The Hindu

Andhra Pradesh received 82 per cent deficit rainfall during the North-East Monsoon (October to December) affecting the sowing of Rabi crop. The deficit in Rayalaseema during the NE Monsoon is higher compared to the rest of the State at 92 per cent.

Business Standard

India might experience a warm winter this year, with temperatures in all the sub-divisions likely to be higher than usual between December 2016 and February 2017. Last year, the country had recorded the warmest winter since 1901. North India, which has the main rabi growing states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, would also have fewer number of cold wave spells this year.

The Asian Age

The government’s move to start replacement of high-value currencies has delivered a body blow to the farmers and farm labourers who rely on the Narela anaj mandi, wholesale market for crops in the outskirts of Delhi. The farmers who rely mainly on cash transactions are in acute distress and some even spoke of mortgaging whatever land they have.

The Times of India

Uttarakhand’s agriculture sector, which contributed 22% in gross state domestic product (GSDP) in 2004-05, has nosedived to touch an abysmal 9% in one decade, a joint research carried out by industry body ASSOCHAM and RNCOS have said. According to the study — ‘Agri Business Outlook in Uttarakhand’ – that was released on Thursday, the primary reason for the decline in agricultural output is shrinking of land holdings in the state. “Low level of land holdings is a key challenge as over 70% of the state’s farmers hold less than one hectare of land,” the report said. ASSOCHAM officials said while this was a major issue being faced by the farm sector, it had indirectly impacted ...

The New Indian Express

The state’s transition from a producer state to a consumer state was the saddest development in recent years, Governor P Sathasivam said on Thursday. Underlining the need for adequate storage facilities for farm produce, he said farmers will pursue their profession only if it is profitable on a regular basis. The Governor was inaugurating VAIGA-2016 – short for Value Addition for Income Generation in Agriculture – a five-day workshop on agro-processing and value-addition organised by the Agriculture Department.

Business Standard

Uttarakhand needs to promote a separate hill farming policy as the state has a meagre 14 per cent net sown area, more so as three-fifth of the state’s total working population is engaged in agriculture, a study has recommended. “The performance of Uttarakhand in agriculture and allied activities has not been up to the mark as its share in the gross state domestic product (GSDP) had declined sharply from over 22 per cent in 2004-05 to just over nine per cent in 2014-15,” the study conducted by ASSOCHAM jointly with research firm RNCOS said.

 

The Indian Express

The state government has decided to route subsidies through direct benefit transfer to help farmers, facing a severe shortage of cash because of the demonetisation, procure fertilisers, farm equipment and seeds. For this, the government has introduced a simple form, which the farmer has to submit in bank stating the amount required and purpose. By showing the acknowledged receipt to dealers, farmers can procure fertilisers, seeds or farm equipment.