-The Hindu Business Line Falling farm prices, drying up of industrial jobs and lesser MGNREGA work have sharpened rural discontent. The Budget cannot ignore these factors in a year of 8 State polls The year 2017 was roiled by rural discontent. After two consecutive drought years (2014-15 and 2015-16), when agriculture growth plummeted (see table), the countryside was awash with hope after a good monsoon in 2016-17. However, record foodgrain output (272 million...
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To counter farm distress, Haryana govt looks at MSP formula for vegetables -Sukhbir Siwach
-The Indian Express In June this year, The Indian Express had highlighted how farmers were selling potatoes for 20 paise a kilo at the Pipli grain market in Kurukshetra district. Chandigarh: Moving to address farm distress, the Haryana government is set to announce Saturday the Bhavantar Bharpai scheme which, on the lines of minimum support price (MSP), will offer “input cost” for four crops — potato, onion, cabbage and tomato —...
More »Trying to address farm challenges: Gujarat chief secretary -Vasudha Venugopal
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Gujarat government is taking measures to meet rural challenges, chief secretary JN Singh told ET on Friday. The government was focused on improving implementation of schemes related to irrigation, minimum support price and crop insurance for farmers. Gujarat saw a tough fight in the recently-concluded assembly polls, with BJP winning only 7 seats more than what was needed for an absolute majority. BJP lost 13...
More »Nervous over rising crude, government ends monthly LPG price hike -Sanjay Dutta
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: In a clear indication of the nervousness over rising oil prices evoking popular anger, the government has asked state-run fuel retailers to stop raising the price of subsidised cooking gas cylinders by Rs 4 a month. The order was issued in October, around the same time the government cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre to stave off rising consumer anger...
More »Proposed scheme to address agrarian distress is impractical and does not touch on systemic issues -Roshan Kishore
-Hindustan Times The Indian farmer needs to sell his produce with as little intermediation as possible in order to make decent profits. One of the biggest roadblocks for this to happen is lack of mass demand for the majority of farm produce Faced with the spectre of rural anti-incumbency after the Gujarat results, the Modi government is in firefighting mode. Reportedly, a scheme is being planned to provide partial support to state...
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