Agriculture Current Affair 17 August 2020

Covid impact: Sluggish demand hits India’s seafood exports in 2019-20

Covid-19 has taken a toll on India’s seafood exports, which have witnessed a 7.39 per cent drop in quantity and 0.74 per cent in US dollar value during 2019-20.

The country shipped 12,89,651 tonnes valued at ₹46,662.85 crore ($6.68 billion) against 13,92,559 tonnes worth ₹46,589.37 crore ($6.72 billion) in 2018-19.

Kharif sowing crosses 100 million hectares

Buoyed by a significant 14 per cent increase in planting of oilseeds and rice, the total area under kharif crops so far crossed 1,000 lakh hectares (lh) already and is all set to clock a new record in total cropped area.

Kharif sowing data released by the Agriculture Ministry on Friday said a total of 1,016 lh has been planted so far, nearly 9 per cent more than 936 lh sown in the corresponding week last year.

Self-reliant farmers key to ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ mission: PM

Highlighting key agricultural reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said farm trade has been freed up from all restrictions, enabling farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

By drawing parallels with soap or cloth manufacturers who were able to sell their products anywhere at will, Modi said even after over seven decades of Independence, farmers did not enjoy the freedom to trade their commodities beyond local mandis.