Orissa Post

Agriculture production has been badly hit in this locality of Bhadrak district with the monsoons playing truant. There has not been sufficient rainfall in many parts of Bhadrak district during May, June and July. Although it is already the third week of July monsoon is yet to set in properly and farming has been badly affected. Farmers of Bhandaripokhari block have so far not been able to sow paddy seeds because of the lack of water. Many plantation fields already have a parched look and at many places weeds have started growing. However, the farmers have no other option but wait, hoping that rains will arrive soon.

Krishi Jagran

The fear of fall armyworm (FAW) spread all across the country that has already started impacting the Kharif maize crop for which entities involved in creating awareness among the farmers have urged that the pesticides and safety kits used in containing the pest be exempted from GST. The infestation by FAW has been turned severe this year and all private and public sector entities are being engaged in creating awareness among the farmers early in the crop cycle to contain the impact.

The New Indian Express

With Odisha harvesting bumper paddy crops year after year due to improved seed replacement rate and use of modern methodology, the paddy procurement target set by the state government is not commensurate with the yield per acre. Farmers who have registered their names under the paddy procurement automation system (P-PAS) for selling their surplus paddy to government agencies under the price support system are unable to dispose of their stock due to such restriction.

The Times of India

Early season drought has once again hit Jharkhand, like the previous year. This time the distribution of rainfall has been scarce as a result of which 23 out of 24 districts have recorded a deficit in rainfall. Barring Sahebganj, which recorded 15% surplus rain, most of the districts have received 50% less than normal rainfall. The worst-affected districts are Pakur and Khunti with 63% and 66% deficit rain. Next in queue is Godda with 62% deficit rainfall.

Swarajya

he Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) report is a pointer to the change that Indian agriculture is witnessing with farmers looking to grow crops that provide them with higher yield and returns. Can the centre encourage or lure farmers to grow crops of its choice, particularly those crops that are in short supply? For example, this year India is facing supply shortage in maize that is in demand for exporting. On the other hand, the country still depends on importing cooking oil to meet the burgeoning demand thus spending valuable foreign exchange.

The Sentinel Assam

Farmers of the State have suffered the worst in the current wave of floods in the State. According to State Agriculture Department, around six lakh families have been badly affected involving 1.62 lakh hectares of arable land. The moot question remains that – will the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and the Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) come to the rescue of these affected farmers who have insured their crop? Such a question arises as earlier experiences of crop insurance in Assam show that such schemes benefit only the insurance companies in the State, not the farmers.

The New Indian Express

Looking at the mushrooming skyscrapers, plush eateries, malls and other state-of-the-art landmarks across the national capital, it is hard to imagine that the famed Green Revolution took root in Delhi before making a countrywide sweep and ushering in an era of bountiful harvest. With the relentless march of urbanization and the ever-extending footprint of modern infrastructure leading to an increase in demand for vacant land, farmers across the national capital are being pushed to the margins.

The Times of India

Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has appointed veteran bureaucrat Umesh Chandra Sarangi as his agriculture advisor after he realised all is not well in the agriculture department and that stringent measures are needed to tackle the drought and agrarian crisis. Fadnavis has realized though his government has drafted ambitious plans in the past five years to double farmers’ income, halt suicides and use lab-to-land technology to improve the quality of life of farmers, the results are not visible.

The Times of India

Many farmers in Raikot and Khanna are setting a good example by using direct seeded rice (DSR) technology. This method involves less use of groundwater. Experts at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) said since groundwater level in Ludhiana was dipping every year, farmers using the DSR technique was a welcome step.