16th Feb 2021, Basant Panchami, NFSM, GrapeNet, crop procurement, farmers protest

16 February 2021

• Basant Panchami celebrated with great fervour across India

  Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has wished the nation on Basant Panchami and Saraswati Puja. Basant Panchami welcomes spring and people worship Goddess Saraswati on this day to pray for more knowledge.

• NFSM achieves its goals

  National Food Security Mission (NFSM), launched in 2007-2008 has succeeded as part of the 12th Five Year Plan and beyond. Rs.8760.81 crores has been released under the scheme to the State Governments. The productivity of foodgrains has increased by 17.71% and of pulses by 35%.

• APEDA upgrades to GrapeNet, Blockchain Software

  GrapeNet is a web based certification and traceability software system for monitoring fresh grapes exported from India to the European Union. This blockchain software is now being used by APEDA to trace the grapes at any stage, from selection of farms for grapes to the purchase of the grapes by customers. This software will provide a secure and reliable system for use by APEDA stakeholders.

• Crop procurement increases under MSP this year

  Government has procured more crops like paddy (rice), cotton, pulses, copra from farmers than last year, under the MSP schemes. The procurement is going smoothly in all states. The procurement of paddy has increased by 15.42 % against the last year. This procurement has benefitted millions of farmers across India.

• Congress leader urges liquor among other items to be distributed to Agitating farmers

  Vidya Rani, Congress leader in a meeting urged the listeners to provide liquor with cash, food and other items to the agitating farmers. The farmer leaders on being updated about this refused to accept any donations of liquor.

• Sh. Rameswar Teli urges the Government of Assam to make schemes accessible to the people

  Sh. Rameswar Teli, Minister of State for Food Processing Industries, urged the Government of Assam to make the PMKSY and PMFME accessible to the general public. He hoped that through development of the Food Processing Sector, farmers could get the right price for their produce (through added value), reduce post-harvest waste and create new opportunities for investment and employment.

• Unscientific cutting of Himalayan soil disrupting the ecology

  Former ADD. DG of GSI Tribhuwan Singh Pangti believes cutting of Himalayan soil for infrastructure projects in unscientific way has disrupted the fragile ecology of the Uttarakhand region, causing the recent disastrous floods. 

• Iowa Farm Family Named 2021 Top Producer of the Year

  Congratulations to the Henry family and LongView Farms, the 2021 Top Producer of the Year. The family have built a sustainable business that now stretches across 10,000 acres in Iowa and a couple of livestock feeding ventures. Their mantra for the business, LongView Farms, is honoring the past, stewarding the present and looking to the future.