-Down to Earth The pesticides in question continue to be used in India, but are already banned, restricted or withdrawn in other countries Several experts underscored the ill effects of using chemicals excessively in agriculture and stressed on ecologically sound alternatives while backing a recent government draft order to prohibit a bunch of pesticides. Civil society members, citing risks, threats and damage from 27 pesticides, came out in support of a May 14,...

-Business Today MSMEs don't want the government to impose tariffs that will make buying raw materials from China difficult - all other countries sell lot more expensive * Higher tariff on key raw materials from China will raise input cost by 10-40% for MSMEs * Industry bodies want the government to chart out long-term plan for gradual import substitution * Ad-hoc measures like raising tariff and putting trade barriers could end up hurting local...

-Newsclick.in And yet, it is being tom-tommed as ‘freedom’ for farmers and ‘self-reliance’ for country! Silently, and in double quick time, changes in laws related to cultivation, sale, stocking and pricing of agricultural produce – food grain, vegetables, etc. – have been proposed and disposed by the Narendra Modi government. Three ordinances relating to these key dimensions were given Presidential assent late on June 5 night, and they came into force “at...

-Business Standard Hit by the slump in sugar demand following lockdown and consequent subdued realisations, mills have run up huge farmers' outstanding pertaining to the current sugar season 2019-20 Lucknow: Unlocking an additional revenue stream for the beleaguered domestic sugar sector, the Central government has allowed the export of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, a commodity in high demand globally in the fight against Covid-19. On May 6, the Centre banned the export of the...

-The Tribune The Government on Wednesday announced three "major agriculture reforms" for farmers, including an Ordinance to promote “barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade outside APMC market” and amendment to the Essential Commodities Act., removing commodities like cereals, pulses oilseeds edible oils onion and potatoes from list of essential commodities. Briefing about the three reforms after the Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the decisions, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar called...