-The Business Standard Because the ecology of various regions differs, it is silly to club them all under one countrywide average number A whopping three-fourth of the country's geographic area is right now facing a rainfall deficit severe enough to warrant crisis management. The Indian Meteorological Department's data shows that 74% of India has so far recorded monsoon rainfall much below its normal levels. Of the 36 rainfall divisions that the...

-The New Indian Express SAMBALPUR: Farmers of Western Odisha are staring at a drought like situation with the rain playing truant. The region has received less than 50 per cent (pc) rainfall in June and even this month, the rain pattern has been weak. Although low pressure induced rain in Western Odisha for a few days, it was scattered and not sufficient for agriculture. According to official reports, Sambalpur received 74.37 mm rainfall...

-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...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Stuck on a waterlogged road, many of you would blame the monsoon for your misery. This report should dispel that notion. In its audit of Delhi's drainage, desilting and flood control measures, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has unearthed systematic fraud and neglect, showing how taxpayers' money is virtually going down the drain. The report, which could be tabled in Parliament soon, reveals a...

-The Financial Express Unless we get it right on the markets front, including opening up of exports, farmers cannot get their full due One of the key objectives of agricultural price policy in India is to ensure that agriculture remains a remunerative occupation so that farmers are incentivised to adopt modern technologies that help raise productivity and overall production of various crops in the country broadly in line with the emerging demand...