-The Hindu The MSP alert will be published on social media handles of the Jai Kisan Andolan and associated organisations Two months after the Finance Minister’s Budget announcement of a minimum support price (MSP) at least 50% above the cost of production, Farmers’ organisation Jai Kisan Andolan has launched a daily news alert, tracking the ground reality regarding MSP. The MSP alert will be published on social media handles of the Jai...

-The Hindu Business Line Ryot body comes up with mobile alert to track, compare prices New Delhi: If you are a farmer, that last notification on your phone could be an alert from the Jai Kisan Andolan. And no, it does not have to do with another Maharashtra-style agitation against the government. It is the JKA informing you of the latest price of your commodity in the country’s premier Agricultural Markets. MSPAlert, which...

-Livemint.com Farmers continue to be vulnerable to frequent episodes of losses that neither the state nor the markets have been able to mitigate The dramatic long march to Mumbai involving thousands of distressed farmers on 12 March is a remarkable feat of peaceful protest against the state, given its apathy towards farmers’ distress as well as its failures in safeguarding tribal land rights. However, what is surprisingly missing in this poignant narrative...

-Outlook The downward trend in vegetable prices continues owing to consistent rise in supply. On March 6, more than 35,000 farmers trekked 180 km over six days from Nashik to Mumbai under the banner of the Akhil Bhartiya Kisan Sabha (AIKS) of the CPI(M) with a slew of demands, including right to forest land and a complete loan waiver. The next day, a farmer took 50 kg of brinjals to Ahmednagar ‘mandi’ in...

-The Hindu Rather than just increased budgetary outlays, farmers need plans that will rescue them from crop failure Similar to the last two Budgets, this year’s pro-agriculture intentions are palpable through increased outlays to the agricultural sector and initiation of various programmes. They seem impressive, but closer scrutiny shows that the measures may be of little help to stem the tide of agrarian distress. There are some real challenges confronting three...