The Times of India

The introduction of universal basic income (UBI) is likely to hamper fiscal soundness even if it is accompanied by removing all existing poverty programmes and subsidies, a think tank said on Tuesday in a report that it released for consideration of political parties

The Times of India

The government has reverted the subsidy amount on minitillers and weed-cutters from the current 50% and 75% respectively to 90%, Canacona zonal agriculture officer Chandrahas Desai informed. A few months back, the agriculture department had reduced the assistance amount on purchase of agricultural machinery from 90% to 50%. The economically weaker section of farmers in Canacona, particularly those from Cotigao and Gaondongrim, who are dependant on farming and farm-related activities as their main occupation, complained about facing hardships to upgrade their farming equipment.

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For two decades, Chinthanna Linganna, 55, has cultivated agricultural land leased from others in Talamadugu village in Telangana’s Adilabad district. He currently rents 20 acres of land to grow cotton. Since May, the people who own this land have received cheques of up to Rs 1.6 lakh from the state government as agricultural investment support. Linganna received no such assistance even though he invests around Rs 40,000 per acre in this land, which includes the cost of leasing it.

Business Standard

India needs to focus on the resolution of farm distress rather than loan waivers which kill the credit culture, former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan said Tuesday.”First we need to worry about why people are so distressed and angry. There is a lot of agriculture distress. I personally believe that farm loan waivers are not the answers. But there are other answers,” he said when asked about what should be the focus for the upcoming elections.

Down To Earth

Increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and the associated rise in temperatures is affecting life on earth at different scales. Agricultural scientists are worried over sustaining food production and productivity of major crops like wheat, paddy, and maize. Over the years, studies have shown that elevated carbon dioxide levels will stimulate wheat productivity but the consequent rise in temperatures would have a negative impact.

Business Standard

Various opinion polls conducted recently show how better job opportunities will remain a key issue in the voters’ mind in the upcoming general elections.But what is causing this jobs crisis? A careful examination of the National Sample Survey Office’s (NSSO’s) periodic labour force survey (PLFS) report showed a collapse in agricultural jobs as a key reason behind rising unemployment, particularly in the rural parts of the country.

The Tribune

Members of seven farmer unions staged a protest in front of the District Administration Complex and submitted a memorandum of demands to the Deputy Commissioner here on Monday. The union members demanded that the state government must give permission to start paddy sowing from June 1 onwards.

Farm Weekly

WESTERN Australian grain growers with high levels of crop stubble, following a good season in some parts of the State’s grainbelt in 2018, are encouraged to consider options other than burning paddocks in the lead up to seeding this year.

Krishi Jagran

Business Standard

According to latest reports, Bank of Baroda has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the agriculture services companies in order to create an agriculture digital platform known as ‘Baroda Kisan’ that will provide solutions for agricultural requirements.

The Times of India

Addressing a workshop held here at the National Research Centre for Banana in Trichy on Monday, the deputy director general (Agricultural Engineering/Natural Resource Management), ICAR, New Delhi K Alagusunadram emphasized the importance of Knowledge-based resources information system hub for innovation in agriculture (KRISHI). It is a data repository on agriculture in one place for the public access, he added. Assistant director general (Soil and Water Management), ICAR, New Delhi SK Chaudhari elaborated the genesis of the KRISHI Portal project, how it has changed its vision since 2014 to become the world’s most vibrant data repository of agricultural information.