Huffington Post

The violent nature of the Mandsaur agitation has brought the agrarian crisis back to the forefront of the political discourse in India, and much of the discussion is focused on alleviating the farmers’ immediate suffering. Crushing debt is forcing farmers to commit suicide every other day, compelling state governments to offer farmers debt waivers in a bid to prevent the situation from escalating into a political disaster. But while short-term measures ease the pain, policymakers need to focus on long-term measures that work.

The Hindu The Hans India

Earlier, farmers dumped similar quantities of ivy gourd and blocked roads near Angadipeta on Saturday. “We are forced to sell a 50 kg bag for Rs 100 or Rs 200.” They demand a minimum support price of Rs 1,200 for 100 kg tindora, want pending subsidies to be released into accounts, and setting up of a cold storage facility in the mandal.

ET Markets

The GST on cotton is 5 per cent, the lowest slab. “2017-18 will be a good year for the cotton textile industry with a sound tax ecosysytem and real-time governance coupled with avail ability of surplus cotton,” said Senthil Kumar, chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA).

The Indian Express Live mint

Last week, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on fertilisers was reduced to 5 per cent from 12 per cent in the interest of farmers. The lower GST will bring down retail prices. “The consumer affairs ministry has given exemption to fertiliser companies to print or stamp the MRP on unsold stock by incorporating the new GST rate,” a senior fertiliser ministry official told PTI. The companies have been asked to declare revised MRP by way of stamping or putting sticker or online printing, as the case may be, after complying with some conditions, he said.

The Times of India

The state government has issued circular seeking details of all farmers, who have obtained loans, along with relevant information about the loan. “The circular has been sent to all 186 branches of BDCC bank, and the 903 PKPSs,” Alagundi told TOI. Latest Comment Instead of waving farmers loan using public money why dont this competent government using the public money to have some solution for drought which will help farmers from defaulting loan amount?

The Economic Times Live mint Outlook The Times of India

The SC on Monday stayed for now a Madras HC order directing the Tamil Nadu government to extend its loan waiver scheme to all farmers, a benefit the state had restricted to farmers with small land holdings. A bench, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur, also issued notices on the state’s appeal against the HC’s April 4 order. The HC had asked the state government to extend the scheme to the affected farmers within 3 months.

The Hindu

Small and marginal farmers in the district who mainly grow coconut and banana have responded positively to the Agriculture Department’s revamped crop insurance promotion campaign , which was launched on Saturday. As many as 2,321 farmers under the small and marginal category submitted applications through various Krishi Bhavans on day one itself and got their doubts clarified.

The Hindu

Addressing a gathering on the occasion, Ravikiran Punacha, president, Dakshina Kannada unit of the KRRS, said that the State government has now waived farm loans up to Rs 50,000 taken from cooperative banks. But that was not enough. The entire farm loan availed of by farmers from all banks should be waived.

Web India 123

Describing horticulture as one of the most viable income generating sectors for the farmers in India, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh today said India produces 286 Million Tonnes (Mts) of horticulture products by using only 15 per cent of the total agriculture land. He said the Union Government was paying focused attention to further promote it and exploring possibilities to extend the activities in potential areas.

The Economic Times The Times of India

Retail prices of tomato have more than doubled from Rs 30 per kg to Rs 65-70 per kg while that of peas have risen sharply from nearly Rs 70-80 per kg to Rs 110-120 per kg, traders said today. Traders said tomato prices have soared due to short supply. The supply of tomato has reduced drastically from states like Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana after monsoon rains. Retail prices of other vegetables including beans, round gourd, cucumbers have also increased.

Business Standard

As per the government data, the centre has allocated Rs 3,088 crore to state governments for farm mechanisation under various schemes in the last more than three years. The fund allocation for the Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) has been increase substantially in the current year.

Covai Post

The TNAU stack probe trap is made of PVC, comprising a main hollow tube having a diameter in the range of 1.8 to 2.0 cm with equi-spaced perforation in the range of 1.8 to 2 mm on its upper portion with a bend at one end which ends in a transparent collection unit to collect the insects falling down from the bend, the other end of main tube being closed, it said.