Rice procurement has crossed 27 million tonnes in 2009-10, down by about three per cent over the last year's due to low production. Food Corporation of India (FCI), the nodal agency for procurement and distribution of foodgrains, and state agencies had procured 27.93 million tonnes of rice in the corresponding period of the previous marketing year, which runs from October to September. The Centre had procured a record 33.68 million tonnes of...

Indian physicist and environmentalist Vandana Shiva has won the 2010 Sydney Peace Prize for her efforts towards women empowerment in developing nations and her scientific contribution to climate conservation. The 57-year-old activist has been recognised for her work on the empowerment of women in developing countries, her advocacy of the human rights of small farming communities, and her scientific analysis of environmental sustainability. Shiva will give the City of Sydney Peace Prize...

U.N. report says this will consolidate the region's economic recovery  Even in crisis, Asia-Pacific still the fastest-growing region Increased social spending directly supports income security for households A United Nations report has called upon governments in the Asia-Pacific region to increase social spending to consolidate the region's stronger than anticipated economic rebound and to spur over the long term a fairer, more balanced, and sustained economic recovery. The Economic and Social Survey of...

The Krushak Morcha of the BJP today held the Government responsible for the suicide of 68 farmers in the State. Passing several resolutions in the first State executive committee meeting here, the farmers wing of the party attributed the suicide cases to the faulty agricultural policies of both the State and Central governments. Alleging that farmers have been committing suicide due to crop loss and increasing loan burden, the resolution said that...

Even as the government tries to meet the expectations of the Congress high command on the Food Security Bill, it is still trying tricks in the economist's books to keep its food subsidy bill as low as possible. While the Planning Commission has now accepted that it would include community kitchens and existing nutrition security schemes such as ICDS and mid-day meal programmes under the proposed Bill, it is also...