News for 'Directorate of Agriculture'

PM-Kisan scheme will bring cheer to most farmers

PM-Kisan scheme will bring cheer to most farmers

Rediff.com25 Feb 2019

The scheme, which would give Rs 6,000 to small farmers in a year or Rs 500 a month, will add more money to the account of these cultivators than the money he/she saves every month on an average.

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Rediff.com17 Dec 2020

'Imagine taking care of a patient who is infected with Covid. A human nurse is unable to do that due to fear of infection. The robot can do that task, while it is controlled or supervised by the human nurse. So the robot becomes an extension of the nurse.'

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank eyes Rs 1,000-crore IPO by Nov-Dec 2021

Tamilnad Mercantile Bank eyes Rs 1,000-crore IPO by Nov-Dec 2021

Rediff.com28 Apr 2021

Private lender Tamilnad Mercantile Bank's (TMB) is planning an Initial Public Offering ( IPO) of about Rs 1,000 crore by November-December 2021. The IPO will involve combination of fresh capital plus sale of existing shares. The shareholders of the unlisted South-based private bank have already given nod for IPO.

'More to friendship than just girlfriend-boyfriend'

'More to friendship than just girlfriend-boyfriend'

Rediff.com3 Jun 2022

'If you are mature and haven't done terrible things to each other, love doesn't have to go away.'

SC stays agri laws, forms panel; farmers to continue protest

SC stays agri laws, forms panel; farmers to continue protest

Rediff.com13 Jan 2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a stay of the implementation of the contentious three new farm laws hoping this will end the prolonged protests by the farmers and also constituted a four-member panel of agri experts to resolve the impasse between their leaders and the Centre.

'Profiting from Pain': Covid created new billionaire every 30 hrs

'Profiting from Pain': Covid created new billionaire every 30 hrs

Rediff.com23 May 2022

Releasing a report titled 'Profiting from Pain' in Davos, the rights group further said as the cost of essential goods rises faster than it has in decades, billionaires in the food and energy sectors are increasing their fortunes by $1 billion every two days.

Reliance, 6 other firms get licence to sell auto fuel

Reliance, 6 other firms get licence to sell auto fuel

Rediff.com19 Jul 2021

The ministry of petroleum and natural gas has granted seven authorisations to companies for selling automobile (auto) fuels in the country. These new approvals are under the relaxed guidelines for authorisation to market transportation fuels that were revised in 2019. This is expected to make the competition more intense in India's petroleum retail business. According to a top oil ministry official, a fresh marketing authorisation has been granted to Reliance Industries (RIL) under these norms. This is being done since RIL's existing retail marketing authorisation has been transferred to its subsidiary Reliance BP Mobility

Why food prices may remain high for a few months

Why food prices may remain high for a few months

Rediff.com16 Nov 2020

'If you see the composition of items which are causing this spike in prices, most of them have little to do with the kharif harvest, except for pulses and vegetables to some extent.' 'I don't know on what basis the government is claiming that food prices will moderate in the weeks to come.'

Delhi police to decide on farmers' tractor march: SC

Delhi police to decide on farmers' tractor march: SC

Rediff.com18 Jan 2021

"The question of entering into Delhi is a law and order matter and will be determined by the police," the bench said.

'Our rating is dependent on the medium-term outlook'

'Our rating is dependent on the medium-term outlook'

Rediff.com1 Dec 2021

'While we note the very strong cyclical recovery in the economy, we believe there is still uncertainty over medium-term prospects.'

Despite normal monsoon forecast, Centre tells states to be drought-ready

Despite normal monsoon forecast, Centre tells states to be drought-ready

Rediff.com9 May 2017

The exercise, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said, will help ease any possible impact of sub-par rainfall on farmers.

Goa govt wants farmers to chant Vedic mantra for good crop

Goa govt wants farmers to chant Vedic mantra for good crop

Rediff.com23 Nov 2018

The state government has started advising farmers to adopt 'cosmic farming' in which they need to chant 'Vedic mantra' for 20 days in the farm for better quality and quantity of their crop.

Uttarakhand glacial burst brings back memories of 2013 deluge

Uttarakhand glacial burst brings back memories of 2013 deluge

Rediff.com7 Feb 2021

The massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river triggered by a glacial burst in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday came as a grim reminder of the Kedarnath deluge of 2013 which led to widespread devastation in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region.

Faced with brickbats, Yogi replaces Covid crisis response team

Faced with brickbats, Yogi replaces Covid crisis response team

Rediff.com30 Apr 2021

Amid a surge in coronavirus cases, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday replaced his 'Team-11', a group of officials tasked with managing the crises, with a new nine-member set of ministers and bureaucrats.

5 ways to reduce farm distress

5 ways to reduce farm distress

Rediff.com5 Feb 2018

'By 2020 around 34% of India's population will be in the 15-34 age group.' 'More than 70% of them live in rural areas.' 'Their energy and enthusiasm need to be tapped in order to meet their aspirations and transform agriculture and the rural economy,' says P K Joshi.

What transpired at RBI's monetary meet

What transpired at RBI's monetary meet

Rediff.com22 Dec 2021

Uncertainty is emerging as the only certainty, said RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das as he emphasised on continued policy support at the December MPC meet during which members expressed concerns over spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, as per the minutes of the rate-setting panel released on Wednesday. After three days of deliberations, the six members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on December 8 unanimously voted for status quo on policy rates for the ninth consecutive time. At the meeting, the RBI Governor said risks stalking the global economy have amplified with rapid spread of the virus mutations, including the Omicron variant, leading to countries scrambling for restrictions.

Heatwave singes North India, monsoon to be delayed: IMD

Heatwave singes North India, monsoon to be delayed: IMD

Rediff.com1 Jul 2021

The southwest monsoon over the country is likely to be normal in July, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday in its forecast for the month.

MSP hike may hit India's farm exports

MSP hike may hit India's farm exports

Rediff.com16 Jul 2018

'Obviously, MSP hike raises chances of a reduction in exports. Even without an MSP hike, India's exports of a number of agri-commodities, like sugar, were unviable in the overseas markets.'

All you need to know about World Food Programme -- Nobel Peace Prize winner

All you need to know about World Food Programme -- Nobel Peace Prize winner

Rediff.com9 Oct 2020

The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to the United Nations World Food Programme for its efforts to combat hunger. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said the WFP had acted "as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict". Here's what you need to know about the Rome-based organisation:

ISRO's GSLV fails to place earth observation satellite into orbit

ISRO's GSLV fails to place earth observation satellite into orbit

Rediff.com12 Aug 2021

Indian Space Research Organisation's second mission of the year to place an earth observation satellite by a GSLV rocket faced a setback as the mission could not be accomplished fully due to performance anomaly in the cryogenic stage of the rocket, the space agency said on Thursday.

Natural calamities wreak havoc on spices and coffee plantations

Natural calamities wreak havoc on spices and coffee plantations

Rediff.com22 Nov 2019

Karnataka suffered a crop loss in around 97,365 hectares out of the total bearing area of 2,26,244 hectares of coffee and spices plantations.

At 4.4%, farm sector's 2016-17 growth lower than expected

At 4.4%, farm sector's 2016-17 growth lower than expected

Rediff.com1 Mar 2017

Crops including fruit, vegetables account for 60% of GDP in agriculture, forestry, fishing sector.

Mukesh Ambani pitches for subsidised smatphones

Mukesh Ambani pitches for subsidised smatphones

Rediff.com8 Dec 2021

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani on Wednesday pitched for using the USO Fund to subsidise smartphones for select groups to help penetrate the digital revolution and said India should make the rollout of 5G or the fifth-generation technology standard for broadband cellular networks a national priority. As much as 5 per cent of the licence fee paid by telecom operators goes to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund, which was set up in April 2002 for achieving universal service objectives by providing access to telephone services in rural and remote areas and creation of infrastructure for mobile services and broadband in these areas. However, according to the CAG, less than half of the funds so collected are transferred for the said purpose.

'You never exit a portfolio'

'You never exit a portfolio'

Rediff.com23 Mar 2021

'We will be looking to prune our portfolio to make GIC Re a healthier entity.'

Can't live under Taliban: Afghan students in India

Can't live under Taliban: Afghan students in India

Rediff.com18 Aug 2021

The Taliban have been known for using violence to force the people to accept their agenda and views, he added.

'Nothing new about cyclones in May'

'Nothing new about cyclones in May'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2021

'It is the most prone month for the development of cyclones in the pre-monsoon period.'

Modi reconstitutes Niti Aayog; Shah ex-officio member

Modi reconstitutes Niti Aayog; Shah ex-officio member

Rediff.com6 Jun 2019

Rajiv Kumar will continue as vice-chairman of the body, along with other full-time members V K Saraswat, Ramesh Chand and V K Paul.

Not just Mallya, government agency too a wilful defaulter

Not just Mallya, government agency too a wilful defaulter

Rediff.com10 Mar 2016

The Nafed has outstanding dues of Rs 224.26 crore (Rs 2.24 billion) as of February 15.

2nd Covid wave a challenge for FMCG industry: ITC

2nd Covid wave a challenge for FMCG industry: ITC

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

The severity of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in India poses a key challenge for the FMCG industry and the spread of the virus to rural areas on a relatively higher scale as compared to the first wave is also expected to weigh on industry growth outlook, according to ITC Ltd. There is heightened uncertainty around the timing and shape of the recovery trajectory of overall economic growth in India due to the virus, the company said in its Annual Report for 2020-21. In terms of consumption, urban-led recovery may be relatively muted compared to the first wave as consumers switch to precautionary savings mode and rising healthcare costs eat into household spending, while rural demand may also be blunted by the large-scale spread of the virus to the hinterland in the second wave.

Onion prices shoot up as export curbs are lifted

Onion prices shoot up as export curbs are lifted

Rediff.com28 Feb 2020

At the benchmark Lasalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) mandi, the model onion price shot up to Rs 21.50 a kg on Thursday, as against Rs 16.50 a kg on Wednesday. This was the highest since February 11.

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Rediff.com3 Feb 2022

India must be prepared for a big, fat fuel import bill in FY23 - barring any further avatars of the Covid virus - as refiners crank up runs, or crude processing rates, to meet the growing demand for fuels, and crude prices soar. Capacity additions by an Indian state-run refiner will reinforce the need for foreign crude. Demand for all fuels is expected to increase by 3-8 per cent next fiscal from 2021-22, reaching pre-pandemic levels, according to analysts and industry experts.

CBI re-summons father, brothers of Hathras victim

CBI re-summons father, brothers of Hathras victim

Rediff.com14 Oct 2020

'The male members of the victim family will be questioned today in Hathras, they will go to a temporary office set up by the CBI in Hathras. Female members will be questioned at home by CBI officials'

How resurrected DLF is planning its tryst with Mumbai

How resurrected DLF is planning its tryst with Mumbai

Rediff.com1 Sep 2021

In mid-2020, when Kushal Pal Singh, the undisputed king of India's vast real estate market, relinquished the top post at the country's largest realtor, he left behind an empire that is best compared to the Greek myth of the Phoenix. Once the leader of Delhi's organised real estate market, DLF's steep decline in the 1970s and its majestic rise since has often been cited as a business resurrection story. Now, a year after his departure from the helm of affairs, history seems to be repeating itself at the real estate major. In the 1970s, it was the government prohibitions that had forced DLF to venture into uncharted territory; some five decades later, the Delhi-headquartered firm has set its eyes on another growth trajectory that holds immense potential.

When Will Modi Privatise Public Sector Banks?

When Will Modi Privatise Public Sector Banks?

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

Unlike any other national asset, which is typically sold to the highest bidder, the profile of the bidder is the most important criterion for a licence to bank, and even for acquiring more than 5 per cent stake, explains Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

How 'correct' is the MSP formulation?

How 'correct' is the MSP formulation?

Rediff.com11 Jul 2018

The sample size of 8,100 farmers across 19 states has not changed in the last three decades, and the methodology of the sample survey too remains unchanged

Diesel at 100!!!

Diesel at 100!!!

Rediff.com22 Mar 2021

'The question often being asked is whether the demand for petrol and diesel is price inelastic?' asks Arun Balakrishnan, former chairman and managing director, Hindustan Petroleum.

These migrants are unwelcome guests in their own homes

These migrants are unwelcome guests in their own homes

Rediff.com30 Mar 2020

As the world awaits the end of the global pandemic, rural Bengal might be witnessing a recession unfolding in bits and pieces. With factories and tea gardens closing down, agricultural income falling and storm Aila ravaging a large part of deltaic West Bengal in 2010, migration gradually became a norm.

After a week's delay, monsoon hits Kerala coast: IMD

After a week's delay, monsoon hits Kerala coast: IMD

Rediff.com8 Jun 2019

The news will augur well for the country as large parts have been witnessing agriculture distress and water levels in reservoirs in west and south India have dipped to low levels.

Viral Acharya's remedies for the Indian economy

Viral Acharya's remedies for the Indian economy

Rediff.com4 Nov 2019

Acharya emphasised that the time is "really ripe" for land, labour and agricultural reforms in India.

Budget: Mission Poshan 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes

Budget: Mission Poshan 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

The supplementary nutrition programme and the Poshan Abhiyaan under the Women and Child Development Ministry has been merged to launch Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcome, according to the Union Budget announced on Monday.