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Prices of cereals are unlikely to surge as they did recently but may remain elevated well into the next financial year, according to <keyword id="183985" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="crisil-ratings" source="Orion">Crisil Ratings</keyword>. Climate change, strong global and rise in domestic demand contributed to the rise in wheat, a staple cereal, the rating agency said. Retail inflation in India again breached <keyword id="30067" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rbi" source="Orion">RBI</keyword>'s upper tolerance band in the month of January 2023, with the Consumer Price Index pegged at 6.52 per cent. Among groups, cereals and products - which include wheat and its derivatives, eggs, and spices, among others, contributed to the elevation in retail inflation in January. In the current financial year, prices of cereals have risen significantly year-on-year in the first nine months - of wheat and paddy by 8-11 per cent, and of maize, <keyword id="626871" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jowar" source="Orion">jowar</keyword> and bajra by 27-31 per cent, the <keyword id="6359483" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="crisil" source="Orion">Crisil</keyword> said. "The reasons are for all to see. Recent years have seen a spurt in climate-change events, like heat waves and erratic monsoons which has resulted in lower production of wheat and paddy, respectively, this fiscal," said <keyword id="13517207" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pushan-sharma" source="Orion">Pushan Sharma</keyword>, Director of Research, CRISIL Market Intelligence and Analytics. "Add to this demand from global and domestic markets and the stocks of wheat and rice are estimated to be lower by 12 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively, for fiscal 2023, leading to a surge in prices of these commodities," Sharma added. On January 25, the government said FCI would offload 30 lakh tonnes of wheat from the central pool in the markets under the Open Market Sale Scheme, within the next two months, for containing the rising domestic prices of the staple foodgrain. The commencement of the e-auction of wheat in the open market to cool the staple food grain's prices has already left an impact as the government said the prices retreated over 10 per cent in the past week. Wheat, a rabi crop and in an advanced maturing stage, is expected to hit mandis in the next few weeks. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/how-to-use-credit-card-to-make-upi-payments/articleshow/98090488.cms">How to use credit card to make UPI payments</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/india-inc-breaks-silence-on-adani-hindenburg-row/slidelist/98093730.cms">India Inc breaks silence on Adani-Hindenburg row</a>

Cereal prices likely to remain elevated going in FY24 : Crisil

New Delhi, The per capita monthly household expenditure more than doubled in 2022-23 as compared to 2011-12, according to the latest study of <keyword id="20720109" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="national-sample-survey-office" source="keywords">National Sample Survey Office</keyword> (<keyword id="20411472" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="nsso" source="keywords">NSSO</keyword>). NSSO, under Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, conducted Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (<keyword id="20462990" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hces" source="keywords">HCES</keyword>) during August 2022 to July 2023, an official statement said on Saturday. The survey aims at generating estimates of household Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) and its distribution separately for the rural and urban sectors of the country, for states and Union Territories, and for different socio-economic groups. As per the survey, the average MPCE at current prices (without imputation) more than doubled to Rs 6,459 in urban areas in 2022-23 from Rs 2,630 in 2011-12. Similarly in rural areas, it jumped to Rs 3,773 from Rs 1,430 at current prices. As per the study, the average MPCE at 2011-12 prices (without imputation) also increased to Rs 3,510 in 2022-23 from Rs 2,630 in 2011-12 in urban areas. Similarly, it rose to Rs 2,008 from Rs 1,430 in rural areas at 2011-12 prices. It showed that the average MPCE also increased (with imputation) to Rs 6,521 in 2022-23 from Rs 2,630 in 2011-12 at current prices in urban areas. Similarly, it rose to Rs 3,860 from Rs 1,430 in rural areas. The average MPCE at 2011-12 prices (with imputation) increased to Rs 3,544 in 2022-23 from Rs 2,630 in 2011-12 in urban areas. It increased to Rs 2,054 from Rs 1,430 in rural areas. The estimates of MPCE are based on the data collected from 2,61,746 households (1,55,014 in rural areas and 1,06,732 in urban areas) in the central sample spread over all states and Union Territories. In HCES:2022-23, the usual practice of imputation of the value figures for consumption out of home-grown/home-produced stock and gifts, loans, free collection and goods received in exchange of goods and services etc. has been continued; and accordingly, estimates of MPCE have been generated. Besides, a provision for collection of information on the quantity of consumption for a number of items, received and consumed by the households free of cost through various social welfare programmes has been made in HCES:2022-23. Consequently, the value figures for food items: rice, wheat/atta, jowar, bajra, maize, <keyword id="20347236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ragi" source="keywords">ragi</keyword>, barley, small millets, pulses, gram, salt, sugar, edible oil and non-food items: laptop/PC, <keyword id="19986587" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tablet" source="keywords">tablet</keyword>, mobile handset, bicycle, motorcycle/Scooty, clothing (school uniform), footwear (school shoe etc.) received free of cost by the households through these programmes, have been imputed using an appropriate method. Accordingly, another set of estimates of MPCE considering imputed values of these items and of consumption out of home produce, free collection, gifts, loans etc. has also been compiled for HCES: 2022-23.

Monthly household consumer spending more than doubled in last decade

Dosa, a traditional South Indian delicacy, has gained popularity not only for its delightful taste but also for its versatility and health benefits. This thin, crispy crepe made from a fermented batter of rice and urad dal is a staple in many households. However, to boost its nutritional value, there are several healthy dosa options that cater to various dietary preferences. Let's explore these nutrient-packed dosa variations for a wholesome and satisfying breakfast. Quinoa Dosa: Replace a portion of rice in the dosa batter with quinoa to enhance its protein and fiber content. Quinoa dosa not only adds a nutty flavor but also increases the dish's overall nutritional profile, making it an excellent option for those looking to incorporate more whole grains into their diet. Oats Dosa: For a heart-healthy twist, consider incorporating oats into your dosa batter. Oats are rich in soluble fiber, which helps in managing cholesterol levels. The resulting dosa is not only crispy but also a great source of sustained energy, making it an ideal choice for a healthy breakfast. Multigrain Dosa: Combine various grains like ragi (finger millet), bajra (pearl millet), and jowar (sorghum) with the traditional rice and urad dal to create a multigrain dosa. This variation boosts the dosa's nutritional content by introducing a diverse range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, promoting overall health and well-being. Whole Wheat Dosa: Swap out refined rice flour with whole wheat flour to create a dosa that is not only high in fiber but also provides essential nutrients like B vitamins and iron. Whole wheat dosa is an excellent choice for those seeking a healthier alternative without compromising on the authentic taste. Spinach Dosa: Sneak in some leafy greens by adding spinach to your dosa batter. Spinach is a rich source of iron, calcium, and antioxidants. The vibrant green color adds visual appeal, making it an attractive and nutritious option for both adults and children. Moong Dal Dosa: Incorporate moong dal (split yellow lentils) into the dosa batter for a protein-packed breakfast. Moong dal dosa is not only an excellent source of plant-based protein but also easily digestible, making it a perfect choice for those with dietary restrictions or sensitive stomachs. Beetroot Dosa: Add grated beetroot to the dosa batter for a colorful and nutritious twist. Beetroot is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Beetroot dosa not only adds a sweet earthy flavor but also contributes to better blood circulation and overall cardiovascular health. Brown Rice Dosa: Opt for brown rice instead of white rice to increase the dosa's fiber content and provide essential nutrients like magnesium and phosphorus. Brown rice dosa is an ideal choice for those looking to manage blood sugar levels and promote digestive health. Cauliflower Dosa: Grate cauliflower into the dosa batter to add a cruciferous vegetable boost. Cauliflower is rich in vitamins C and K, as well as fiber. This dosa variation offers a mild, nutty flavor and a satisfying crunch. Chia Seed Dosa: Incorporate chia seeds into the dosa batter to enhance its omega-3 fatty acid content. Chia seeds provide a unique texture and contribute to heart health, making this dosa variation a nutritious and delicious choice for breakfast. Conclusion: Dosa, in its various healthy avatars, offers a delicious way to kick-start your day with a nutrient-packed breakfast. Experiment with these wholesome dosa options to not only satisfy your taste buds but also to ensure that your first meal of the day is a step toward better health. From quinoa to chia seeds, these variations provide a diverse array of nutrients, catering to different dietary needs and preferences. Enjoy a guilt-free and nutritious breakfast with these healthy dosa options. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/food/webstories/10-easy-diwali-sweets-that-you-can-prepare-at-home/slidelist/105036823.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink">10 easy Diwali sweets that you can prepare at home</a>

Healthy dosa options for a nutrient-packed breakfast

Mumbai, Feb 12 () The production of rabi cereals in 2019-20 is expected to grow 4.52 per cent to 134.23 million tonne compared to the previous year due to good soil moisture following above normal rainfall during the northeast monsoon season (October-December), according to a report.In 2018-19, the total rabi cereals production stood at 128.43 million tonne, according to National Bulk Handling Corporation's (NBHC) rabi crop estimates.The area under wheat is likely to increase 12.03 per cent to 33.44 million hectare and production expected to improve by 9.01 per cent to 111.40 million tonne.However, rabi rice acreage is recorded lower by 23.24 per cent at 2.61 million hectare against 3.40 million hectare last year. Its production is expected to fall significantly by 27.96 per cent to 10.30 million tonne from 14.29 million tonne last year mainly due to marginal shift in farmers' focus to pulses and wheat.Total coarse cereals production is expected to rise 4.92 per cent to 12.54 million tonne in 2019-20. There is likely to be growth in production of jowar (2.43 million tonne), maize (8.28 million tonne) and barley (1.83 million tonne).Jowar acreage has improved significantly by 19.12 per cent while the acreages of maize and barley are expected to show a marginal surge of 6.45 per cent and 6.85 per cent, respectively, the report by NBHC added.Overall, the pulses acreage is expected to increase 1.86 per cent to 15.92 million hectare from 15.63 million hectare last year. However, the production is expected to decline 2.47 per cent to 15.17 million tonne even as there is a growth in gram acreage and production by 10.14 per cent (10.64 million hectare) and 7.90 per cent (10.93 million tonne), respectively.Moong acreage is expected to decline significantly by 26.32 per cent to 0.56 million hectare from 0.76 million hectare last year and production is expected to fall 26.38 per cent to 0.38 million tonne from 0.51 million tonne.Urad acreage is expected to fall 21.44 per cent to 0.74 million hectare from 0.94 million hectare last year and production too is expected to slip 20.17 per cent to 0.56 million tonne.Overall, the pulses acreage is expected to increase 1.86 per cent to 15.92 million hectare and the production expected to fall 2.47 per cent at 15.17 million tonne. However, total oilseeds acreage is expected to decline marginally 0.87 per cent to 7.97 million hectare and production expected to dip 7.39 per cent to 10.17 million tonne from 10.98 million tonne last year.Mustard acreage is expected to decline 0.29 per cent to 6.92 million hectare and production likely to fall 6.92 per cent to 8.69 million tonne from 9.34 million tonne last year.Groundnut and sunflower production is estimated to be lower by 8.87 per cent (1.12 million tonne) and 39.24 per cent (0.08 million tonne), respectively. SM ANU

Rabi cereals output in 2019-20 estimated 4.5 pc higher at 134 MT: Report

<ul><li>Increasingly, consumers are gravitating towards brands that are working towards a greater good. More and more people are choosing brands that are helping people and communities in whichever way they can.</li><li><keyword id="11471394" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="two-brothers-organic-farm">Two Brothers Organic Farm</keyword>, an organic foods brand based out of a village in Maharashtra manufactures products like peanut butter, groundnut oil, traditional wheat flour, ghee jaggery, jowar among other things and has consumers spread over 45 countries. The business has also turned its employees into stakeholders by distributing stocks worth close to a million dollars to them, to make them 'owners' of the business.</li><li>We speak to <keyword id="11471393" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="satyajit-hange">Satyajit Hange</keyword>, Co-founder, TBOF, who talks to us about the brand’s story so far, the ethos on which they are building the brand and what made them, a new business, distribute stocks worth a million dollars to its employees.</li></ul>The pandemic has made us realize a few things about today’s consumers. Many of the younger consumers, millennials and GenZ’s today want to consume brands that stand up for causes and in general are doing their bit for the environment and the community. Consumers have also been gravitating towards organic, more natural brands, as we have seen from the launch of many such brands. While big corporations have been trying to do their bit to assist society in whichever way they can, it is heartening to see many made-in-India brands coming up today that are going above and beyond their call of duty, and trying to give back to the society, to their employees. Two Brothers Organic Farm (TBOF), since its launch in 2014, has been on a mission. It has been aiming at increasing rural livelihood and creating more jobs for women in villages, and to use the power of community to come up with solutions to public health and climate change problems. After working for corporates for almost a decade, Satyajit and Ajinkya Hange, two brothers, wanted to do something more fulfilling. They wanted to get back to their roots, their village, and create a meaningful business. That was the inception of the brand. Over the past 7 years, the brand has expanded its product portfolio to 24 products including peanut butter, groundnut oil, traditional wheat flour, ghee jaggery, jowar varieties, and nutritionally rich rice that are delivered to customers in around 45 countries. What makes the brand really different, however, is the fact that everybody involved in the chain starting from the cow herder to the driver is a stakeholder in the company. The Hange brothers have distributed stocks worth almost half a million dollars to their employees. In a recent chat with Satyajit Hange, Co-founder, TBOF, we tried to understand the brand’s story so far, the ethos on which they are building the brand and why they distributed stocks worth a million dollars to its employees. Excerpts: Q) Take us to the start, how did TBOF come about? Our story has its beginning in the soil; back in 2011 when the 'Two Brothers' returned home to their village to take up farming full-time. With small, purposeful steps in pursuit of soil-health, today the Two Brothers Organic Farms is a biodiverse, self-sustaining natural food system, certified by ECOCERT, located in the beautiful village of Bhodani in Maharashtra, India. Our work is inspired by the simplicity and stillness of the village life and guided by the principles of Regenerative Natural farming. While securing rural livelihoods and creating more jobs for women in our villages, we harness the power of Community to offer real solutions to Public Health and Climate Change problems. At TBOF, our brand's mission is to protect all that nature has to offer and to empower farmer folk and rural communities in our villages. Everything that we do upholds this sentiment. We launched with the help of Shopify which made it possible for to step into the world of ecommerce. Besides this, we have been able to garner support across social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube and Twitter. Over the years, we have built strong communities across these channels and they do not just support but drive business by giving us access to new markets and communities across geographies. Our biggest USP is that our products are organically and locally made. For consumers who want to support local businesses making a positive impact on the environment, our brand is a perfect fit. Also, we work with over 1000 school students and three mainstream schools in Mumbai and Pune to develop community-led Organic farming training modules for them. Along with our success in organic farming, we want to spread the word, and have trained more than 9,000 farmers on practices in organic farming and will be working consciously towards betterment of people and farmers. Q) Today, your brand reaches customers in over 45 countries, through e-commerce which is a big feat for a brand only 7 years old. What kind of reception have you seen globally? More and more people are concerned about the impact these choices make on the planet and local ecological systems. They want to be informed of the source of ingredients, the packaging used, the people and processes involved in its making - how big is a product's ecological footprint and how sustainable is the entire lifecycle of the product – right from sourcing to designing to packaging and shipping. Our audience are consumers who understand the unmatched benefits of organic foods and are leaning towards organic farming as a natural shot to heal the planet. We have observed a change in lifestyle of people who are getting increasingly conscious about the food they eat, the source and nature of food and its health benefits. This rising consumer awareness and them wanting to make more informed choices that'll be good for not just them but also for the planet as well as make room for social good, the rapid advancements in technologies and it augmenting ecommerce and online social media platforms have made it possible for small businesses like us to access new markets and reach out to a global audience. Q) You distributed stocks worth half a million dollars to your employees, which is almost unheard of in a small business… One of the milestones we really wanted to tick off since we started TBOF was making our farm co-workers share holders of the company. Many of our farm co-workers are school dropouts, they have had to take to the life of hard work and toiling, working on the farm due to their circumstances, who never in their life thought beyond their monthly paycheck. But they are now 'owners' of TBOF. They were the ones who were ready to bet their life's hard work on us and they are the ones who have pulled the cart until this point. So we decided to make each one of those villagers, illiterate, economically poor but humanely rich people millionaires. So, we handed each one of them stocks worth a million Rupees, free of cost. We have just started our journey which is scaling up to help 1000's of other farmers across the country very soon. This is a milestone we have reached but a start for many other interesting things to come. Q) How have you been communicating about your products to your consumers? This rising consumer awareness and them wanting to make more informed choices that'll be good for not just them but also for the planet as well as make room for social good, the rapid advancements in technologies and it augmenting ecommerce and online social media platforms have made it possible for small businesses like us to access new markets and reach out to a global audience. Our journey began with us selling at Farmer markets, we invested a lot of our personal time to engage meaningfully with our early customers and made sure they got to know us well. Overtime, we opened up more and more channels to engage with each other. We have a team that works full time on our online presence and manages all our initiatives across social media platforms as well as our website, blogs, email newsletters. We also advertise online to reach out to new markets. Q) With the pandemic, there has been a shift wherein consumers now want more natural, safer food products. Have you witnessed visible increase in demand for your products post the pandemic? Yes, we definitely have witnessed an increase in demand for quality and authentic food. Like never before, we are seeing young consumers being conscious of their buying decisions. Shoppers all over the world have strong spending power and are willing to spend more to be involved with businesses that follow sustainable, environment friendly approaches. They are also always on the lookout for brands that connect with their beliefs and values. These trends have been only reinforced by the pandemic. Q) Looking ahead, what are a few things you will focus on, to grow the brand further? Firstly, technology - to tie gaps in the value chain and secondly, product range which will expand considerably in the coming months across all verticals - daily consumables, Health and fitness, wellness, gardening inputs for customer experience and community initiatives. Q) What is your vision for the brand? It was a surreal feeling to realize that we cater to more than 45+ countries as on date - and have shipped to 650+ cities across the world from our small village in a corner of Maharashtra. The vision is to be able to make a global impact - to be able to create a world-class business out of a farmer-led, made-in-India venture. We strongly believe that India is poised to become the Organic Food capital of the world, with the soil and biodiversity that is native to our land, the rivers that give generously and our indigenous cattle that provide for farmer livelihoods to this day. A UN report had stated how 70% of the food we eat comes from small farms, this is exactly what we have in this country, small land holdings and farmers who really are tired working with non cooperative machinery. We are farmers ourselves and we will always speak on their behalf - where should we begin? First things - reject the chemicals, rejuvenate the soil, bring back our biodiversity, conserve water. No, 2-5% of the consumer buck won't do, put back 50% of the consumer buck in the farmer's hand. Q) Once things open up and are relatively better, will you also focus on retail presence or is e-commerce where you will be present? We were always powered by e-commerce. Our online website runs on the Shopify platform and this remains our main revenue stream. Besides our online shop, we also sell on other online platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and a few other curated online ecommerce websites. We retail across Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Goa and a few other locations through retail partners like Swasthyam, U-TURN Organics, The Farmers Store, Saukhyam, Holistic Basket, Gauri Organics, Zama, Seawoods Organic Store, Foodhall etc. We also sell at Farmer Markets in Mumbai and Pune. When things open up further, we have been planning on getting an experiential store working in Delhi-NCR which we envision as a collaborative space for conscious brands, events and get-togethers that help strengthen community initiatives for our brand.

Meet the organic foods brand that distributed stocks worth half a million dollars to its employees

Mumbai, Feb 13 () <keyword id="108820" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="milk-prices">Milk prices</keyword>, which have risen by Rs 4-5 per litre over the past nine months, are likely to stabilise in 2020-21 as production is expected to pick up due to abundant water availability and anticipated normal monsoon, according to a report. Production of <keyword id="6362951" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="milk">milk</keyword> has been shrinking since April last year due to high summer temperatures and lower availability of water, made worse by delay in rainfall, ratings agency <keyword id="6359483" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Crisil">Crisil</keyword> said in the report. This was followed by floods in various parts of the country, leading to poor animal health. Also, water logging in green pastures kept animals from grazing and damage to crops such as maize and sugarcane, which are used for fodder, crimped fodder availability, leading to lower milk production in the country, it added. This fiscal, milk production is expected to be lower by 5-6 per cent year-on-year at 176 million tonnes. The flush season that usually begins in November-December is estimated to have shifted by 1-2 months because of the delayed monsoon. 
 <div type="Youtube" id="JeGHtDtwmAc" title="Why Camel Milk Is So Expensive | So Expensive" thumbUrl="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JeGHtDtwmAc/mqdefault.jpg"></div>



 Crisil said milk prices began moving up in May 2019, with Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF, better known as Amul) and Mother Dairy hiking the maximum retail price of their full-cream milk pouches by Rs 2 per litre. The two giants followed this up with a further hike of Rs 2 and Rs 3 per litre, respectively, in December, taking it to Rs 55 per litre. Other large dairy processors have started following suit, spurred by the shortfall in milk production around the country, and thereby supply. However, Crisil said milk production is expected to pick up in 2020-21, given abundant water in reservoirs and expectations of a normal monsoon. That should arrest any further rise in milk procurement and retail prices. Further, rabi sowing area had increased 10 per cent as on January 31, 2020. This is expected to lead to a 12 per cent increase in crop production for the season and higher arrivals of key crops such as wheat, bajra, jowar and maize from March would mean copious fodder availability, which should raise milk production next fiscal, the report said. This is expected to stabilise milk procurement costs, bolstering the operating margins of dairy processors. So, milk prices are not expected to rise any further in the coming few quarters, unless monsoons spoil the game for processors, it added. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/heres-why-you-see-so-many-ads-for-soaps-and-shampoos-but-not-for-milk/articleshow/68479581.cms">Here’s why you see so many ads for soaps and shampoos but not for milk</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/news/amul-and-mother-dairy-milk-prices-heritage-foods-parag-milk-and-hatsun-agro-stock-impact/articleshow/73069943.cms">Indian government wants to stop milk prices from boiling over — investors in Heritage Foods, Parag Milk, and Hatsun Agro are watching closely</a>

India will have to live with high milk prices for at least a few more months

Mumbai, Jan 13 () The production of coarse grains, pulses, oil seeds and sugarcane is expected to decline in the summer season of 2019-20 due to late monsoon and erratic and heavy rains later, according to a report.
 In the current assessment, coarse grains, pulses, oil seeds and sugarcane have marginally pushed themselves further in the negative region with an expected decline of 14.14 per cent, 14.09 per cent, 53.31 per cent and 11.07 per cent over the last estimate, respectively, according to a report by the National Bulk Handling Corporation (NBHC).
 "The monsoon rains had been 110 per cent over its long term average (LPA) with maximum in central India followed by southern Peninsula, northwest and northeast, respectively," NBHC head - Research and Development, Hanish Kumar Sinha said.
 Widespread floods were seen in 13 states between late July and early August 2019, due to incessant rains which caused significant dent on the acreage and production of several kharif crops, he said.
 "As per our assessment, sowing of rice and pulses has been most hit in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. After the floods receded, the sowing recovered and things started to approach to normalcy, though the entire kharif season has been delayed by about 20 to 25 days," he added.
 The real deterrent for the kharif crop came with post monsoon rains, which exceeded by 32 per cent and had maximum impact in the northwest region (121 per cent excess) and the central India region (64 per cent excess).
 According to the report, rice production in 2019-20 is expected to decline marginally by 8.21 per cent over the last year while maize is expected to decline significantly by about 11.86 per cent over the last year.
 However, jowar is likely to improve by 1.07 per cent over while Bajra is expected to decline by 1.98 per cent.
 Production of moong is projected to drop significantly by 27.38 per cent over last year, urad 18.38 per cent and tur by 10.47 per cent mainly due to crop damaged in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
 Therefore, in the current year, there is going to be a significant shortfall in overall kharif pulses availability owing to long spell of unseasonal rains in October and November, the report opined.
 Total oilseeds (soybean, groundnut, castor seed, sunflower, sesame and niger seed) production is estimated to be 162.18 lakh tonne, which is 23.78 per cent lower than the last year's production of 212.77 lakh tonne.
 Soybean output is expected to dip significantly by 32.27 per cent and groundnut is expected decline by 9.57 per cent due to excess rains in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra towards the end of monsoon.
 Other oil seeds like sunflower to dip by 30.61 per cent and sesame by 21.48 per cent.
 In the cash crops, sugarcane output is estimated to drop significantly by 21.98 per cent while cotton is expected to increase marginally by 3.28 per cent owing to favourable growing conditions, it added. SM RUJ MR
MR

Kharif crops production likely to decline up to 53.3pc due to erratic weather

New Delhi, Feb 17 () Use of soil health card has helped farmers reduce substantially the cost of production and achieve higher production, thereby increasing farm income up to Rs 30,000 per acre, depending on the crop, according to a latest government study.The study, conducted by the National Productivity Council (NPC) in 76 districts of 19 states - covering 170 soil testing labs and 1,700 farmers, has been released on the completion of five year of the government scheme.Soil health card provides information to farmers on nutrient status of their soil along with recommendation on appropriate dosage of nutrients to be applied for improving its health and fertility."In absence of the soil health cards, it was acknowledged by the farmers that adequate quantity of fertilizers and micro-nutrients were not being applied by them earlier and this had affected the productivity of crops," the study said.According to the study, savings on fertilisers and increase in production led to increased income of the farmers.For instance, there was Rs 25,000-30,000 per acre increase in in come from tur, around Rs 25,000 per acre from sunflower, Rs 12,000 per acre from cotton, Rs 10,000 per acre from groundnut, Rs 4,500 per acre from paddy and Rs 3,000 per acre from potato, it said.Application of fertilisers as per the recommendation of soil health cards led to savings in nitrogen fertilisers like urea, thereby resulted in reduction in cost of cultivation.In case of rice, the cost of cultivation was reduced by 16-25 per cent and savings of nitrogen was found to be around 20kg/acre. In pulses, there was 10-15 per cent reduction in cultivation cost and savings of 10kg/acre urea.Similarly in oilseeds, the reduction was 10-15 per cent and savings on nitrogen was 9kg/acre in sunflower, around 23kg/ acre in groundnut and around 30 kg/acre in castor.Among cash crops, the reduction in cotton was 25 per cent and and savings on nitrogen fertiliser was around 35 kg/ acre, while in potato the saving on nitrogen fertiliser was 46 kg per acre, the study added.Stating that judicious use of fertilisers also resulted in increased production of crops, the study showed that there was 10-20 per cent increase in production of paddy and 10-15 per cent in wheat and jowar.There was 10-30 per cent rise in production of pulses, 40 per cent jump in oilseeds and 10-20 per cent in cotton production, it said.Under the scheme, soil health card is issued farmers every 2 years so as to provide a basis to address nutritional deficiencies in fertilization practises. Since launch of the scheme, the card has been issued twice.In the first cycle from 2015 to 2017, 10.74 crore soil health cards were distributed to farmers. In the cycle-II (2017-19), 11.69 crore soil health cards have been distributed to farmers across the country.Instead of sample collection at grid level, the government has started a pilot project from this fiscal onwards to collect samples at 'individual farm holding'.Under the pilot, one village per block is adopted for land holding-based soil sampling, testing and organisation of larger number of demonstrations up to a maximum number of 50 demonstrations (1 hectare each) for each adopted village.So far, 6,954 villages have been identified by the states in which against the target of 26.83 lakh samples, 20.18 lakh samples have been collected, 14.65 lakh samples have been analyzed and 13.54 lakh cards have been distributed to farmers, the government said.Apart from this 2,46,968 demonstrations and 6,951 farmer melas have been approved for states and union territories.The government also mentioned that the soil analyzing capacity in the country has increased from 1.78 crore to 3.33 crore samples per annum in short period of five years.So far, 429 new static soil testing labs (STLs), 102 New Mobile STLs, 8752 Mini STLs have been provided. Village level soil testing facilities (VLSTLS) by agri-entrepreneurs have also been promoted and so far 1,562 VLSTLs have been sanctioned and strengthening of 800 existing STLs have been approved to states/UTs under the scheme.Soil health card provides two sets of fertiliser recommendations for six crops, including recommendations of organic manures. Farmers can also get suggestions for additional crops on demand. They can print the card on their own from soil health card (SHC) portal.SHC portal has farmers database of both the cycles and is available in 21 languages for the benefit of the farmers. LUX BAL

Soil health card boosts farm income up to Rs 30K/acre depending on crops: Study

NEW DELHI: Indian farmers are revising their sowing strategy and cropping patterns as they look to make the most of the rain they’ll get during the June-September monsoon season. 
 
The state-run India Meteorological Department and private forecasters such as Skymet have indicated that rain could be deficient, with some probability of a drought. Farmers are hoping to be prepared for such an eventuality. 
 
To begin with, some are looking to cultivate crops that will require less water such as cotton, guar, jowar, pulses, maize and soyabean. Others are opting for short-duration crops such as basmati rather than paddy. Sales of drought-tolerant seed varieties could also see a surge. 
 Availability of water for irrigation is a substantial challenge because of poor infrastructure in a country where two-thirds of the arable land is rain fed. More than 42% of the area under paddy, which accounts for over 70% of the kharif crop in the country, is rainfed across Uttar Pradesh, <keyword id="30033" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Bihar">Bihar</keyword>, <keyword id="6355554" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Madhya-Pradesh">Madhya Pradesh</keyword>, <keyword id="43945" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Chhattisgarh">Chhattisgarh</keyword> and West Bengal. 
 
Nand Kishore Singh of Tariyani village in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh may sow black gram (urad) this year rather than paddy if the season is dry. “We are dependent on monsoon rains and it will be unviable to get a crop if rains are weak and unevenly spread,” he said. 
 
According to rough estimates, 5,000 litres of water is needed for producing 1 kg of paddy whereas 1 kg of basmati requires 400-500 litre of water. 
 
KVS Sandhu, a vegetable grower in Patiala, Punjab, will be allocating 25 acres of land on his farm for basmati this year. 
 
“Growing paddy could pose a problem if rains are unevenly distributed across the four months and hence I will go for basmati sowing for the first time,” said Sandhu, who’s a former bureaucrat. The 70-day crop will need less water than the 90-110-day paddy crop, he said. 
 
Sandhu, a leading vegetable exporter, has already sown ladies’ fingers to export to the European Union and the Middle East. 
 
Most farmers across north India, after harvesting wheat in March, went in for maize, green gram (moong) and even vegetables to earn extra. They will now opt for basmati in July. 
 
Acreage of India’s largest vegetable export, guar, could also increase as companies begin distributing free seeds to farmers. 
 Maganbhai Patel, a cotton and groundnut <keyword id="48857" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="Farmer">farmer</keyword> in Gujarat who has 30 acres of land, has been approached by traders and companies to sow guar this year. “We haven’t ever sown guar in our area. The crop doesn’t require any water or fertilizer and it will be a net profit for me even if I get Rs 7,500 per quintal by the end of the harvest,” he said. Guar seed is currently being quoted at Rs 4,500-5,000 a quintal in the Gujarat market. 
 
In 2012, weak rains across western India led to a huge loss for cotton and groundnut farmers as wells ran dried. Patel, who heads Gujarat’s Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, feels that farmers will continue to sow the traditional groundnut, castor and cotton crops.
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“We are not businessmen and will do what best we know. From past experience of poor rains, farmers will go for short-range variety of cotton. If the government subsidises, we may even sow drought-variety seeds,” he said. 
 
The Centre and state governments have been issuing information on the possibility of a below-normal southwest monsoon and what farmer could sow to ensure remunerative returns. 
 “We have been told that this year there would be low rainfall so we have decided to sow soyabean and jowar as these crops need less water than other crops like sugar cane or vegetable plants,” said Singangoud Patil, a <keyword id="195892" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="small-farmer">small farmer</keyword> in Kardiguddi village in Belgaum, Karnataka. 
 
“Generally we sow sugarcane but this year we might go with cotton or maize. We have already suffered huge losses due to abnormal rainfall early this year, so don’t want to take risk,” said Manjunath Chikkareddy, who owns 20 acres of land at Hooli in Belgaum.

Farmers Revise Sowing, Cropping Patterns To Overcome Weak Monsoon

Untimely shower in April is definitely taking a toll on the fresh sows in the northern parts of India. The ravi harvest in North and West India including onions in Maharashtra have been badly affected due to unseasonal rain and storm. However, a recent survey by a <keyword id="2808232" type="POSITION" weightage="80" keywordseo="private-weather-forecaster">private weather forecaster</keyword> comes as a breather for the farmers. The <keyword id="6376779" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Skymet">Skymet</keyword> conducted survey points out that that the country will receive normal rains during the June-September monsoon season. 
 
As per a news report by The Economic Times, the government's India Meteorological department (IMD) is expected to forecast on the same by April 23. Local authorities use IMD's prediction to decide on their monsoon preparations. However, global forecasters are of opinion that 2015 in Indian agriculture might be largely impacted bby El Nino. El Nino has a history of adversely impacting monsoon rain. In the past decade, 2002, 2004 and 2009 were drought years due to the phenomenon 
"2014-15 has become an El Nino year as the Oceanic Nino index has crossed the threshold value of 0.5 for five consecutive times since September 2014 till March end. We expect it to last till May 2015 and thereafter go down, thereby not making any impact on Indian monsoon," GP Sharma, vice-president of meteorology at Skymet told the ET. 
 
Skymet expects a few dry patches in parts of northwest, central and south India but on the whole it is optimistic of normal rains in 2015. In its March forecast it has said that the monsoon rainfall might be 102 per cent of long-period average for the period June to September. 
As per the news report in the financial daily, average rainfall over India for June-September would be 89 cm. The long-term average is the average rainfall for the past 50 years. A deviation of up to 4 per cent on both sides is considered as normal. Anything beyond 10 per cent is excess rainfall, or drought. 
 
DS Pai, head of the long range forecast at IMD told the ET, that they were analysing the latest forecast and by April 22-23 come with their first forecast for the Indian monsoon. "We are monitoring data and will not like to comment on El Nino impact at this stage," he said. More than half of the population in India being directly or indirectly dependent on farms, rain is indispensible element of survival. The ET predicts deficient rains could drive up inflation, especially <keyword id="67286" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Food-inflation">food inflation</keyword>, affecting the steps to put the <keyword id="34412" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="economy">economy</keyword> back on track. In 2009, the country's worst drought in nearly four decades drove up food inflation to as much as 20 per cent and it took years for it come to bearable levels. 
Land preparation and sowing of kharif crops, largely paddy, soyabean, cotton, pulses such as pigeon peas (arhar) and green gram (moong), coarse cereals like bajra and jowar, pick up with the onset of the monsoon in the country. 
 
 
(Image: Reuters)

​The monsoon's going to be just fine this year

India is a country that has a date with gluten at least twice a day. Chapatis and rotis make for a healthy diet as the nation has believed since long. Going gluten-free means revisiting your diet and entirely changing the way one has been cooking for ages. Will the threat of <keyword id="715743" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Celiac-disease">Celiac disease</keyword> bring about this change? 
 
India is slowly opening up to gluten-free diet while the West has made inroads into gluten intolerance research. Many experts and nutrition specialists have been warning for long that gluten disorders were affecting an increasing number of people across the world. 
 
According to them, avoiding gluten from diet will ensure a better sense of well-being, a great health for years and higher energy levels. Many people have said their sense of ‘comprehensive wellness’ has increased after they kept gluten out of their diet. But in India, it is largely seen as a western concept and it is not treated with the same seriousness as in the West. Lack of awareness and acknowledgement has led to an increased risk of Celiac disease in the country. 
 
Fitness experts who advocated replacing rice with rotis now have a tough task at hand. And those who want to clear their gut, the most affected part of the body when gluten enters the digestive stream, have to give up on humble foods they have been eating since time immemorial. Gluten-free foods are far and few between. But the perks of giving up gluten are really high when compared to the aspect of ‘rethinking food.’ 
 
If someone said he/she had to have gluten-free rotis few years ago, the eyes would roll and eyebrows would shoot up to convey confusion and disbelief. But things are slowly changing for good. Now restaurants serve gluten-free recipes, even when the level of awareness of Celiac disease remains at bare minimum. Whether one agrees or not, gluten-intolerance is here to stay and India is slowly turning back to its traditional cooking that was low in gluten, always. 
 
Some gluten-free diet aficionados have been advocating ‘trial-and-conclusion’ method of keeping gluten out of the gut. A six-week trial, as advocated by some dieticians, is about avoiding foods like chapattis, rotis, cakes, biscuits, doughnuts, asafoetida and related products. 
 
Instead, what comes in is the good old rice and rice-based items such as dosa, idly, appam etc. The millets that were considered the food of the poor such as ragi, jowar and bajra make a grand comeback. Consuming good quantities of fresh curd, milk, lassi, fruits and vegetables are certain to make the gut colonies better infested with helpful bacteria, which will accelerate the digestion process. 
 
Staying off gluten is not just about improving digestion. It is also about glowing skin and beauty benefits are aplenty with this diet. It’s here to stay!

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