Agriculture Current Affair 31 January 2022

eFeed start-up plans to establish nutrition advisory centres across north-eastern districts

eFeed, a start-up plans to establish nutrition advisory centres across north-eastern districts which will drive sustainable and accountable animal husbandry.

As per the company, North-east India has a total demand of 25,000 metric tonnes of feed across Cattle, Aqua, Poultry & Piggeries, which is a huge untapped opportunity for the feed industry. In the recent past Northeast has emerged as preferred region for animal feed industry.

Assam has a suitable environment and climate for aqua, fisheries, cattle and piggeries. Established industry players and start-ups are investing near the northeast border with Uttar Pradesh in setting up feed plants which can fulfil demand from both UP & Northeast. Recently Assam government and National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) inked an MOU to set up a joint venture company for Rs 2000 crore with the target of processing 10 lakh liters of milk through 6 new milk processing units in 7 years. Under this MoU, two cattle-feed and organic manure manufacturing units would also be set up. Import of high-yielding cattle breeds and artificial insemination would also be taken up.

Farm production rose, agricultural exports touched record Rs 3 lakh cr in 2020-21 crop year: President Kovind

President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday said the country’s farm production and procurement increased during 2020-21 crop year despite the pandemic and agricultural exports reached a record level of Rs 3 lakh crore during the same period. In his address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the start of the Budget session, Kovind said the government is focusing on making the country self-sufficient in edible oils besides making special efforts to promote organic farming, natural farming and crop diversification.

“My government is working http://premier-pharmacy.com/product/cialis/ continuously to empower the farmers and the rural economy of the country… I would like to give maximum credit to the small farmers of the country for this consistent success and strengthening of the agriculture sector,” he said.

Highlighting achievements of the Modi government in the farm sector, the President said despite the pandemic, farmers produced more than 30 crore tonnes of food grains and 33 crore tonnes of horticulture produce in 2020-21 crop year (July-June).

Centre needs to prioritise crop diversification, allied sectors, promote alternative fertilisers: Economic Survey

The farm sector has been resilient to the COVID-19 shock and is estimated to grow at 3.9 per cent this fiscal, the Economic Survey said on Monday, while suggesting to the government to give priority to crop diversification, allied farm sectors and alternative fertilisers like Nano urea. The Economic Survey 2021-22 also pitched for increasing agriculture research and development (R&D) and organic farming, besides use of new technologies like drones.

“The performance of the agriculture and the allied sector has been resilient to the COVID-19 shock. …Growth in allied sectors including livestock, dairying and fisheries has been the major drivers of overall growth in the sector,” the Survey said.

The agriculture sector has experienced buoyant growth in the past two years. It is estimated to grow at 3.9 per cent during 2021-22, from 3.6 per cent in the previous fiscal, it added.