News 18

For more than two decades, Indian farmer Ravindra Kajal cultivated rice the way his forefathers had – every June he flooded his fields with water before hiring an army of farmhands to plant paddy seedlings.

But a scarcity of workers this year because of the coronavirus forced Kajal to change. He irrigated the field just enough to moisten the soil and leased a drilling machine to directly sow seeds on his 9-acre (3.6-hectare) plot.

“Since I was more than comfortable with the tried-and-tested way of growing rice, I opted for the new method with some trepidation,” said Kajal, 46, looking over his field, green with rice saplings, in Raipur Jattan village in Haryana.

“But I’ve already saved ...

Insights on India

As floods cause major damage to life and property every year, it is time the central and the state governments prepare a long-term plan that goes beyond piecemeal measures like building embankments and dredging to control floods.

Also, there is a need for an integrated basin management plan that brings all the river-basin sharing countries as well Indian states on board.

At least 43 years after India’s first and last commission on floods was constituted, there is no national-level flood control authority in the country so far.

Times Of India

While several states in India are experiencing severe flood-like situation, most rivers in Odisha are running dry and a possible drought-like situation is looming large over the state. Nearly 11 coastal districts of the state have, so far, got deficit rainfall, while 18 of them experienced normal rainfall. The southwest monsoon, which arrived in the state on time, has been playing truant after a good start. The state received nearly 50 mm less rainfall as compared to the normal trend this season. However, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to moderate rainfall in several districts in Odisha between July 22 and 25.

First Post

For more than two decades, Indian farmer Ravindra Kajal cultivated rice the way his forefathers had – every June, he flooded his fields with water before hiring an army of farmhands to plant paddy seedlings.

But a scarcity of workers this year because of the coronavirus forced Kajal to change. He irrigated the field just enough to moisten the soil and leased a drilling machine to directly sow seeds on his 9-acre (3.6-hectare) plot.

“Since I was more than comfortable with the tried-and-tested way of growing rice, I opted for the new method with some trepidation,” said Kajal, 46, looking over his field, green with rice saplings, in the Raipur Jattan village in Haryana state.

Business Today

The Haryana government has decided to make the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) in the state voluntary for farmers, an official said here on Thursday. “Getting insurance of crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in Haryana will now depend entirely on farmers’ wish,” a spokesperson of the state’s agriculture and farmers’ welfare department said.

The spokesperson added that the state government has now decided to make the scheme completely voluntary for the convenience of the farmers, and a notification has also been issued in this regard. He also said farmers having Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) can also give a self-declaration in their banks if they do not need crop insurance.

Financial Express

Private non-life insurer Bharti AXA General Insurance on Thursday said it has received Rs 800 crore worth crop insurance mandate from Maharashtra and Karnataka governments to insure farmers in both the states under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

The company has secured authorisation for three years from both the state governments to implement the PMFBY in six districts of Maharashtra and three districts of Karnataka, a release said. The PMFBY offers insurance cover to farmers against losses of crops during the entire cycle, from preparation of sowing to harvesting and post-harvest, due to poor yield.