`The New Indian Express

Pointing out that even during the past DMK regimes, Mettur dam could not be opened for irrigation on June 12, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday underscored the fact that despite less storage, the Kuruvai package would ensure cultivation in 3.15 lakh acres – the extent of cultivation which would have taken place if the dam is opened on June 12.

The Hindu

A three-day Agriculture Summit and Exhibition, organised by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, opened in the city on Friday with District Collector K. Rajamani calling upon farmers to focus on value addition of farm produce to get better returns.

The Better India

Parthasarathy, a farmer from Govindapuram village in Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, won the Innovative Rice Farmer Award in 2015, for his use of drip irrigation in rice cultivation. Under the aegis of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mr Parthasarathy, along with 23 other farmers, successfully managed to grow paddy, maize, and onions. The paddy yield was around 6 tonnes per hectare compared to India’s average of 2.5 tonnes.

The Times of India

Out of 3,548 primary cooperative agricultural service societies (PACS) in the state, 36% were in loss last year. The number has arisen to 40% as on March 31, Punjab cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said here on Friday.

Business Standard

Under the protocol, Indian rice exported to China would have to comply with Chinese quarantine laws and regulations. The Indian department of agriculture will ensure that the rice exported is free of six identified pests which are of concern to China. Each batch of rice which is being exported has to be accompanied by a certificate issued by the agriculture ministry saying that it complies with China’s phytosanitary requirements.

The Times of India

After forming a high-level task force for identifying key sources of air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM1) in Ahmedabad, the Gujaratgovernment has circulated the first detailed Air Action Plan draft plan for the city amongst 10 departments that will in future co-ordinate and conduct joint raids to enforce the plan. Once enforced in Ahmedabad, the AAP will be extended to Surat city in a few months’ time.

The Tribune

Agricultural scientists and stakeholders from different departments held prolonged deliberations to contain stubble burning menace that has affected the air quality levels in the region during a meeting in Bathinda.