Agriculture

Sugarcane, unlike most crops, yields not one, but two or even more harvests. The first one is the cane that grows from the seed (basically stem cuttings or “setts”), which is planted and harvested in about 12 months. But there is also a “ratoon” crop that sprouts from the leftover stubble of the

The ultimate dream for any farmer is to sell his produce directly to consumers for a maximum retail price fixed by him. There are some in Punjab trying to realise this utopia. Tarsem Singh turned full-time farmer in 2008, after retiring as principal of a government senior secondary school. Cane

Odisha government has come up with a support scheme whose primary targets are small farmers, cultivators and landless agricultural labourers. Called KALIA, the scheme involves payments to encourage cultivation and associated activities. Short for Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income

With the start of New Year 2019, the Prime Minister’s flagship program e-NAM has achieved another milestone by commencing inter-State trade between mandis of two different States. Earlier trade used to happen either within the APMC or between two APMCs situated within same state. The very first

In order to boost exports of onions from the country, the central government announced it has doubled the export incentive granted to the bulb under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) from 5 per cent to10 per cent on Friday. The move comes at a time when onion prices have collapsed in

Till nearly two years ago, Suhawan Singh Rathore from Bihar had the world before him. He had completed his Masters in Development at the Azim Premji University in Bengaluru, and started working as an innovation officer at a private firm in Bhubaneswar. But then, he had a change of heart. And now, he

Soil Health Card Scheme has been taken up for the first time in a comprehensive manner across the country. Under the scheme soil health cards are provided to all farmers so as to enable the farmers to apply appropriate recommended dosages of nutrients for crop production and improving soil health

BHOJRAJ UIKE hands over a new white apron to his friend Nilesh Bagde, and both share a laugh. The apron is part of a three-piece kit that Nilesh received this year from the government for use while spraying pesticide on his cotton crop at Taroda village in Kalamb tehsil of Yavatmal district. Behind

Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh has said that with an aim to double farmers’ income, the budget outlay of the agriculture sector has been enhanced by 74.5% to Rs 2,11,694 crore during 2014-2019 as compared to Rs 1,21,082 crore during 2009-2014. On the occasion of

Giving a boost to farmers’ income, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all Rabi crops for 2018-19 to be marketed in 2019-20 season. The farmer friendly initiative will give additional return to the farmers of Rs 62,635 crore by

Gram Sabhas across the country have been asked to inform the farmers about the enrollment and benefits of Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojan (PMFBY) at the beginning of the Rabi Season today. The Gram Sabhas will also inform the farmers on how they can insure their crops under the Scheme. The Ministry

With a brief window to clear the field for sowing wheat before winter sets in, farmers tend to burn the crop residue, causing smog to engulf the region. This happened till the last paddy season despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on stubble burning three years ago. However, these sons of