-Hindustan Times A newer generation of politicians has again voiced the demand of giving land to landless Dalit households as a means to resolve the crisis of rural livelihoods. But the relentless pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies and liberalisation has rendered most of these demands Utopian Seven decades after Independence, while a majority of farmers cultivate their own land (however small their holdings may be), most Dalit farmers in much of India...

-India Today Jaipur: After being stopped from entering Jaipur to register their protests against the Vasundhara Raje-led BJP regime, Rajasthan Kisan Sabha has decided to give the government a taste of its own medicine. The farmers, who had decided to lay siege around the Vidhan Sabha on February 22, have now threatened Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje that she and her ministers will not be allowed to enter villages in the state. Rajasthan government,...

-Livemint.com Linking MSPs to a multiple of costs and ignoring other dynamics, such as demand and global prices, risks creating distortions and disincentivizing productivity Government policymaking seems to be making a volte-face from supporting consumers (by keeping food inflation low), to supporting producers (by raising food prices). In the 2018-19 Union budget, the government “decided to keep Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all unannounced crops of kharif at least at one-and-a-half times of...

-The Hindu Rather than just increased budgetary outlays, farmers need plans that will rescue them from crop failure Similar to the last two Budgets, this year’s pro-agriculture intentions are palpable through increased outlays to the agricultural sector and initiation of various programmes. They seem impressive, but closer scrutiny shows that the measures may be of little help to stem the tide of agrarian distress. There are some real challenges confronting three...

-Livemint.com Farmer organizations in Gujarat plan a five-day protest in Gandhinagar next month over allocation of Narmada waters, crop insurance and Minimum Support Price Ahmedabad: Farmer organizations in Gujarat plan to hold a five-day protest in Gandhinagar next month to voice concerns over the allocation of Narmada waters and demands on issues such as crop insurance and Minimum Support Price. “Despite repeated written presentations to Gujarat government, our issues have not been addressed....