MAHARASHTRA TOPS NITI AAYOG'S FIRST EVER
AGRICULTURE REFORM INDEX
NITI Aayog has launched
an index to rank States
and UTs that is based on
implementation of seven
provisions proposed
under model APMC Act,
joining eNAM initiative,
special treatment to fruits
and vegetables for
marketing and level of
taxes in mandis.
The Index is named as “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer
Friendly Reforms Index” and it has a score which can have
minimum value “0” implying no reforms and maximum value
“100” implying complete reforms in the selected areas. States
and UTs have been ranked in terms of the score of the index.
The state of Maharashtra achieved first rank in implementation
of various reforms. The state has implemented most of the
marketing reforms and it offers best environment for doing
agribusiness among all the states and UTs. Gujarat ranks
second with a score of 71.5 out of 100, closely followed by
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Almost two third states could
not reach even halfway mark of reforms score. Major states like
U.P., Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and
J&K are in this group.
Some states and UTs either did not adopt APMC Act or revoked
it. They include Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, Daman and Diu, Dadra
and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar. They are not included
in the ranking.
GOVT AIMS TO BOOST NORTH EAST INDIA'S
AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL
Union Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare
Minister, Mr Radha
Mohan Singh has
said that there are
unlimited
potentialities of
agriculture in North
Eastern states,
therefore, Central
Government is
focusing exclusively
on the development of agricultural sector in north eastern
states. The Minister said that government is implementing a
number of agriculture related programmes in this region while
keeping in view the potentialities of organic farming along with
different agriculture schemes in North Eastern States so that the
people of villages may prosper.
Union Agriculture Minister said that organic farming is an
integrated one. Through this bio diversity, bio cycling and soil
bio activities are promoted. Organic farming creates
environment friendly atmosphere for the crops as well as
animals without the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth
hormones, increasing antibiotics, stuff and synthetic pesticides.
The Minister said that government is promoting organic
farming through and through in North Eastern Region.
Mr Singh briefed that earlier there were only 7 agriculture
colleges which have gone up as 13 at present. The Minister
further added that during 2014-15 the budget of agriculture
education for North Eastern States was Rs 150 crore which has
been shot up by adding Rs 20 crore amalgamated as a sum of Rs
170 crore. He further said that during 2016-17 there has been an
unprecedented enhancement of almost Rs 500 crore (32.8%) for
agricultural research budget which is now is Rs 2020 crore.
There is an addition of almost Rs 90 crore (13.6%) as compared
to the previous year in agriculture extension which has been
gone up as a sum of Rs 750 crore.
PUSA ARHAR-16 TO BE AVAILABLE TO FARMERS
IN NEXT KHARIF SEASON
The Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Mr Arun
Jaitley and Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister,
Mr Radha Mohan Singh made the field visits of new variety of
pulses, PUSA Arhar-16 on October 31st at New Delhi. Mr Singh
gave details information about the new variety to Mr Jaitley who
congratulated the scientists of Indian Council for Agriculture
Research (ICAR) in developing the PUSA Arhar -16 and
expressed hope that country will soon become selfsufficient in pulses.
Mr Radha Mohan Singh on the occasion said that PUSA
Arhar-16 is extra early maturing, semi-dwarf,
determinate, high yielding variety and will be available
to farmers from next Kharif season. The Minister
informed that while the traditional varieties take 170
days to mature this new variety take less time to mature
i.e 120 days only.
agriculture
tune of 86.84 and 93.32 Mts would be required by 2020 and
2025 respectively.
On the occasion, Mr Shobhna K. Pattanayak, Secretary,
Departm