-Newsclick.in Kharif sowing has almost stopped with the state not receiving even 10% of the expected rains. Maharashtra faces uncertainty both politically and agriculturally. While the ruling Shiv Sena’s rebel leader and MLA Eknath Shinde plans to head to Mumbai along with his faction to grab power, farmers of the state face an uncertain future with 41.4% deficient rainfall, leading to a virtual halt in the sowing of Kharif crops. According to the...

-The Hindu Business Line A bank-supported NGO initiative has transformed agriculture in the Hubli-Dharwad area Can a small investment of, say, ₹97,000, for digging farm ponds make for increase in farm incomes and improvement in farmers’ livelihoods? Can such farm ponds lead to an increase in cropping intensity and higher productivity? Can these minor investments then be replicated across the country as only 50 per cent of India’s net sown area of...

-Down to Earth Suitable policies need to be in place in order to enhance the prospects for contract farming in the state A 52-year-old, better-off farmer from Sehjo Majra in Ludhiana district of Punjab has been practising contract farming for more than 20 years. This farmer contracts with four companies — Pepsico Pvt Ltd, Pagro Foods Ltd, Fieldfresh Foods Pvt Ltd and Sungro Seeds Pvt Ltd. However, his longest association has been with...

-Financial Express The extent of asymmetry between the support extended by the developing and the developed countries was brought to the fore in an earlier paper jointed submitted by India, China and some others. India, along with 80-odd developing countries, has sought a revision of the over three-decade-old external reference prices of farm commodities that are used by the World Trade Organization (WTO) to calculate current domestic farm subsidies extended by developing...

-The New Indian Express The state’s decision is intended to eradicate malnutrition and anaemia from these districts. Nearly, Rs 28.43 crore will be spent on the fortification of rice and Rs 11.6 crore on its distribution. RAIPUR: Activists of the Right to Food Campaign (RTFC) and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) have urged the Chhattisgarh government to abandon its rice fortification interventions and instead adopt effective, safe solutions to the...