding interest on loans that farmers repaid within a year.
- Policy & trade, IndiaGovernment has given assent to subsidised loans worth Rs 3,971 crore for micro-irrigation projectsThe Union agriculture ministry approved Rs 3,971.31 crore of interest-subvented loans to states for micro-irrigation under the NABARD Micro Irrigation Fund, with Tamil Nadu getting the most.
- Policy & trade, United StatesU.S. agriculture associations urge Congress to adhere to WTOA coalition of 62 US agriculture groups has written to the US Trade Representative and congressional committee leaders urging continued US leadership in the WTO and reform of its rules.
- Policy & trade, IndiaImport of potatoes permitted from Bhutan till January 31, 2021India allowed licence-free potato imports from Bhutan until January 31, 2021, and permitted 10 lakh tonnes of imports at a 10 per cent in-quota tariff.
- Policy & trade, EuropeEU targets increase in organic farming to 25% by 2030The European Commission's Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies aim for organic farming on at least 25% of EU farmland by 2030 and to halve the use and risk of chemical pesticides.
- Policy & trade, PunjabPunjab farmers say they would let passenger trains function once Centre resumes freight trainsFarm unions meeting in Chandigarh said they would let passenger trains run in Punjab as soon as the Centre resumes freight trains, as railway and industry losses grow.
- Policy & trade, IndiaAgri minister Tomar urges ICAR to make farm sector employment-orientedAt ICAR's 92nd annual general meeting, Narendra Singh Tomar asked the council to make farming more job-oriented through research, innovation and the new education policy.
- Policy & trade, IndiaRashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote agripreneurship: govtThe Centre has launched an Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development programme under RKVY, offering start-ups up to Rs 5 lakh at idea stage and Rs 25 lakh at seed stage.
- Policy & trade, IndiaKrishi UDAN 2.0, a major relaxation for farmersThe civil aviation ministry has launched Krishi UDAN 2.0 to fly perishable produce from hilly, northeastern and tribal areas, waiving landing, parking and navigation charges for domestic airlines.
- Policy & trade, IndiaJapan eases norms on export of black tiger shrimpJapan has cut import inspection of Indian farmed black tiger shrimp from 100% to 30% after consignments were found free of the antibacterial drug furazolidone.