The Tribune

‘Zero budget’ is a system of agro-ecological farming that relies on locally available inputs, including urine and dung from local cow breeds, with emphasis on mulching and multiple cropping, thereby reducing the cost of production. Travelling through Andhra Pradesh, where Subhash Palekar’s Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is being practised, I see healthy soil, healthy crop and healthy people. There has been no farm suicide reported so far from areas where agro-ecological farming practices are being followed. The productivity of crops in the areas that have already been converted to ZBNF has not gone down, it remains more or less the same and the yields of many crops have increased. 

The Times of India

Chemical farming will certainly continue. However what happened in Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh is indeed a miracle. I got full support from Chandrababu Naidu. Today, five lakh farmers are cultivating by the SPNF method in Andhra. In Himachal, the authorities have decided to convert every inch of land into SPNF. I have got acceptance in Uttarakhand too. Three new states, Karnataka, Kerala and Chhattisgarh, have shown willingness.

The Hindustan Times

The water ministry, a part of the CoS on agriculture and rural development, has pitched for less water for crops as a high priority issue. It has suggested production of alternative crops, a better irrigation system and financial incentives to farmers for optimal water usage. A committee of secretaries (CoS), formed under directions of the PM, to look into agriculture and related matters, is set to emphasise on the need to cut down on water usage on crops, especially paddy and sugar-cane, in its report to the cabinet secretary. Soon after coming to power for the second term, Modi formed around 10 committees of secretaries (CoS) to look into major issues and vet schemes before the ...

The Times of India 

Impact investments, a pathway to achieve the seemingly divergent goals of financial returns and social good, are moving towards agriculture and healthcare in the country, according to the latest report of research organisation Brookings India. It’s a marked shift in trends from two years ago. Until 2017, these sectors saw muted interest from impact funds, receiving smaller infusions. Energy and microfinance, however, continue to command the attention of funders the world over, as per the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).