New Indian Express

Chandrakant Biradar (47), who had grown watermelon on his farmland, measuring 1 acre and 31 guntas, at Lad-Chincholi village of Aland taluk, committed suicide on Monday evening. He hanged himself from a tree in his field.

Biradar, who used to sell watermelon to wholesale merchants of neighbouring Latur in Maharashtra and Kalaburagi, had borrowed Rs 5 lakh from Axis Bank and Rs 5 lakh from private moneylenders. Due to the lockdown in the country, Biradar could not transport his produce to either Latur or Kalaburagi. Frustrated, he ended his life. A case of unnatural death was registered at Narona police station.

Indian Express

The central government’s decision to bring down trait fees on Bollgard (BG) variety of cotton to zero, has evoked criticism from farmers’ groups which claim this will stop the introduction of new technology in the country. Anil Ghanwat, president of Shetkari Sanghtana, a farmer’s union, said the move will have an effect on the fortunes of cotton growers across the country. Trait fee is the amount seed companies have to pay to the technology providers for using their patented technology.

Times Of India

In these times of food shortage due to the lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19, it is the villages of Goa that still continue their agrarian traditions that are least affected as they turn to their home-grown produce. Farmers from these villages are sustaining their neighbours by either providing them with fruits and vegetables freshly sourced from their fields or bartering produce like in ancient times. In mining-ravaged Cavrem-Pirla, a village nestling in the foothills of the Sahyadris, locals said they can manage their resources and sustain themselves for long periods. “Since the lockdown, things have been going on as usual and not a single package of essentials has been supplied here by authorities,” deputy sarpanch of ...

Economic Times

The government said that farmers will get the 3% concession on interest rate on crop loans even if they fail to repay loans till May 31. This is sync with Reserve Bank of India’s three-month moratorium scheme for stressed borrowers.

Farmers get a 3% concession on crop loan interest for prompt repayment. Loans up to Rs 3 lakh are considered for this benefit. This helps borrowers with good repaying habit get loans at 4% annual rate.

Times Of India

The prices of all vegetables would be stable at least for the next two days with adequate produce reaching the Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard on Tuesday. “There was surplus supply of vegetables on Tuesday. So, their prices came down within the budget of common people,” said Dttatray Kalamkar, the head of the vegetable division of the market. The Chhatrapati Shivaji Market Yard on Tuesday received 13,700 quintals of vegetables, higher by 1,300 quintals when compared to the last bazaar day on Sunday. The Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) officials stated that the five sub-markets in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad also received more vegetables than expected at 6,290 quintals. Thus, prices of all vegetables, including leafy vegetables, ...

The News Minute

April is not harvest season for many crops in Kerala, but there are some farmers badly affected by the lockdown implemented by the government to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Few days ago, the Kerala government had said that harvesting would be considered an essential service and would be excluded from the lockdown. The ripe paddy in Kuttanad was harvested following the Government Order and the Agriculture Ministry undertook steps to procure the paddy.

However, this is the season of pineapple-harvesting in the state. Though Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayam has assured that harvesting in pineapple plantations would be done without any issues, farmers are struggling to find a market for the harvested fruits. The lockdown means ...

The Hindu

One week into the COVID-19 lockdown, and five days after the Centre’s welfare package was announced, there is no sign of the promised free grains and pulses at ration shops across the country.

Although the Finance Minister promised that the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana would come into effect immediately, the Food Department only issued orders to the States on Monday, and States are yet to lift the additional grain for the distribution of the extra 5 kg rice or wheat per beneficiary. For the promised 1 kg of free pulses, the need to process and transport procured dals, is causing even further delays.

The Print

Faced with an acute shortage of labour following the nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak, an agriculture crisis looms large over Punjab and Haryana where farmers are set to begin harvesting the wheat crop in just 10 days.

The two states together need nearly 16 lakh farm hands for harvesting and procurement, but with migrant labourers returning to their home states, and seasonal labour from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar not coming in, there is a crisis at hand, according to farmer associations.

Times Of India

With government allowing certain exemptions to farmers for carrying out necessary farm operations during lockdown period, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on Tuesday issued advisories for harvesting and threshing of Rabi (winter sown) crops, post-harvest storage and marketing of farm produce in the wake of the coronavirus spread in different parts of the country. The move will ensure smooth supply of essential food items including vegetables and fruits. The advisories are mainly dealt with how farmers should continue with their operations by taking measures of “personal hygiene and social distancing” during harvesting of all field crops, fruits, vegetables, eggs and fishes before, during and after executing the field operation in the lockdown period.