BKC Aggregators: Transforming Lives, One Farmer at a Time

The recent devastation caused by the Michaung cyclone in December 2023 severely impacted the tobacco crop of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The heavy rains led to significant damage, including crop washing out, drowning, waterlogging, and wilting. Approximately 20% of the total planted area in affected regions suffered losses, posing challenges to tobacco farmers. In response to the crisis, the Central government has announced a relief package aimed at boosting exports and alleviating the financial burden on tobacco farmers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The relief measures include: 1. Interest-Free Loans in Andhra Pradesh:   The Government of India has approved interest-free loans of Rs. 10,000 from the Grower Welfare Fund of the Tobacco Board for affected grower members. This financial assistance is intended to support farmers whose crops were damaged due to the cyclonic rains. This one-time loan is specifically designated for the Andhra Pradesh Crop Season 2023-24 and will be r

Government Relents on MSP Issue, Proposes Five-Year Contract to Secure Fair Returns for Farmers and Promote Sustainable Agriculture The government has relented on the contentious issue of Minimum Support Price (MSP). The proposal involves a groundbreaking five-year contract aimed at stabilizing prices and ensuring fair returns for farmers cultivating pulses, maize, and cotton. This initiative comes at a crucial juncture, addressing long-standing grievances within the agricultural sector while also aligning with broader policy objectives of crop diversification and environmental sustainability. Major Points from the Meeting:  Union Cooperative Societies to Sign Five-Year Contracts: As per the proposal, the Cotton Corporation of India will enter a 5-year legal agreement with farmers to purchase the crops at MSP.  The government has brokered agreements with prominent Union cooperative societies such as the National Cooperative Consumers Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural

Ø   The country is currently experiencing an El Niño period, but in the upcoming months, it is gradually expecting a move towards La Niña. In the coming months, it is anticipated that the present El Niño will settle off and become neutral. (Fig.1) Fig. 1 (Source: NOAA) Ø   The next six months could see the emergence of La Niña due to favourable conditions. Initial predictions indicate that by April–June, there is a 79% probability that persistent El Niño conditions would change to ENSO-Neutral. There is a 55% chance of La Niña conditions developing in the Pacific by June–August after the shift to ENSO-Neutral. Ø     One of the most significant effects of La Niña on India is its influence on the monsoon. Thus, a shift to La Niña may be advantageous for crops reliant on adequate rainfall, thus leading to improved soil moisture levels and better crop yields, potentially boosting agricultural productivity. Monsoon Forecast for 2024                                Fig. 2: March- May 2024 

A fresh Western Disturbance is expected to impact the Western Himalayan Region from this coming weekend (as shown in Fig. 1) and its effect will remain for next 5-6 days causing light to moderate rainfall/snowfall over Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad, Himachal Pradesh and over Uttarakhand in coming 3-4 days. Light rainfall will also spill over to the adjoining northwestern plains of Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Delhi and West Uttar Pradesh.  14  Feb- 20 Feb                       28 Feb-05 March Fig. 1 Under the influence of an anticyclone over the north Bay of Bengal, moisture is penetrating east-central India from the Bay of Bengal, resulting in moderate rainfall over some areas of East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal etc. 2nd Half of February into March looks highly favourable for good precipitation for North western India, North India, central & East central India comprising states of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, UP, Biha