-The Times of India   NAGPUR: Several new components like stress on irrigation in dry-land areas, price stabilization fund, bringing landless farmers in pale of institutional finance through NABARD for working on leased lands, allowing MGNREGA in farm work have won bouquets for finance minister Arun Jaitley from farm activists. "Move to set up a national market for farm produce, micro irrigation and watershed schemes in drought-prone regions, crop loan facilities to landless...

-Deccan Chronicle New Delhi: With a drought-like situation looming large and food prices remaining high, the Union government on Thursday announced various agri-progra-mmes with an outlay of about Rs 7,500 crore to improve irrigation, soil health, research activities besides promising steps to revamp mandis.   Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the Centre will provide cheaper foodgrains through ration shops even if there is marginal decline in farm production due to inadequate...

-Down to Earth Jaitley continues with UPA schemes on agriculture, allocates more funds The maiden budget of finance minister Arun Jaitley is disappointing for farmers as it has nothing in its kitty to address the increasing farm stress and resolve the ongoing agrarian crisis in the country. The much-awaited budget of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) neither talks about assured farm income nor gives any remedy to reduce farm...

-The Hindu Select farmers to be trained on improved farming Technology Madurai (Tamil Nadu): The Department of Agriculture has chosen to promote cultivation of minor millets to beat economic backwardness among the farming community in rain-fed Kalligudi block. The officials have identified 322 farmers and 78 farm hands as beneficiaries under the State Balanced Growth Fund in seven villages of the block. The State Government has allotted Rs. 23 lakh under the fund. "Select...

-Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Finance The agriculture sector will see a record production of foodgrains and oilseeds in the year 2013-14, according to the Economic Survey for 2013-14, released in New Delhi today. As per the third Advance Estimates, the production of foodgrains is likely to touch a record output of 264.4 million tones (mt) in 2013-14 showing an increase of 2.88% over the previous year. Similarly, oilseeds are likely...