Agriculture Current Affair 10 February 2022

Farmers keen on hiring ‘affordable’ Kisan drones

Farmers are keen to use ‘Kisan drones’ to spray pesticides and nutrients on their crops provided they are available on rent at an affordable rate, some farmer organisations told ET.

“Usage of Kisan drones will reduce the dependence on farm labour,” said Yashwanth Chidipothu, national spokesperson of Federation of All India Farmers’ Association (Faifa). “However, farmers cannot buy drones on their own. They can hire them.”

The government can put in place some agencies that can buy the drones and rent them to farmers at a rate of up to Rs 350 for spraying insecticides and fertilisers in an acre of land, he told ET.

Year-on-year sugar production till January 31 up by 5.6%, says ISMA

India’s 2021-22 progressive year-on-year sugar production till January 31 is higher by 5.6%, said industry body Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA).

According to ISNA, as on 31st January, 2022, 507 sugar mills in the country were in operation and had produced 187.08 lac tons of sugar, as compared to 177.06 lac tons produced by 491 mills last season which operated on the corresponding date. This is 10.02 lac tons higher as compared to last season’s production for the corresponding period.

“In Maharashtra, sugar production till 31st January 2022 is at 72.90 lac tons, compared with https://www.catclinicofcary.com/cat-veterinary-services/pharmacy/ 63.80 lac tons produced last year same period, i.e. higher by about 9.10 lac tons. In the current 2021-22 SS, 194 sugar mills are operating, as compared to 182 mills which operated last season on 31st January, 2021,” said ISMA in a release.

Will form committee on MSP after assembly polls: Narendra Singh Tomar tells RS

The government is committed to forming a panel on Minimum Support Price (MSP) and the Election Commission has said it can be done after the polls are over, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

While announcing the repeal of three farm laws in November last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised to set up a committee to discuss the farmers’ demand for a legal guarantee on MSP.

Replying to a supplementary question during the Question Hour, Tomar said the government had written to the Election Commission in view of assembly elections in five states.