Fresh vegetables grown in Poanta will now find their way to Gulf countries and metropolitan cities of India through Wal-Mart and Reliance chain of vegetable outlets. Himalaya Fresh, the brand that earlier signified frozen vegetables marketed by a Poanta-based entrepreneur, has now entered into a contract farming agreement with Poanta residents for vegetable production and its trading through international chains.

Reiterating government's commitment to ensure equitable development of all the regions of the state, Minister for Rural Development and Panchyat Raj Mula Ram inaugurated Gurah Pattan lift irrigation scheme worth Rs. 110.46 lakh from Ranbir Canal here today. This project had been started in 2004-05 under NABARD in the left bank of river Chenab in Ranbir Canal to cater to the irrigation requirements of agriculture land of 800 acres.

The loan waiver will lighten the debt burden of the farmers. But in the long term this will adversely affect the rural credit institutions that extend loans to farmers. A discussion of the likely fallout.

A memorandum of understanding between the Assam Government and the NABARD on revival of short-term cooperative credit was signed today in presence of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. An official release said that the NABARD chairman UC Sarangi, Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam VK Pipersenia and Director, Ministry of Finance of the Government of India, Samir Sinha signed the MoU.

About 1,500 Karbi and Khasi residents of the Umsarang area of Chinthong Development Block in Karbi Anglong took part in the Thesere Apaibiri (orchard) Project launched by the voluntary organisation

It was interesting to read the article 'Rural Short-term Cooperative Credit Structure' by Mandira Sharma and Rajiv Kumar (March 1, 2008) but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. The authors would have done well to fist understand some basic concepts like capital, non-performing assets, majority shareholding, etc, before commenting at such length on the Vaidyanathan Committee recommendations and implementation of the government of India's revival package based on it. (Letter)

MIRZA

The irrigation department of Sivasagar district has been successful to a great extent in reviving some of the irrigation projects of the district leading to better productivity of rabi and pre-kharif crops. Although there are several Irrigation schemes in different areas of the district, most of the schemes were either in idle condition or in partially operative condition due to financial reasons. The initiative to revive the schemes came from Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner NM Hussain, who made funds available to the department from District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), Sivasagar.

Despite the loan waiver proposal for farmers, Jhe latter still face a shortage of agricultural credit

Small is not beautiful for small farmers. As farmers with small holdings find agriculture unviable, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is planning to pool up such small farmers to make them a big player. The Nabard is looking at a chunk of not less than 1,000 acres to provide consultancy and financial assistance. "Farming has become unviable for farmers. We are planning to pool them up together in order to empower them with financial assistance in order to produce in large quantities,' Mr S.R. Aluru, Chief General Manager (Andhra Pradesh), said.

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