-The Business Standard The IEO which has been modeled on the lines of Mexico's CONEVAL India's first independent evaluation office (IEO) was formally launched on Wednesday. The office is mandated to suggest radical changes in the government's social sector initiatives, as well as in its interface with the private sector through public-private partnership projects. The IEO, modelled on the lines of Mexico's National Council for the Evaluation of Social Development Policy, will give...

-Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture) With a production of 269 million tonnes in 2012-13, the horticulture sector has emerged as a major contributor to the food basket of the country. Horticulture production grew by more than 8% during the last decade. As compared to the production of 257 million tonnes in the previous year and 215 million tonnes about five years ago, there has been significant jump in the horticulture production,...

-The Hindu A farm whether in one acre or a few acres must encompass as many crop varieties as possible and also some animals to be remunerative. "Monocropping (growing only one crop) is now a fading practice among several farmers since they are realising that for their economic safety and better returns it is important to grow additional crops. "In some areas in Madhya Pradesh farmers grow a main crop in a...

-Down to Earth Four-day world congress on agroforestry in Delhi pushes for accelerating growing trees on farms for sustainable agriculture and mitigating climate change impacts In what is seen as a ground-breaking move, India has become the first nation in the world to adopt an agroforestry policy. The National Agroforestry Policy, which deals with the practice of integrating trees, crops and livestock on the same plot of land, was launched February 10,...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Central Information Commission on Monday finally set the ball rolling on action against the six national political parties for violating its directions and not appointing public information officers in the last eight months. The commission issued notices to Congress, BJP, CPM, NCP, BSP and CPI for failing to comply to its June 3, 2013 order that recognized political parties as public authorities. The transparency watchdog...