-The Business Standard   How a law to conserve groundwater led to a better paid and better organised migrant workforce Ludhiana: For some years now, Punjab's fields have lain fallow through the searing dry heat of May; but come June's steamy humidity, small bands of lithe, slender men from Bihar fan out across the waterlogged paddy fields, transplanting rice saplings with fluid efficiency. Bihar's paddy planters have frequented Punjab since the 1960s when rice...

-The Hindustan Times   Already struggling with milk crisis, the state's residents may now face a shortage of onions, as onion traders in Nasik went on an indefinite strike from Monday. Nasik is a major onion supplier to Jharkhand and onion prices are likely to go up if the strike continues. "Nasik meets 40-50% of state's demand of onions. So, prices will go up for sure, if supply reduces. We hope the strike...

-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: The government is ready with a contingency plan to deal with below normal rains this monsoon with a series of steps including diesel subsidy for farmers in the rain-deficient districts, crop loans at lower rates and release of foodgrains to deal with a possible shortage. Amid reports of below normal rains, the agriculture ministry presented the plan for 500 districts during a meeting called by Prime...

-FAO   FAO publication highlights success stories in "climate-smart agriculture," stresses need to transition to new approach to food production Rome - Shifting world agriculture to a "climate-smart" approach will not only help prevent future food security crises but holds the promise of sparking economic and agricultural renewal in rural areas where hunger and poverty are most prevalent, argues a new FAO publication. On the one hand, the magnitude and scope of climate change's...

-The Hindu   Farmers take this initiative to bypass middlemen PITHAPURAM (Andhra Pradesh): At a time when drones are being used to deliver pizzas, enthusiastic farmers from B. Prattipadu and Tatiparthi villages near here have launched the sale of farm fresh vegetables at the doorstep. ‘Green Van' is the concept launched in unison by 21 farmers from the two villages, who own one hectare land each and have converted it to cultivate vegetables such...