Opinion Express

The rapidly worsening condition of the environment is increasingly creating harsh terms for agriculture in India. The sudden floods, such as those experienced by Telangana last week, and unexpected droughts in many areas coupled with a sheer drop in yield per acre are creating financial havoc for the farming community. Moreover, the recently-passed farm Acts have added to the woes of the already burdened growers. Farmers have become unsure of the future, especially regarding the produce and how the MSP (Minimum Support Price) will be impacted due to the entry of big players and whether the Government will continue to buy farm produce at the same price and quantity as before.

Economic Times

The Food Corporation of India and state procurement agencies have bought 26 per cent more paddy so far in this year’s kharif marketing season at 170.53 lakh tonne for Rs 32,196 crore. Paddy procurement for kharif 2020-21 is continuing at a good pace in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala and Gujarat with purchase of over 170.53 lakh tonne of paddy till Tuesday against 134.85 lakh tonne in the same period last year.

Out of the total purchase, Punjab alone has contributed 114.97 lakh tonne, which is around 67 per cent of the total procurement.

Indian Express

With just 1.19 per cent of the total farmer households and 1.53 per cent of land in the country, Punjab has been contributing over one-third of the total wheat and paddy procured by the central government every year.

The agrarian economy of the state is largely dependent on this annual procurement at minimum support price (MSP) by central government agencies such as the Food Corporation of India.

Financial Express

Even as a recent fiat by the Centre to the Punjab government put the so-called rural development fee (RDF) collected by the latter from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for central pool purchases under scrutiny, Punjab’s food minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu sought to avoid a showdown with New Delhi on the issue, and said that the RDF proceeds haven’t been diverted. The monies collected as RDF — around Rs 1,750 crore in FY20 alone — have been spent on infrastructure of procurement centres, the minister told FE.

Telangana Today

Telangana government has waived off crop loans amounting to Rs 27,718 crore, the highest by any State, since the formation of the State. Added to this, the State government has spent another Rs 28,000 crore under Rythu Bandhu benefiting farmers directly since the launch of the novel scheme.

In an informal interaction with the media at Telangana Bhavan here on Wednesday, IT and Industries Minister and TRS working president K T Rama Rao said while the opposition parties continue to accuse the State government on loan waiver implementation for political mileage, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in its report, clearly stated that Telangana State government had waived off the highest number of crop loans in the ...

New Indian Express

After a week’s delay, the Northeast monsoon has set in over Tamil Nadu, and in most likelihood, it would be normal. Southwest monsoon withdrew on Wednesday and simultaneously the Northeast monsoon commenced over extreme South peninsular India (Tamil Nadu and Kerala).

Business Line on Campus

For decades, people have left traditional agriculture and migrated to cities in search of a better life. Yet, despite its challenges, agriculture has its own importance and a natural charm.

I know a professor in IIT-Madras — Prof Veezhinathan Kamakoti — a world-renowned computer technologist, who advises the Prime Minister and the National Security Advisor on matters relating to electronic and cyber-security, who is extremely passionate about agriculture. Prof Kamakoti has his own farm in Tamil Nadu, where he grows a variety of organic stuff, including rice. When time permits, Kamakoti escapes his urban reality and can be seen pottering about in the fields.

I know of a ‘software couple’ who ditched their jobs in ...

Deccan Herald

India is appreciating the newfound ease with which it can access farmland and indulge in organic farming. Besides being a golden opportunity for small-time investors, this change is also creating a highly profitable business opportunity for regular customers, who don’t have access to significant capital but who are looking to move away from the hustle & bustle of city life. The organic farming company, Hebbevu Agro-Realty, is showing people the way forward in this direction, at an affordable price. Within a short time, this firm, run by brothers, Amith and Ashrith Kishan, former bankers, has gained the trust of the public and has become one of the most loved & trusted brands in organic farming.