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<ul class="summary-list"><li>The US port strike on the East and Gulf Coasts could threaten farm exports amid harvest season.</li><li>The National Grain and Feed Association warned of supply chain disruptions and lower farmgate prices.</li></ul>The US port strike at <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/consumer-products-most-likely-to-be-impacted-by-port-strike-2024-9">East and Gulf Coast</a> ports isn't just impacting bananas and consumer imports into the country — it could hurt America's farm exports too.The industrial action comes just as US farmers are harvesting their crops in a bumper season weeks ahead of the presidential election.On Friday, the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://www.ngfa.org/2024/09/27/ngfa-leads-effort-to-address-a-trifecta-of-transportation-trouble-affecting-agriculture/">National Grain and Feed Association, or NGFA,</a> CEO Mike Seyfert warned that the strike could have devastating impact on the industry."The last thing NFGA members or the agricultural community can afford right now is a breakdown in any part of our nation's shipping network," he said.About 40% of the US' agricultural exports shipped in containers move through the East and Gulf Coast ports, according to a Friday <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ngfa.org/wp-content/uploads/Rail/Ag-Letter-on-Shipping-Disruptions.pdf">letter</a> from the association to the White House sent ahead of the industrial action.The association that represented 200 farm groups had warned of an impact on the supply chain that would "quickly reverberate throughout the agricultural economy, shutting down operations and potentially lowering farmgate prices."Seyfert told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/weekly-agriculture/2024/09/30/ag-braces-for-port-strike-00181624">Politico</a> on Friday that while some farm exports can be moved to the West Coast for shipping, there's probably not enough capacity there."You're going to see increased shipping cost," he said, adding that this would impact agribusinesses and producers.To be sure, agricultural commodities are typically shipped in bulk carriers rather than in container ships, so the strike wouldn't impact most wheat, maize and, soybeans exports, wrote Joseph Glauber, a senior research fellow at the DC-based International Food Policy Research Institute in a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ifpri.org/blog/the-likely-u-s-longshoreman-strike-and-its-implications-for-agricultural-trade/">Monday report.</a>However, US meat, dairy, and poultry exports could be disrupted, hitting developing countries hard, wrote Glauber. About half, or $7.15 billion worth, of beef, pork, poultry, dairy, and egg exports to development countries last year were exported via the East and Gulf Coast ports, according to Glauber. This excludes exports to Mexico, much of which is shipped via truck or train."A prolonged strike would force importers to seek alternative supplies, either from West Coast ports or other countries," wrote Glauber. "US meat, dairy, and poultry exports are especially vulnerable. Some of the costs of higher transport costs would be borne by importers (through higher prices). US producers would also lose through lower prices."Logistics experts told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/port-strike-could-wreck-us-economy-with-price-increases-scarcity-2024-10">Business Insider's Tim Paradis</a> that the port strike could damage the US economy badly.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/01/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-negotiations-between-usmx-and-the-international-longshoremens-association/">President Joe Biden</a> on Tuesday urged ports employers group United States Maritime Alliance to present a fair offer to the International Longshoremen's Association, which represents the striking workers."Executive compensation has grown in line with those profits and profits have been returned to shareholders at record rates," said Biden. "It's only fair that workers, who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep ports open, see a meaningful increase in their wages as well."

The US port strike isn't just hitting imports. America's farmers could be hurt, too.

The Budget 2024-2025 announcement by Union Finance Minister <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> saw productivity and resilience in <keyword id="19931887" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="agriculture" source="keywords">agriculture</keyword> being prioritised above all else. With a desire to turn focus on <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword>, or Annadatas, ₹1.52 lakh crore has been allocated for agriculture and its allied sectors. This is quite an increase from the Interim Budget announcement of ₹1.27 lakh crore in February 2024. It is being speculated that this substantial focus on the agricultural sector stems from the BJP's vote share dipping in semi-urban and rural areas during the recent Lok Sabha elections. In fact, when Prime Minister <keyword id="19895781" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="keywords">Narendra Modi</keyword> returned for a third term in office, the first file he signed was for the release of the 17th instalment of the PM <keyword id="22000840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kisan-nidhi" source="keywords">Kisan Nidhi</keyword> scheme, ET reported. However, the government's commitment to transforming agriculture and potentially the lives of Indian farmers could lead to the agricultural sector growing at 3.7% in the current fiscal, compared to 1.4% last year, as per the CII. <h2>Key initiatives in agriculture</h2>Transforming Agriculture Research The government is set to conduct a comprehensive review of the agricultural research framework, with an emphasis on enhancing productivity and developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Funding will be allocated on a challenge basis, including to private sector initiatives. This research will be overseen by domain experts from both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Release of New Varieties A total of 109 new high-yielding and climate-resilient varieties of 32 field and horticulture crops will be introduced for farmers to cultivate. Promoting Natural Farming In the next two years, the government plans to transition one crore farmers to natural farming practices, supported by certification and branding efforts. This initiative will be carried out through scientific institutions and willing <keyword id="20030597" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gram-panchayats" source="keywords">gram panchayats</keyword>, with 10,000 bio-input resource centers to be established based on need. Missions for Pulses and Oilseeds To achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and oilseeds, the government will strengthen their production, storage, and marketing. As outlined in the interim budget, a strategy is being implemented to attain 'atmanirbharta' (self-reliance) for oilseeds like mustard, groundnut, sesame, soybean, and sunflower. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111930255" title="Economic Survey calls for urgent agricultural reforms; cites growth hurdles" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Vegetable Production &amp; Supply Chains Large-scale clusters for vegetable production will be developed near major consumption centers. The government will support Farmer-Producer Organizations, cooperatives, and startups to streamline the vegetable supply chain, including collection, storage, and marketing. Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture Building on the success of a pilot project, the government, in partnership with states, will facilitate the implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for agriculture over the next three years. This year, a digital crop survey for Kharif crops will be conducted in 400 districts, integrating details of six crore farmers and their lands into registries. Additionally, Jan Samarth-based Kisan Credit Cards will be issued in five states. Shrimp Production &amp; Export Financial support will be provided to establish a network of Nucleus Breeding Centres for shrimp broodstocks. NABARD will facilitate financing for shrimp farming, processing, and export. National Cooperation Policy A new National Cooperation Policy will be introduced to promote systematic and comprehensive development of the cooperative sector. This policy aims to fast-track rural economic growth and create large-scale employment opportunities. <h2>Budget allocation highlights</h2><ul><li>PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi: Will be retaining its allocation of ₹60,000 crore to provide direct financial assistance to 11.8 crore small and marginal farmers.</li><li>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: Allocated funds to provide crop insurance to four crore farmers, protecting them from adverse weather conditions.</li><li>e-NAM Expansion: Integration of 1,361 mandis into the e-NAM platform to enhance market efficiency and transparency, benefiting 1.8 crore farmers with an expected trading volume of ₹3 lakh crore.</li></ul><h2>Government committed to Polavaram irrigation project in Andhra Pradesh</h2>The Finance Minister said that the government is fully committed to financing and expeditiously completing the Polavaram irrigation project, which is considered a lifeline for Andhra Pradesh and its farmers. <h2>Future directions</h2>The government aims to increase public and private investment in post-harvest infrastructure and supply chains, promoting aggregation, modern storage, and efficient processing to reduce losses and improve food security. Additionally, the dairy and fisheries sectors will see significant development, with initiatives to boost productivity and exports, contributing to a sustainable and prosperous agricultural ecosystem. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111951205" title="Budget 2024-25: Changes to tax slabs, increased standard deduction and other changes to direct taxation" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

What does Union Budget 2024-2025 have in store for farmers and the agricultural sector?

Chandigarh: Listing out the measures taken by his government to compensate <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword> over this year's subnormal rain, Haryana Chief Minister <keyword id="20928101" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="nayab-singh-saini" source="keywords">Nayab Singh Saini</keyword> countered the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> criticism over the issue, saying the opposition party would give only "meagre amounts" while it was in power. Stepping up the attack ahead of the possible announcement of assembly polls in the state, <keyword id="20361506" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Saini" source="keywords">Saini</keyword>, addressing a press conference on Friday, hit out at Congress's '<keyword id="22376578" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana-Maange-Hisab" source="keywords">Haryana Maange Hisab</keyword>' campaign and accused it of spreading lies. Asked if he has any information on whether Haryana's poll dates will be announced later in the day, Saini quipped: "Who said so? Polls will be held as per schedule." The chief minister pointed to the recent cabinet decision to compensate farmers affected by less rains at a rate of Rs 2,000 per acre as a bonus. "We have released the first instalment of Rs 525 crore on Friday," he said. All the farmers who have registered on the designated portal will be compensated for their losses, he said. Saini said the BJP-led government in the state has taken several steps for farmers' welfare in the past ten years. "Congress sheds crocodile tears in the name of farmers. They should tell how much crops they procured from farmers in the ten years between 2005-2014," Saini said. "During their rule, Congress used to handover cheques of meagre amounts of Rs 2, Rs 5 for crop damage. The <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> government has given Rs 13,276 crore as compensation to farmers for crop damage in the past ten years," he said. During the Congress rule, farmers would "dump their produce" on roads as they did not get the required price, the CM said. Under the BJP government, payment is made to the farmers' bank accounts within 72 hours, Saini said. Dubbing the 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign as a "jhooth ki yatra" (yatra of lies), he added, "Those who are seeking an account from us, I want to show them the mirror and tell them how we are taking decisions in favour of farmers and empowering them," he said. Saini said while the Congress is wearing a mask of honesty these days, everyone knows how farmers' land was "snatched by them in the name of CLU (change of land use)" and handed them over to builders. The Congress has been attacking the BJP as part of its 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign, after its launch on July 15, targeting the ruling party over several issues concerning farmers as well as unemployment, law and order and others.

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini attacks Cong's 'Haryana Maange Hisab' campaign, asks what it did for farmers

Terming the state budget as "revolutionary," Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath <keyword id="20040955" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shinde" source="keywords">Shinde</keyword> said that this budget in a true sense empowers women, youth, and farmers through various schemes worth Rs 1 lakh crore. He said that this budget is revolutionary and would make the future of weaker sections, farmers, and youth bright. Stating that the budget was a resolve to give a new direction to Maharashtra, <keyword id="20062947" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CM-Shinde" source="keywords">CM Shinde</keyword> said that this budget has an "unending chant of the <keyword id="22227448" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="development-of-Maharashtra" source="keywords">development of Maharashtra</keyword>". Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister <keyword id="19941791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ajit-Pawar" source="keywords">Ajit Pawar</keyword> on Saturday presented the additional budget for the year 2024-25 in the state assembly. The Finance Minister had presented the interim budget in February. Stating that the budget has important provisions to help women and unemployed youth to stand on their own feet, the Chief Minister said that "Chief Minister Majhi Laadki Baheen scheme, free vocational education to girl students, Chief Minister Annapoorna scheme which gives 3 cylinders per year to eligible families, project worth Rs 15 thousand crores for providing free electricity to farmers during day time, Chief Minister Baliraja electricity concession scheme which provides free power to farmers using agricultural pumps, training to 50 thousand youth every year to convey government schemes to masses and resolve to remove poverty of the weaker sections of the society have made this budget special." He said that provisions like free education to girl students for engineering, pharmacy, and medical education along with degree and diploma courses along with Rs. 1500 per month to every woman prove that the government has expressed its responsibility towards women of the state. Stating that the budget proves that it stands behind the farmers, Chief Minister Shinde said that the issue of food-grain storage would be resolved through schemes like Godown per village. He said that the lives of farmers would be transformed through various provisions in the budget which include financial assistance to cotton and soybean growers, special campaigns to complete irrigation projects, and solar pumps on demand. Pointing out that the decision to celebrate the coronation of <keyword id="19966480" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Chhatrapati-Shivaji-Maharaj" source="keywords">Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj</keyword> through a ceremony every year at Fort Raigad is important, the Chief Minister said that other decisions include recommending the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage for the UNESCO World Heritage along with the rock sculptures in Konkan, Dahi Handi celebration are efforts towards the preservation of history and culture of the state. He said that the budget provides Rs 20,000 to every Dindi (the troops participating in the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage) and it has made the announcement of making arrangements for medical treatment of pilgrims through the Chief minister's medical relief cell and provision for Nirmal Waari show commitment towards the annual pilgrim and Warkari sect. He said that a separate Warkari Mahamandal or separate Corporation for the annual pilgrims would be set up. Stating that massive investment would be made in priority sectors and the <keyword id="21313056" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="green-hydrogen-sector" source="keywords">green hydrogen sector</keyword>, he said that it would generate employment in a big way. He said that the chief minister's youth training scheme would impart training to ten lakh youngsters every year and a centre of excellence would be established in ITI's which would benefit the youngsters. Stating that the Sanjay Gandhi Niradhar scheme and Shrawan Bal seva state pension scheme assistance would be raised are strong steps CM Shinde said that providing for housing of various sections of society, Anand Dighe housing scheme for differently abled amply proves that the state government is taking strong steps towards removing the poverty in the state. The chief minister said that Metro routes worth 449 Kms in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur along with 23 thousand kilometer road stretch works under Chief Minister Gram Sadak scheme, construction of buildings of village Panchayats under Balasaheb Thackeray memorial Matoshree Gram Panchayat scheme, PM e-bus scheme in municipal corporation areas and other infrastructure works would be undertaken in a big way which would result in speedy development of the state. The monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly began on Thursday (June 28) and will go on till July 12. This is the last legislative session before the state assembly polls, in the next four months.

Budget resolves to give new direction to Maharashtra: CM Shinde

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Wolfberry farmers in China were caught smoking their crops with industrial sulfur to preserve them.</li><li>Chinese state media aired clips of workers washing the berries in thick, foaming chemicals.</li></ul>Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has unveiled details of a second major food scandal to rock the country this year, this time involving wolfberries smoked and soaked in prohibited chemicals.In a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tv.cctv.com/2024/09/02/VIDEdBIwDvj7LcJh8a7eH9Ys240902.shtml?spm=C52448022284.P5Ttlwv9L2md.0.0">report aired on Sunday,</a> the broadcaster spoke to wolfberry farmers and merchants in a region spanning 14 towns in Jingyuan County, Gansu province. The report also covered farms in Golmud, a city in Qinghai province.At least half a dozen farm workers and dealers openly described on camera how farms would soak the berries in sodium metabisulfite, a banned substance in the industry, and spray them with industrial sulfur to preserve their appearance."The ones smoked with sulfur are red and beautiful," one store owner told the broadcaster. "With the sulfur, you can store it longer, and pests don't grow. Its toxicity is high."CCTV <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tv.cctv.com/2024/09/02/VIDEp9rMWUjeopakjL2wfnG8240902.shtml?spm=C52448022284.P5Ttlwv9L2md.0.0">aired footage</a> of farm workers preparing vats of thick, foaming sodium metabisulfite before washing the wolfberries in the hazardous chemical. Sodium metabisulfite is sometimes used in food preservation but is prohibited in the local wolfberry industry, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202409/02/WS66d5ae12a3108f29c1fc9ac8.html">per state media.</a>Some farms would also add in the step of smoking the wolfberries with industrial sulfur in place of sun-drying their crop, according to clips published by CCTV.Wolfberries, also known as goji berries, are popular in Chinese traditional medicine and dishes such as hotpot, and were marketed as a superfood in the West. In 2023, mainland China exported an estimated <a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.forestry.gov.cn/c/www/lcdt/582002.jhtml#:~:text=2023%E5%B9%B4%EF%BC%8C%E6%88%91%E5%9B%BD%E6%9E%B8%E6%9D%9E%E5%87%BA%E5%8F%A3,%E5%85%83%EF%BC%8C%E5%90%8C%E6%AF%94%E5%A2%9E%E5%8A%A023.1%25%E3%80%82">14,000 metric tons of wolfberries.</a>"People like you who sell in other places all have no idea," one merchant told CCTV. "It just has a nice appearance."Many of the merchants and farmers spoke of the harms of consuming wolfberries tainted by the chemicals but said the practice was common."With sulfur, you sell at 17 yuan to 18 yuan per catty. Without smoking, it's 10 yuan per catty, 9 yuan per catty. That's not a good price," one rural farm worker said.CCTV said its staff tested the wolfberries and found them all unsafe for consumption.A day after the report was released, the Jingyuan County Food Safety Committee office announced that it had launched an investigation into local wolfberry production and sales."Those responsible for violations of the law and regulations will be severely punished according to the law," the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/DvTSegyCLIRguY1UukJSlw">office said in a statement.</a>The Golmud city government released a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Q7_LJW2fn9XOwe2IJ3L7fg">similar statement on Monday.</a>The wolfberry scandal comes just two months after another major food-related safety incident stunned the country.In early July, state outlet Beijing News said it had uncovered multiple instances of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-panics-open-secret-cooking-oil-fuel-chemical-tanks-2024-7">unwashed chemical tankers being used to transport cooking oil</a>. The practice had become so common that workers spoke of it as an industry standard, per the outlet.China has been plagued for decades by a history of food scandals — from contaminated milk powder to gutter oil being re-used in restaurants — that's whittled away <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-food-scandal-middle-class-buy-direct-farms-2021-12">domestic consumer faith in commercially sold foods.</a>Since his early days as China's top leader, Xi Jinping has promised to crack down on food safety breaches, saying they would be central to how people perceived the government."If our party, while governing China, cannot even ensure food safety, and cannot do so over the long term, then people will start to question whether we are qualified to govern," he said in 2013.Allegations of excessive sulfur fumigation in the Chinese traditional medicine industry have surfaced before, leading retailers to often sell wolfberries and other products as <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.amazon.sg/Navitas-Organics-Goji-Berries-Servings/dp/B0011DV71G/ref=sr_1_17?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.HVh8bnK8_IC8uNn8Dln163TK7bAVj1d1xI23neIf9Ol2WvrqAhsYO1pHfm5WeygPqPVzZheHkjrlKiIcjPictViMJibpkBM8ttiCrr3a0HgfQTOO6RrquzAvWESXMzQvkgWwQYgoWrb9mLGgFAotOkPQSD7ZKghZvi7uKzZWTdAsoM1yefAbzIrMxD-fw1ZRbPmlrdotrKGC4n7l3zwKzRJJr-hWiQeSrf8EfMF42Rbz35yVlqYGr4d0S5ZpDSlAWXW-Eot6yTpMnT7qgXVDL-ezzDE4RZB6WkckjruhKWI.fhQHJMO3J6mR1Da_icWJlNVaHNyVjBhLGrjJkkxEuj4&amp;dib_tag=se&amp;keywords=wolfberry&amp;qid=1725340991&amp;sr=8-17">"sulfite-free."</a>

Chinese farmers across 14 towns are spraying industrial sulfur on wolfberries so they'd be 'red and beautiful:' state media

Former <keyword id="19904807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana" source="keywords">Haryana</keyword> Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh <keyword id="20201620" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hooda" source="keywords">Hooda</keyword> on Tuesday said that <keyword id="19934969" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="farmers" source="keywords">farmers</keyword>' plight, <keyword id="21440881" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Agnipath" source="keywords">Agnipath</keyword>, <keyword id="19916979" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="unemployment" source="keywords">unemployment</keyword>, <keyword id="19938433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="law-and-order" source="keywords">law and order</keyword>, and <keyword id="19895000" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="inflation" source="keywords">inflation</keyword> were key issues which the ruling <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> failed to address. As the <keyword id="19895371" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Congress" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Congress" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Congress">Congress</keyword> appeared set to wrest five Lok Sabha seats from the ruling BJP in Haryana, Hooda said that he had been saying "there is a wave blowing in favour of the Congress". "You asked me about exit polls predicting most seats to the BJP, to which I said wait for the actual poll results on June 4," the Congress veteran said. Haryana is known for "jai jawan, jai kisan, jai pehalwan". "But what did they (BJP) do. They brought Agniveer (Agnipath scheme), which faced opposition from the youth. They did not redress farmers' issues. And everyone knows the treatment that was meted to our wrestler daughters, who had to protest (at Delhi's Jantar Mantar)," he said. Hooda said that unemployment increased in the state during the BJP rule while the law and order situation also deteriorated. He claimed that the Congress' performance in the <keyword id="19912155" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lok-Sabha-polls" source="keywords">Lok Sabha polls</keyword> in the state will have an impact on the Vidhan Sabha elections, which are due in October. "This is clear indication that people of Haryana have made up their mind to bring the Congress to power in the Assembly polls," Hooda claimed. Referring to the Lok Sabha polls, Hooda said people have supported the Congress. The Congress leader said that he had been maintaining that BJP will be "wiped out in south, halved in north" "Look at Haryana and Rajasthan...People have given us good support," he added. On the BJP's claims that NDA will win 400 seats this time, Hooda said, "I had been saying that it was a mere slogan. In Haryana too, in the 2019 Assembly polls, the BJP had given slogan of 'Abki baar 75 paar' (claiming to win 75 of the 90 seats). Everyone knows how many seats they later won. (BJP had won 40 seats)." Hooda said that he had maintained that it will be a direct fight between the Congress and BJP in Haryana in the Lok Sabha polls. "I had been repeatedly saying that it is going to be a direct fight between the Congress and BJP. And that has been proved," said Hooda. "The people have rejected the 'vote katu' (vote cutters) outfits," he added referring to the JJP and INLD. Going by the trends available late afternoon, the Congress appeared on course to win Ambala, Hisar, Rohtak, Sirsa and Sonipat seats. The grand old party had contested nine of the ten Lok Sabha seats leaving the Kurukshetra seat to its INDIA bloc ally AAP. AAP's Sushil Gupta, was, however, behind BJP's Naveen Jindal from the seat.

BJP failed to address key issues like inflation and unemployment, says Bhupinder Hooda

India has exported more than 45,000 tonnes of <keyword id="50894" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion" source="Orion">onion</keyword> since the ban on outbound shipments was lifted early this month, a top government official said on Wednesday. These exports provided relief to farmers after curbs were imposed to keep domestic supplies steady ahead of general elections. The world's biggest vegetable exporter banned exports of the bulb last December and then extended it in March, after a rise in prices triggered by sluggish production. "Since the ban was lifted, more than 45,000 tonnes of onions have been exported, mostly to the Middle East and Bangladesh," Nidhi Khare, Secretary of the Consumer Affairs Ministry, told PTI. To keep <keyword id="20035406" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="onion-prices" source="keywords">onion prices</keyword> affordable during the election period, the government on May 4 lifted the ban but imposed a minimum export price (MEP) of USD 550 per tonne. Khare said the forecast of a good monsoon this year will ensure better sowing of kharif (summer) crops, including onion from June onwards. State-owned agencies have started procuring onions from the recent rabi (winter) harvest to build a targeted 5,00,000-tonne buffer stock for the current year, she added. The country's onion production is expected to fall 16 per cent from a year earlier to 25.47 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year due to lower output in key growing regions like Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, according to the Agriculture Ministry's first estimates.

India exports over 45,000 tonnes onion after lifting ban, brings relief to farmers

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Virgin Media is suing an Irish fishing trawler for $870,000 over damage to an undersea cable.</li><li>The telecoms giant claims that the trawler damaged a fiber optic cable while fishing for scallops.</li></ul>UK telecoms giant Virgin Media is suing a fishing trawler for more than $870,000, according to Irish media, accusing those on board of damaging one of its undersea <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/fiber-optic">fiber optic cables.</a>Virgin Media, the primary cable supplier in the UK, is suing the owners and all those claiming an interest in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:290859/mmsi:250002664/imo:8505745/vessel:LIDA_SUZANNA#google_vignette">The Lida Suzanna,</a> an 82-foot-long, Irish-registered fishing vessel, <a target="_blank" href="https://services.courts.ie/high-court-search?caseRecordId=2018%209581%20P">according to documents filed in Ireland's High Court.</a>The case relates to an incident that took place more than nine years ago.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/owners-of-trawler-sued-over-800k-damage-to-subsea-cable/a1859470634.html">According to the Irish Independent,</a> Virgin Media claims that the trawler damaged a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/fiber-optic">subsea fiber optic cable</a> while fishing for scallops on January 26, 2015.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cornwall-ifca.gov.uk/scalloping#:~:text=Scallop%20dredging%20is%20a%20term,fish%20and%20other%20shellfish%20species.">Scallop fishing</a> involves towing dredges along a seabed to catch scallops, which can inadvertently damage underwater cables, which are often thousands of miles long and usually <a target="_blank" href="https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/what-is-a-submarine-cable-subsea-fiber-explained/">laid on the ocean floor.</a>According to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wired.com/story/fixing-submarine-cables/">WIRED</a>, breaks in undersea cables are nearly always caused by fishing trawlers or dragging anchors.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.iscpc.org/documents/?id=201">The International Cable Protection Committee</a> estimates that repairing a submarine cable can cost up to $3 million.The 2015 incident required Virgin Media to charter a repair ship and deploy a remotely operated vehicle to fix the break, WIRED reported at the time. This caused days of repair work and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/how-to-boost-wifi-signal">slowed internet service</a>, it said.At a hearing on Tuesday, according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2024/06/04/trawler-owners-being-sued-for-800000-after-allegedly-damaging-undersea-internet-cable/">Irish Times</a>, Virgin Media's lawyers argued that the defendants should have been aware of the cable's location, as it was marked on industry-recognized charts and Ireland's Marine Atlas.But the defendants argue that there is no proof that The Lida Suzanna was to blame, according to the Irish Independent.They also argued that Virgin Media would have been responsible for the damage even if the vessel had physically caused it, because it failed to take measures to bury or protect the cable, the newspaper said.Legal representatives for the trawler's owners did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment.In a statement sent to BI by email, a Virgin Media spokesperson said the company brought the claim in response to "significant damage" caused to the undersea cables, and it is seeking to recover the cost associated with the repair.The spokesperson added: "As a business with millions of customers who rely on fast and reliable connectivity, we hope that through taking this action, third parties will be better aware of the cost that can be involved and disruption it can cause when our cables are damaged."This lawsuit follows a similar case in which Virgin Media went after another Irish fishing vessel. High Court documents show that it sued The M V Willie Joe in 2018, settling the case in 2022.

A media giant is suing scallop farmers for $870K, accusing them of damaging its underwater cable

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A severe geomagnetic storm hit the northern US.</li><li>The storm caused auroras — and apparently disrupted precision farming systems, a John Deere dealership said.</li></ul>One of the strongest <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/severe-g4-solar-storm-heading-toward-earth-heres-what-to-know-2024-5#:~:text=Solar%20storms%20happen%20when%20the,Earth%20and%20never%20reach%20us.">solar storms in decades</a> hit Earth this past weekend, sending stunning auroras far from the poles.But for some farmers, the geomagnetic storm was more of a headache.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/solar-storms-flares-dangerous-effects-earth-sun">Geomagnetic storms are capable of disrupting electronics</a> on satellites and causing communication blackouts. These storms can also impact power grids, causing voltage control problems that can trigger outages.In this weekend's solar storm, charged particles disrupted GPS and precision farming systems, according to a John Deere dealership and a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.404media.co/solar-storm-knocks-out-tractor-gps-systems-during-peak-planting-season/">report in 404 Media.</a>Landmark Implement, a John Deere dealer in Kansas and Nebraska, wrote in an update that some GPS system networks <a target="_blank" href="https://landmarkimp.com/news/news/blog/geomagnetic-storm-affecting-gps-signals--may-2024/?ref=404media.co">were being affected by the storm</a>. This caused connection and accuracy issues with its real-time kinematic systems, which use GPS and ground-based data to help farmers plant crops and spray fertilizer with pinpoint accuracy.Landmark Implement posted updates throughout the weekend, with the most recent one on Sunday warning farmers that some systems were "extremely compromised." The updates also said pass-to-pass accuracy is "extremely degraded."While the dealership said the situation was "definitely not ideal," it also said it isn't expected to create any large overlaps or skips. "We do believe this historic event and it isn't something that we are going to have to continue to battle frequently," one update said, adding, "The storm has affected all brands of GPS, not solely John Deere."The breakdown caused many farmers to halt planting operations, according to the report from 404 Media.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/smart-farming-iot-agriculture">John Deere has been a leading name in precision farming</a> as it pioneered <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/john-deere-close-to-self-farming-farms-with-autonomous-tractors-2022-1">self-driving tractors</a>.High-tech farming equipment has become a growing part of modern agriculture. Farmers have begun using automated tractors to plant crops so that the spacing is perfect, maximizing the yield of their crops. 404 Media reported that errors with planting or harvesting due to the solar storm could cause automatic equipment to damage crops in the future.John Deere and Landmark Implement did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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