-DNA It's been a black Diwali for Vidarbha where six farmers - four from Yavtamal and one each from Akola and Amravati - have committed suicide in the last 24 hours, casting a dark cloud over what should have been a time for rejoicing after the kharif crop. The farmers who ended their lives are Rajendra Chahand of Kelzara village, Dutta Chede of Umari (Pathar), Nagraj Mahadolhe of Parva, Arun Kurnule of...

-The Hindu Business Line They drop out on account of cultural taboos and lack of follow up efforts by implementing agencies Despite opportunities and systematic community-driven handholding support from the Government and non-government bodies, women might still choose not to participate in the economic development process. Under the purview of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, the world's largest poverty alleviation initiative, the Government and NGOs are targeting women from the poorest households...

-The Business Standard About 20% of area under crop damaged by recent cyclone in Araku valley Bangalore: Cyclone Hudhud, which left a trail of destruction in coastal Andhra Pradesh, has left its mark on coffee plantations in the Araku valley in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha as well. The upcoming organic coffee plantations in the valley have been devastated. According to Coffee Board, about 20 per cent of the bean-bearing plants have...

-Deccan Chronicle KARIMNAGAR: Swasakhti groups, also known as self-help groups, are set to procure paddy produce this kharif season through Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) centres. The groups have been playing a crucial role in buying paddy through IKP centers since 2006. Since the introduction of SHGs into the buying process, farmers have been getting hassle-free minimum support price (MSP) to their produce at their doorstep. The district has 55, 330 SHGs,...

-The Telegraph Saharsa: Farmers in the Purnea and Kosi divisions will go to school from next month to learn about the latest agricultural techniques and how to reap maximum benefit from their produce. As many as 210 farmers' schools will come up in the state, including Purnea and Saharsa, for which the government has allocated Rs 1.8 crore. Twenty-nine of the schools will come up in Khagaria. Agriculture director Dharmendra Kumar said: "These...