Re: Indian Agriculture and Agro-based Industry
Posted: 03 Jan 2020 09:03
Consortium of Indian Defence Websites
https://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/
Saw the video. Actually, in the place where I grew up as a kid, which had just emerged as a grade 3 municipality still retained its village modes of living. Rearing cows/buffaloes was very much in vogue in that semi rural town. The cattle would roam the streets in search of grass growing on the sides of gravel roads. It is not uncommon to see cattle droppings on the roads. In the best traditions of 'finders keepers' women would collect it in basket and take it home. There they would mix some water and make a paste and flatten it and slap it on side walls of house and compound wall or even on the earth. Once dried it can be easily removed. The resultant tandoori roti like cow dung cakes are used as fuel for mud stoves supplementing firewood.SBajwa wrote:
nandakumar wrote:Saw the video. Actually, in the place where I grew up as a kid, which had just emerged as a grade 3 municipality still retained its village modes of living. Rearing cows/buffaloes was very much in vogue in that semi rural town. The cattle would roam the streets in search of grass growing on the sides of gravel roads. It is not uncommon to see cattle droppings on the roads. In the best traditions of 'finders keepers' women would collect it in basket and take it home. There they would mix some water and make a paste and flatten it and slap it on side walls of house and compound wall or even on the earth. Once dried it can be easily removed. The resultant tandoori roti like cow dung cakes are used as fuel for mud stoves supplementing firewood.SBajwa wrote:
It only comes from Pakistan, some Indian companies marketed it, it was a big scam, it not have any real health benefits.kit wrote:I have a question about "Himalayan Rock Salt" , this item is selling quite well in western markets as a premium product. Most of it comes from the salt mines in Pakistan and nothing to do with "Himalaya" . Are there any viable sources for this product in India ?
I thought it also came from Rajasthan.Aditya_V wrote:It only comes from Pakistan, some Indian companies marketed it, it was a big scam, it not have any real health benefits.kit wrote:I have a question about "Himalayan Rock Salt" , this item is selling quite well in western markets as a premium product. Most of it comes from the salt mines in Pakistan and nothing to do with "Himalaya" . Are there any viable sources for this product in India ?
Any salt can be sold as Himalayan Rock Salt since its not GI tagged.kit wrote:I have a question about "Himalayan Rock Salt" , this item is selling quite well in western markets as a premium product. Most of it comes from the salt mines in Pakistan and nothing to do with "Himalaya" . Are there any viable sources for this product in India ?
I don't think that is correct. I am pretty sure I've seen paki Basmati in Indian stores.bharathp wrote:Any salt can be sold as Himalayan Rock Salt since its not GI tagged.kit wrote:I have a question about "Himalayan Rock Salt" , this item is selling quite well in western markets as a premium product. Most of it comes from the salt mines in Pakistan and nothing to do with "Himalaya" . Are there any viable sources for this product in India ?
If I remember correctly- Pakistan cannot market any of its rice as "basmati rice" since the GI tag belongs to rice produced in in a few states in India
while it may call the rice "basmati" that is illegal and can be challenged. right now only India has a right to sell "basmati" rice with GI tag. and just like anyone can sell "sotch whiskey" - but thats spurious and not authentic as its not originally GI tagged, it can be challenged if taken to courts.KJo wrote:I don't think that is correct. I am pretty sure I've seen paki Basmati in Indian stores.bharathp wrote: Any salt can be sold as Himalayan Rock Salt since its not GI tagged.
If I remember correctly- Pakistan cannot market any of its rice as "basmati rice" since the GI tag belongs to rice produced in in a few states in India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basmati#P ... _varieties
The more we buy, the more we are in debt.” That’s Kunari Sabari, a farmer in her 40s, speaking to us in Khaira, a village mainly of her own Saora Adivasi community.
“The gobarakhatachaasa, halaachasaa [farming with cow dung and ploughs], which was ours, nobody is doing that anymore,” she said. “Now we run to the market for everything. Seeds, pesticides, fertiliser. Unlike before, even what we eat, we have to buy.”
We had our own crops and our own agriculture,” rued Khetra Sabara, a young Saora cultivator. “Andhrawallas came and told us to grow cotton, and taught us everything.” Santosh Kumar Dandasena, another farmer here, added that the prospect of making profit drew villagers to kappa, or cotton. “Initially it gave happiness, we made money. But now, it is only misery and loss,” he said. “We have got destroyed and the sahucars [moneylenders] are happy.”
Dark green John Deere tractors rumbled up and down the village road as we spoke. The walls of the local temple were plastered with seed company posters in Odia advertising Bt cotton. Tilling and sowing equipment for that crop lay around the village square.
Perhaps the most devastating impact of cotton’s spread, Deb and his colleagues point out, is the erosion of local biodiversity, and with it the knowledge of communities who work in, and sustain, this ecologically rich landscape. Both are critical to an agriculture that is climate-resilient – with the capacity to withstand the increasing uncertainties and extremities of weather.
“Climate change,” Deb says, “is inducing abrupt vagaries of the local weather. Prolonged spells of drought, too much untimely rain, and more frequent droughts are already [being] experienced by Odisha farmers.” Cotton as well as modern varieties of rice and vegetables, which are replacing heirloom varieties, "are inherently incapable of surviving the sudden changes in local environmental conditions. This means a severe uncertainty of crop plant survival, pollination, productivity, and finally, food security."
I hope forum members pull the bill information from NIC and bring it up for discussion.The first bill,Farmers` Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, 2020, has generated the most fear amidst the farmers in the past couple of days They fear that the Centre will end the current system of open-ended FCI procurement. Farmers in Punjab think that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) and other central agencies will shut down annual wheat and rice purchases from the states, leaving them at the mercy of traders' predatory practices.
The central government's repeated assurances that the 'MSP will continue' are being called deceptive by various farmers collectives.
It is to be noted that the Centre distributes the annual wheat and rice procured from the farmers in Punjab through the Public Distribution System (PDS), and the farmers feel that the 'unlimited procurement' will be ended the government's new bill.
If I may do request to not use bbc links and find other outlets. One of the donors on the list is Ford foundation.Haresh wrote:The Himalayan invention powered by pine needles
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/2020 ... ne-needles
http://avani-kumaon.org/
http://avanibioenergy.com/
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Lok Sabha passes The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020
Farmers will now have freedom for direct marketing of their produce and will be able to get better prices, MSP procurement system will continue, consumers will also benefit - Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar
The reforms will accelerate agricultural growth through private sector investment in building agricultural infrastructure and supply chains for Indian farm produce in national and global markets, create employment opportunities and strengthen the economy
Two bills aimed at transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers’ income were passed by Lok Sabha today. The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 were introduced in Lok Sabha on 14th September 2020 by Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, to replace ordinances promulgated on 5th June 2020.
Replying to the discussion on the Bills before they were passed by the Lok Sabha today, Shri Narendra Singh Tomar said that the Government under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is fully committed to the welfare of Gaon-Garib-Kisan. He reassured emphatically that while farmers will now be freed from the restrictions of having to sell their produce at designated places only, the procurement at Minimum Support Price will continue and mandis established under State laws will also continue to operate. The Union Agriculture Minister said that these legislations will bring about revolutionary transformation and transparency in the agriculture sector, electronic trading will increase, there will be accelerated agricultural growth as private investment will be attracted in building supply chains and agricultural infrastructure, new employment opportunities will be created and rural economy will get a boost, which will in turn help to strengthen the national economy.
The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020 seeks to provide for the creation of an ecosystem where the farmers and traders enjoy the freedom of choice relating to sale and purchase of farmers' produce which facilitates remunerative prices through competitive alternative trading channels to promote efficient, transparent and barrier-free inter-State and intra-State trade and commerce of farmers' produce outside physical premises of markets or deemed markets notified under various State agricultural produce market legislations; to provide a facilitative framework for electronic trading and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Background
Farmers in India suffered from various restrictions in marketing their produce. There were restrictions for farmers in selling agri-produce outside the notified APMC market yards. The farmers were also restricted to sell the produce only to registered licensees of the State Governments. Further, barriers existed in free flow of agriculture produce between various States owing to the prevalence of various APMC legislations enacted by the State Governments.
Benefits
The new legislation will create an ecosystem where the farmers and traders will enjoy freedom of choice of sale and purchase of agri-produce. It will also promote barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State Agricultural Produce Marketing legislations. This is a historic-step in unlocking the vastly regulated agriculture markets in the country.
It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices. It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to get better prices and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices. The Bill also proposes an electronic trading in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.
The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act. Further there will be a separate dispute resolution mechanism for the farmers.
One India, One Agriculture Market
The Bill basically aims at creating additional trading opportunities outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition. This will supplement the existing MSP procurement system which is providing stable income to farmers.
It will certainly pave the way for creating One India, One Agriculture Market and will lay the foundation for ensuring golden harvests for our hard working farmers.
The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 seeks to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services and sale of future farming produce at a mutually agreed remunerative price framework in a fair and transparent manner and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Background
Indian Agriculture is characterized by fragmentation due to small holding sizes and has certain weaknesses such as weather dependence, production uncertainties and market unpredictability. This makes agriculture risky and inefficient in respect of both input & output management.
Benefits
The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation. It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs. It will reduce cost of marketing and improve income of farmers.
This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure. Farmers will get access to technology and advice for high value agriculture and get ready market for such produce.
Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price. Farmers have been provided adequate protection. Sale, lease or mortgage of farmers’ land is totally prohibited and farmers’ land is also protected against any recovery. Effective dispute resolution mechanism has been provided for with clear time lines for redressal.
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