June 22: The Greenpeace activists raided a trail field of genetically modified (GM) rice of a private multinational firm

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today expressed his reservations to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh about proposals on the contentious issue of river-water sharing, saying these could g

Rice production in the State is dwindling. Though there was a fluctuating trend between 2003-04 and 2005-06 in its production, the output of the item showed a sharp decline during 2006-07.

Over 45-lakh BPL families would be given wheat and rice at subsidised rates of Rs 3 and Rs 4.50 per kg, respectively from April this year. The rate would be Rs 2 less than the prescribed rates.

Decline of the Kerala PDS

Until a decade ago, owning a ration shop in Kerala was a status symbol. Abdul Rehman, a retail ration dealer for more than two decades, always enjoyed a special status in Ambayathode village of Kozhikode district, with over 1,700 ration card holders on his roll. Rehman was one of the 14,236 retail dealers who catered to close to 91 per cent of the state population in a model public distribution system. According to government officials, there was one ration outlet within two km radius of every household. But that was then.

the Union government increased the minimum support price of wheat, paddy, sugarcane, mustard, rapeseed and other agricultural commodities on October 9. The announcement was made after the Cabinet

the ban on futures trading in essential commodities is likely to be lifted. The expert committee under Abhijit Sen backs the idea. The committee was set up in March 2007 to assess the impact of

the Punjab state farmers commission has recently asked the state government to make delayed-sowing of rice mandatory. The move comes at a time when agriculture in Punjab is facing its worst spell

Kerala's recent decision that no genetically modified (gm) crop will be grown in the state has been hailed by environmental and farmers' organisations across the state. Kerala agriculture