-The Hindu Business Line By converting a necessity into a virtue, the government has decided to release the large inventory of procured pulses to different States at a discounted rate for utilisation in various welfare programs. Necessity because the stocks continue to occupy scarce warehousing space and incur huge carrying costs. Also, the Centre thinks, warehousing space may be needed during the upcoming kharif harvest less than six weeks away; and of course,...

-The Indian Express Raising procurement prices of kharif crops will only give false hope to farmers. Has the winter of farmers’ discontent turned into a glorious summer by the significant hike in minimum support price (MSP) for kharif crops announced two weeks ago? The hike is unlikely to stem the rural unrest that is gnawing into the ruling alliance’s votebank. The PM has had to personally defend the government’s programmes that have...

-The Hindu Business Line In view of the distortions arising out of excessive price support, direct income transfers to farmers is a better option The domestic debate has tended to conclude that the rise in MSP announced in the Budget is an essential part of achieving the government’s objective of doubling farm incomes. But MSP stands for minimum support prices and is an instrument designed for reducing income volatility, not for raising...

-The Telegraph New Delhi: Prices of farm produce remained high and stocks of vegetables and milk precarious in cities across northern and central India as the ongoing farmers' strike across several states entered its fourth day. The June 1-10 boycott of wholesale markets - called "Gaon Bandh" or "Kisan Avkaash" - has been called by 172 farmer organisations in eight states to demand minimum support prices at one-and-a-half times the cost of...

-Business Standard 1.5 million quintals of tur to be imported under MoU between India and Mozambique, even as farmers hold 4 times more Mumbai: In what appears to be another instance of farmers’ interests being hurt for no fault of their own. And this time, too, it's pulses. The year 2016-17 was a crisis year for pulses, with prices skyrocketing past the Rs 100-150 per kg mark amid crop failure. In the following years,...