India’s sugar exports touch 4.25 million tonnes so far this year: AISTA
Sugar mills in India have exported 4.25 million tonnes of the sweetener so far in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing year ending September, with maximum shipments to Indonesia, trade body AISTA said on Friday.
Mills have contracted to export 5.85 million tonnes of sugar so far, as against the 6 million tonnes quota assigned by the food ministry in January this year, All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) said in a statement.
About 1,50,000 tonnes of sugar is left to be exported under the quota and some sugar mills are finding it difficult to locate small quantities left with mills, it said and requested the government to publish the unshipped export quota left with mills as on May 31.
Action by government and agri-tech startups can revamp Indian agriculture: ETILC Members
The Indian agriculture industry is gearing up for record production volumes in the upcoming Kharif season. Despite a surge in Covid-19 numbers, agricultural produce was not hampered in 2020 and doesn’t seem to be slowing down this year either. The Union government is expecting an increase in demand from the farm sector and is making arrangements to supply seeds, fertilizers and pesticides in the required amounts.
However, this show of record high production is happening despite the legacy issues that Indian agriculture has been plagued with for decades. Poor mechanization, low farmer education and awareness, inadequate storage and logistical issues and small land holdings. The efficiency of the industry is also extremely low as it employs close to 60% of India’s population but contributes only 18% to India’s GDP.
Cabinet approves 4-5% increase in MSP of several kharif crops
The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of several kharif crops, in line with the Centre’s efforts to allay fears over the contentious farm laws.
MSPs for crops such as paddy, cotton, jowar, bajra, maize, groundnut, and soyabean have been increased by 4-5% from the rates last year.
