The Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan was a two-day event organized by the Indian Government in association with the Government of Rajasthan to promote advanced and sustainable agricultural practices in the Kota Division of Rajasthan. The event included an exhibition, training programs and workshops for farmers and other stakeholders and was attended by prominent government leaders.

Overview

The Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan was an event aimed at promoting and advancing agricultural practices in the Kota Division of Rajasthan. Organized by the Indian Government and the Government of Rajasthan, the event took place for two days. A variety of activities to educate and inform farmers and other stakeholders about the latest agricultural technologies and practices were organised. This included an exhibition with 150 stalls providing information on government schemes and private sector agricultural products, as well as 75 stalls for agricultural startups. Additionally, there were training programs for 5000 farmers on various agricultural subjects and workshops on the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, which is a fund to help farmers with the implementation of new technologies and practices. The event was also attended by prominent government leaders such as the Lok Sabha Speaker and Union Ministers of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, to discuss the future of agriculture in India and Rajasthan.

The news about the Krishi-Mahotsav event was primarily aimed at benefiting farmers and other stakeholders in the agricultural industry in the Kota Division of Rajasthan. The event was designed to provide farmers with access to information about the latest agricultural technologies and practices, as well as resources to help them implement these practices on their farms. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for farmers to connect with other farmers, government officials, and representatives from the private sector to share ideas and learn from each other. The event was beneficial for agricultural startups as it provided them a platform to showcase their products, services and find potential customers. The training programs and workshops that were organized as part of the event also benefited farmers by helping them acquire new skills and knowledge that they can use to improve their farming operations and increase their income.

Important Information

• Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan was an event to promote advanced agricultural practices in the Kota Division of Rajasthan.
• The event took place over two days and featured an exhibition of agricultural products, services, and technology.
• The exhibition included 225 stalls, out of which 150 will be for information and 75 for startups.
• The event also included training programs for farmers on various agricultural subjects and workshops on the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund.
• The event was attended by prominent government leaders and officials.
• The event provided a platform for farmers to connect with other farmers, government officials, and representatives from the private sector to share ideas and learn from each other.

Conclusion

The Krishi-Mahotsav: Pradarshani evam Prashikshan was an initiative to advance agricultural practices in Kota, Rajasthan. The two-day event included an exhibition, training programs, workshops, and was attended by government leaders. The goal was to provide farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to improve their farming practices and make them more sustainable, as well as providing a platform for agricultural startups to connect with potential customers.

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a government program launched on 8th July, 2020 to create an infrastructure for post-harvest management and community farm assets with a budget of Rs 1 lakh crore to be spent by the financial year 2025-26. According to the available data, the program has raised over 30,000 crores for agriculture infrastructure initiatives, with an allocated amount of 15,000 crores through AIF. AIF, with support of 3% interest subvention, credit guarantee support and facility of convergence with other Central and State Govt. Scheme to support farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.

Overview

The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), a financing facility launched by the Indian government in 2020 to create post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets. The scheme has been successful in mobilizing over 30,000 crore for projects in the agriculture infrastructure sector with a sanctioned amount of 15,000 crore under AIF. The scheme provides financial support to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and farmer groups through various measures such as interest subvention, credit guarantee support and the ability to converge with other Central and State government schemes. Yogesh CB from Mandya district of Karnataka and Anand Patel from Jabalpur district of MP , are among those 20,000 beneficiaries of AIF, who were successfully able to set up a primary processing center for vegetables and a hi-tech hub for renting out agricultural machinery to local farmers respectively. The scheme is helping to modernize Indian agriculture by reducing post-harvest losses, improving agricultural practices and helping farmers realize better prices for their produce.

The news is describing how the AIF is specifically benefiting farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and farmer groups by providing them with financial support to establish and modernize infrastructure for the agricultural sector in India. This scheme is aimed at helping these groups to create post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets, providing support to them with interest subvention, credit guarantee support, and the ability to converge with other Central and State government schemes. Through this scheme, these groups can reduce post-harvest losses, modernize agricultural practices and increase the income of farmers by providing them better prices for their produce.

Important Information

• The Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) is a central government-funded program aimed at creating and modernizing infrastructure for the agricultural sector in India.
• The scheme provides financial support to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and farmer groups through interest subvention, credit guarantee support and the ability to converge with other Central and State government schemes.
• The AIF is intended to reduce post-harvest losses and improve agricultural practices, resulting in better prices for farmers’ produce.
• The scheme is helping thousands of individuals and groups to establish projects such as primary processing centers for vegetables and hi-tech hubs for renting out agricultural machinery and providing services.
• The scheme targets specific groups in the agriculture sector and is intended to have a direct impact on their livelihoods and the development of the sector.

 Conclusion

The article accentuates the role of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF),  a government-funded initiative aimed at creating and modernizing infrastructure in the agricultural sector of India. The scheme provides financial support to farmers, agri-entrepreneurs and farmer groups through various measures such as interest subvention, credit guarantee support and the ability to converge with other Central and State government schemes. The AIF’s main goal is to improve the overall efficiency and profitability of the agricultural sector, to reduce post-harvest losses, to modernize agricultural practices and increase the income of farmers by providing them better prices for their produce. There are several individuals and groups in the agriculture sector to get positively impacted by this AIF scheme to establish crucial infrastructure projects. Overall, AIF is a vital initiative that aims to promote sustainable and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector. 

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

With the Budget 2023 presented, the agriculture industry has got some significant share in the form of digital technologies to fund for startups. There are plenty of farmer-centric inclusions in the budget along with some boosts for some new as well as existing schemes.  

Here is a quick breakup of the important Agri-boosting features of the Union Budget 2023.

Highlights for the agriculture industry

• Agri-Accelerator fund for entrepreneurs and startups will help new ventures in rural areas of India. This will be the perfect way to find some innovative solutions for some of the common challenges faced by farmers. It will help improve overall productivity using modern technology both on and off the field.   
• Digital Data Repository, a huge digital source of information on the farming sector will soon be a reality. This has been under construction and will be enabled this year. It will help provide information on various fields of agriculture.  
• To promote chemical-free and natural farming, the government will roll out incentives under different schemes which will benefit more than 10 million farmers across the country. In addition, there are also bio-input resource centres which will be 10,000 across the country.  

• The Atma Nirbhar Clean Plant will make disease-free and better-quality plant material for horticultural crops, available for the farmers.  
• Another important takeaway of the Budget 2023 for agriculture is decentralised storage facilities for the farmers. This will be a great boost to the farmers as they can store their produce for a longer period and sell them at the most appropriate times for better remuneration.  
• Under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, the central government will provide food grains for free for one year for everyone in the Antyodaya and other priority households.  
• Most important, the government has raised the limit for collateral-free Agri loans from INR 1 lakh to INR 1.6 lakhs. 

 Conclusion 

The agriculture industry continues to be at the Centre of the Central Government’s focus when it comes to the budget. This year also remains the same. While there are several attractive schemes and offers for the farmers, there still are some issues unattended till now.  

Agriculture remains the major contributor to the economy but the income from this sector is yet to be a decent par score, at least for a significant section of farmers. We need more diversification in this field and better commercialisation as well. Hopefully, these current budget offerings help revive such a situation.  

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

Union Budget 2023: The farming community as well as the rural population of the country is looking forward to the budget allocations for the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Being an agrarian economy, improvements and advancements in this sector are crucial for a country like India. The fiscal year 2022 has almost 46% of the population employed in this sector and contributing a significant amount of 15-16% of the total economy. So it is expected that the upcoming Union Budget 2023 will give ample allotments to the agriculture industry and related sectors.

Date of Budget Announcement

The Union Budget 2023 will be presented by the Finance Minister, on 1st February 2023, at 11 am. As time gets close, the expectations and excitement of the farmer community are high. Let us see what are the major expectations from this budget session.

The Expectations of Union Budget 2023 for the Agriculture Industry

The major expectations are focused on five categories that will help improve this industry and bring better yield and income for the farmers.

● Sustainable solutions: The changing weather and increasing pollution is affecting crops in recent times. Farmers are expecting to find sustainable solutions to these problems and improve smart crop development.

● Digitalisation: Even though much of the agri-sector is now accessible digitally, digitalization of all its areas, including the land records, and incentives based on it could be the next step. The addition of tenant farmers under the various beneficial schemes must also be considered. Betterment of the e-commerce platforms is another demand.

● Agriculture technologies: An improved and wider use of technologies in agriculture such as the use of drones, farm mechanization, more hi-tech hubs, and custom hiring centers are expected. These improvements could benefit the farmers on the low levels who concentrate on marginal and small-scale crops. Technology may be used to integrate the working of these machineries and centers for better reach for the farmers.

● Price support schemes: Even now a major share of the rice and wheat crops are procured at a lower rate. Expectations are on to set a minimum support price for these crops.

● Research and Development: Investments in this field are expected for innovative products such as improved seeds that have better yield and lower maintenance and fertilizers at lower rates with subsidies, etc.

● GST in Agriculture Input: Farmers will be provided relief in GST. According to the reports, it is believed that in the year 2023, the government will provide relief to the farmers by exempting GST on agricultural products. This will make it easier for the farmers to buy agricultural products.

According to SACHIN NANDWANA, Co-Founder & Director, BigHaat, The upcoming 2023 Union Budget needs to focus on startups that are primarily focused to support Agri-tech providing affordable solutions and innovative ideas to farmers to help them address challenges across the agricultural value chain. Startups have the potential to change the face of the agriculture sector and this will ultimately increase farmers’ income.

We need to work on reforms that include the goal of “One India, One Nation, One License” to help farmers get the best price for their products. The concept of a single window system essentially needs to work in research with farmers, which helps in decision-making and problem-solving for farmers, which ultimately leads to the improvement of startup companies.

I personally believe that global engagement in the agriculture sector has a practical role to play as it helps in developing a support system for startups that directly helps in tapping global markets, leading to India’s growth.

Conclusion

It should be noted that the right mix of allotments and schemes will help the agriculture industry thrive better and contribute more to the national economy.

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

India was elected as Vice-Chair of the 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) in Rome, representing the Asia & Pacific region. The ITWG, established by the FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, reviewed technical issues related to AnGR and made recommendations to the Commission.

Overview

The 12th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group (ITWG) on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) was held in Rome. India was elected as the Vice-Chair for this session and also represented the Asia & Pacific region. The ITWG is a body established by the FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, its main function is to review technical issues related to animal genetic resources and make recommendations to the Commission to further implement the Commission’s program related to animal genetic resources at a global level. The session discussed various important agenda points related to animal genetic resources, including the implementation of the Global Plan of Action, monitoring of AnGR diversity, and preparing the 3rd Country Report. India presented their methods for updating information in the Domestic Animal Diversity- Information System (DAD-IS) and outlined a system for organizing and cataloging native animal populations. The workshop also focused on the role of microorganisms relevant to ruminant digestion, the role of genetic resources in mitigating and adapting to climate change, and other important topics.

The ITWG on Animal Genetic Resources is focused on the conservation, sustainable use, and development of animal genetic resources which are essential for the livelihoods, food security, and well-being of millions of people worldwide so that it could benefit the people who are involved in the agricultural and livestock sector, as well as those who rely on animal-sourced food for their daily sustenance. Additionally, the conservation of animal genetic resources could also have positive impacts on the environment and biodiversity.

Important Information

• India was elected as the Vice-Chair of the 12th Session of the ITWG on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) representing the Asia & Pacific region.
• The ITWG is a body established by the FAO’s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which reviews technical issues and advises the Commission on the implementation of the AnGR program at the global level.
• During the 12th Session, the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, monitoring of AnGR diversity, and preparing the 3rd Country Report were reviewed and discussed.
• Other key topics discussed included the role of microorganisms in ruminant digestion, genetic resources in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and access and benefit-sharing for AnGR.
• India shared their experience in updating data in the Domestic Animal Diversity- Information System (DAD-IS) and presented a framework for cataloging native populations.
• National priorities for germplasm cryopreservation and documenting non-descript AnGR to fulfill SDG indicators were presented and appreciated by the members.
• The conservation of animal genetic resources can have a positive impact on the environment, biodiversity, food security, and the livelihoods of people who rely on animal-sourced food.

Conclusion

The 12th Session of the ITWG on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) was held in Rome from 18-20 January 2023. During this session, India was elected as the Vice-Chair representing the Asia & Pacific region, and Dr. B.N. Tripathi, Deputy Director General (Animals Sciences) and National Coordinator of India shared the country’s experience in updating data in the Domestic Animal Diversity- Information System (DAD-IS). The session was focused on reviewing the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, monitoring AnGR diversity, and preparing the 3rd Country Report. Other key topics discussed included the role of microorganisms in ruminant digestion, genetic resources in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and access and benefit-sharing for AnGR.

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

International Millets & Organics Trade Fair – 2023 is a platform for farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions in organic and millet sector to connect and discover possibilities in farming, gardening, handling, equipment and technology in agriculture. The event was organized by the Government of Karnataka and it is the fourth edition of the fair. It is held in Bengaluru on January 20th and runs for three days.

Overview

International Millets & Organics Trade Fair – 2023 is a major event that brings together farmers, industry leaders, and government representatives to discuss and showcase the latest trends and developments in the organic and millet sectors. The fair is organized by the Government of Karnataka and is held in Bengaluru for three days. The event includes multiple segments such as exhibition, pavilion, B2B networking, and more. It serves as a platform for farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions in the organic and millet sector to connect and explore opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, processing, machinery and agri-technology. The fair also includes more than 250 stalls, millet and organic food court, buyer seller meets, international expo and conference, consumer connect, farmers workshop, cooking, drawing and quiz competitions, demonstration of millet recipes, and other activities. The key products on display during the fair include millets, organics and natural range, certified wild harvest produce, millet processing machinery, organic cereals and pulses, bio-degradable packaging, eco-friendly products, etc. This fair serves as a great opportunity for the participants to gain knowledge and explore new opportunities in the organic and millet sector.

The news is likely to benefit farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions in the organic and millet sector. The trade fair serves as a platform for these groups to connect and explore opportunities in agriculture, horticulture, processing, machinery and agri-technology. By providing a space for these groups to interact, the fair may help to increase farmers’ income and improve their livelihoods, as well as promote the growth of the organic and millet sectors. Additionally, by highlighting government commitments to support farmers and the organic and millet sectors, the fair may also help to raise awareness of these issues among the broader public.

Important Information

• The Millets & Organics 2023 International Trade Fair is an annual event that brings together farmers, industry leaders, and government representatives to discuss and showcase the latest trends and developments in the organic and millet sectors.
• The fair is organized by the Government of Karnataka. 
• It is a multi-faceted event that includes exhibitions, networking events, and educational workshops. 
• The event serves as a platform for participants to connect, learn and grow their businesses. 
• Union Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri Kailash Choudhary highlighted the government’s commitment to increase farmers’ income and improve their livelihoods.
• The fair was concluded on 22nd January, 2023 with distribution of awards by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister.
• This event aims to promote the growth of the organic and millet sectors.
• The fair provides an opportunity for participants to gain knowledge and explore new opportunities in the organic and millet sector.

Conclusion

International Millets & Organics Trade Fair – 2023 is an important event that brings together stakeholders in the organic and millet sectors to showcase the latest trends and developments. The fair is organized by the Government of Karnataka and is held in Bengaluru for three days. The event includes various segments such as exhibition, pavilion, B2B networking and more, catering to the needs of farmers, farmer groups, domestic and international companies, central and state institutions in the organic and millet sector. The fair also includes educational workshops, competitions, demonstrations and other activities. It concludes with the distribution of awards by a Union Minister, with the aim of promoting growth of the organic and millet sectors and providing an opportunity for participants to gain knowledge and explore new opportunities in these sectors.

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

The National Horticulture Board (NHB) recently held a meeting in New Delhi to simplify the approval process for horticulture projects for farmers. The process will now be completed in one go, completely digital, with minimal documents required. The new design will take effect from January 1, 2023 and aims to make the system more transparent and efficient, promoting ease of doing business for the farming community.

Overview

The National Horticulture Board (NHB) recently held a meeting in New Delhi to discuss ways to make the process of approving horticulture projects easier for farmers. Among the decisions made was the simplification of the approval process, which will now be completed in one step and will be fully digital, with minimal documentation required. This is expected to make the process more transparent and efficient, and promote ease of doing business for farmers. Additionally, a new initiative called the Swachh Plant Programme was discussed, which aims to address the issue of availability of planting material for farmers by spending 2100 crore rupees with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank. The NHB also created a new vertical to promote organic and natural farming. The new design will take effect from January 1, 2023.

This news is likely to benefit farmers, as the process of approving horticulture projects has been simplified and will now be completed in one stage, be completely digital, and require minimal documentation. This will make the process more transparent and efficient, promote Ease Of Doing Business for the benefit of the farming community and generate more hi-tech commercial projects for NHB funding. Additionally, the initiative of NHB- Swachh Plant Programme, which aims to solve the problem of availability of planting material to farmers, is also likely to benefit farmers by providing them with quality planting material for horticulture crops in the country. The creation of a new vertical towards the promotion of organic and natural farming is also likely to benefit those farmers who are involved in organic farming. 

Important information

• The 32nd meeting of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) was held in New Delhi.
• NHB simplifies the approval process for horticulture projects, making it fully digital and requiring minimal documentation.
• The goal of the change is to make the system more efficient and transparent and to promote ease of doing business for farmers.
• The “Swachh Plant Programme” was discussed, which aims to improve availability of planting material to farmers, with the help of Asian Development Bank (ADB) by investing Rs 2100 crore.
• A new vertical was established to promote organic and natural farming.
• The progress of the cluster development program run by the NHB was discussed and the approval process of applications will be expedited.
• The decisions made in the previous meeting of the Board of Directors were approved in today’s meeting.

Conclusion

The recent meeting of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) discussed ways to improve the process of approving horticulture projects for farmers. The new design, which will take effect from January 1, 2023 will simplify the approval process, making it more transparent and efficient. Additionally, the Swachh Plant Programme and the promotion of organic and natural farming will provide many benefits to farmers and the horticulture industry in the country.

Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.