After almost a decade, the Jharkhand state seed subcommittee released nine high-yielding varieties of rice, groundnut, soya bean, sugarcane and chickpea crops, following a notification by the Gover

For a state that always takes pride in being called the “Rice Bowl of India”, this is surely disconcerting news. As per the 2011 census, there has been a significant fall in the number of cultivators in Andhra Pradesh during the last one decade.

The percentage of cultivators has declined from 22.52 per cent in 2001 to 16.47 per cent in 2011. The total population of the state is 8.45 crore as per the latest census.

The Central Government would provide relief only to those farmers, who were affected by drought, and not compensation for crop loss, clarified Pravesh Sharma, Team leader of the Central Drought Tea

Team visits delta regions in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, and Tiruvarur districts

Farmers representatives sought to impress upon the Central team that toured the delta districts on Tuesday the need for sanctioning relief quickly to all farmers as the drought has had a severe impact. Several farmers also insisted that the Centre sanction the full quantum of compensation sought by the State (which has sought about Rs.19,665 crore as drought relief).

In a departure from its stated stand on the Food Security Bill, the Samajwadi Party Tuesday said it is "totally opposed" to the proposed legislation as it is "anti-farmer".

After cancelling its licence to sell 12 varieties of Bt cotton seeds last year, the State government has allowed Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) to sell the seeds in the coming kharif season, subject to certain conditions.

Confirming this, State agriculture commissioner Umakant Dangat told The Hindu on Monday that Mahyco had given an affidavit to him stating that the company would supply 10 lakh packets of Bt cotton seeds of the popular MRC 7351 variety.

The fertiliser ministry, in a note to the EGoM on domestic natural gas pricing, suggested that gas should not be priced more than $6 mmBtu.

Of the total amount, Rs 3,500 cr will be disbursed in the khariff season and another Rs 2,500 cr during rabi plantation

Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government on Monday announced to provide Rs 6,000 crore loan to the farmers at two percent interest rate through co-operative societies. This comes close on the heels of earlier scheme to provide free mobile handsets and health insurance to farmers, marking the overdrive by the ruling dispension to woo a prominent section of voters in the run up to the elections.

CM says agriculture production in the state crossed 10 mn tonnes in 2011-12 and it had won the Krishi Karman award for 2012-13

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced schemes worth Rs 984.7 crore aimed at boosting agricultural production in the state besides ensuring fair prices for agri produce in the market. The state expects these projects to help it achieve self-sufficiency in foodgrain. Chief minister J Jayalalithaa said agriculture production in the state crossed 10 million tonnes in 2011-12 and it had won the Krishi Karman award for 2012-13.

Even while trade and industry have been demanding the reopening of the GAIL pipeline project, citing the energy needs of the region, farmers are united against its unilateral implementation in its