-The Times of India   KOCHI: A mini tiller was presented to the farmers in Edavanakkad to help them prepare the field for the pokkali crop as the monsoon sets in this week. The tiller machine was handed over on Tuesday by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Ernakulam, which functions under the Centre for Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Ernakulam. Last month, the machine was given a trial run at different pokkali fields. "The tiller...

-The Hindu   The brutal rape and lynching of two girls in Badaun should shock the collective conscience of all Indians, regardless of their class, caste, religious or ethnic background. But does it? A spate of legal reforms following the protests over the December 16, 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman rejected some of the main recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee that were central to combatting sexual violence. These...

-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...

-The Hindu   The Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, recently said he "supports" higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. But even if he were to substantially increase the tax rates, will it make cigarettes and other tobacco products very expensive and hence reduce consumption? In the case of India, as per the current taxation practices, increasing the tax component is quite unlikely to reduce consumption drastically. This is unlike the...

-The Telegraph   The European Union has banned the import of Indian mangoes as they failed to pass its stringent biosecurity regulations. Does India too need tougher biosecurity laws to protect its crops from pests and diseases? When a few pesky fruit flies tried to migrate from India, they ended up sparking a debate on the effectiveness of India's agricultural biosecurity laws and regulations. While some agriculture experts believe the laws are...