Nabha, September 7
The recent rain has exposed the civic body

Lesser grains: Can millet save the hungry millions?
BY VIKRAM DOCTOR

A FEW months back when the food crisis was big news and there was much agonising about inadequate supplies of rice, wheat and corn, I remember thinking, well what about eating millet instead? It

Farmers in Kashmir valley are all set to reap a bumper rice crop this year, following timely rains and with no outbreak of disease this year.

The agriculture department is expecting a yield of 500,000 metric tones of paddy crop this year, compared to 495,000 metric tones achieved last year. Out of a total 160,000 hectare of land cultivated in Kashmir valley, the department has achieved a production of 495,000 metric tones of rice previous year.

Surinder Sud / Mumbai September 5, 2008, 3:13 IST

The delay in the withdrawal of the monsoon is expected to benefit crops in the current kharif as well as in the ensuing rabi season. However, the projected increase in the intensity of rains in the north-eastern states may heighten the threat of floods in the Brahmaputra and other rivers, adversely affecting the standing crops.

Rehabilitation of agriculture in the vast tracts ravaged by the Kosi river in Bihar is anticipated to take a long time as farm operations cannot begin for at least a month after the flood waters clear out.

JORHAT, Sept 2

Business Standard / New Delhi September 02, 2008, 0:08 IST

Crops on more than one lakh hectares of land in 15 districts have been inundated so far due to the flooding, which may take a turn for the worse in the next couple of days submerging fresh areas.
According to a report prepared by the Department of Agricultural Extension on Monday, crops like transplanted aman, t-aman seedbeds, bona aman, aus, jute and vegetables on 1,06,869 hectares of land out of 9,91,841 hectares, brought under cultivation in the 15 flood-hit districts have been submerged.

Genetically modified crops can help solve international food crisis faced by many countries including Pakistan, said US Special Advisor on Science and Technology Dr Nina V Fedoroff on Thursday.

Talking to reporters at a local hotel, Fedoroff said the international community had ignored important issues like energy and food in the past and was now paying for that negligence.

She said the world should try to find both short and long-term solutions to end food problems.

Jalandhar: The actual damage of crop and property may run into hundreds of crores, but the government has estimated that a tentative Rs 70 crore relief fund is required for the flood-affected families in Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur districts.
Meanwhile, a girdawari is still on in both the districts. Kapurthala district also reported heavy losses in the damage assessment report prepared by the district administration.

With nearly 64 villages completely marooned even today, the state government has estimated the damage due to floods at over Rs 530 crore. This includes damage to crops, roads and houses.