Paddy procurement to commence in Punjab, Haryana from October 3
Punjab and Haryana governments on Saturday announced that the procurement of paddy – a major Kharif crop – will begin from October 3, after the Centre acceded to their request. The Centre’s earlier decision to put off procurement till October 11 due to recent heavy rains sparked protests by farmers in the two states.
“I am happy that the Union Consumer Affairs Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey has accepted our request, and procurement will start in Haryana from October 3,” Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who was flanked by his deputy Dushyant Chautala and state Agriculture Minister J P Dalal said, said after meeting the central minister in Delhi.
He said the paddy crop has reached the mandis for purchase and, keeping in mind the interests of all such farmers, Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was requested to start the procurement at the earliest.
KRIBHCO, CSC tie up to market agri-input products
CSC e-Governance Services India has collaborated with Krishak Bharati Cooperative (KRIBHCO) to provide access to fertilisers and agricultural inputs to farmers via four lakh village level entrepreneurs. Common Services Centres (CSCs) will facilitate the sale and distribution of KRIBHCO products which include fertilisers like imported urea, DAP, NPK/NPS, bio-fertiliser, city compost, zinc sulphate, certified seeds, hybrid seeds and potash derived from molasses, a statement said.
KRIBHCO is engaged in the business of manufacturing, importing and marketing of fertilizers, agri inputs and seeds.
Early this year, CSC set up an agri services platform to facilitate agri inputs like seeds, manure, and pesticides, rent and hire of farm machinery and implements, and trading of agri produce etc through its VLEs and farmer producer organisations (FPOs).
Darjeeling tea exporters initiate talks with Chinese importers
Darjeeling tea exporters have initiated talks with Chinese tea importers to ship the quality first flush teas for the next season.
Industry executives said the development comes after the exporters lost a number of Japanese buyers and that Chinese importers are willing to pay good prices for quality Darjeeling tea. If exports pan out as expected, China may soon become a preferred destination for Darjeeling tea, they said.
“We had been trying to enter the Chinese market in a big way,” Anshuman Kanoria, chairman of Indian Tea Exporters Association, told ET. “The Covid situation for the last one and a half years has thrown a spanner in our plans. However, we are in constant talks with the Chinese buyers. Many tea trade shows are being held in China. Because of the current situation, we are not able to participate in these shows.”
