Category: Agriculture

There must be a way to stop this national shame! Is this not a national scandal? This spate of farmers ‘s suicides after a two generation efforts in ending food scarcity and ushering in the Green Revolution and ensuing self-sufficiency in food production? Now, at a time and a critical phase of our agricultural modernisation…

Maharashtra records the highest number of farmers’ suicides in 2014 with,2568 cases. The state recorded the highest number. An otherwise rich and advanced state with a poor rural development record, right? Then comes Chhattisgarh with 443 cases, then, Telengana and Madhya Pradesh. Yes, the reports on the farmers’ suicides don’t subside! You open a Sunday…

This is the mandate for the government!  Some simple common sense proposals! Monsoon uncertainties are an integral part of agriculture. Anywhere and in any country. This must be widely known. So, any screaming headlines, in the print or TV media must not make much of any sense and must not create any alarm either. The…

Yes, this year(2014-05) alone farmers’ suicides have gone up to a record 26 per cent, says the National crime Record Bureau, also quoted by noted agri expert and commentator Devinder Sharma. Rahul Gandhi had paid a mandatory visit to the suicide-victim family of Punjab. The media highlights news only when it can catch the viewership…

There is a book before us. Feeding the Baniaya, peasants and Usurers in Western India by David Hardiman(OUP).We are sure that at least some of the serious students of agriculture and rural development might have read this very insightful book. It traces the hold of the private money lenders, they come in many names and…

Deficit rainfall this year too? Yes, there is some disconcerting news for the Indian agriculture sector this year also. Last year there was 12% deficit rainfall. And the result was a reduction in grain output by3%. This year too there is the weather prediction dept which says this year also there would be below normal…

Agriculture in India has come a long way. Gone are the old much-hyped Green Revolution days. No more we can talk of in sloganeering terms.  Even if we imitate, call our goal in agriculture as evergreen revolution, as we are taught by the self-styled agri policy makers, agriculture is no more just food production and…

What the government’s vision and agenda? Industry leaders demand priority for the farm sector In a pre-budget consultation with the captains of industry the industry leaders called for priority for farm productivity, raise rural incomes and promote inclusive growth.CII president Ajay   Shriram said thi. Fine, fine! Indian agriculture is both strong as well as weak….