Deccan Herald

Agriculture, being the primary sector, has the most number of people in India earning their bread from it. Rural farmers today, moving from subsistence cultivation to market retail, contend with a host of issues pertaining to right pricing, branding, quality checks, and above all, finding a lucrative customer base.

The Economic Times

Farmers are not upbeat despite a heavy monsoon period expected which will enhance their harvest, as the proposed implementation of 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on pesticides will add to their existing plight.

Financial Chronicle

Foodgrains set to be cheaper under GST Foodgrains will cost less from Jul% 1 when GST is rolled out as the GST council has exempted the daily-use commodities from the levy.

The Times of India

“We will ask BARC to set up such facilities in Madhya Pradesh and other parts of the country for onions, potatoes and other perishable horticultural produce. Bumper production can be dealt with through better post-harvest management.

DNA

Till now only one GM crop — Bt Cotton — is grown in Indian fields. The only other food crop to receive all approvals was Bt Brinjal. However, the government blocked its introduction. There has been widespread political and public opposition to the technology

The Hindu Business Line

Looking at the way the agrarian crisis has built up in different pockets, it does appear that the overall approach to agriculture is marked by reactive, rather than clear-sighted, proactive thinking. Almost all policies are geared towards ‘price’. It is assumed that getting this right is the panacea for all the problems. It is not surprising that the focus has deflected from enhancing productivity, which is the right answer to most problems in agriculture.

The Pioneer

Besides the National Seeds Association, representatives from the Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) were present in the meeting. Global seed firms Monsanto, Bayer and Sygental are members of FSII. More than 80 per cent of seeds sown are hybrids in the country. The size of hybrid market is about Rs 6,000 crore.

The Indian Express

Even As the controversy over GM Mustard rages on, another row is in the offing over genetically modified (GM) crop version of jowar — or sorghum, said to be the poor man’s food in India — as some members of a Parliamentary committee is learnt to have taken strong note of it.

DNA

Till now only one GM crop — Bt Cotton — is grown in Indian fields. The only other food crop to receive all approvals was Bt Brinjal. However, the government blocked its introduction. There has been widespread political and public opposition to the technology.