The implementation of the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) has resulted in an increase in food grain production by 42 million tonne as against the target of 20 million tonne set for the Eleventh Plan.

Agriculture and Food Processing Industries minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday informed members of parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry that various interventions under NFSM have resulted in the distribution of almost 75 lakh of farm equipment, nearly 175 lakh quintals of highyielding seeds of rice, wheat and pulses, and knowledge transfer through more than 49,000 farmer field schools and 8 lakh field demonstrations.

Morale-booster to drought-hit farmers in Anantapur district.

Despite the drought in Maharashtra, the State government diverted water to thermal power plants in scarcity regions, said Greenpeace on Thursday.

MUMBAI: Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on May 25 announced that Dena Bank has adopted 32 drought affected villages and provided 101 drinking water storage tanks in Aurangabad and Nashik distr

AURANGABAD: Even as the divisional administration demanded around Rs 300 crore to deal with drought situation in Aurangabad division, the state government has released just over half of the require

Vadodara:The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) has demanded that Gujarat be declared drought affected and has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit the drought-affected areas of Gujarat

Distribution of compensation to farmers in non-delta areas of the district for crop losses suffered by them owing to the monsoon failure began on Saturday.

About 37,745 farmers will get relief ranging from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 5,000 an acre in the district. The State government has allotted Rs.16.96 crore for the purpose. Farmers who had raised paddy and suffered losses will be get Rs. 5,000 an acre.

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).

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, on Wednesday approved . 511-crore assistance for Rajasthan, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh – the states affected by floods and droughts in 2012. Further, an additional grant of . 256 crore was given to Maharashtra for rejuvenation of orchards.

However, the high-level committee didn’t take a decision on extending the duty-free import of oil cakes for next six months, which is vital for steady availability and stable prices of fodder. The finance ministry is expected to assess the demand and supply situation of oil cakes in the country.