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How often do you come across a person who has the fortitude to quit a high-paying corporate job to make a difference to the livelihood of farmers? Well, not every day.

Venkat Iyer was leading a comfortable life in Mumbai. He was at the peak of his career in his role as Project Manager at International Business Machines (IBM) when he resigned from his position.

The Economic Times

The monsoon, which hit Kerala on Saturday after a week’s delay, has advanced into more areas in the state, southern Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep among other regions, including the southern Arabian Sea. Rain is likely to be lower than average across the country in June and July before strengthening in the final two months of the season, an official said, underscoring worries about rural weakness amid sluggish overall growth.

The Indian Express

As per the last report of National Statistical Office (NSO) released on May 31, the Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices (2011-12 prices) for the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2018-19 has slumped to 5.7 per cent for the overall economy, 3.1 per cent for manufacturing, and -0.1 percent for agriculture, forestry and fishery. However, for the entire financial year, FY19, GVA growth is more respectable — 6.6 per cent for the economy, 6.9 per cent for manufacturing and 2.9 per cent for agriculture.

The New Indian Express

After formulating a comprehensive policy for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), Odisha Government has prepared an operational guideline for promotion of such organisations and their sustainability.

The Times of India

With water-guzzling paddy transplantation already begun, the Punjab government is thinking up ways to take control of the fast depleting underground water table. One such measures at sustainable water management is its latest attempt at promoting drip irrigation in maize crop. The state agriculture and farmer welfare department has fixed a target for sowing maize: 1.50 lakh hectare. A pilot project of micro irrigation on maize crop will be taken up in 1,000 acre this season under state government’s ambitious project Tandrust Punjab.

The New Indian Express

The State Government will allot funds to the tune of Rs 3.17 crore to the district for revitalising vegetable farming and for implementing various projects in this regard.

The Times of India

The delay in the onset of monsoons and a lack of pre-monsoon showers has turned out to be a cause of concern among Goa’s farmers. With the state receiving only 0.6 mm of pre-monsoon showers in May this year, as against the 105.8 mm received in May 2018, the Goan farmers are apprehensive about sowing the paddy crop. Sources said that some overcautious farmers are planning to sow short duration varieties like Jyoti with a harvesting time of 110 days as compared to the traditional Jaya variety, which is a long duration variety

The Times of India

After the introduction of slip-based sale for fertilisers, Telangana agriculture department, for the first time in the country, is offering diplomas to dealers to help them sell pesticides in a rational manner. Telangana sees an annual sale of about 4,000 tonnes of pesticides, and with this new initiative, officials hope to reduce it by 10%. There are about 6,000 dealers across the state.

Financial Express

As per the latest report of the National Statistical Office (NSO), released on May 31, the Gross Value Added (GVA) at basic prices (2011-12 prices) for fourth quarter (Q4) of FY19 has slumped to 5.7% for the overall economy, 3.1% for manufacturing, and -0.1% for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. However, for the full financial year, FY19, GVA growth is more respectable: 6.6% for the economy, 6.9% for manufacturing and 2.9% for agriculture.

The Wire

A farmers’ body has announced that it will be sowing genetically modified seeds of brinjal and cotton in Maharashtra on June 10, even though the varieties are banned in the state. Around 5,000, under the aegis of the Shetkari Sanghatana, are expected to gather in Akola to plant the transgenic varieties as a mark of protest against the government’s ban.

DNA

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold her first pre-budget consultation meeting with farm bodies and agricultural experts on Tuesday amid delayed monsoon and drought in some states like Maharashtra.

This would be the first interaction of Sitharaman, who took over as India’s first full-time woman finance minister last month after the BJP-led NDA government won the second term. Sitharaman will be presenting the Modi 2.0 government’s first full budget on July 5.

Deccan Chronicle

The farmer and his cattle have been inseparable companions across the centuries and when he decides to sever the bond by selling off his bovines at the local cattle market, the pain no doubt, is unbearable. But when the skies fail to open up and the farmer has loan sharks breathing down his neck, there is hardly anything else he can do, Cattle are costly to maintain and with no land to till and no crop to reap, the sale is happening with increasing frequency in parched North Karnataka. Cattle markets are  getting more and more crowded as villagers look beyond agriculture to measly jobs in the state or elsewhere to keep the pot boiling. Vittal Shastri ...

Indian Express

Mathrubhumi