BUDGETING FOR AGRICULTURE
How about smart villages, Mr Modi?
For over two decades now, agriculture has suffered overall neglect as successive governments, led by World-Bank prescribed growth models, have issued disproportionate doles to industry. While the present allocations do not spell much hope, Devinder Sharma suggests what the Modi government may still do to reverse the trend.
A few facts for GM-advocate Manmohan Singh
At the 101st Indian Science Congress in Jammu, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his faith in the potential of biotechnology for agricultural development. Devinder Sharma discusses findings that raise questions about the basis of his conviction.
THE COLDIRETTI DEBATE
Lessons from Italy for the Indian farmer
Italian farmer group Coldiretti is ushering in a new paradigm in farming, and has emerged as a powerful lobby for the interests of the small
reports on the campaign and wonders if Indian agriculture can emulate the same.
Why your bag of vegetables costs more every week!
It is certainly not because of mere demand-supply mismatch.
deconstructs the supply chain dynamics and credit linkages in the vegetable markets to show how these, coupled with government impotence, have
led to uncontrolled, spiralling inflation.
GENE CAMPAIGN CHARTER
What could make our farmers more prosperous?
Despite India's reliance on the agrarian sector, a serious farming and food crisis persists due to lack of government action and policy
indifference. On its 20th anniversary, Gene Campaign releases a Charter of Demands to form the basis of an advocacy programme for bountiful
farming, prosperous farmers and healthy food.
Agricultural policies are to blame
This linkage between agriculture and nutrition, and its impact on development indices is very clear, and a number of recent
reports point the finger of blame at agricultural policies.
Uttar Pradesh to set up 2000+ mandis
The Mayawati government proposes to reduce the distance that farmers must travel to take their produce to market to an average of
seven kms. This should help farming families boost their incomes, writes
AGRICULTURE IN PUNJAB
Scars of the Green Revolution
Sick soils, declining yields, growing debts and rising malnutrition stalk the Punjab farmer, as the practices of the boom years
catch up with him, writes
AGRICULTURE IN CRISIS
A failed harvest
A vicious cocktail of weak purchasing power among the hundreds of millions of poor people, and a systems failure in tackling supply
side challenges is driving food prices beyond the reach of many, writes
Reasons for the Bt Brinjal moratorium
Barely three days after the conclusion of the last of six public hearings, Minister of Environment Jairam Ramesh slapped a moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal.
summarises key points from the Minister's note.
FOOD PRICE INFLATION
Watching prices rise, helplessly
The current situation of impotence that the Government finds itself in should prompt some soul searching about the reliance on market mechanisms to
take care of India's food security, writes
Farmers sour on sugar cane
The handling of sugar production, sale and external trade by the government shows a complete absence of strategic planning on an
issue that critically affects the aam aadmi.