The Pioneer

Refuting the statement of Agriculture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal that the State farmers are prosperous and happy, former Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President and farmers’ leader Dhanendra Sahu had said that the debt ridden farmers in the State are facing a tough time in the State.

The Pioneer

The 24th meeting of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Regional Committee II comprising members from the States of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, commenced on Friday here.

Financial Express

The data released by agriculture ministry show that sowing area under all the kharif crops including rice, pulses, oilseeds and coarse cereals has declined to 11.6 million hectare as of June 22 against 12.84 million hectare in the corresponding period of previous year. India has received 10% lower than normal monsoon rainfall during June 1-22.

Business Standard

Delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon in eastern, central and northern India has affected the sowing of kharif crops, which was 9.7 per cent less during the week ended June 22 compared to the same period last year.

However, government officials and agriculture experts are of the opinion that sowing of kharif crops, particularly paddy in eastern India, oilseeds and pulses in central and northern India and cotton in western parts of the country should pick up once the monsoon revives in these parts.

The New Indian Express

Making agriculture sustainable and profitable should top the agenda of both central and state governments as food security is the key foundation of national security, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said here today.He was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day National Consultation on Agriculture at Vaikunth Mehta National Cooperative Institute of Management here.

Telangana Today

Banking sector in the State is hoping to see increased renewals of crop loans this year. Once they renew farm loan accounts, banks enhance the credit limit enabling the farmers to invest more in farm activities.

“23 renewals have commenced from May. We are hoping a 20 per cent increase in renewals over last year as liquidity position of farmers has improved,” said J Swaminathan, Chief General Manager, Hyderabad Circle, State Bank of India and Convener of State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC).

The Hindu

Higher secondary students from the science stream hardly look towards career opportunities in agriculture and related courses. However, the fact remains that courses in the field are unique.

A statement issued by Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) said food safety and nutritional security were global challenges owing to reasons like population explosion and climate change.