The Hans India

Land holding is a significant input for agriculture. The average land holding in Telangana in 2010-11 was 1.12 hectares (2.8 acres) against the all India average of 1.16 hectares, as per the Agriculture Statistics of Telangana 2015-16. Increase in population has put pressure on land, leading to fragmentation of holdings.

The Hindu

Karnataka is likely to fall short of its foodgrain production target for 2016-17 by a massive 36 per cent owing to drought, according to an assessment by the Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission (KAPC). The State had set a target of achieving production of nearly 135 lakh tonnes for 2016-17. But drought, said to be among the worst in 40 years, had affected production of various crops, states KAPC’s report ‘Perspective and Forecasting’.

Business Standard

In what could be a relief to millions of farmers and the government, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said severe cold wave conditions are likely in Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan from Tuesday till the morning of Saturday. This, after the slight drizzle over most of North India since Friday, could be a lifeline for the standing wheat and mustard crops, facing moisture stress due to a warmer than usual winter.  IMD had said last month that temperatures in all sub-divisions were likely to be warmer than normal between December and February.

The Economic Times

In a distinct example of technological success in agriculture, farmers in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district increased their per hectare groundnut yield by 30% owing to the use of cloud technology and business intelligence.

The Hans India

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the new crop insurance scheme launched by Central Government in January 2016 to replace the existing two schemes National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) as well as Modified NAIS which have had some inherent drawbacks.

The Financial Express

However, there is one sector which brings a glimmer of hope, and that is agriculture and allied sector, which registers a jump from 1.2% last year to 4.1% this year. It is a critical sector, engaging almost half the workforce of country and providing food security. It suffered in the last two years, thanks to back-to-back droughts. So, an anticipated growth of 4.1% brings much-needed relief, although it is far lower than 5.5% agri-GDP growth that NITI Aayog officials have been talking about for some time now.

First Post

What is equally significant to note is that in spite of being such a large state, and with some of the most fertile alluvial plains in the country, the contribution of agriculture to the state’s GDP has kept on falling. In fact, most of the farmers from UP and neighbouring Bihar can often been found working in the fields of Punjab, Haryana and Chattisgarh.

The Hindu

In the first pre-budget consultations held at the Interim Government Complex at Velagapudi in Guntur district on Monday, Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu discussed with experts the shortcomings of agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sectors and the steps that the Government is expected to take to bring a turnaround.

Live Mint

A Twitter poll by the finance ministry inviting suggestions on which sector needs most focus in the upcoming budget has, midway through the vote, overwhelmingly picked agriculture, putting the farm sector over infrastructure, manufacturing and information technology (IT) and other services.