-The Times of India COIMBATORE: In light of the delayed southwest monsoon and severe rainfall deficit, agriculture experts have advised farmers to go in for short-term crops this year as they require less water. "We are telling them to move from their traditional crops and try short-term crops like pulses, millets, sunflower or maize," said K Velayutham, director of crop management at TNAU. Except for maize, the cycle for the other three...

-Deccan Herald The Green Revolution has changed life in Indian villages, but the main beneficiaries were the landlords. Daily labourers remain poor and marginalised. The limits of using ever more fertiliser and pesticides are becoming apparent. Many farmers are confused because extension services want them to reconsider practices they were told to abandon not that long ago. A member of the Santal tribe, an Adivasi community, assesses things from the village perspective. Since independence...

-The Hindu Kochi: The task of mechanising agriculture operations in the marshy fields of coastal Kerala will soon become a reality. As part of its efforts to revive the traditional practice of Pokkali farming, the Kerala Agriculture University has developed a machine that enables mechanised transplantation of paddy seedlings in Pokkali fields. Along with this, the varsity has also developed a combined harvester for Pokkali fields, which is being fine-tuned after on-field...

-The Hindu Business Line It has potential to curb inflation and ensure competitive prices to growers The agricultural marketing system in the country has come a long way since Independence. It has moved through various stages such as regulations and reforms. Now, the time has come to establish a barrier-free market operating beyond State boundaries. A National Agricultural Market with potential to curtail inflation and ensure competitive prices to producers has also been...

-The Pioneer India's water distribution and consumption systems must be sustainable, drought-proofed, and adapted to climate change. Then the country can move from ‘drought-relief' status to a position where it has relief from droughts The Indian Meteorological Department is still unsure of the timing and the intensity of El Niño, further raising the grim prospect of insufficient monsoons and an imminent drought poised to affect many parts of the country. According...