-Hindustan Times Heavy rainfall accompanied by hail over the weekend damaged crops in key food-producing states across north and central India, triggering fears of higher food prices amid a deepening nationwide agrarian crisis. A good crop was a must this season for the sustenance of farmers who suffered because of unseasonal rainfall in March-April last year followed by a drought that reduced output of summer crops. A good yield was expected this...

-The Financial Express Unseasonal rains and hailstorms in some places over northern states of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh during the last two days is unlikely have any major impact on output of rabi crops such as wheat and mustard, a senior official with the agriculture ministry said on Sunday. “The impact of rains in the last two days on the standing rabi crops is limited and localised,” Trilochan Mohapatra, Director...

-Press Release from Delhi Pension Parishad Activists from seven major campaigns stated unequivocally that the Union Budget for 2016-17 far from ‘Transforming India’, as claimed by the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, is neglecting the interests of farmers, the poor and vulnerable both in nominal and real terms and subjecting every life-affirming program to severe  budget cuts. Activists from seven major campaigns such as the Right to Food Campaign , the...

-Business Standard Bright sunshine, however, offsets damage Rains and thunderstorms accompanied by hailstorm in some places have flattened standing wheat, mustard and coriander crop in some parts of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. However, the situation is not as grim as last year because the showers have been followed by bright sunshine. Agriculture scientists say the weather over the next few days will hold the key and if the hailstorm...

-Livemint.com The rainfall which is expected to hit the states between 11 and 15 March will be caused by an intense western disturbance currently lying over Iran New Delhi: After two back-to-back deficient monsoons and a warm and dry winter, India Meteorological Department has warned of heavy unseasonal rain and hailstorm in 14 Indian states, which could pose as a threat to the Rabi harvest. The rainfall which is expected to hit...