December 17, 2009

India looking to set agenda for wheat production

A government scheme in India looks to boost the production and productivity of wheat in the country.

The National Food Security Mission (NFSM) will focus on 141 identified districts of nine major wheat growing states in India.

Interventions covered under NFSM-wheat included demonstrations on improved package of practices, seed distribution, seed mini-kit, gypsum, micro-nutrients, and farm implements and training of farmers, said Mr. KV Thomas, Minister of State for agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution.

Integrated Cereals Development Programme in wheat-based cropping system areas (ICDP-wheat) Macro Management of Agriculture is also being implemented in non-NFSM districts in major wheat growing states in the country, said Thomas.

Under this scheme, assistance is given to farmers for all the components of NFSM-wheat, except farm implements and machinery, and the same components are covered under farm mechanisation of Macro-Management.

The department of agriculture and cooperation is also implementing a central sector scheme of marketing research and information network, in order to provide market information related to arrival and prices of major agricultural commodities.

The AGMARKNET will provide price information of over 300 commodities and 2,000 farm varieties. More than 1,800 markets are reporting arrival and price information at AGMARKNET portal, said the minister.