-Livemint.com The number of farmers covered under prime minister’s crop insurance scheme fell to 47.9 million in 2017-18, from a high of 57.5 million the year before, a sharp decline of 17% in just a year New Delhi: Despite the centre pumping more funds into its flagship crop insurance scheme, coverage among farmers is on the decline, according to figures released on Tuesday, indicating a decline in interest among farmers. The number of...

-PTI The government is not in favour of farm loan waiver as it negatively impacts credit and recovery climate and has systematic consequences New Delhi: The government is not in favour of farm loan waiver as it negatively impacts credit and recovery climate, parliament was informed on Tuesday. However, several measures have been initiated to reduce the debt burden on farmers and increase availability of institutional credit, minister of state for agriculture Gajendra...

-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...

-Hindustan Times Both, the farmers who undertook the march and those who went on strike, represent the wide spectrum of the state’s ongoing agrarian and rural distress. Last year, on June 1, thousands of farmers in Maharashtra went on an unprecedented strike, refusing to sell their produce to markets and cutting off supply of daily necessities – milk, vegetables and fruits – to cities. The two-day strike forced the Devendra Fadnavis-led...

-NDTV The Azad Maidan in Mumbai turned into a "sea of red" as thousands of farmers, carrying red flags, converged here after walking 180 kms from Nashik Mumbai: The Devendra Fadnavis government of Maharashtra has agreed to the demands of thousands of protesting farmers who have been pouring into Mumbai for the last two days. The government has given its acceptance in writing, said state minister Chandrakant Patil, after a delegation...