Agriculture Current Affair 18 August 2020

Farmers urged to test seeds before sowing

The Chairman and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Foodgrains (CPS) Marketing Yard S Rethinavelu has cautioned people against accepting unsolicited seed packets from overseas, besides insisting upon them to have such seeds tested at laboratories for their efficacy before sowing.

Sensitising farmers about “seed terrorism”, Rethinavelu said the International Seed Testing Agency (ISTA) has already issued a warning about the consequences of sowing unsolicited seeds and the resultant impact on food production, the spread of crop diseases and related health and environmental problems.

CAI revises cotton output estimates by 19 lakh bales

India’s cotton crop for 2019-20 estimated at 354.50 lakh bales. In its latest estimate for cotton crop, the top trade body, Cotton Association of India (CAI) has pegged India’s cotton output at 354.50 lakh bales (each of 170 kg) for the season October-September (2019-20), about 19 lakh bales higher from previous estimate of 335.50 lakh bales.

In a note, Atul Ganatra, President of CAI stated that the increase in the production estimates “is on account of increased pressing of cotton bales, which happened due to the aggressive cotton buying by CCI under MSP post lockdown that prompted farmers to bring thier raw cotton (kapas) to the market instead of carrying forward the same to the next year.”

Upasi urges Govt to continue export incentive schemes

The United Planters Association of South India (Upasi) has urged the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to continue Merchandise Export for India Scheme (MEIS) to push export earnings and increase foreign currency till a new scheme is in place.

The exporters are in a difficult time due to Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant contraction of export orders. The sudden stoppage of MEIS export incentive will add further misery to the existing distress situation, said RM Nagappan, president, Upasi.