New Delhi: A day after the Met office scaled down its monsoon prediction to

IN ORDER to increase lending to the primary sector and to boost rural sector demand against the background of uncertain monsoons and consequent apprehensions over flagging economic growth, the Centre is under pressure to increase interest subvention on short-term crop loans to farmers in the coming Budget from the current 3% to 5-6%.

The state agriculture directorate today held a meeting with scientists of Birsa Agriculture University to work on a contingency plan should the monsoon be delayed beyond June 30.

Weather scientists have however not lost hope yet, predicting today that chances were bright for the southwest monsoon to kick in by Friday, bringing rain to large parts of the country.

The Manipur Government has requested the Union Ministry of Agriculture for additional funds for setting up of seven more horticulture processing units under the Technology Mission for Development of Horticulture in North Eastern Region citing that four units have been set up so far in Manipur.

The agriculture ministry is preparing a contingency plan to prevent food shortage----------

For the first time in 30 years, India stares at the probability of a drought, which threatens to worsen the already precarious food demand-supply balance and plunge the country into a deeper food security crisis.

The National Food Security Act, a high point of the Budget due to be presented by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, is giving the government plenty to chew on. The crux of the debate is whether government can bite the bullet and deroster APL (above poverty line) beneficiaries to re-target food subsidies.

KOCHI: If things go as expected, Kochi will soon sport a permanent agri-expo centre. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food K V Thomas on Thursday said that a decision had been taken to launch a permanent agri-expo centre at the European Economic Committee (EEC) Market at Maradu. It will start functioning during the coming Onam season.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A food security law, to clearly define above-poverty and below-poverty line categories, will be formulated within 100 days, Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food and Public Distribution K.V. Thomas has said.

One man stands surrounded by the debris of agricultural distress in this country: Sharad Pawar. In his second term as Agriculture Minister, he faces the formidable task of redeeming himself by solving the farm crisis that has claimed so many lives in India

New Delhi: The government committed itself to coming true on its