-Down to Earth Jaitley continues with UPA schemes on agriculture, allocates more funds The maiden budget of finance minister Arun Jaitley is disappointing for farmers as it has nothing in its kitty to address the increasing farm stress and resolve the ongoing agrarian crisis in the country. The much-awaited budget of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) neither talks about assured farm income nor gives any remedy to reduce farm...

-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a price stabilisation fund, steps to set up a national market for farm produce, irrigation schemes, new agricultural universities as well as initiatives to increase warehousing and rural internet connectivity. Jaitley said food price volatility was a big concern, and announced a Rs 500 crore fund for farm price stabilization. He said the government wanted agriculture to grow although weak rainfall was a concern. Please...

-Press Information Bureau/ Ministry of Finance India recorded a peak production of milk at 132.43 mt in the year 2012-13 according to the Economic Survey for 2013-14, released in New Delhi today. India ranks first in global milk production and accounts for 17 per cent of world production. Milk production has become an important secondary source of income for 70 million rural households engaged in dairying and for 70 per cent...

-The Hindu Business Line     Facing criticism for rising prices, the Modi Government has blamed public expenditure on schemes such as MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) for fuelling food inflation. Curiously, the BJP wants the job scheme to continue, with the focus mainly on agriculture. According to the agenda note circulated for Friday's Conference of State Food Ministers with the Centre, food inflation is caused by both demand and supply...

-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...