Agriculture-India government official releases

This page will carry the official releases of the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, which are distributed through the central government’s Press Information Bureau. This system is good at putting out the material, but is not in any way designed to make it easily to collate. I have begun with 2011 January, and the entries are in plain text, in reverse chronological order (i.e. newest first). Several of the releases contain tables, and these have not kept their formatting, so they will appear on this page as numerical data in a succession of lines. In time I will organise this.

2011 January

Ministry of Agriculture28-January, 2011 17:02 IST
Wheat Sown in over 291 and Pulses in 148 Lakh Hectare
Wheat Acreage up by 8.95, Pulses by 11.11 and Total Foodgrains by 13.32 Lakh Hectare
KHARIF SOWING IS PICKING UP IN DIFFERENT STATES

As per data received from States, wheat has been sown in 291.36 lakh hectare, which is 8.95 lakh hectare more than last year on this date.

The pulses acreage is up by 11.11 lakh hectare and oilseeds by 3.23 lakh hectare compared to last year.

The cropped areas this year and last year for major rabi crops are as follows:

lakh hectare

Crop

This year’s area [as on 28th January]

Last year’s area [as on 28th January]

Wheat

291.36

282.41

Rice

19.46

21.88

Jowar

41.13

45.02

Maize

10.92

11.05

Total of coarse cereals

59.61

63.93

Total pulses

148.81

137.70

Total of food grains

519.24

505.92

Total oilseeds

94.05

90.82

MP:SB:CP:weatherwatch (28.1.2011)

(Release ID :69423)
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Ministry of Agriculture24-January, 2011 13:37 IST
Online Plant Quarantine Services Launched
Delivery of Services to Become more Efficient and Transparent
Online plant quarantine services have been launched to help importers and exporters of plant materials. They can now register and apply online and also see the progress and current status of their applications online.

This facility was launched by Shri P.K. Basu, Secretary, and Agriculture & Cooperation here today. This is part of Plant Quarantine Information System (PQIS) project. User Manual for exporters and importers was also released on the occasion.

Import of agricultural commodities or plant material into India is regulated under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import into India) Order, 2003 issued under the provisions of the Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914 to prevent introduction of exotic pests, diseases and weeds. Import Permit (IP) is needed to import those commodities requiring additional declaration and special conditions specified under Schedule VI of Plant Quarantine Order to deal with specific phytosanitary risks. At the point of import, the consignment is inspected by plant quarantine officials and released through a Release Order (RO). Consignments for exports are covered by Phytosanitary Certificates (PSCs) issued by plant quarantine officials after inspecting them and certifying that they are free from quarantine pests and diseases as per the International Plant Protection Convention, 1951. These functions are being discharged by 35 Plant Quarantine Stations (PQSs) functioning under the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage (DPPQ&S), Faridabad, at various international airports, seaports and land customs stations across the country to facilitate international trade in agriculture products.

With the launch of online plant quarantine services, importers will be able to register and apply for IP and RO online. Similarly, exporters can file applications online for issue of PSC. Applications can be made faster with the help of entries in drop down boxes. Applicants will be able to see the progress and current status of their applications online including the date of inspection and the fee payable. Officials in plant quarantine would be able to process applications faster due to automated work flow. The system would enable plant quarantine services to be delivered to importers and exporters more efficiently and transparently.

PQIS project has been implemented with the help of National Informatics Center (NIC) and funded by the Information Technology Division of Department of Agriculture and Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture.

The online facility is available at http://plantquarantineindia.nic.in

MP:SB:CP: online (24.1.2011)
(Release ID :69294)
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Ministry of Agriculture21-January, 2011 16:49 IST
Wheat Sown in over 290 and Pulses in 148 Lakh Hectare so far
Wheat Acreage up by 9.36, Pulses by 10.99 and Total Foodgrains by 11.45 Lakh Hectare
KHARIF SOWING IS PICKING UP IN DIFFERENT STATES

As per data received from States, wheat has been sown in over 290 lakh hectare, which is 9.36 lakh hectare more than last year on this date.

The pulses acreage is up by 10.99 lakh hectare and oilseeds by 3.84 lakh hectare compared to last year.

The acreage of wheat and pulses is also up by 15.09 and 11.27 lakh hectare respectively compared to 2008-09.

The cropped areas this year and last year for major rabi crops are as follows:

lakh hectare

Crop

This year’s area [as on 21st January]

Last year’s area [as on 21st January]

Wheat

290.59

281.23

Rice

13.40

17.57

Jowar

40.94

44.93

Maize

10.34

10.80

Total of coarse cereals

58.84

63.57

Total pulses

148.17

137.18

Total of food grains

511.00

499.55

Total oilseeds

93.27

89.43

MP:SB:CP:weatherwatch (21.1.2011)

(Release ID :69259)
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Ministry of Agriculture20-January, 2011 15:50 IST
Shri Arun Yadav Assumes Charge
Shri Arun Subhashchandra Yadav took over as Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing here today. Earlier, Shri Yadav was Minister of State in the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. After taking over his new assignment Shri Yadav said that he would try to address farmers’ issues in the Agriculture Ministry.

Born in1974 at Borawan Khargone in Madhya Pradesh, Shri Yadav is a commerce graduate and agriculturist by profession. He respresents Khandwa Lok Sabha Constitutency in Parliament. For the first time he was elected to 14th Lok Sabha in by-election in 2007.

MP:SB:CP: MOS agri (20.1.2011)
(Release ID :69205)
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Ministry of Agriculture14-January, 2011 17:45 IST
Wheat Sown in over 288 and Pulses in 145 Lakh Hectare so far
Wheat Acreage up by 9.31, pulses by 8.41 and Total Foodgrains by 9.53 Lakh Hectare
KHARIF SOWING IS PICKING UP IN DIFFERENT STATES

As per data received from States, wheat has been sown in over 288 lakh hectare, which is 9.31 lakh hectare more than last year on this date.

The pulses acreage is up by 8.41 lakh hectare and oilseeds by 2.10 lakh hectare compared to last year.

The acreage of wheat and pulses is also up by 14.38 and 10.79 lakh hectare respectively compared to 2008-09.

The cropped areas this year and last year for major rabi crops are as follows:

lakh hectare

Crop

This year’s area [as on 14th January]

Last year’s area [as on 14th January]

Wheat

288.43

279.12

Rice

9.21

12.67

Jowar

40.94

44.93

Maize

10.34

10.80

Total of coarse cereals

58.84

63.57

Total pulses

145.34

136.93

Total of food grains

501.82

492.29

Total oilseeds

89.40

87.30

MP:SB:CP:weatherwatch (14.1.2011)

(Release ID :69083)
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Ministry of Agriculture14-January, 2011 18:19 IST
Wholesale Prices of Onion in Maharshtra Mandi between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3500 and in Delhi’s Azadpur between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4750 per Quintal
200 MT Onions Imported from Pakistan Expected to Reach Delhi by Tuesday
“27”

On 14.01.2011 the wholesale prices of onion in Maharashtra mandi (Lasalgaon, Pimpalgaon and Manmad) are ruling between Rs. 500 to Rs. 3500 per quintal with a modal rate of Rs. 2800 per quintal. Similarly in Azadpur Mandi rates, are ruling between Rs. 2500 to Rs. 4750 per quintal with a modal rate of Rs. 3750 per quintal.

All mandies in Gujarat will remain closed from 14.1.11 to 16.1.11 due to Makarshankranti/ Kite festival in Gujarat. A statement showing arrivals and wholesale rates of onion in Nasik and Azadpur are as under:

Arrivals in Qtls.

Rate Rs. Per qtl.

NASIK

Date

Arrival

Min

Max

Modal

Market

Closed

Market

Closed

22320

500

4380

3200

Market

Closed

17302

400

4491

3400

20086

975

4630

3151

25893

500

4300

3300

Market

Closed

Market

Closed

Market

Closed

11.

24748

3500

3569

30100

25015

400

3501

3100

31553

351

3501

2850

22500

500

3500

2800

AZADPUR

Date

Arrival

Min

Max

Modal

Market

Closed

Market

Closed

6200

3000

4500

4150

4400

3500

5000

3750

5200

3000

5000

3750

8600

2500

4500

4250

8300

2500

4500

4250

8900

2500

4500

4125

Market

Closed

7200

2500

4500

4125

5520

3750

4375

4100

Market

Closed

3800

3500

5000

4250

9000

2500

4750

4500

NAFED since 05.01.11 is also supplying onion to Mother Dairy for retail sale through their outlets. Approximately 43 MT of onion has been supplied till 10.01.11 to them by NAFED. NAFED is also operating its own 5 retail outlets and till 08.01.11 has sold 161 qtls of onion to consumers @ Rs. 35 per kg. since 21st December 2010. Further, RWAs and Coop. Group Housing Societies in Delhi are being invited to pickup their requirements of onion @ Rs. 35 per kg. from NAFED’s Lawrence Road Complex.

From 13.01.2011 NAFED has started retail sale of onion through 15 mobile vans which would be plying in different locations of Delhi.

200 MT onion imported by PEC from Pakistan is expected to reach Mundra Port(Gujarat). This stock is expected to reach Delhi by 18.01.2011 for onward retail sale through Mother Dairy, Kendriya Bhandar, NAFED and NCCF.

NAFED is continuously monitoring the prices, arrivals and availability of onion in procuring centers of Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat and as Azadpur APMC yard, New Delhi.

MP:SB:CP: onion (14.1.2011)

(Release ID :69089)
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Ministry of Agriculture10-January, 2011 16:48 IST
About Rs. 229,000 Crore Agriculture Credit Disbursed During the Seven Months of 2010-11

About Rs

Farm credit of Rs. 228,884 crore has been disbursed across the country as on 31.10.2010 in 2010-11. With three months still remaining in the current fiscal for credit disbursal and data for the last two months yet to be compiled, credit flow target of Rs.375, 000 crore is likely to be exceeded again.

Credit disbursement in 2009-10 was to the tune of Rs. 384,514 crore against the target of Rs.325,000 crore. Break up of credit financed by different agencies is as under:

(Rs. in crore)

2009-10

2010-11

Sr. No.

Name of agency

Target

Achievement

Target (annual)

Achievement

(upto 31.10.2010)

Coop Banks

45,000

63,497

55,000

34,229

Commercial Banks

250,000

285,800

280,000

171,221

RRBs

30,000

35, 217

40,000

23,434

Total

3,25,000

384,514

3,75,000

228,884

The flow of agriculture credit since 2003-04 has consistently exceeded the target. Agriculture credit flow has gone up from Rs. 86,981 crore in 2003-04 to Rs Rs. 384,514 crore in 2009-10 as given below: –

(Rs. in crore)

Year

Target

Achievement

2004-05

104500

125309

2005-06

141000

180485

2006-07

175000

229400

2007-08

225000

254658

2008-09

280000

301908

2009-10

325000

384514

2010-11

375000

228884 (as on 31.10.2010)

MP:SB:CP farmcredit (10.1.2011)
(Release ID :68968)
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Ministry of Agriculture07-January, 2011 18:10 IST
Wheat Sown in Over 281 and Pulses in 141 Lakh Hectare So Far Wheat Acreage up by 7.2 and Pulses by 8.4 Lakh Hectare

KHARIF SOWING IS PICKING UP IN DIFFERENT STATES

As per data received from States, wheat has been sown in over 281 lakh hectare, which is 7.2 lakh hectare more than last year on this date.

The pulses acreage is up by 8.4 lakh hectare compared to last year.

The cropped areas this year and last year for major rabi crops are as follows:

lakh hectare

Crop

This year’s area [as on 7th January]

Last year’s area [as on 7th January]

Wheat

281.25

274.08

Rice

5.50

7.32

Jowar

40.86

44.46

Maize

9.91

10.34

Total of coarse cereals

58.72

62.71

Total pulses

141.58

133.13

Total of food grains

487.05

477.24

Total oilseeds

88.84

86.55

MP:SB:CP:weatherwatch (7.1.2011)

(Release ID :68942)
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