06.04.2015

Argentina - Floods reduce lime production 20%

"We should be starting the season, but the weather is delaying it. There have been excessive rains throughout all of Tucumán that are affecting the quality and quantity of the fruit," says Miguel Seleme, president of SA Veracruz."The fruits start to rot if it rains when they are already beginning to ripen so they fall from the trees," said Miguel, adding: "We expected production in 2015 would be 20% to 30% higher than in 2014, but we won't surpass the previous season because of the flooding."It is important to recall that production in the 2014 season fell by 60%, when compared to the 2013 season, because of the frosts.There were catastrophic floods in some areas of south Tucuman, some towns were evacuated and the fields were devastated. According to the extended forecast for the province the rains will continue intermittently throughout the next fortnight, which could lead to further delays in production and a disruption in quality."We will need at least three or four days of continuous sunshine to start harvesting. This delay and drop in production has a major impact on the market, and there's already talk about a 10 to 15% price increase," Miguel said.In April last year, lime producers endured a storm that lasted nearly twenty days and greatly affected them. After that experience, shouldn't they have taken preventive action to minimize the effects of the rains?"While the Government has not taken all the necessary measures to improve the water drainage works, the rains we have had have been the strongest in the last fifty years, so it would have been very difficult to be ready for them," said Miguel.Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/

06.04.2015

Study tracks huge surge in use of bee-killing pesticides

Penn State researchers say the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides spiked in the mid-2000s, not in response to a documented crop threat, but as a prophylactic treatment against uncertain insect attacks.The growth is primarily due to the use of neonicotinoids in the treatment of corn and soybean seeds. In 2000, less than 5 percent of soybean acres and less than 30 percent of corn acres were treated with an insecticide, but by 2011, at least a third of all soybean acres and at least 79 percent of all corn acres were planted with neonicotinoid-coated seed.Numerous studies around the world have shown that systemic pesticides are a big part of what’s driving the collapse of honeybee colonies. The European Union has suspended neonicotioid use on bee-attractive crops and is also studying potential health threats to people. Last week, the EPA said it wouldn’t consider any “new” uses for neonicotinoids until new risk assessments are complete.“Previous studies suggested that the percentage of corn acres treated with insecticides decreased during the 2000s, but once we took seed treatments into account we found the opposite pattern,” said Margaret Douglas, aPenn State graduate student in entomology. “Our results show that application of neonicotinoids to seed of corn and soybeans has driven a major surge in the U.S. cropland treated with insecticides since the mid-2000s.”Since neonicotinoid seed treatments are not well documented by U.S. government pesticide surveys, the researchers compiled data from the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Both reported aspects of neonicotinoid use, but did not estimate seed treatment use specifically.Using these data, together with information from insecticide product labels, the team estimated the percentage of land planted in corn and soybeans in which neonicotinoid-treated seeds have been used since these products were introduced in the mid-2000s. They corroborated their results with information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DuPont Pioneer, a major seed supplier.The researchers also found that the vast majority of neonicotinoids are used on crops, rather than in other arenas such as people’s homes or gardens, or in turf grass and ornamental settings.“Adoption of neonicotinoid insecticides by seed companies and farmers has been very rapid and does not appear to relate well to a corresponding risk from insect pests,” said John Tooker, associate professor of entomology. “This pattern suggests that neonicotinoids are often being used as an ‘insurance policy’ against uncertain insect attack, rather than in response to a documented pest threat.”According to Douglas, the results inform an ongoing debate that is driven by detection of neonicotinoids in the environment and their possible negative effects on non-target animals, including wild and managed pollinators.“Regulators, seed companies, farmers and the public are weighing the costs and benefits of neonicotinoid use,” she said. “This debate has been happening in a void of basic information about when, where and how neonicotinoids are used. Our work is holding up a mirror so that this conversation can be informed by basic facts about neonicotinoid use.”In the future, the researchers plan to better document the prevalence of secondary insect pests targeted by seed treatments. They also will explore the unintended effects of neonicotinoid seed treatments on predatory insects that help to suppress insect pests. Finally, they are studying alternative management practices for early-season insect pests, for instance, using cover crops to reduce pest pressure and foster predatory insects.Source - http://summitcountyvoice.com/

06.04.2015

India - Untimely rains damage 30 per cent mango crops in Uttar Pradesh

Vagaries of nature have hit hard the mango growers of Uttar Pradesh where almost 30 per cent of the crop has been damaged by bouts of unseasonal rains, gusty winds and hailstorms, raising fears of poor availability and high cost of the king of fruits.“Almost 30 per cent flowering of mango has been destroyed because of the fury of nature in the form of untimely rains, hailstorm and thundershowers in different parts of the state,” President of All-India Mango Growers’ Association Insram Ali told.“This is not enough as the unpredictability of nature continues,” he said after a visit to Dehradun on Saturday to meet mango growers and assess losses.The mango growers of Saharanpur have estimated that the losses amount to about 70 per cent,” Ali said.“The mango growers’ woes are worse than that of other farmers as they are not entitled to the compensation granted by the government.“We are raising a strong voice that they too be considered as farmers so that they can get various facilities,” he said.Mango orchards in the state cover an area of about three lakh hectares and the annual output is 38 to 40 lakh tonnes, he said, adding that this fact can indicate the number of people involved in mango business.“Though the government has announced compensation and relief for farmers whose crop has been destroyed in the rains and hailstorm, those involved in the horticulture business are not covered,” said Ali, who is also director in the National Horticulture Board.“There is a strong demand among the mango growers for entitlement to government help and benefits and I am writing a letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in this regard,” he said.In the Dehradun meeting, mango growers spoke in one voice that that there should not be no delay in conveying their demand to the government regarding adequate compensation, Ali said.He said he would seek an appointment with the chief minister to apprise him of the plight of mango growers.Ahsan Qureshi, President of the Behat unit of the Association, said losses in Saharanpur belt have been enormous and growers should get government help.Not just compensation, mango growers should also get different subsidies so that they can flourish, he said.Insram Ali, a big orchard owner, said though mango – especially Dussheri variety – has found favour with the connoisseurs in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, its export has not been up to the mark.“Last year the export of mango had been only 8 to 9 tonnes… There is no subsidy in air freight… We have demanded 80 per cent subsidy for us to sustain,” he said, adding that there is also a need for aggressive brand promotion.Padma Shri Haji Kalimullah, known for experimenting with mango varieties and naming them after popular personalities, said the crop has been hit hard in his Maliahabad area.“High temperature is a must for the flowers to sustain,” Kalimullah said, adding that flowers have perished in rains and thunderstorm.Source - http://indianexpress.com/

03.04.2015

India - Unseasonal rains take a toll on wheat, fruit crops; farmers take a hit

The damage caused to the standing wheat and fruit crop by unseasonal rains in the past four to six weeks has started to hit home, with farmers in these states saying that they will not be able to recover from the loss any time soon.As if the fury of the rainfall in February and early March was not enough, another spell of rainfall in late March, coupled with strong winds and hailstorms, has added to the damage caused to the standing crops in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.While the wheat crop in Punjab and Haryana that was to be harvested later this month has been damaged, the mango and strawberry crop in Maharashtra and the apple crop in Himachal Pradesh has been severely affected.The wheat procurement process in Punjab and Haryana, which officially begins on April 1, is likely to be delayed as the crop has still not ripened for harvesting.In Haryana and Punjab, agriculture experts feel that the damage to the crop could be up to 25 percent till mid-March itself. The rainfall and strong winds in March-end have added to the woes of farmers."The crop that has been damaged cannot be recovered. The crop, which is still standing will also not be of much use as it will have a higher moisture content and procurement agencies will be unwilling to purchase it," agriculturist Amar Singh Sandhu of Moga district told.Scientists at the Haryana Agriculture University (HAU), Hisar, and Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, have said that the quality of grain in the wheat crop this season will be poor."The grain will have high moisture content. It will not be good for long-term storage," a senior scientist at HAU told.And there will be no respite from the unfavourable weather conditions in the coming days too.Weather department officials in Chandigarh said that western disturbances could lead to more rain over the northern region in the next few days.The worries for the farmers - and the affected states - are that the central government, as per existing rules, does not chip in with compensation for the damaged crops if it is less than 50 percent."In case of Punjab and Haryana, the damage was up to 25 percent till mid-March. Fresh assessment is being done to find out the extent of damage to crops," a senior officer of the Punjab agriculture department, told.In Maharashtra, the two fruits of pride - mangoes and strawberries - have been drastically hit due to regular bouts of unseasonal rains in different parts of the state.The damage has happened at the peak cropping and plucking season, industry stakeholders said."Nearly 60 percent of the mango crop has been hit by twin spells of heavy rains, one during Diwali (last October) which hit flowering and in March which hit the ready crop that was to be plucked after a few days," Fruit Growers Welfare Association chief Balasaheb Bhende told.Compared to an estimated 45,000 tonnes of mango crop from the state, the final season's tally (in July) may barely touch 25,000 tonnes, he rued.The worst-hit is the famous alphonso of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district.The rains have resulted in anthracnose disease, which blots the raw fruit and rots it before it ripens, rendering it useless."Even strawberry has been at the receiving end of rains and hailstorms at different times during the cropping season from November to February," Strawberry Growers Association of India President Balasaheb Bhilare told, adding that the production will be less than 50 percent this time.Consequently, the prices of both mangoes and strawberries have hit the roof in major markets like Mumbai and Pune.The juicy apples from hill state Himachal Pradesh too may not be as sweet this time, with adverse weather conditions damaging the crop.State horticulture department officials say continuous spells of rain in Shimla, Mandi and Kullu districts and snow in the higher reaches of Kinnaur district are good at this point in time, but if precipitation continues till mid-April, it will delay the flowering stage of the apple crop."There are reports of widespread rains in Jubbal, Kotkhai, Rohru, Theog and Narkanda areas (in Shimla district). This will help sustain the required level of moisture in the soil during summer," S.P. Bhardwaj, former joint director at the Solan-based Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry told.Bhupinder Chauhan, an apple grower in Jubbal in upper Shimla, said the rain during this period is good but after the middle of next month it would be a matter of concern.The fruit production in 2014-15 is estimated at 653,000 tonnes, compared to 866,000 tonnes in 2013-14."Apples constitute about 89 percent of the total fruit production. During 2014-15 (up to December 2014), 581,000 tonnes of apples were produced against 739,000 tonnes in 2013-14," the state economic survey report said.Source - http://www.newkerala.com/

03.04.2015

Canada - Milford farmers lose 9 cows after roof collapse

Owners and operators of Caper Farms in Milford, the couple felt the wrath of winter in mid-February when the roof of one of their barns collapsed under the weight of the snow.“It was disheartening to say the least,” Joseph Heukshorst, 42, said. “There were 20 cows under it. We had two fire departments down and a bunch of neighbour farmers and neighbours.”Despite all the help, the Heukshorts lost nine of their 130 milk cows. One died in the collapse and eight others had to be put down because of broken backs and other injuries.Heukshorst estimates the damage at about $1 million, some of which he is waiting to recoup from his insurance company.Meanwhile, mountains of snow are now holding up the Heukhorsts’ regular spring farm activities.“It’s going to be very late if things don’t turn around pretty soon,” Heukshorst said. “There is a lot of snow on the fields. You can’t spread manure or you can’t do anything on the fields. It’s just a waiting game right now.”Source - http://thechronicleherald.ca/

03.04.2015

USA - Local farmers are racing against the clock for crop insurance

Too much rain has caused some serious issues for local farmers this season. Farmers have less than four days to plant all of their fields in order to qualify for crop insurance.Less than two weeks ago farmer's fields looked like ponds of water but, these few days of sunshine have helped dry some of the land.Now, South Texas farmers are working around the clock trying to make sure their fields get planted because of the deadline to qualify for insurance.For every day they are late the coverage drops by 1% and after 25 days they can't get covered at all. The deadline is Sunday April 5th.Congressman Blake Farenthold proposed a bill that would give farmers an extension for the planting deadline date.Sadly, it won't help the farmers this year.Source - http://www.kristv.com/

03.04.2015

Argentina - Floods expected to cause soya crop losses

Some of Argentina's northern soya-growing areas were flooded by heavy rains in the past week, the Buenos Aires Grains Exchange said on Thursday, warning that it may lower its 57-million-tonne 2014/15 harvest forecast in the coming weeks. The country is the world's No 3 soybean exporter and top supplier of soyaoil and soyameal livestock feed."Abundant rains during the week added to moisture left from showers in February, flooding fields and roads in wide areas of central-northern Cordoba, Santa Fe, north-central Pampas and parts of northeastern Argentina," the exchange said in its weekly crop report."Our soy crop estimate is unchanged at 57 million tonnes, a figure that will be adjusted over the weeks ahead according to the crop losses that are revealed," it added.At the same time, the exchange said, parts of the southern Pampas grains belt are suffering from overly dry conditions."A large percentage of early-planted soy in central and southeast Buenos Aires province is in its pod-filling stage, while later-planted soy is in its flowering stage," the report said. "Both will suffer losses to potential harvest production due to lack of soil moisture."Source - http://www.brecorder.com/

03.04.2015

USA - Crop insurance a necessity for California farmers as drought disaster rolls on

Farmers are taking unprecedented steps to protect their crops and their livelihoods from California’s drought with crop insurance.To understand why Dan Silva took out crop insurance on his prunes and walnuts for the first time ever, you have to understand the perilous position farmers find themselves in.“This thing is getting to be—it’s making me very nervous,” he said. “I think we’re at the precipice of being critical. Very critical.”He says the state’s dwindling water supply, put into sharp focus by Wednesday’s nonexistent snow survey, is pushing California’s agriculture industry to the brink of catastrophe.Silva decided against planting alfalfa and wheat this season. The lifelong farmer predicts if the drought persists, crops like tomatoes and alfalfa may at least be temporarily wiped out statewide because there isn’t enough water to go around.It’s against that increasingly worrisome backdrop that Dan is plopping down about $45,000 on crop insurance.“When you look at what it’s worth, it’s like shaking the dice,” he said.Hoping for a return to normal rainfall isn’t a gamble he can afford to take. And he isn’t alone.“It wasn’t common before, but it’s very common now,” he said.According to an article from industry newspaper Ag Alert, crop insurance policies span nearly seven million acres, and protect $7.6 billion in crops. In today’s farming industry in California, it’s less about thriving, and more a matter of how to survive.“If it’s long term, if it goes on for another year or two, it could be devastating—tragically devastating to agriculture,” he said. “Billions of dollars, and a trickle-down effect in the economy.”Source - http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/

03.04.2015

USA - Wheat crop worries build as drought expands in Plains, West

Drought pressures intensified in the U.S. Plains hard red winter wheat fields in the past week with rain forecast next week only for the northern portions of the belt while many parched western areas will likely remain dry, meteorologists said on Thursday.The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor, issued on Thursday by state and federal climate experts, said nearly 36 percent of the High Plains from Kansas to North Dakota was in moderate to exceptional drought, up from 28 percent a week ago."Much-above-normal temperatures accelerated crop-water demands on the Plains and further reduced already-dire mountain snowpacks over much of the West," the drought monitor said.The drought is expanding just as hard red winter wheat moves into its key growth phase. That is the major wheat variety grown in the United States, the world's top food exporter.The central and southern Plains have received 33 percent of normal rainfall during the past 90 days, Eric Luebehusen, lead author of the Drought Monitor, told Reuters on Thursday. Last week's average temperature in many spots was 10 degrees or more Fahrenheit above normal."To be seeing 90-degree temperatures in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas in early April is disconcerting, causing crops to break dormancy rapidly and accelerating crop water and pasture water demands," Luebehusen said.In Kansas, the top wheat growing state, authorities on Monday said HRW wheat condition had slipped 5 points during March to a range of 39 percent good to excellent. The wheat, planted last fall and just out of dormancy, is now setting heads on their stems and moving into the most active growth phase to fill out the grain.The National Weather Service six to 10-day forecast for the April 7-11 period currently calls near- to below-normal temperatures across the northern and western U.S., while warmer-than-normal weather is to continue in the central and southern Plains.Private forecasters said the best chance for rain is the middle of next week for the northern HRW wheat belt - Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska. The parched southern region will miss the rain."At this point it looks like the north only is going to get up to a half inch of rain - that's as good as it's going to get," said Drew Lerner, president of World Weather Inc.Source - http://www.agweek.com/

02.04.2015

India - MP CM calls for debate to make crop insurance scheme pro-farmers

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday advocated holding a national level debate on making crop insurance scheme farmer-friendly and practical."The crop insurance scheme should be made practical and farmer-friendly to help those who suffer crop damage due natural catastrophes," Chouhan, told a news agency here.The Chief Minister said he will request the Centre to relax its rules of awarding compensation to natural calamity-hit farmers on the lines as it has been done by the state government in order to render relief to maximum number of farmers."The current rules of Government of India for awarding compensation to natural calamity-hit farmers restrict the scope of relief to a large number of farmers. In Madhya Pradesh, we have changed that by bringing amendments in the Revenue Book rules 6-4. Thus, we are able to cover almost all categories of damages," he said.Chouhan also informed that he has apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the issue, who in turn has assured to look into the matter.He said crops under more than four lakh hectare have been damaged in the recent untimely rainfall and hailstorm, and affected over 4 lakh farmers in the state.The crop damage survey this year is being done in a more transparent manner by officials of three departments, Revenue, Panchayat and Rural Development, Chouhan said.The (survey) list will be displayed at the Panchayat office and if any discrepancy is found or reported by anyone, survey would be carried out again in that particular case, he added.Chouhan said in the state, as compared to 2002-03 (during Congress regime), large number of amendments have been done in RB (Revenue Book) 6-4 to ensure compensation for maximum number of farmers and cover a range of damages caused due to calamities.Citing few examples, he said earlier if crop loss was between 25-50 percent, as per rules, no compensation was paid to farmers. But, now after amendment to the particular rule, more than 50 percent loss will be considered as 100 percent, in order to provide relief to maximum number of farmers.The other amendments include, compensation for damage to permanent house being raised 42 times while there was no provision for providing relief to huts, while in the previous government's (Congress) tenure, there were no provisions for kutcha house and adjoining space for domestic animals. All these have been included by revising RB rules.Similarly, 18 percent increase has been made in providing compensation for domestic animals. Provision of compensations for vegetable and Isabghol crops too have been included in it, which were not there earlier, he said.Compensation for the loss of crop of paan (beatle leaf) and fruits too have been raised by 30 and 10 percent, respectively.Chouhan said that survey of the current crop loss in the state is almost over and distribution of relief will begin soon.The state recently witnessed crop damage due to untimely downpour and hailstorm in many districts, while opposition Congress had also staged a sit-in protest at the well of the Legislative Assembly here pressing for quick relief to farmers.Source - https://in.newshub.org

02.04.2015

South Africa - Drought losses to be tabled

Farmers have been given until Friday next week to submit forms detailing the losses they suffered as a result of this year’s drought.Forms are collected and submitted to all rural environment and agricultural development department offices across the province.Department MEC Manketsi Tlhape said farmers in the province should use this opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to dialogue in order to assist the province to have a clear picture of the magnitude of the drought.Tlhape also called for farmers to be honest in their assessment so that all those who needed assistance could be helped.“We would appreciate it if farmers can give us a true picture of their respective situation so that we share on the little resources available. If we act honestly, the most deserving can be identified and help can come their way,” Tlhape said.The North West has been hit by frequent droughts in the recent past and authorities attribute this to the impact of climate change.An evaluation done by the department has revealed that the province is facing poor conditions in both crop and livestock commodities due to the sporadic rainfall accompanied by several heat waves experienced this year.In her address to farmers at a recent drought mitigation dialogue, MEC Tlhape said: “We have called you here so that we can have a fruitful discussion. If we are to deal with the current challenges in farming then we would need to work together”.She further highlighted that based on the presentations made at the dialogue session, there was a need for the department to compile a report for the attention of Premier Supra Mahumapelo that will allow him to declare a state of disaster in the province.“Once the report is compiled, it will be sent to the National Treasury to seek relief through the emergency relief grant,” Tlhape said.She said it was important the dialogue took place as it allowed the views of stakeholders in the agricultural sector to be taken into consideration.Premier Mahumapelo said it was important for all role players to work together to mitigate the drought.He pointed out that is was also key to involve the private sector and particularly support of insurance companies to farmers.“The reason we get insured is because of unforeseen circumstances. But when these circumstances happen we see some companies withdrawing from that responsibility,” Mahumapelo said.Mahumapelo emphasised the need for a dialogue between the insurance companies and those they have ensured. He said the level of confidence in investors should be boosted by the relationship of these companies and those they have insured.The premier challenged stakeholders to come up with innovative ways to deal with drought or minimise its effects.He said that government was ready to engage with all stakeholders in order to cushion the farming community from risks associated with the sector.Source - http://www.thenewage.co.za/

02.04.2015

Philippines - Farmers advised to prepare for early rice harvesting due to El Nino

The Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) has advised rice farmers to prepare for early harvesting of the ongoing rice crop to avoid potential losses expected from an El Nino induced drought, according to a news release on the government website.Conditions were dry last September and are expected to remain dry until July this year. A DA official noted that the farmers were advised to plant early maturing rice varieties, which could be harvested in three months. She added that harvesting of rice should be completed before the dry spell reaches its peak. "At this time that the peak of dry spell has started, farmers should now shift from crops that need less amount of water but still can survive the [drier] weather condition[s] like corn, legumes, and nuts," she was quoted as saying.The DA also reportedly set up various programs to address weather phenomenon in various stages, according to the news release. The DA officials are undertaking training sessions to farmers explaining them about the effects of both El Nino and La Nina on agriculture.According to the Philippines Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), El Nino­induced dry conditions are likely to affect Region 1 provinces, including La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Pangasinan.The PSA is estimating the Philippines to produce around 8.55 million tons of paddy rice in the first half of 2015 (January ­ June), up about 2.02% from around 8.38 million tons produced during the same period in 2014.Source - http://oryza.com/

02.04.2015

India - More funds likely for rural banks to bail out farmers hit by untimely rains

Rural banks and cooperatives may get additional liquidity line to restructure farm sector loans in states hit by untimely rains. The move is part of state-run lenders' bailout plan for farmers who have lost crops worth crores of rupees."Not just rephasement, fresh loans will also be made available to farmers," National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) chairman Harsh Kumar Bhanwala told.The development lender had kept funding arrangement ready as regional rural banks (RRBs) could run into liquidity issues. Nabard would bear up to 40% of the total rephasement quantum, Bhanwala said.Unseasonal rain and hail storm in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan has caused widespread damage to crops.Plans are afoot to identify rain-affected farmers so that the quantum of financial aid can be ascertained.RRBs are working with the governments of the affected states and the agriculture ministry to assess the ground-level situation and will draw up a plan accordingly.In Madhya Pradesh, 3,000 farmers have been hit and the state has undertaken an assessment exercise to identify the extent of damage and the kind of compensation that farmers would require."In some cases there has been some damage to the crop and some value can still be achieved, but in others, the whole crop has been lost ...," a senior Madhya Pradesh government official said, adding that the package would be worked out accordingly.Finance Minister Arun Jaitley held a detailed review of the situation last week with agriculture and food ministers of states before visiting Rajasthan to make a ground-level assessment."The government would raise the compensation limit to help farmers whose crops have been affected by rain and hailstorm...We take the responsibility to help you stand up again after this huge loss of crops and livestock," he told farmers at a village in Rajasthan, one of the worst affected states, on Sunday.However, Bhanwala said there is no shortage of funds, but at the same time did not favour complete debt waiver. It could destabilise lending to the sector, he said.Bhanwala pitched for creating mechanisms such as calamity relief fund and multiple insurance products such as income and weather protection products. "If rural stress is to be mitigated...potential suffering of consumers removed... it has to be a long-drawn strategy... We need to put in robust insurance scheme-income protection, weather protection... We need to devise schemes as also increase coverage," he said.Source - http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

02.04.2015

India - Rain damages standing vegetable crops

Vegetables and banana crops in over 1088 acres of land in three blocks of Panposh sub-division under Nuagaon block have been damaged due to unseasonal rain, hailstorm and strong wind, six days back.Standing vegetable crops like tomato, ladyfinger, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, bitter gourd, onion, garlic and brinjal were damaged.On March 27, rain and winds had battered Nuagaon block damaging crops in five gram panchayats. Seeking compensation, the affected farmers visited the block office and Birmitrapur tehsil office on Monday and Tuesday respectively.District Agriculture Officer (DAO), Panposh, AK Mangal said as per preliminary report, vegetable crops in about 870 acres in 20 villages of Sorda, Barilepta, Urmei, Chitapedi and Bagdega gram panchayats in Nuagaon block were damaged.Besides, nine villages of Jareikela, Badbambua and Theteiposh gram panchayats in Bisra block reported vegetable crops damage in 165 acres of land and banana crops in 15 acres. The DAO said four villages of Jharbera gram panchayat in Kuanrmunda block also reported loss of vegetable crops in 38 acres.“A joint verification by revenue and agriculture officials would be conducted within a week to seek compensation from the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF),” he said. However, farmers are apprehensive of getting CRF compensation due to technical ‘flaws’. As per CRF norms, if a village unit reports crop loss on above 50 per cent areas then all farmers of the village are entitled to compensation.If a village unit reports crop loss in less than 50 per cent area then both affected and unaffected farmers would be denied compensation.Deputy Director of Horticulture, Basudev Sahu said farmers of Subdega block of Sundargarh Sadar sub-division in the district also complained of damage to vegetable crops and a joint verification would be conducted.Source - http://www.newindianexpress.com/

01.04.2015

India - New Crop Income Insurance Scheme – a cure worse than the disease

In the midst of the widespread damage to standing crops from unseasonal rains, a National Crop Income Insurance Scheme has been introduced on a pilot basis. What is being perceived as a long-term solution to the prevailing agrarian crisis, and is being pushed as an insurance against weather-related disasters as well as provide an assurance against any income shocks will only end up acerbating the crisis.The cure being suggested is worse than the disease itself.For nearly 25 years, I have watched with dismay the reluctance on the part of successive governments to provide for any meaningful crop insurance plan for farmers. While in urban areas, Insurance companies have appropriate plans to provide cover for every individual, house and automobile, for farmers the crop losses are assessed only at the block level. A farmer at best can get compensation for an average crop loss suffered in a block even if his own loss in his crop field is several times higher. This is primarily the reason why farmers have never been enthused to take a crop insurance package.If your car gets a hit, you can claim the damage. If your house is burnt down, the insurance company will pay a compensation irrespective of whether other houses in the colonies suffered or not. Why then an average in a block or a taluka is taken as a measure for crop losses suffered by a farmer in a village is something I have never been able to understand. It is simply the failure of the government to make it obligatory for the insurance companies to provide per unit coverage to farmers that has left the farming community helpless.So when I first learnt about a new income and crop insurance scheme being introduced, my curiosity was obvious. This scheme – called the National Crop Income Insurance Scheme (NCIIS) – has been launched on a pilot basis in one district in each of the States. As the name suggests, the scheme is designed to provide income security as well as insurance against crop losses suffered from any eventuality. Killing two birds with one stone, isn’t it?Let’s first look at the insurance against price fluctuation. The scheme is basically an alternative to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system that prevails, and which the government wants to dismantle. The Economic Survey 2015 makes it explicitly clear that already fruits and vegetables have been withdrawn from the APMC mandis and the next target is to take out wheat and rice from its purview. Fixation of MSP for 24 crops will continue under the new system but the government will withdraw from procurement. For the time being, this scheme is for those areas that don’t get the benefit of MSP.The guaranteed income at a time of fluctuating prices that the farmers will get under the new insurance scheme would be to a maximum of 20 per cent of the loss a farmer suffers. To work out the guaranteed yield or a threshold yield, the average yield for past 7 years in a district is calculated. In other words, if the wheat MSP is Rs 1450 per quintal, and the farmer gets only Rs 900 by selling it openly in the market, the assured price that the farmer will get is Rs 900 plus 20% of the gap between market price and MSP. Against Rs 1450, a farmer under the new insurance scheme can expect a maximum of Rs 1110 per quintal. The price that a farmer gets would be still lower considering the way a threshold price is calculated.In case of yield losses from natural calamities, compensation would be based on 70 per cent of the average loss in a district. If a farmer’s yield is 4 tonnes/hectare, and indemnity being 70 per cent, the compensation would be worked out based on 2.8 tonnes only. If the MSP for wheat is Rs 1450, and the average yield is calculated as 2.8 tonnes/hectare, the compensation that a farmer gets will automatically be less than his actual loss. In other words, crop insurance too does not meet farmers per unit losses. If after 25 years of indecision, this is what the government has come up with, only gods can save farmers.Source - http://www.abplive.in/

01.04.2015

India - Centre assures support to flood-hit farmers in Jammu and Kashmir

Assuring support to flood-hit farmers in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre on Tuesday asked the state government to utilise Rs 209 crore available under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) to compensate them from any crop loss."Due to excessive rains in Jammu and Kashmir over past 2-3 days, a flood like situation has developed in many parts of the state."The central government has assured the state government to make available all possible help," the Union Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.The state government has an amount of Rs 209.70 crore available under SDRF as on February 13, 2015, it said."Out of this amount, the state government can disburse input subsidy to farmers in respect of crops which have suffered more than 50 per cent losses," it added.Officials of Agriculture Department are in constant touch with the state government, it said."As soon as flood waters recede, the central government officials will assess the losses," it added.Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, barley and fruits like apple and cherry, among other crops, are grown in the state.Source - https://in.newshub.org