One is almost certain to hear this from an economist that if something is available at free of cost or at a subsidised rate thanks to government intervention, then people tend to overuse or overconsume such goods/ commodities. So, the best solution is to create a market for such 'almost freely available' or 'highly subsidised' goods or commodities. Once people start paying to use or consume such goods/ commodities, they...

-Down to Earth Thrice GoI has returned Punjab’s proposal of giving Rs 2,500 per acre to small, marginal farmers even as they demand Rs 6,000 per acre     As many as 361,850 small and marginal farmers in Punjab did not receive state incentives for stubble management in the last one year due to paucity of funds.  The northern state’s request for financial stimulus to pay this incentive was turned down by the...

-The Tribune Karnal: The commission formed to probe the August 28 Bastara toll plaza lathicharge incident, led by Justice Somnath Aggarwal (Retd) of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on Monday reached the PWD Rest House here and recorded the statements of six farmers. The government had earlier announced that the panel would complete the inquiry in 30 days, but Justice Aggarwal on Monday said it would take around four months. The statements...

-NDTV.com Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had said it would examine whether farmers have the right to take to the streets when the issue at the core of their protest - the three new farm laws - is in court.  Chandigarh: Farmer groups protesting the new central laws near Delhi have called in for reinforcements ahead of a key Supreme Court hearing this week that may mean the end of their...

-Hindustan Times Farm experts say cotton crop is considered the largest consumer of pesticides and insecticides and Punjab can reduce its chemical load with a dedicated policy on organic farming Punjab lacks a policy to promote organic cotton cultivation even as farmers associated voluntarily with it see viability of chemical-free production of the cash crop. Farm experts say cotton crop is considered the largest consumer of pesticides and insecticides and Punjab can reduce...