-The United Nations Global food prices dip for a third consecutive month in June following a ten-month surge, the United Nations agriculture agency said today. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) price index- which measures monthly changes in the global price of a basket of meat, dairy, cereals, oils and fats, and sugar- averaged 206.0 points in June 2014, down 3.8 points (1.8 percent) from May and nearly 6 points (2.8...
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As drought looms, Maharashtra refuses to extend insurance deadline for farmers -Aparna Pallavi
-Down to Earth With hardly any rains in June, no sowing activity has taken place in many regions, making it impossible for farmers to insure crops Maharashtra government has refused to extend the time-limit for availing the Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS), which is being implemented for the first time in 12 districts of the state this year, despite heavy demand from farmers. The time limit for the scheme, which covers...
More »For a better MGNREGA -Rita Sharma
-The Indian Express The scheme should be refocused towards creating durable assets in agriculture. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) has a significant influence on agricultural operations and cultivation costs. If its present focus on community works can be reoriented to proactively promote improvements on the landholdings of small and marginal farmers through the creation of durable assets, it will be beneficial for agricultural productivity and incomes. Critics say that...
More »El Nino could hit Indian agriculture this monsoon
-IANS Panaji: Factors as innocuous as the humble grain-carrying sack to the mighty El Nino could have a varying impact on grain production and delivery this year, experts suggest. Detailed presentations made at a recently-concluded 'Global Grain and Feed Forum' conference in Goa suggest that the occurrence of the El Nino phenomenon in June could to some extent rob India of its monsoon, but also note that poor quality sacks are also...
More »Don’t blame GM crops alone for farm distress: MS Swaminathan -KV Kurmanath
-The Hindu Business Line Hyderabad: Eminent agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan has said it is not right to put the entire blame on the GM (genetically modified) crops for the farm distress in the country. He said it is one of the several factors that affect the farm sector and requires a different approach to tackle it. "I am not defending anything but putting the entire blame on GM crops would be oversimplifying...
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