Media Monitor
Agriculture Industry
Haryana, Punjab record fall in stubble burning from last yearedit
Though they fell short of targets, Haryana and Punjab may have made a beginning in combating stubble burning by recording a 29% and 11% fall in incidence over 2017 of farm fires that are seen as a major source of winter pollution in Delhi and surrounding areas.
Long-term solution to farm distress needededit
The opposition of farmers to the Narendra Modi government is not very surprising. The increasing resort to agitation, leading to massive farmers’ rallies in the national capital in recent weeks, may have been a major factor that led to the fall of the BJP governments in the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The distress in Indian agriculture was one of the many reasons that led to the defeat of these governments. It was the result not only of incompetence but reflects the low priority given to rural voters and their needs in favour of urban residents and foreign suppliers.
Start-ups can transform Indian farm sectoredit
Modernising Indian agriculture will require nothing less than a step change in key elements of the sector: supply chains and markets; production support; and credit and crop insurance.
‘Produce exportable items to boost income’edit
Minister for Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Prafulla Samal has called on the farmers to produce more exportable commodities to increase their income. Expressing concern over poor participation of farmers in the Krushak Mela organised in every district, he has urged agriculture experts to make these fairs more informative.
Don’t Sow Loan Waivers to Reap Poll Gains, Father of Green Revolution MS Swaminathan Tells Politiciansedit
With the agrarian crisis enveloping almost all of India, election statistics indicate that loan waivers have become the winning-mantra for state elections. In the last two years, every party that has promised farm loan waivers has gone on to win elections
Agriculture mela to focus on rebuilding Keralaedit
Rebuilding Kerala will be a major theme of the third edition of ‘Vaiga’, the international workshop and exhibition on agro-processing and value addition, which will begin on Thursday in Thrissur. Addressing a news conference here on Saturday, agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar said the theme of rebuilding Kerala will be debated from three dimensions — livelihood perspective, revival of agriculture sector in post-flood situation and Kerala flood’s impact on agriculture.