-The Indian Express Only 21 per cent of India’s milk production gets processed through the organised sector and the rest passes through unorganised small players. And that’s where the crisis is most intense. Farmers, who had high expectations from the Narendra Modi government, are a disillusioned lot today. Market prices of several crops have remained well below their minimum support prices (MSPs). Moreover, milk prices have fallen by 20 per cent...
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Cut their shackles: Why usual methods to rescue farmers will fail, and what can work in their stead -Prerna Sharma Singh
-The Times of India blog Dozens of farming groups determined to stall supply of fruits, vegetables and dairy products to major Indian cities is a clear indicator of growing rural discontent that the Modi government has been struggling to deal with for quite some time, amidst supply glut and depressed farm produce prices. Worried that unhappy farmers could cost BJP dearly in upcoming state and national elections, the government has promised to...
More »States as policy labs for farming -Rajeev Gowda
-The New Indian Express Something remarkable happened when the farmers came marching to Mumbai recently. Instead of greeting them with hostility, Mumbaikars welcomed them with affection, food and water. This change in attitude was triggered by the farmers’ extraordinary discipline and their efforts to ensure minimal disruption to the Mumbaikars’ routines. Even hard-boiled journalists acknowledged, for a brief moment, urbanites had realised our farmers and adivasis were indeed facing difficult times. The...
More »Flush season extends, dairy farmers worry about further dip in procurement prices -Parthasarathi Biswas
-The Indian Express Around 10 per cent more milk being produced compared to last year Pune: This year has so far failed to bring cheer to the dairy industry in Maharashtra. The extended flush season has added to the woes of the industry already reeling under low commodity prices. With around 10 per cent more milk being produced as compared to last year, dairies are now worried about further reduction in the...
More »Gujarat scare may sow seeds of farm-focused policy in Budget -Deepshikha Sikarwar & Himangshu Watts
-The Economic Times NEW DELHI: The BJP's victory in the Gujarat elections, hard-fought as it was, points clearly to the possible direction of the Budget that finance minister Arun Jaitley will present in February. Given its setbacks in non-urban areas, the big focus of the ruling party will be on agriculture and the rural economy, apart from a likely boost in minimum support prices (MSP). FM Arun Jaitley told ET the results...
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