XUAN CANH, Vietnam: Truong Thi Nha stands just 4

Brazilian Indian leaders pitted against armed farmers in a bloody land conflict said on Wednesday they will fight on despite death threats, political pressure and military concerns over territorial sovereignty. The standoff marks the height of a movement by Indians to reclaim ancestral lands -- granted to them by the 1988 constitution -- that has big business concerned over property rights.

Thailand is reviving plans for a cartel of major rice producers, a move that could benefit farmers by maintaining soaring rice prices but propagate the food crisis for the poorest consumers in Asia. The Thai government is enlisting the support of Vietnam, the second-largest rice exporter after Thailand, as well as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos to "help each other control the rice price," according to Thailand's prime minister, Samak Sundaravej.

High food prices have driven inflation to new highs, leading the Centre to clamp down on export of farm commodities. But have the high retail prices in any way benefited the farmers? How has their lot improved from the spiralling food inflation? Business Standard takes stock of the situation in a three-part series.

The farmers of Dhansiri subdivision have been maintaining their families by cultivation of rabi crops. More than 90 per cent people here are mainly dependent on agriculture. The areas of Assam-Nagaland border namely Nowjan, Beelgaon, Urinmghat, Sungajam, Tengani, Da-Pather, Doyang, are cultivating sugar cane, jute, mustard, potatoes, carrot, cauliflowers, onion, chillies, bringals and other green vegetables.