-The Hindu Business Line The focus of land reforms should change from ceilings to minimum size A significant 72 per cent of farmers ‘like' farming as a profession, according to a recent nationwide survey conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS). This is greater than the 60 per cent figure reported in an official 2003 National Sample Survey round. True, the two surveys may not be entirely comparable...

-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Information & Broadcasting) Shri Bimal Julka, Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting presented the 3rd National Community Radio Awards here today. The list of awardees is as under. i) Most Creative /Innovative Programme Content Awards 1) Yerlavani Community Radio, run by Yerala Projects Society, Sangli, Maharashtra, for its programme, "Changes in cropping and agricultural practices as per environmental change" 2) Community Radio JU, Run by Jadavpur University, Kolkata, West...

-Down to Earth Delisting fruits and vegetables from APMC Act in Congress-ruled states will not benefit farmers Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi last December said fruits and vegetables will become affordable if states allowed farmers to directly sell their produce to consumers. He also directed the chief ministers in Congress-ruled states to delist fruits and vegetables from the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act. The Act makes it mandatory for farmers to sell...

-The Times of India UDAIPUR: Despite restrictions on growing BT Cotton (Bacillus thuringiensis) in the state, mass cultivation of the crop has been reported at various tribal-dominant tehsils in Udaipur adjoining Gujarat. BT cotton is a genetically modified (GM) variety of cotton which produces an insecticide that has been restricted for cultivation in the state due to harmful effects like causing skin diseases and allergies in farmers producing it. Studies reveal that...

-The Economic Times PUNE: India is still the largest producer of organic cotton in the world, accounting for two-third of the global organic cotton production. But, the total organic fibre production of the country has fallen by close to 50% as global brands shift to Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). A marketing-driven green alternative to conventional cotton grown using chemicals, BCI is growing rapidly and getting premium over the conventional cotton. From...