-The Economic Times An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday approved Rs 511-crore assistance for Rajasthan, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh - the states affected by floods and droughts in 2012. Further, an additional grant of Rs 256 crore was given to Maharashtra for rejuvenation of Orchards. However, the high-level committee didn't take a decision on extending the duty-free import of oil cakes for...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI/ KOCHI: A growing number of farmers are turning entrepreneurs and earning big bucks from something they offered free to friends and relatives - a healthy and relaxing weekend to unwind in lush green farms, drive a tractor, ride a bullock cart, milk a cow and pluck fresh fruit from Orchards. Farm tourism, once a small niche, is expanding rapidly and getting a big push from the tourism...

-The Hindu   Heaps of fruit lay scattered in many Orchards in Krishna district KEERTIRAYANIGUDEM (KRISHNA DT.): Farmers have expected a ‘windfall' and consumers are eagerly waiting for the ‘king of fruit' to enter the market. But, Saturday's rain and gale dashed the hopes of one and all. Farmers, however, were the worst-hit. The early morning activity in the mango Orchards in the Central and Western Krishna district on Sunday reflected the extent of damage...

-The Telegraph JALNA AND AHMEDNAGAR: Sakharam Misal is frank. Water, he says, is big business. In Jalna district, which has run out of water, the man in his late 50s is among the most sought after. He runs a water tanker business and sells water to the thirsty millions. Misal's cellphone keeps ringing with desperate calls for water. His tankers are booked in advance and the waiting list stretches over a week. Drought,...

-The Hindustan Times Far from the neatly trimmed lawns of India Gate that so often reverberate with cries for justice, far also from the corridors of power where ministries recently squabbled over the right age for consensual sex, lie 197 districts - yes 197, read the figure again - where children are regularly abused. In these districts -- all ridden by conflict -- words like illegal detention, arbitrary arrests, sexual violence, torture...