-The Hindu * Will this form of chemical-free agriculture increase Farmers’ incomes? Where are the pitfalls? The story so far: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman thrust zero budget farming into the spotlight in the first Budget speech of the 17th Lok Sabha earlier this month, calling for a “back to the basics” approach. She said, “We need to replicate this innovative model through which in a few States, Farmers are already being trained...

-The Hindu Business Line There are no schemes for much of agriculture, and small ruminants have been ignored. The Economic Survey had a full chapter on agriculture and food management issues. It had a separate section on small ruminants for the first time, and also showed that only one of the ongoing schemes for the livestock sector attends to their concerns. The Budget provides for creating a fund for upgrading of traditional industries...

-The Hindu Business Line Sowing completed in 73 per cent area under kharif cultivation Pune: With rains continuing to evade Maharashtra, the dams across the State are left with just 25 per cent water compared to 46.5 per cent stock during the same period last year. Situation in drought hit Marathwada region is alarming as dams have just 0.82 per cent water. There are 4,716 water tankers plying to cater drinking water...

-The Hindu Water conservationist Rajendra Singh says it will also take away the rights of States and communities over rivers Belagavi (Karnataka): Water conservationist Rajendra Singh has criticised the Draft River Basin Management Bill, 2018, and said it aims to reduce river water to a commodity that can be traded. He added that the Bill would also take away the rights of States and communities over rivers. “The newly-formed Jal Shakti Ministry has...

--The Indian Express Replacing subsidies with direct cash transfers to Farmers’ accounts will empower them as well as consumers. In her budget speech, the Union finance minister (FM) said: “At the centre of everything that we do, we keep gaon, garib aur kisan in mind.” Here then is a small mantra for her to transform the lives of the kisan and the poor in rural areas. Just streamline the food and...