-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: Farmers will be able to directly sell fruits and vegetables to consumers and wholesalers in Delhi as the city will have a 'kisan mandi' by September after the government changes the law that gives traders and middlemen a monopoly. Farmers and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) will be able meet part of Delhi's demand of 15,000 tonnes of vegetables a day after the Delhi Agriculture Produce Market (APMC)...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Apprehending further increase in onion prices from next month due to short supply, the government appears set to import the key kitchen ingredient to cool down domestic prices. While a formal decision is expected next week, sources said public sector companies have been asked to look at the possibility of shipping onion from Pakistan, China, Malaysia and Iran. Officials said there are indications of wholesale prices...

-The Business Standard Easing of APMC regime, farmer-consumer contact, other proposals seen as positives To ease supply-side constraints on food articles, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has proposed several measures to help improve marketing and storage of produce. Taking cues from the Bhartiya Janata Party's election manifesto, he has proposed integrating markets across the country, with the Centre to work closely with states to reorient the latter's respective Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts,...

-Deccan Chronicle New Delhi: With a drought-like situation looming large and food prices remaining high, the Union government on Thursday announced various agri-progra-mmes with an outlay of about Rs 7,500 crore to improve irrigation, soil health, research activities besides promising steps to revamp mandis.   Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that the Centre will provide cheaper foodgrains through ration shops even if there is marginal decline in farm production due to inadequate...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The large difference between wholesale and retail prices of onions in markets such as Delhi, Indore, Chandigarh and Mumbai has taken the government by surprise despite several steps announced by it, including an advisory to states to crack down on hoarding and speculation. Data available with the government showed that last week, the key kitchen ingredient was available for Rs 12.75 a kg in the wholesale...