The employment guarantee scheme has resulted in a big spurt in not only wages but also household income in the rural areas, an analysis of the data since the beginning of the programme in 2006-07 show. While rural wages have risen 38% since 2006-07, household income saw a 74% increase in the four years up to 2009-10. This is despite the fact that just 13% of the 5 crore beneficiary families...
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Last year's kharif drought may tell on output this year by Gargi Parsai
The foodgrains output for 2009-10 is expected to be 16.27 million tonnes lower at 218.20 million tonnes than the record production of 234.47 million tonnes last year. The decline, mainly in rice, edible oils and coarse cereals, is due to the widespread drought in the kharif season last year. Significantly, the government has slightly lowered the expected production of wheat in the fourth advance estimates to 80.71 million tonnes from 80.98 million...
More »High yield paddy plan in doldrums
SAMBALPUR: Good rains as yet, the kharif season in Sambalpur district is likely to be affected due to shortage of paddy seed. As per the available data, paddy will be cultivated over 1,04,500 hectares during the forthcoming kharif season. It was only 99,533 hectares last year. The Agriculture Department, to augment paddy production, had stressed cultivation of high yielding variety of paddy on a larger tract, but the nonavailability of seeds...
More »With fingers crossed, Agriculture Ministry awaiting monsoon revival by Gargi Parsai
Shortfall in sowing of paddy, pulses and coarse cereals Union Agriculture Ministry officials are keeping their fingers crossed for the southwest monsoon to revive in parts of northern and central India before putting in place a contingency plan for kharif (paddy) sowing. So far there has been a shortfall in sowing of paddy, pulses and coarse cereals compared to last year, which was a drought year, resulting in a kharif output deficit...
More »For monsoon, farmers hopes still Met by age-old wisdom by V Yogasri Poorna
SUKHRAM Gopal, a farmer from Bagli village in Devas district in Madhya Pradesh, relies on gut feel and tradition to be doubly sure that the rains will bless him with a bountiful harvest. On the day of the Gangaur festival, which typically falls in March-April and is a celebration of the monsoon and harvesting, Gopal starts sowing wheat. “Nine days later, if the seeds grow in a uniform manner, we...
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