Sept. 17: The Centre today announced a diesel subsidy of up to Rs 500 per hectare to farmers in drought-hit Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand to help them irrigate their fields.

FARMERS in drought-hit districts will get diesel subsidy of 500 per hectare, even as the Centre awaits bumper crop production for most key kharif crops including paddy, cotton, pulses, and sugarcane.

A good monsoon and prospects of a good kharif and rabi should have a sobering effect on food prices, still in excess of 15%.