-Al Jazeera The country's summer rains are due to start on June 1, but they may still leave some farmers disappointed. India’s monsoon rains, upon which the country relies so heavily, are expected to arrive "on time" according to the country’s Meteorological Department (IMD). The arrival of the summer monsoon is monitored very closely in India. Agriculture accounts for 15 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), and it employs some 60 percent of...
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Small farmers struggle for survival in Punjab -Sayantan Bera
-Livemint.com How increased mechanization, volatile prices and stressed farm incomes are leading to a consolidation of agricultural Land in Punjab Patiala/Sangrur/New Delhi: A farmer selling his farm equipment is a telltale sign of distress. But Maghar Singh doesn’t regret doing it. Six years ago, he sold his tractor, harvester and other equipment, and rented out his 8 acres (3.2 hectares) of Land in Patiala in south-eastern Punjab where he used to...
More »Indian agriculture at cross roads: MS Swaminathan
-ANI Chennai: Indian agriculture is at the cross roads, Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, father of India's first Green Revolution, has warned. Lamenting on the state of Indian farmers, especially farmers with small Land-holdings, Dr. Swaminathan said, "The market economy certainly is not friendly to small farmers. WTO regulations are also hindrance. Even in the United States which is the heartLand of the free market economy, farmers are insulated from market shocks through heavy...
More »Redefining forests, recipe for disaster
-Deccan Herald There is a fresh threat to the country's green cover from a new definition of forests being considered by the Centre. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said that the new definition will cover notified forests and those with good tree cover. But it may leave out a good part of what is now considered as forests. In fact, there is no clear definition of forests even now in...
More »NREGA to gel with rural housing in state -Shalini Nair
-The Indian Express Mumbai: In case the size of the house exceeds the set limit, the extra cost will be borne by the beneficiary. Taking the idea of the Centre’s rural employment scheme for creating sustainable rural assets a step further, the Maharashtra government is set to dovetail its rural housing scheme with the National Rural Employment Generation Act (NREGA). The final draft housing policy has also brought rural housing under the...
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