-PTI NEW delhi: In order to improve availability of fodder in the country, several state governments today suggested setting up of a Fodder Corporation of India (FCI), ban on export of oilseed cake and disallowing harvesting of wheat and other fodder crop using combine harvestor. Some states also demanded that the Centre should treat animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries at par with the agriculture sector and ensure benefits such crop loans at...

-The Economic Times NEW delhi: The monsoon that set in on India late this year is making a delayed retreat as well. Rains towards the fag end of the season are good for standing crops and will hold soil moisture for winter crops, but may hurt crops which are ready for harvest, particularly paddy and cotton in some areas. According to the government's meteorology department officials, there are no signs of...

-The Economic Times NEW delhi: Rural development minister Nitin Gadkari has indicated that the new government may restrict the rural employment guarantee scheme, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, only to tribal and backward districts of the country. "MNREGA is not required in areas where per capita income is high, higher growth rate and higher agricultural growth rate... it is required only in tribal sector and (areas of) poor," Gadkari...

-The Times of India NEW delhi: Seeking to increase milk production by developing indigenous breeds of cows, the government has decided to set up two national centres which will be dedicated to develop new breeds of 'desi' cows and support a network of 'Integrated Indigenous Cattle Centres' across the country. Known as 'National Kamdhenu Breeding Centre', one national centre will be set up in north and the other in south India during...

-Outlook Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Union Power Ministry, launching the 'Power for All' scheme from October 2 in the state. Andhra Pradesh is the third state in the country after delhi and Rajasthan where the scheme is being launched to ensure 24x7 electricity supply to all sectors (excluding agriculture). The state government also signed an MoU with NTPC for setting up a 4000 MW super...