Sep 1, 2017
Daily news show Commodity Champions being telecasted on CNBC TV18 focused on the monsoon scenario in India and its effect on the agricultural output. The show, hosted by Ms. Manisha Gupta, mainly focused on the irregular and unpredictable patterns of monsoon in many parts of India and its after effect on cultivation and crops output. This crucial issue was discussed with Mr. Abhijeet Sen, Professor at JNU joined by Dr. B.V. Mehta, E.D of Solvent Extraction Association of India. The whole discussion was intensified in attempt to find the effect of these erratic rainfalls on the prices of agricultural crops specially pulses.
Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Sep 1, 2017, 02.00 AM IST
If not eggs, give them pulses. That’s the latest strategy of the State government to fight malnourishment among children in the state. It has decided to provide protein-rich snacks to more than 40 lakh children in primary schools. This will be in addition to the mid-day meals. The State education department claims that Gujarat is the first in the country to provide protein- rich food, mainly pulses, along with mid-day meals.
Stunted growth
According to a recent Unicef report, 41.6 per cent children of the state have stunted growth. Alarmed by rise in protein deficiency among children in a state which is already battling high incidence of malnourishment, the government had considered introducing eggs in the mid-day meals. However, the proposal met with stiff resistance from parents, following which it was withdrawn. Now, the State has decided to add proteins to the vegetarian fare itself.
The new menu for all the days, which includes the main meal and the snacks, has been decided by the education department with the help of mid-day meal authorities and nutritionists of Children University. Nutrition expert and in-charge registrar of Children University Kamalamani Rao and her team have worked on the new menu. She said, As per the set standard, 1/3 of total calories and 1/3 of total proteins a child requires should come from the mid-day meal.
By BW Online Bureau, July 17, 2017
Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today exuded confidence that India will become self- sufficient in pulses and oilseeds production in the coming years with the government taking steps to boost yields through use of better quality seeds and technologies.
The country imports over 5 million tonnes of pulses and about 14.5 million tonnes of vegetable oils (comprising edible and non-edible oils) every year to meet domestic demand. Addressing the 89th foundation day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Singh said the government is not only focusing on increasing production but taking steps to make agriculture “income-centric” as part of its target to double farmers income by 2022.
The minister asked ICAR scientists to work in a mission mode to achieve this target as well as the overall development of agriculture and allied sectors, which contribute 18 per cent to GDP. He emphasised on skill development in agri sector to boost crop yield and farm income. Singh said the green revolution helped India in becoming self-sufficient in wheat and rice, but the country is still importing pulses and oilseeds to meet domestic demand and spending huge amount of foreign currency.
“We achieved a record production of pulses in the 2016-17 crop year. The sowing area is also higher this year. We are progressing towards self-sufficiency. In next 2-3 years, we will become self-sufficient in pulses,” he said. The countrys pulses production increased to record 22.40 million tonnes in the 2016-17 crop year (July-June) against 16.35 million tonnes in the previous year. Oilseeds output rose by 29 per cent to 32.52 million tonnes last year.”
The minister lauded efforts of farmers and scientists for the record 274 million tonnes of foodgrain output in 2016-17. He said this has been possible due to availability of technologies, quality seeds and related services to farmers. Stating that agriculture scientists played a significant role in bringing green revolution, Singh said since 1951, foodgrain production has increased five times, fish 14.3 times, milk 9.6 times and egg production 47.5 times. That apart, there has been three-fold jump in fruits and vegetables output from 1991-92, helping in achieving food and nutritional security.
“Our scientists are engaged in the development of innovative areas of science and technology and they are appreciated at the international level for their work,” he said, adding that scientists have played a role in furthering excellence in higher education. At the event, Singh also gave 122 awards for excellence in 19 categories. Recipients included 19 farmers, 80 scientists, 12 KVKs and three institutes.”
Highlighting the initiatives taken in last three years, the minister said the government has already provided soil health card to 9 crore out of 12 crore farmers. Soil health card coverage has reached 100 per cent in 16 states. Except Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, rest of the states will be covered in the next two months, he said. Singh also spoke about programmes to boost irrigation capacity and new insurance scheme to protect farmers from vagaries of monsoon as well as a scheme to link all 585 mandis through electronic platform. The minister asked ICAR scientists to go for new research to tackle new challenges in form of climate change and new crop diseases.
By ET Bureau, Aug 05, 2017, 10.10 PM IST
NEW DELHI: In a move to shore up domestic prices of pigeon pea (toor daal) amid high production, the government on Saturday capped its import at two lakh tonnes a year.
The restriction will not apply to government’s import commitments under any bilateral/regional agreement,” Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.
India is world’s largest importer of lentils and buys pigeon pea from Tanzania, Mozambique, Myanmar and Malawi.
27/06/2017 11:26 PM IST | Updated 27/06/2017 11:36 PM IST
LONDON — Indian food essentials – chana and chana dal – are among the many new entries in the ‘Oxford English Dictionary’ (OED) unveiled on Tuesday.
Chickpeas (chana) and the split chickpea lentils (chana dal) join the vast list of more than 600 other words and phrases that the authoritative Oxford English Dictionary has deemed popular enough to be included in its quarterly update.
The clutch of words debuting in the world’s definitive guide to the evolving English language covers everything from lifestyle and current affairs to the educational world.