The Economic Times

A recent scheme by the Madhya Pradesh government to help its soyabean farmers is likely to have an adverse impact on farmers of other soya-cultivating states like Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The Madhya Pradesh government has promised its farmers to bear the difference between average market price and minimum support price (MSP) under its Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (Price Deficit Financing Scheme). This is likely to drive soyabean prices below the MSP of `3,050/quintal.

The Pioneer

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that a thoughtful practical work plan should be prepared to double the income of farmers. Besides, short term emergency schemes should be prepared for areas being affected by scanty rainfall and no rainfall at all. Make proper arrangements for water storage assessing the water requirement for irrigation and drinking. All the measures should be taken at war footing to preserve the flowing water. Similarly, in the same context, the other departments linked with the agriculture like power, horticulture, irrigation and PHE etc must ensure necessary action before time. Chouhan issued these directives while chairing the Agriculture Cabinet Meeting held at Mantralaya on Monday.

Live mint

The state had only distributed 37,662.48 quintals of paddy seeds till kharif 2017 compared with 134,314.67 quintals last year, agriculture department data shows. “We actually want farmers to sow. We want them to take up a crop, but not paddy and sugarcane,” Krishna Byre Gowda, Karnataka’s agriculture minister said in an interview last week. “Normal contingency plans we can manage. But this time, the peculiar situation is that the entire command area is being shifted to these. So it’s not an easy task (but) so far we have managed.”

Research Matters

In times like this, our best bet lies in organic farming -a system of farming that does not use genetically modified (GM) seeds, synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. “Organic farming aims to attain long-term sustainability since it is based on ecologically sound practices to provide nutrients for crop growth. Thus, in the long term, it ensures productivity gains by improving soil health”, adds Dr. Sihi, who along with researchers from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, the National Centre of Integrated Pest Management, New Delhi and the University of Florida, USA, has evaluated the impact of organic vs. conventional cultivations of basmati rice on soil health.

Livemint

In a letter to Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan, Naidu appealed not to approve commercial cultivation of GM Mustard in the country. He also expressed “serious reservations to conduct field trials of GM crops in Andhra Pradesh” due to concerns like “contamination and unauthorized spread of GM seed”. It is significant as Naidu is a key constituent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. With this letter, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister joins states like Delhi, Bihar, Kerala and Tamil Nadu have who have already written to the environment ministry against permitting commercialisation of GM mustard.