-One World South Asia   Policy Analyst Devinder Sharma strongly advocates that the income a farmer earns in India should be de-linked from the price that his crops fetch in the market. New Delhi: Indian agriculture is faced with a terrible agrarian crisis. It is a crisis primarily of sustainability and economic viability. The spate of farmer Suicide and the willingness of farmers to quit agriculture if given a choice is a stark...

-Down to Earth Most Suicides among orchard farmers, say observers As many as 101 farmers have committed Suicide in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra since the devastating hailstorms in March this year. This sudden spurt of Suicides has raised concerns as to whether this arid region is heading for an agrarian crisis similar to that of Vidarbha. A whopping 71 Suicides have been reported in the month of March 2014, close on the...

-The United Nations   Road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS and Suicide are the top killers of adolescents globally, while depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability, the United Nations reported today, urging a stronger focus on the health of boys and girls in their pre- and teen years. "We hope this report will focus high-level attention on the health needs of 10 to 19-year-olds and serve as a springboard for accelerated action...

-Down to Earth   HIV/AIDS, Suicide among other top causes. The good news is that rates of cigarette smoking are decreasing in 10-19 years age group in some countries A report released by World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday says depression is the predominant cause of illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years. The top three causes of global adolescent deaths are road traffic injuries, HIV/AIDS, and...

-Live Mint To alleviate poverty and extend true food security to its people India must bring efficiency to public expenditures In the Indian economy, where almost half of the average household's expenditures goes toward food and half the labour force is engaged in agriculture, one cannot simply wish away the centrality of agriculture just because its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) hovers around a comparatively low 14%. India's agriculture is responsible...