Latest news with #P.S
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu mango farmers: DMK-AIADMK spat highlights need for fair price
The ongoing political spat between the DMK and the AIADMK over mango, the king of all fruits, brings to the fore the issues of ensuring fair price to farmers and providing value addition in the marketing of the crop. Complaining about the DMK regime's 'lack of response' to issues of mango growers, the principal Opposition party is to hold a demonstration in Natham of Dindigul district on Friday. On an average, the State grows mango on 1.46 lakh hectares with an annual production of around 9.5 lakh tonnes. There was a perceptible fall in production only during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020-21). While the State's share in terms of area is around 6% of the national average, it contributes about 4% of national production. Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Theni and Tiruvallur are the major mango-growing districts in the State. According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA – a body under the control of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries), Tamil Nadu is known for its varieties - Alphonso, Totapuri or Bangalora, Banganapalli and Neelum. The State government refers to other varieties, too, such as Imam Pasand, Rumani and Senthura. However, at the all-India level, Tamil Nadu is considered a major mango-growing State. Among the southern States that make it to the toppers' list are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, with Uttar Pradesh in the north leading the pack. Due to mismatch in demand and supply, farmers complain that the private sector offers them only ₹8 to ₹9 per kg, as against their demand of ₹20 per kg. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in a statement issued on Wednesday, quoted a rate of ₹5 per kg. P.S. Masilamani, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the CPI, suggests that the State government follow the example of Andhra Pradesh in providing a subsidy of ₹4 per kg. K. Ramasamy, former Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, also supports the idea of the State government's intervention in procurement. As the State has enough cold storage facilities, the procured mangoes can be kept there, he says, adding that after carrying out value addition, the authorities can arrange for the sale of such products, including exports. 'If there is a huge glut, the government can even think of providing mango juice to schoolchildren once a week for a limited period,' the academician says. The government says it has been closely following the developments, and two rounds of talks were arranged by the Krishnagiri Collector between the farmers and representatives of the mango pulp industry, according to Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam. As the talks did not yield results, the Agricultural Production Commissioner-Agriculture Secretary on June 16 held a discussion with the industry. As a sequel to the meeting, the industry has started procuring the variety of Bangalora, used for juice, the Minister adds, expressing the hope that the procurement price would gradually increase, and it would go on till the second week of August. Though Mr. Panneerselvam's statement does not mention any rate, he assures the farmers that the government has been taking steps to ensure a profit for the growers. His colleague and Food Minister R. Sakkarapani, referring to the government's measures, questions the need for any agitation by the AIADMK. A veteran policymaker emphasises that the State government comes out with a strategy paper in respect of all perishable fruits and vegetables, detailing measures to be taken by the authorities to absorb the surplus, including plans for adequate processing facilities.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
DMK-AIADMK spat over mango highlights issue of fair price to farmers
The ongoing political spat between the DMK and the AIADMK over mango, the king of all fruits, brings to the fore the issues of ensuring fair price to farmers and providing value addition in the marketing of the crop. Complaining about the DMK regime's 'lack of response' to issues of mango growers, the principal Opposition party is to hold a demonstration in Natham of Dindigul district on Friday. On an average, the State grows mango on 1.46 lakh hectares with an annual production of around 9.5 lakh tonnes. There was a perceptible fall in production only during the COVID-19 pandemic year (2020-21). While the State's share in terms of area is around 6% of the national average, it contributes about 4% of national production. Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Dindigul, Theni and Tiruvallur are the major mango-growing districts in the State. According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA – a body under the control of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industries), Tamil Nadu is known for its varieties - Alphonso, Totapuri or Bangalora, Banganapalli and Neelum. The State government refers to other varieties, too, such as Imam Pasand, Rumani and Senthura. However, at the all-India level, Tamil Nadu is considered a major mango-growing State. Among the southern States that make it to the toppers' list are Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, with Uttar Pradesh in the north leading the pack. Due to mismatch in demand and supply, farmers complain that the private sector offers them only ₹8 to ₹9 per kg, as against their demand of ₹20 per kg. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in a statement issued on Wednesday, quoted a rate of ₹5 per kg. P.S. Masilamani, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the CPI, suggests that the State government follow the example of Andhra Pradesh in providing a subsidy of ₹4 per kg. K. Ramasamy, former Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, also supports the idea of the State government's intervention in procurement. As the State has enough cold storage facilities, the procured mangoes can be kept there, he says, adding that after carrying out value addition, the authorities can arrange for the sale of such products, including exports. 'If there is a huge glut, the government can even think of providing mango juice to schoolchildren once a week for a limited period,' the academician says. The government says it has been closely following the developments, and two rounds of talks were arranged by the Krishnagiri Collector between the farmers and representatives of the mango pulp industry, according to Agriculture Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam. As the talks did not yield results, the Agricultural Production Commissioner-Agriculture Secretary on June 16 held a discussion with the industry. As a sequel to the meeting, the industry has started procuring the variety of Bangalora, used for juice, the Minister adds, expressing the hope that the procurement price would gradually increase, and it would go on till the second week of August. Though Mr. Panneerselvam's statement does not mention any rate, he assures the farmers that the government has been taking steps to ensure a profit for the growers. His colleague and Food Minister R. Sakkarapani, referring to the government's measures, questions the need for any agitation by the AIADMK. A veteran policymaker emphasises that the State government comes out with a strategy paper in respect of all perishable fruits and vegetables, detailing measures to be taken by the authorities to absorb the surplus, including plans for adequate processing facilities.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Goa stampede: Fact-finding committee begins probe into incident; Governor meets victims' kin
Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai on Sunday (May 4, 2025) visited the families of those who died in a stampede in north Goa's Shirgao village in Bicholim taluk, where tens of thousands of devotees had thronged to participate in the annual 'Lairai Jatra' at the Shree Lairai Devi temple. The Governor met the families of Sagar Shivkumar Nandadurgi (31) from Pilgaon in Bicholim, and Surya Pandurang Nayekar (62) from Khalapwada, Podocem, Sattari tehsil. #WATCH | Shirgaon Jatra stampede | Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai says, "...6 people lost their lives and 80 people were injured. For the first time in the history of Goa, such a type of stampede has happened. PM Modi and all others are shocked. We conveyed the condolences of… — ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2025 The four others who died in the tragic incident were Yeshwant Prabhakar Kerkar (33) from Madel, Thivim; Aditya Ankush Kauthankar (16) and Tanuja Shyamsundar Kauthankar (51), both from Avchit Wado, Thivim; and Pratibha Laxman Kalangutkar (54) from Tilu Kankonkar, Mangado, Corlim. 'This incident is beyond human expectation. State and Central governments are trying their best to help the victims. The State government has already announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the kin of those who died, and if something more is required, it will be done,' the Governor told media persons. Also read: Goa stampede: Minor incident happened at same site during last year's fest, says official Nandadurgi's 60-year-old mother, Sonia Nandadurgi, has not eaten since she heard of the death of her son. 'My only son, why did this happen to him?' she cried, seeing the Governor at her home, along with police officials and medical staff. 'Sagar lost his father when he was a child and since then, my sister has been living here. Only two years ago, he got a job in a bank's loan recovery department. Last year, he plastered the house. He has been a dhond (devotees of the deity, Laira Devi, who perform austerities before the yatra) for the last two years. He left home at 5.30 p.m. in a bus that goes to the temple, along with six of his friends. When the other dhonds pushed from behind, he fell on the road. Over 25 people fell on him and walked over him. He couldn't survive. Since he was the only working person in the family, there is no financial support for my sister anymore. We have read in the newspapers that the government has announced a compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of those who died but when the officials visited us, they did not mention anything about it,' Sagar's maternal uncle, Sainath Kavlekar (45), who lives next door, said. The Goa Government has formed a fact-finding committee headed by Commissioner-cum-Revenue Secretary Sandeep Jacques, who is expected to submit a report in a couple of days. A police official said that the committee is currently recording the statements of senior officials in-charge of crowd management to understand what went wrong. The committee learnt that a similar incident occurred last year, but did not result in fatalities or injuries. 'The slope is a narrow road and with stalls on both sides, and the area becomes even narrower. The committee is investigating why, despite being aware of the situation, precautions were not taken. Why did the temple committee allow stalls to be put up on both sides of the road leading to the temple. We are also examining whether a fight had broken between two groups of dhonds or a stick touched the bulb of a shop on the road, causing a short circuit, and some fell down and died on the spot,' the official said. 'Why is the temple committee being blamed for an incident that happened at least a kilometre away from the temple premises? It was an unfortunate accident that happened which no one could imagine would ever occur. We are being questioned on preparedness. It is unfair,' Dinanath Gaonkar, president of the Shree Lairai Devi Temple Committee said. Opinion: The science is clear, crowd disasters are preventable On Sunday (May 4, 2025), the Congress MP from south Goa, Viriato Fernandes, was criticised by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for his felicitation, with a shawl and flowers, by the temple committee. BJP spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar called it 'a shameful act', especially when the State was mourning the tragic loss of lives. Goa is observing a three-day period of mourning, from May 3 to May 5, over the tragic loss of lives. 'No government event will take place till Monday (May 5, 2025),' the official said. On Saturday (May 3, 2025) night, the Governor visited the injured persons admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Binghamton Restaurant Week: P.S. Restaurant
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – A high-end eatery that moved to downtown Binghamton in part to participate in Restaurant Week is filling up for this weekend. P.S. Restaurant at 99 Court Street offers eclectic global cuisine including homemade pasta, Thai and French dishes. It's offering a 3 course dinner for $35. Appetizers include seared ahi tuna and chicken satay. Entree options include shrimp scampi and Greek tenderloin tips. And for dessert, creme brulee, bread pudding or the dessert du jour. Co-Owner Sylvana Dodd says it's great way to reward regular customers with a deal while enticing some new faces. 'Bringing new people in the door. Restaurant Week is fun. People plan it way ahead. Groups of young ladies that say, 'Let's go here this day and P.S. the next day.' So, it's great for downtown Binghamton,' Sylvana said. P.S. is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5 to 8:30. Reservations are recommended. For a complete list of Restaurant Week eateries and their special menus, go to Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
