Hindustan Times 

More than half of India is reeling from drought-like conditions, the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) latest data shows, with millions struggling for drinking water as lakes dry up and groundwater levels deplete amid a sluggish monsoon that, as per the agriculture ministry, has impacted the sowing of key summer crops over the past two weeks.

The Economic Times

Farmer leaders fear agrarian crisis issue may get pushed to the side on the government’s priorities, as the concerns including farmer suicides that they had raised during elections seem to have had little impact on the way people voted.

The Times of India

Vizianagaram district administration is planning to set up seed villages in a bid to promote seed stockage so that farmers do not procure seed from the government or private agencies. Sources in the agriculture department said increasing dependency on government agencies for seed procurement has meant that farmers have forgotten the art of seed drilling, which was a common practice. They added that seed stocking helps acclimatise the seed to local soil and climatic conditions, ensuring a better crop production.

The Times of India

A month after the agriculture department stopped the winter vegetable zone project at Vattavada and Kanthalloor panchayats, including Devikulam block, agriculture minister V S Sunilkumar has announced another project to encourage winter vegetable and fruit farming at these panchayats. A special meeting held at the minister’s chamber announced the project.

The New Indian Express

Reacting to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) advertisement that appeared in major dailies on Sunday, stating that recovery procedures on agricultural loan defaulters will proceed unhindered, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac said SLBC’s attitude is a double standard.

The Times of India

Farmers in the district expect a reasonably good monsoon and are gearing up for the kharif season, given the rainfall over the last few days. Tilling for kharif will start after another good shower

The Indian Express

The word satyagraha, meaning polite insistence for truth, is associated with the political movements of Mahatma Gandhi for civil rights — first in South Africa and, later, in India. The famous 24-day Dandi March (also known as the Salt March), a non-violent civil disobedience act against the British monopoly on salt in 1930, became a symbol of satyagraha.

Deccan Chronicle

Direct sowing technology introduced by Agriculture department in 1980s when there was a water crisis for cultivation has helped farmers in Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts (then called east Thanjavur area) to sustain their crops overcoming the water problem said Mr. P.R. Pandian, coordinator of ‘Thamizhaga Anaithu Vivasaya Sangangalin Orunginaippu Kuzhu’ here on Saturday.

State Times 

Director Agriculture Kashmir Syed Altaf Aijaz Andrabi on Sunday made an extensive visit of sub-division Sogam district Kupwara. He inspected the various developmental activities being undertaken under different prestigious state and central sponsored schemes and monitored the impact of technological interventions on the ground. During his visit, the Director inspected the water harvesting dam at Chandigham Nai. He urged upon all stakeholders to conserve water by adopting modern scientific practices for better tomorrow by having sustainable agriculture practices on a long term basis.