In reality, all these are small and marginal farmers, cultivating these crops on degraded terrain.

Veda Climate Change Solutions Ltd., an enviro-social company, is implementing a project registered with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam, as well as three districts in Odisha.

Veda has collaborated on this project with a paper production firm in Rayagada. The World Bank is assisting with the technical aspects of the project.

For the very first time in 2012, the farmers who took part in this unique project received carbon revenue from the sale of temporary certified emission reductions (tCERs). Following the second verification, the UNFCCC CDM board released 62,756 CERs in March 2020. The World Bank has released carbon revenue for this reason, which was handed to participating farmers on Tuesday in Visakhapatnam.

VCCSL has conceptualized a unique grouped project ‘meant to enhance rural livelihoods through carbon sequestration by implementing agroforestry practices and nature-based solutions’ to bring 30,000 more hectares of land under agroforestry, according to Dr. M Satyanarayana, a retired IFS officer and president of Veda, who spoke to TOI.

“This will be done in collaboration with JK Paper Mills Ltd, Rayagada, under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS).”

The goal of the project is to replicate and scale up our groundbreaking technology so that more resource-poor farmers can profit and degraded areas can be put to productive use. Satyanarayana stated, “We want to reproduce the idea throughout the country.”

The cost of the three HURL urea projects is Rs 25,120 crore. GAIL is supplying natural gas to these three units.

The government had announced the New Investment Policy (NIP) – 2012 in January, 2013 and its amendment in October, 2014 to facilitate fresh investment in the urea sector and to make India self-sufficient. The policy lays down guidelines to fix gas prices and also other roadmaps for attracting investment in the urea sector.

HURL, incorporated in June, 2016, is a joint venture between Coal India, NTPC and Indian Oil Corporation. It is reviving the erstwhile Gorakhpur and Sindri Units of FCIL and Barauni Unit of GFCL by setting up new gas-based urea plants with an installed capacity of 1.27 million tonnes per annum.

The commissioning of the three units will add 3.81 million tonnes per annum urea production in the country.

The government has increased the minimum support price (MSP) of raw jute by Rs 250 to Rs 4,750 per quintal for the 2022-23 season. “This would ensure a return of 60.53 per cent over all India weighted average cost of production,” an official statement said. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved the MSP for raw jute for the 2022-23 season. The approval is based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices. Jute Corporation of India (JCI) will continue as central government nodal agency to undertake price support operations and the losses incurred, if any, in such operations, will be fully reimbursed by the Centre.

To establish a farmer-owned enterprise, Innoterra signed two MoUs with Devgad Taluka Amba Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Ltd and Pawas Parisar Amba Utpadak Sangh.

Innoterra expects to offer roughly 3,000 tonnes of completely traceable premium quality Alphonso mangoes to customers in domestic and international markets as a result of this relationship. Innoterra stated in a statement that the farmer cooperatives and the company plan to invest $ 1 million in the initial phase of their relationship.

This groundbreaking initiative aims to maximize the value of the GI-tagged fruit for farmers while also increasing consumer awareness of the genuine Konkan Alphonso mango. Farmers will also have access to Innoterra’s 360-degree services platform, which allows for high-density planting, farming protocols, orchard replanting, input provision, financial inclusion, and farmer training. The programme will make use of the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board’s (MSAMB) pack houses and other facilities, as well as technical assistance from D. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli.

Through its relationship with the Konkan Alphonso Mango Producers and Sellers Cooperative Association, led by Vivek Bhide, a major farmer promoter of the GI programme for Alphonso, Innoterra has already successfully pioneered traceability in the alphonso mango.

“Through this agreement, we hope to create a single farmer-owned firm with a globally known brand for Alphonso from the Konkan region as a premium fruit. Farming services and post-harvest interventions will address major challenges in the sector, such as Alphonso’s quality and marketability,” said Mukesh Khandelwal, Innoterra’s Chief Innovation Officer.

“While Konkan Alphonso has the GI tag, other similar-looking mangoes coming from other locations may be sold as Alphonso,” stated Sunil Pawar, MD of MSAMB. This not only tarnishes Alphonso’s brand, but it also eats into Konkan farmers’ profit margins. Farmers will be able to build Alphonso’s global brand and change from price takers to price-setters with the help of a farmer-owned marketing organization.”

“Small farmers do not obtain appropriate value for their Alphonso crop- they rely on commission agents to sell the product and do not have the resources for good branding and marketing,” stated Ajit Gogate, Chairperson, Devgad Cooperative. To establish this farmer-owned marketing and distribution organization, Devgad Cooperative has teamed up with Alphonso farmers from other parts of Konkan and Innoterra.

This enterprise will boost Konkan farmers’ bargaining power by providing them with traceability, marketing, and branding services, as well as enforcing the Konkan farmers’ GI-protected right to exclusive use of the word ‘Alphonso.’

“Many farmers have admitted that they skilled particularly provided their generate to silos in numerous areas on higher charges. Aside from giant price, farmers stated silo homeowners end the method instantly and completely free their tractor-trailers promptly, whereas in federal authorities grain marketplaces, they’ve to carry out for in depth,” Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, widespread secretary of BKU Ugrahan, instructed.

About their upcoming program of motion to cut back quick sale to silos, he talked about they skilled even additional intensified their advertising marketing campaign that was launched someday again for the perform.

“We now have been conducting explicit conferences and making farmers aware of the conspiracies of silo entrepreneurs to weaken federal authorities purchase course of. Majority of them have additionally understood it and have pledged that they might not promote their generate to silos even on superior charges. We’re not compelling any farmer, however convincing them by sharing the losses that we might need to undergo in foreseeable future,” he acknowledged.

Chhajli silo director Puneet Bansal talked about they skilled by no means acquired any crop straight. “We’re offering our options just for storage of govt put money into and by no means perform any quick purchase.” he talked about. A Sangrur farmer, Gurpartap Singh: “If farmers are promoting their crop to personal avid gamers, it’s given that they’re out there superior value ranges by them. Farmer unions should launch indefinite agitation for improve in MSP as for each our enter price ticket to assist save governing administration acquire process,” he talked about.

Sangrur District Meals and Civil Supply Controller Narinder Singh reported they may not stop farmers from promoting their crop to personal avid gamers straight. “Any personal participant might put money into the crop of any farmer by spending the required value. It’s the determination of farmers precisely the place they wish to provide their crop,” he claimed.

The executive European Commission’s proposals, which were published on Wednesday, include assistance to Ukrainian farmers in sowing corn and sunflower seeds, as well as wheat cultivation.

Ukraine is a major global player in sunflower oil, accounting for more than half of global trade, and it also has large holdings in wheat, barley, and maize, causing price spikes and shortage fears.

Recognizing that farmers would face increased fuel and feed prices as a result of the crisis, the EU will allocate 500 million euros to help farmers who have been struck the hardest by the crisis, particularly those who are involved in more environmentally friendly production.

The Brussels-based Commission will also allow farmers to produce crops on the nearly 6% of EU agricultural land designated aside to promote biodiversity for a limited time.

The Commission estimates that this, together with record Indian shipments, will help cover part of Ukraine’s typical wheat exports of 20 million tonnes.

The Commission also said it supported EU countries utilising options to minimise blending of biofuel – normally created from crops like cereals, vegetable oils and sugar – in road fuel as a method of alleviating pressure on supply of food and feed commodities.

It also recommended a 330 million euro emergency aid package for Ukraine, with some of the funds going to farmers.

Ukraine’s minister of agrarian policy and food, Roman Leshchenko, told EU lawmakers this week that his nation regularly exported 80 percent of its agricultural and food products but was now restricting that to feed its own population.

He said that most of Ukraine’s grain and harvest production used to be shipped through sea ports, which have since been damaged or closed, and that farmers were battling to complete the spring planting season under bombardment.

“We must do everything possible to avoid a global food system breakdown and a hurricane of hunger,” he warned.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke to the chamber on Wednesday and echoed Leshchenko’s proposal to open Ukraine’s wheat sea exports.

“From Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunisia to Africa and the Far East, the ramifications will be felt. I urge (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to release the ships. Otherwise, he will be held accountable for both war and hunger.”

Moscow claims that its “special military operation” is aimed at disarming its adversary. It denies targeting people and claims that Western sanctions on Russia are equivalent to declaring war on the country.

Chouhan, who was in Delhi on Thursday to meet Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the wheat export issue, said: “There will be no mandi tax imposed on wheat exported from Madhya Pradesh. The government will provide all possible facilities to the exporters.”

He further stated that the exporters were allowed to buy wheat from mandis and also directly from the farmers.

He also said that the Railway Board has ensured to provide racks for wheat export.

“If the exporters need space to set up export houses in major mandis, they will be provided space at concession rates,” he added.

The chief minister informed that production of wheat in Madhya Pradesh has reached up to 1.29 crore MT.

He said the wheat of Madhya Pradesh has credibility. Online auction process is available in the market and exporters will be able to buy wheat by registering with a local person. For value addition and quality certification of wheat, infrastructure, lab facilities will be made available to the exporters in major mandis of the state.

“We have tried to provide all the facilities that the exporters asked for. I am sure that these decisions will increase exports and our farmers of Madhya Pradesh will be benefited,” Chouhan added.

Chouhan had held a review meeting with his cabinet ministers and senior officials on Wednesday, and instructed that there should be no shortcomings in the arrangements for wheat procurement.

He said that export of wheat should be promoted and it should be procured keeping in mind the new provisions of Rabi Registration 2022-23.

This “exceptional and temporary derogation” aims at increasing the production of crops for food and feed purposes to mitigate the loss of Ukrainian products on the global market, according to Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission in charge of an economy that works for people. Dombrovskis is also European Commissioner for Trade.

“The EU is an agricultural superpower and we will ensure that our farmers have the Commission’s full support to respond to the global needs for food,” said Janusz Wojciechowski, European Commissioner for Agriculture.

Farmers will be able to grow food or feed on the four million hectares of EU fallow land this year. All technicalities should be cleared within the next seven days to allow EU farmers to use this extra fertile land in time for the spring sowing season, according to Wojciechowski.

To help EU farmers, the derogation is accompanied by a support package worth 500 million euros ($549 million) for European producers most affected by the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine; advances of direct payment in October for 2023; market safety net measures for the pigmeat market; and temporary flexibilities to existing import requirements on animal feed, Xinhua news agency reported.

The loss of Ukrainian agricultural products resulting from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict could disrupt food supply for lower-income countries in regions such as North Africa and the Middle East, which rely heavily on wheat imports, Dombrovskis said.

Other regions that could be affected by the destruction or loss of Ukrainian agricultural products include Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The EU is also set to help Ukrainian farmers as much as possible to ensure a successful sowing season, despite the conflict. A short and medium-term food security strategy is being developed by Ukraine with support from the EU to enable the former to feed its citizens and start exporting again.

“Our first priority is to make sure that Ukrainians have enough food, fuel and water. We will also help them to continue planting and growing cereals and oilseeds, much needed for themselves and for the world and facilitate their exports,” Wojciechowski said.

Golden Tips paid Rs 23,000 per kg for organic white teas and Rs 21,000 per kg for moonlight tea, the season’s highest prices so far. Goodricke Group supplied Golden Tips with 10 kg of organic white tea and 5 kg of moonlight tea.

These teas were picked just a few days ago from an estate located at elevations of around 4500 feet above sea level, giving them a distinct character and quality.

The first flush is the picking of the brand new two leaves and a bud in the earliest spring growth of the plant, as early as February and often lasting through April. These early leaves are usually more delicate and tender and therefore more light, floral, fresh, brisk, and astringent in flavour.

Darjeeling first flush tea is some of the most prized and expensive on the market. It is so special and exclusive that tea connoisseurs consider the first harvest from this region to be the “Champagne” of teas.

“We are glad to once again procure the most exotic spring teas from the Goodricke Group’s Badamtam tea estate. Our relationship goes beyond procurement of teas and to the common vision of providing a world class tea experience to tea lovers all over the world, has made us natural partners,” said Madhav Sarda, managing director of Golden Tips Tea.

“Tender buds and leaves from the rare SY-1240 clone, found only in a few gardens, were used to manufacture these speciality teas,” said Subroto Sen, deputy general manager, Goodricke Group.

Golden Tips is looking for strategic partnerships to help it expand its operations nationally, through e-commerce, and through exports.

Golden Tips purchases tea both directly from plantations and through auctions. “Our expertise is in sourcing, sampling, selecting, packaging, and marketing the finest single origin teas, tea blends, and infusions from India and around the world.” “The company primarily operates through its retail outlets,” Sarda added.

The Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing presented its report in Parliament on Thursday related to ‘Demand of Grants‘ for Ministry of Agriculture.

“It is a fact that many departments, organisations and ministries of Government of India are responsible for doubling of income of each and every farmers of this country within a fixed time frame,” the report said. However, the panel said that there is no denial that major task for doubling of income of farmers lies with the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

Citing the reply of the department, the panel said that it was found that funds have been surrendered amounting to Rs 3,4517.70 crore, Rs 2,3824.54 crore and Rs 9,586.86 crore during 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22, respectively. That means Rs 67,929.10 crore have been surrendered by the department in these years without spending.

he panel said that the surrender of funds is not at all a healthy practice which it said was mainly on account of less requirement under NES (North Eastern States), SCSP (Schedule Caste Sub-Plan) and Tribal Area Sub-Plan (TASP) components. “The committee express displeasure over surrender of funds. The committee, therefore, recommend the department to identify reasons avoidable for surrender of funds and take corrective measures to ensure that the funds are utilised fully, properly and efficiently,” the report said.

On Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY), the panel said that the department should review the implementation of the scheme at regular intervals to assess the demand situation and funds requirement. The committee also asked the department to look into the reasons for non-implementation of the scheme by certain states and take necessary measures and attempt to address them in the best possible manner. It also asked the department to ensure that the scheme is made more attractive and beneficial to the farmers, especially in those states that are prone to natural calamities so that farmers in all parts of the country have the opportunity to get benefits of the PMFBY scheme.

While wheat procurement in the forthcoming rabi marketing session beginning April 1 will likely be 10 MT less than targeted 44 MT, rice procurement starting from October 1 is likely to be around 10 MT less than estimated 59 MT.

“International wheat prices have skyrocketed after the war in Ukraine, a major producer of wheat. Rice prices have also started hardening as countries look for alternatives to wheat and corn,” an official told.

The economic costs borne by the government via FCI and state-run agencies for grains sold through the public distribution system will reduce if the procurement falls. The economic costs for rice and wheat for FY23 are budgeted to be Rs 36.7/kg and Rs 25.9/kg, respectively. The likely reduction of 10 MT procurement of both cereals would result in savings on subsidy of Rs 26,000 crore and Rs 36,000 crore for wheat and rice, respectively, in FY23.

The government has budgeted Rs 2.06 trillion in food subsidies for the next financial year compared with the revised estimate of Rs 2.86 trillion for 2021-22. The free grains scheme – Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana for the poor, which was running for the second year in a row as a Covid-relief measure – is scheduled to end on March 31, 2022.

India’s annual requirement for running the highly subsidised grains programme, under the National Food Security Act, is 60-65 MT of wheat and rice. With an inventory of about 53 MT in food grains with Food Corporation of India as on mid-March, the lower procurement will not impact the NFSA programme.

While the food subsidy is expected to undershoot, the savings on food subsidy could help the government offset the likely 50% increase in fertiliser subsidy from the budgeted Rs 1.05 trillion to about Rs 1.5 trillion in 2022-23 due to the rise in fertiliser and input costs.

Traders expect it to rise further to more than 20 MT in 2022-23, taking advantage of the global prices, the official said.

An anticipated surge in wheat exports because of the global demand is currently pushing up domestic prices above the MSP. In Madhya Pradesh, for instance, mandi prices are currently around Rs 2,100-2,350 per quintal against the MSP of Rs 2,015 a quintal. There is expected to be a sharp fall in procurement by agencies in the state because of export prospects and its proximity to Kandla and Mundra ports, from where most of India’s shipments take place.

“We anticipate a much lower wheat procurement this season against the target as prices are ruling above MSP,” Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, principal secretary, department of food and civil supplies, Madhya Pradesh, told. In Madhya Pradesh, the target was to procure 12.9 MT of wheat, which looks unlikely to materialise.

Wheat exports could be upwards of 10 MT in 2022-23 and the shipments would be mostly from Madhya Pradesh. India traditionally exports wheat to South Asian neighbours and northern Africa. Traders say exports from other wheat-producing states, especially Punjab and Haryana, will be challenging because of the absence of requisite transportation infrastructure, higher cost of transport to ports in the western region and higher levies on grain purchase.