11-Dec-2018: Indian Ports Association Launches ‘PCS 1x’ to Increase Ease of Doing Business
Indian Ports Association (IPA), under the guidance of Ministry of Shipping launched the Port Community System ‘PCS1x’. ‘PCS 1x’ is a cloud based new generation technology, with user-friendly interface. This system seamlessly integrates 8 new stakeholders besides the 19 existing stakeholders from the maritime trade on a single platform.
The platform offers value added services such as notification engine, workflow, mobile application, track and trace, better user interface, better security features, improved inclusion by offering dashboard for those with no IT capability. A unique feature of ‘PCS1x’ is that it can latch on to third party software which provides services to the maritime industry thereby enabling the stakeholders to access wide network of services. The system enables single sign on facility to provide one stop interface to all the functionalities across all stakeholders. Another major feature is the deployment of a world class state of the art payment aggregator solution which removes dependency on bank specific payment eco system.
This system will enable trade to have an improved communication with the customs as they have also embarked on an Application Programming Interface (API) based architecture, thereby enabling real time interaction.
This System offers a database that acts as a single data point to all transactions. It captures and stores data on its first occurrence thereby reducing manual intervention, the need to enter transaction data at various points and thereby reducing errors in the process. It is estimated that this feature alone will reduce 11/2 to 2 days in a life of transaction. The application will have a cascading effect in reducing dwell time and overall cost of transaction. The platform has the potential to revolutionize maritime trade in India and bring it at par with global best practices and pave the way to improve the Ease of Doing Business world ranking and Logistics Performance Index (LPI) ranks.
A major training and outreach program is under way to educate the stakeholders about the uses and benefits of ‘PCS 1x’.
This system is also an initiative that supports green initiatives by reducing dependency on paper. The web-based platform has been developed indigenously and is a part of the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Digital India’ initiative of the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Shipping is separately issuing order to make usage of the PCS platform mandatory.
26-Sep-2018: Government launches online platform for Agmark quality certification.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh launched the online software for Agmark. The application processes related to Agmark certification are being done online by the Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI). The process of application will be simple, quick, transparent and 24x7.
He informed that the Agmark online system is being implemented across the country to conduct quality control functions. Through the Agmark online system, certificate of authorisation (domestic), permission of printing press, permission of laboratories (domestic) and services related to laboratory information management system will be provided online.
The existing procedures for Agmark certification were in physical form and time consuming. The use of modern technologies by the National Informatics Center has made these processes easy, reliable and cost effective by providing online electronic mode. In the new online application system, there are provisions for online receipt of fees from the applicants. Payment will be received in digital mode through bharatkosh.gov.in website.
He concluded by wishing success to Agmark’s online software and said that it has become necessary to explore all possibilities so that maximum benefits from this software program can reach the farmers and packers.
18-Jul-2018: Cabinet approves determination of Fair and Remunerative Price payable by Sugar Mills for 2018-19 sugar season
Keeping in view the interest of sugarcane farmers, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) of sugarcane for sugar season 2018-19 at Rs. 275/- per quintal for a basic recovery rate of 10%; providing a premium of Rs. 2.75/qtl for each 0.1 % increase in recovery over and above 10%. The cost of production of sugarcane for the sugar season 2018-19 is Rs. 155 per quintal.
This FRP Rs. 275 per quintal at recovery rate of 10% is higher by 77.42% over production cost thereby ensuring the promise of giving the farmers a return of more than 50 % over their cost. Keeping the expected production of sugarcane in the sugar season 2018-19 the total remittance to the sugarcane farmers will be more than Rs. 83,000 crore. The Government through its pro-farmer measures will ensure that sugarcane farmers get their dues in time.
The Government with a view to protect interest of farmers has also decided that there shall not be any deduction in case of mills where recovery is below 9.5%. Such farmers will get Rs. 261.25 per quintal for sugarcane in place of Rs. 255/qtl in the current season.
The FRP so approved shall be applicable for purchase of sugarcane from the farmers in the sugar season 2018-19 (starting w.e.f. 1st October, 2018) by the sugar mills.
The sugar sector is an important Agro-based sector that impacts the livelihood of about 5 crore sugarcane farmers and their dependents and around 5 lakh workers directly employed in sugar mills, apart from those employed in various ancillary activities including farm labour and transportation.
Background: The FRP has been determined on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) and after consultation with State Governments and other stake-holders. Recommended FRP has been arrived at by taking into account various factors such as cost of production, overall demand-supply situation, domestic and international prices, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade prices of primary by-products, and likely impact of FRP on general price level and resource use efficiency.
In order to improve the liquidity of the industry so that the cane price arrears of farmers can be cleared, the Government has implemented a series of interventions in the past few months including allocation of mill-wise Minimum Indicative Export Quota (MIEQ) of 20 LMT and financial assistance @Rs.5.50/quintal of cane crushed amounting to about Rs.1500 crore.
Further to ensure clearance of their dues, the Government brought out a comprehensive package of about Rs.7000 crore. This includes creation of buffer stock of 30 LMT at the cost of Rs.1200 crore and a major scheme worth more than Rs.4,400 crore for increasing the ethanol capacity in the country for diversion of sugarcane for production of ethanol in surplus sugar season to facilitate timely payment of sugarcane dues of farmers. The Government will bear the interest subvention cost of about Rs. 1332 crore for this scheme.
The Government also decided a minimum price for sale of sugar at Rs.29/kg. which will help clearance of sugarcane dues of the farmers.
Through the measures mentioned above the liquidity position of sugar mills has improved and as a result cane price arrears of farmers which were peaked at Rs. 23,232 cr. on 21.05.2018 have come down to Rs. 17,824 cr. and are expected to reduce further in coming months.