-Down to Earth Agricultural markets have turned into centres of political power, say farmers' organisations The new BJP government in Maharashtra has dismissed 166 agricultural produce market committees (APMCs), including the apex Navi Mumbai APMC, following thousands of complaints of irregularities and misconduct received against them. An order to this effect was issued on Monday, November 10, to the director of agricultural marketing in the state. Agriculture Secretary Sudhir Goyal informed that the...

-PTI India may finally sign the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement following discussions with the US on the details of an indefinite "peace clause" on food security, according to a research paper discussing the effectiveness of the upcoming G20 summit. The study paper by Melbourne-based think-tank Australia India Institute (AII) titled ‘The G20: Challenges and opportunities Ahead', said following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US and his talks with US President...

-The Indian Express * Have global agri-commodity prices fallen? By how much? They have. The Food and Agricultural Organisation's latest Food Price Index (base: 2002-04 = 100) of 192.3 for October is down 6.9 per cent compared to a year ago, and 19.1% below the all-time high of 237.7 reached in February 2011. Prices of commodities such as corn, wheat, soybean, sugar and palm oil traded in international futures exchanges are today...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: India registered the third highest rate for patent filings by non-residents at 78% of the total applications, ahead of China at 18%, Japan at 16% and the US at 50%, the latest data from the Indian patent office showed. Canada and Brazil topped the list with 86.6% and 84%, respectively. Officials opine this is an indicator of lack of awareness amongst the domestic industry as well...

-The Hindu Business Line Now that the gains from the first round have petered out, we need to embrace biotech to boost farm productivity As India seeks to ignite the next agrarian revolution, it must try and absorb some of the lessons of the Green Revolution. Currently, agricultural productivity and growth vary from State to State, resulting in regional disparities. Through targeted policymaking, investment in rural infrastructure and research, and ongoing support...