06-February-2024: Kingdom of Netherlands Agriculture Counsellor, Int'l Salinity Conference, Wheat Yield, Mustard Crop Acreage, Nitin Gadkari

6 February 2024

• Kingdom of Netherlands Agriculture Counsellor Applauds Impact of Millionaire Farmer of India Sponsored by Mahindra Tractors

  The Kingdom of Netherlands Agriculture Counsellor, Michiel Van Erkel met with the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Krishi Jagran, MC Dominic, and Managing Director, Shiny Dominic to discuss the achievements of the Millionaire Farmer of India Awards (MFOI) sponsored by Mahindra Tractors 2023. Indian agriculture or farmers were not considered progressive in the global arena until the MFOI Awards happened last year as the image of Indian agriculture has changed drastically," said Michiel Van Erkel, Agriculture Counsellor, the Netherlands during a meet with MC Dominic, Founder and Editor-in-Chief Krishi Jagran on Tuesday, February 6.

• ICAR-CSSRI to Organize Int'l Salinity Conference to Address Soil Salinity; Know All Importance Details Inside

  Indian Society of Soil Salinity and Water Quality, in collaboration with ICAR-CSSRI (Central Soil Salinity Research Institute), Karnal, and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, is organizing the International Salinity Conference on 'Rejuvenating Salt Affected Ecologies for Land Degradation Neutrality under Changing Climate' in Karnal, Haryana, from February 14-16, 2024. The conference aims to facilitate discussions and deliberations on innovative strategies under various sub-themes, inviting researchers, development officials, farmers, industries, NGOs/FPOs, planners, and policymakers to share their experiences and insights on sustainable soil salinity management and the use of poor-quality water.

• Wheat Yield Expected to Increase in These States Due to Favorable Weather Conditions

  Farmers in Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan are anticipating a significant rise in wheat yield this year, with expectations ranging from seven to 10%. This optimistic outlook is attributed to favourable weather conditions experienced throughout January and recent rains that have lowered temperatures, creating conducive environments for wheat cultivation. The Agriculture Ministry's sowing data for all Rabi crops for the 2023-24 season, indicated promising figures for wheat acreage. Compared to the previous year, wheat acreage has witnessed a slight uptick, reaching 341.57 lakh hectares (lh) as opposed to 339.20 lh in 2022-23.

• Mustard Crop Acreage Sees 5% Increase in Rabi Season 2023-24

  As per industry data analysis, the mustard crop acreage has witnessed a notable surge, climbing by 5 per cent to surpass 100 lakh hectares during the rabi season of the 2023-24 crop year. This significant increase has been highlighted by the Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), which has designated RMSI Cropalytics Pvt Ltd for conducting a comprehensive all-India rape mustard crop survey. RMSI Cropalytics Pvt Ltd, tasked with the survey, has submitted its third report, leveraging remote sensing technology for data collection.

• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Urges Support for District Agromet Units Amidst Discontinuation Concerns

  Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has voiced concerns over the potential discontinuation of District AgroMet Units (DAMUs) that provide vital weather-related advisories to farmers at the block level. This move, initiated by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), has sparked debates regarding its impact on agriculture and the livelihoods of farming communities. DAMUs, established under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GMSV) in 2018, play a crucial role in disseminating agromet advisories to farmers, aiding them in making informed decisions about their agricultural activities.