The Hindu Business Line

Last January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced a new crop insurance scheme with the aim of bringing 50 per cent of the country’s farmers under insurance cover in three years. Data shows that in kharif 2016 — the first season after the scheme’s launch — crop insurance coverage had risen. However, despite the Centre’s claims, this growth is mainly due to the increase in insurance coverage of farmers who have taken crop loans (loanee farmers).

State Times

Majority of the villagers belong to the farming community and majority of them are marginal farmers having limited income from their agricultural enterprises. Scattered terraces and levelled fields are the prominent features of this village with sandy loam to clayey loam soil. Irrigation facilities are available in the low lying areas whereas, the area at upper reaches and sloppy land is majorly rainfed. Farmers primarily grow paddy in the low lying fields and maize on sloppy land during Kharif.

The Times of India

Karnataka has been hit hard by both drought and demonetisation. The state is anticipating a significant drop in agricultural output, particularly foodgrain production in 2016-17. This is expected to have a huge impact on the growth of agriculture and allied sectors, and food self-sufficiency.

The New Indian Express

Agriculture insurance has a long way to go in helping farmers manage risks in farming. A lot of awareness and simplification of norms are the need of the hour, say stake holders from the sector. In a country, where agriculture is largely influenced by climatic conditions and remunerative prices for farm produce are a distant dream, crop insurance can be of great help. But, surprisingly, instead of being a sought-after avenue for risk management, crop insurance schemes failed the farmers when they needed it the most.

The Indian Express

The minister informed that the government is implementing cooperative education, training and developmental activities with the help of National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), National Council for Cooperative Training (NCCT) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) through integrated scheme on agricultural cooperation. “In the execution of the scheme, VAMNICOM is playing a very important role,” he said.

The Times of India

A comprehensive study on the ground reality of agriculture was the need of the hour, opined Arun Raj, CEO of Orisys India Consultancy Services, who took part in the debate on ‘challenges of IT initiatives in farming sector’ held in the state capital.

The Economic Times

The National Human Rights Commission issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government, based on news reports, that 106 farmers have died or committed suicide in the state due to crop failure. On January 10, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the state would soon be declared as drought-hit. He also said 17 farmers had committed suicide due to crop losses.

The Hindu

It is the time of the year when expectations about the Budget take centre-stage. While there are hopes and apprehensions on the extent to which the Budget provisions would revive investment and demand, questions abound on how the Budget can be inclusive in its approach and delineate a roadmap for creation of job opportunities. Besides, the Budget would have provisions to push up living standards of the common citizen. All this and more is likely to be unveiled in the forthcoming Budget.