Science under siege
Agricultural science has ossified in India. Despite a vast network of public research institutions and agriculture universities across the country,…
Centre admits challenges in implementing PMFBY, seeks robust system to assess crop loss
Failure to forecast rainfall and other weather events hinders assessment of crop loss and delays payment of insurance claims
Is government manipulating agriculture data?
Government’s policy decisions and ground reports are in conflict with official data on sowing, production and agriculture insurance
Despite farmer marches, Centre plans no debt waiver
Such waivers may impact the credit culture of a State, says junior argiculture minister Parshottam Rupala
Official data exposes Centre’s inflated claims on success of agriculture insurance scheme
The number of non-loanee farmers opting for insurance reached 9.7 million in kharif season of 2016 as against 9.8 million in the same period in …
After Sikkim, Lakshadweep set to turn 100% organic
The use of synthetic chemicals for agriculture was halted completely in 2005 by the Union territory
State-run insurance firms headless; PMFBY implementation suffers
Performances of private insurance companies were also not encouraging, though they had been opted for those states where risk was less
Panel ‘disappointed’ about no data on complaints resolved under PMFBY
The Standing Committee on Agriculture urged the government to maintain records of complaint resolution under the PMFBY, for its effective …
Farmers give a thumbs-down to day-long talks, even as govt says progress made
The government agreed to talk about seven major objections of farmers in new farm laws; farmers not satisfied with talks
Seeds of Strife
The Seed Bill takes away states’ power to regulate seed prices, could lead to Centre-state confrontation
Report highlights use of non-approved pesticides in food items in India
Even as studies point out the use of these pesticides in food commodities, coordination gaps between concerned deparments have not been addressed
Centre favours manufacture of endosulfan
Says disposal will cost Rs 210 crore while using existing raw material stock to manufacture the pesticide will increase crop production
One-sided deal
Contract farming is increasing in India, but laws are not in place to protect farmers
Why experts want GM freeze
Say regulatory system has grave deficiencies; challenge agriculture ministry’s claims
Project without a plan
After two budgets and Rs 5,300 crore in funding, the Centre's micro irrigation project that promises water to every farmland is not even close to …
Budget 2023-24: Here are the budgetary allocation trends for key ministries
Budgetary allocation was curtailed or reported marginal increase across key ministries and social schemes
India's genome saviours
Farmers and organisations who have won government recognition this year for conserving seeds of indigenous crops and plant species
Locust swarms: How can they be warded off?
All ammunition currently in use against locusts can have serious health and environmental impacts
Locust swarm invasion: The wind factor
Desert locusts are age-old threats. But now something is changing in the way they spread and reproduce
Locust plague: How India can fight this menace
Locusts have spread to new territories across India, with new factors contributing to their spread. What can be done to curb this ‘other …
Vidarbha farmers unhappy with minimum support price for cash crops
Agriculture ministry overlooked increased input and labour costs, ignored state government recommendations
Can endosulfan be exported?
Supreme Court asks panel to explore possibilities of disposing of the pesticide
Locust swarms: How the other plague is affecting several states
Locusts have returned to India in just two months and are spreading to new territories. Has climate change added another layer of stress and …
Union Budget 2023: Foundation for sustainable farming is missing in India
Ambitious initiatives for farmers are promising but transition to sustainable agriculture requires healthy soil and inputs
Contaminating millets
There is disquiet over government scheme to wean traditional millet farmers on chemical inputs