Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yoiana

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has given its approval to a new scheme the “Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana” (PMKSY). It will have an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore over a period of five years (2015-16 to 2019-20). The allocation for the current financial year is Rs. 5300 crore.

The major objective of the PMKSY is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level, expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani), improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water, enhance the adoption of precision-irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop), enhance recharge of aquifers and introduce sustainable water conservation practices by exploring the feasibility of reusing treated municipal based water for peri-urban agriculture and attract greater private investment in precision irrigation system. The scheme also aims at bringing concerned Ministries/Departments/Agencies/Research and Financial Institutions engaged in creation/use/recycling/potential recycling of water, brought under a common platform, so that a comprehensive and holistic view of the entire "water cycle" is taken into account and proper water budgeting is done for all sectors namely, household, agriculture and industries.

The programme architecture of PMKSY aims at a 'decentralized State level planning and execution' structure, in order to allow States to draw up a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and a State Irrigation Plan (SIP). DIP will have holistic developmental perspective of the district outlining medium to long term developmental plans integrating three components namely, water sources, distribution network and water use application of the district to be prepared at two levels - the block and the district. All structures created under the schemes will be geotagged.

The programme will be supervised and monitored at the national level by an Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister with Union Ministers of all concerned Ministries. A National Executive Committee (NEC) is to be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation, allocation of resources, inter ministerial coordination, monitoring and performance assessment, addressing administrative issues etc. At the state level the scheme is to be administered by a State Level Sanctioning Committee (SLSC) to be Chaired by the Chief Secretary of the respective States. The committee will have all authority to sanction the project and also monitor the progress of the scheme. At the district level their shall be a district level implementation committee for ensuring last mile coordination a the field level.

It is expected that PMKSY will provide convergence to existing schemes of water management, thus bringing efficiency to the use of water.

Background:

In the last one year, the Government of India has taken several farmer friendly initiatives. These, amongst other things, include the following:


• A new scheme has been introduced to issue a Soil Health Card to every farmer. Soil Health Management in the country is being promoted through setting up of soil and fertilizer testing laboratories. 34 lakh soil samples has been collected and analysis is continuing.


• A new scheme for promoting organic farming "Pramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana" has been launched to promote organic farming.


• A dedicated Kisan Channel has been started by Doordarshan to address various issues concerning farmers.


• Government is also encouraging formation of Farmer Producer organizations.


• Assistance to farmers, as input subsidy, has been increased by 50 percent in case of natural calamities.


• Norms have been relaxed to provide assistance from previous norm of crop loss of more than 50 percent to 33 percent to farmers afflicted by natural calamities.


• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various Kharif crops has been increased. Bonus of Rs.200 per quintal has been announced for pulses. Area coverage under pulses has increased over the last year.


Taking it further, today the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister has given its approval to two new schemes in agriculture sector. These are the PMKSY and Promotion of National Agriculture Market.

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NDDB inks MoU with DD Kisan Channel

The National Dairy Development Board and DD Kisan launched a partnership to create meaningful content for the farm and dairy sector on 16 June 2015 at NDDB, Anand. This partnership would take the dairy and farm sector to new heights.

A Memorandum of Understanding to this effect was signed for dissemination of up—to—date technical know-hows to the farmers; improve their livelihood and income by enhancing their knowledge and information on various technical issues related to farming in broader sense.

Shri T Nanda KumaT, Chairman, NDDB said that this association will benefit millions of dairy farmers across India. The content will be based on ground realities, actual problems and issues faced by the farmers. He assured knowledge, information and facilitation support to DD Kisan.

While addressing the farmers, Dr A Surya Prakash, Chairman, Prasar Bharati conveyed that the joint effort will offer an effective platform to project success stories on progressive farmers. He said that this collaboration will enhance livelihood and income of the farming , community.

Shri Ranjan Mukherjee, ADG & Head, DD Kisan Channel outlined the objective of MoU and also highlighted relevant points of the road map of collaboration.

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Mahindra 555 DI Power+ tractor launched in UP

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.’s Farm Equipment Sector (FES), the market leader in the Indian tractor industry for the past 31 years, today unveiled its latest offering - the new ‘Mahindra 555 DI Power+ tractor’ for the Uttar Pradesh market.

The ‘Mahindra 555 DI Power+ tractor’ is attractively priced with a host of technologyfeatures like reverse CRPTO, power steering, auxiliary valve and large front tyres. The powerful and modern 57 HP engine makes the tractor suitable for various farming and haulage applications, enabling customers to accomplish field work at a faster rate.The Mahindra 555 DI Power+ tractoris the most fuel-efficient tractor in it scategory,thereby ensuring that the customers’ operational costs are nominal. 

Speaking on the occasion, Ravindra Shahane, Vice President – Marketing, Farm Equipment Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “As a market leader in the tractor segment, we at Mahindra have pioneered products that not only aimto boost farm productivitybut also create an outstanding value proposition for customers.Farmers today need greater efficiency and power from their tractors but at a lower operational cost. We believe that our latest offering, the Mahindra 555 DI Power+is as per the progressive farmer’s needs and aligned with our mission to deliver Farm Tech Prosperity.” 

The Mahindra 555 DI Power+ is powered by a 4-cylinder engine with an inline fuel injection pump (FIP), delivering maximum torque in its category.It boasts of a lift capacity of 1650 kg, which is best-in-class, making it suitable for all agricultural and haulage applications like reaper, rotavator, harrow, levellor, cultivator, plough, alternator, heavy haulage and tipping trolley.Further, it is capable of a speed of 2.3 km/hr at 1700 rpm making it effective for reaper applications in particular.

Packed with superior technology and advanced features, the Mahindra 555 DI Power+ tractor will bein strumental in driving positive change amongst the farmers’ lives in UP.

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Time to Change Our Policies to help Farmers: Anuja Kapur

In all over the world our country is known for agricultural dominating country. But the condition of farmers in India is as bad as it can be. As unseasonal rain has broke the back of farmers. In this season the farmers are facing the toughest time of their life and the worst part is that they are facing it alone as there is no one to support them or give them actual compensation which can really help them to cover their loss.

Recently our P.M Narendra Modi came forward to help the farmers but the amount government is giving to the farmers who have lost their crops in the unseasonal rain is not justify to their losses. Media is daily publishing the misery of the farmers but no one is still come up to help them.

Due to all this unseasonal rain we have lost most part of the crops specially the wheat. The farmers are in trouble and committing suicide in order to their crops failure. Yesterday, we celebrated “Baisakhi” a festival we celebrate for our crop but this time around the charm of the festival was soaked by the misery of the farmers. On the eve of “Baisakhi” famous Criminal Psychologist and Social Activist Mrs. Anuja Kapur said, “The slogan of “Jai Jawaan, Jai Kisan” is not enough, we need better insurance policies that are rational and sustainable as business models.

The current set of insurance policies under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Modified NAIS, and the Weather-Based Insurance Scheme (WBIS) have failed miserably to protect our farmers. The crop insurance premiums are very high in our country .Every state should come forward to help farmers without any differences among each other. Farmers are very crucial part of our economy therefore we should work for their betterment.”

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Shop Vegetables Online in Odisha

Image credit: orissadiary.com

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has launched a scheme allowing citizens to buy vegetables online through the e-commerce portal www.veggiekart.co.in , on Monday.

This is a joint venture of the state government and Veggie Kart Marketing Ltd that would make the marketing easier and online for the people in the state.

The portal accepts order for the vegetables and delivers the order at the door step, and accepts the cash from the consumer after the goods have been delivered, as reported in a media.

However, the online payment process has not be finalized, after that consumers can pay directly online to purchase the vegetables from the portal.

Apart from that the company has also rolled out 15 vegetable carts to sell vegetables.

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Mobiles for Odisha Farmers

The Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has distributed mobile phones to 5000 farmers on Tuesday. The distribution of mobiles to farmers was aimed to avail them the facility of getting information about cultivation.

The opposition has criticized the move of the state government. According to media reports, the farmers in the state could get sms over agriculture in their regional language, which would be make them aware about the cultivation techniques.

In the age of hi-tech, why the farmers of the Odisha state to stand behind and the measure to provide them mobile device should praised. It is noteworthy that the state was already having many mobile subscribers and the free distribution of mobile could make the figure go up further.

The state government has planned to distribute 20,000 mobile phones to farmers and those would be cost around Rs1,000 per device.

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Aamir Khan on Organic Farming

It has been reported in many news bulletins many times about the side effects of the chemical farming and advantages of organic farmings in India. On Sunday, the episode of Satyamev Jayate was focused on agriculture, farmers and organic farming. It has been the core issue in India and the episode of Satyamev Jayate was quite successful in counting on the advantages of the organic farming in India.

Agriculture has the core sector of Indian economy and its the major sources of the income for most of the people of rural India. The advantages of the organic farming or organic foods are healthy, less expensive and environment friendly. The important thing about organic farming is that it will protect or conserve the land fertility.

And in long-term, it will diversified good impact on the society. One best example was given of Sikkim, the state aimed to be the organic state by 2050. The state has reportedly banned the harming chemical in agriculture, cultivation and started campaign for organic farming. The idea is good about having healthy food as all of us are trying to head a healthy life. So its better have analysis on your food in-take. No matter how much time your spending on your fitness, if your taking chemical or pesticides containing food.

It is also noteworthy that, the revolution for organic foods or farming can't be achieved in few days or months. Rather, the vision should be aimed towards a better and organic foods for the next generation to lead a good and healthy life.

So, eat healthy food and live healthy using organic foods. Jai Hind!

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