Financial Express

Though Icrier and Syngenta Foundation economists Ashok Gulati, Marco Ferroni and Yuan Zhou didn’t say as much, that their book—released by finance minister Arun Jaitley—is called Supporting Indian Farms, the smart way makes it clear they feel this is being done the dumb way right now.

Hindustan Times

India is set to roll out its most integrated programme yet to cut greenhouse gases from agriculture. The project is primarily aimed at protecting the country’s five biggest vulnerable ecological landscapes, according to a two officials familiar with the matter.

Mint

The commerce ministry is planning to invest ₹ 1,500 crore to develop 40 export-oriented clusters under the proposed agriculture export policy. The move is part of the government’s short- and long-term initiatives to boost exports and curb India’s mounting current account deficit. The proposal is currently under inter-ministerial consultation. It will be sent to the cabinet for approval, a commerce ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

Financial Express

Last week, Ashoka University’s Centre for Entrepreneurship hosted the inaugural edition of the Ashoka Pillar Award, to award young talent for their innovative solutions to tackle the worsening air quality in India, at its campus in Sonepat, near Delhi. The winners, the university said, will receive Rs 6.5 lakh, Rs. 1.8 lakh and Rs. 1.4 lakh, respectively. They are Eklavya Singh (who made the EZ-Harv electric-powered combine harvester designed to prevent stubble burning), Twinkle Malhan and Aadesh Pratap Singh (who designed the Aerohealer, which uses aeroponics technology—the process of growing plants in a misty environment without the use of soil—and aloe vera plant) and Rohit Rawat (made the Green Air biotech air filter).