The Indian Express

The Chief Minister had earlier declared that the government’s farm loan waiver scheme would benefit 89 lakh farmers in the state. Official records show that NPA accounts and the restructured loan accounts made up for 24.01 lakh farmers. Farm loans totalling Rs 12,629 crore in the state have turned bad over the years. Another Rs 10,001 crore bad loans have been restructured.

The Times of India

Efforts taken by the Trichy Corporation to promote use of organic manure have started paying rich dividends as farmers and residents have expressed happiness over the results. The corporation, till June 30, has distributed a total of 218 tonnes of manure produced from 2,215 tonnes of garbage collected in four compost units. K Jaya, 39, who has cultivated cotton in nine acres at Pullambadi in the district said that she was happy with the manure which was distributed free-of-cost. While attending a meeting organised by the city corporation officials held here on Friday, Jaya said she has been using organic manure instead of chemical fertilisers for the past three months.

The Financial Express

Farmers throughout the country are getting financial assistance by the AYUSH Ministry to encourage cultivation of herbs and other medicinal plants, parliament was informed on Friday. Subsidy, as high as 75 per cent, is being given as part of a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) said: “Under National Ayush Mission scheme, there is a component on ‘Medicinal Plants’ which is primarily aimed at supporting cultivation of herbs and medicinal plants on farmer’s land with backward linkages through establishment of nurseries for supply of quality planting material, and forward linkages for post-harvest management.”

Live mint

Kaveri Seed is building its vegetables seeds business, expanding the rice and maize seeds portfolios and strengthening its distribution network Kaveri Seeds’ revenues during the June quarter are up 20%. Kaveri Seed Co. Ltd, dubbed by some as a one-trick pony, is stepping up efforts to shed that perception. The June quarter results presentation provides details about how the company is trying to reduce its dependence on the cotton seeds business.

Zeebiz India Today

Taking the statement on record, the apex court disposed of the plea filed by environmental activist Vandana Shiva challenging the notification of 2007 with regard to selling of GM food products. Sinha said that without the regulations in place, the notification cannot be enacted upon. The Centre said the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS), 2006 provides for 30 days period for the notification to be implemented during which objections if any can be raised.