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Punjab''s baby corn taking big strides

Traditionally a hub of wheat and paddy crops, the state is now exporting baby corn to the UK and other European countries in a big way




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Punjab budgets for farm suicides

Allocates Rs 30 cr for compensation Rs 2 lakh per family; but state-sponsored report of 3 universities that studied suicide-hit districts pegs the number of affected families at over 6,500




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Kashmir apples run into rough weather

Incessant rainfall and low temperatures have already caused 60-70% crop loss, likely to breed diseases too




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Going non-Bt in Vidarbha

High-density planting system of non-Bt cotton varieties aims to provide farmers with a 'low-cost, low-risk and high-yielding'' alternative




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Yaks back in business

NRC-Y is encouraging Brokpas to adopt scientific methods of yak rearing; training them on product diversification for better returns




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Punjab stares at deficient paddy, PAU suggests direct seeding

After celebrating a record wheat production, Punjab is lagging behind in paddy cultivation. According to the Department of Agriculture, the deficit is 33 per cent as of now almost two lakh hectares less than last year




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Betting big on bananas

Orissa plans to raise per-hectare harvest from about 8 tonnes to 33 tonnes in the next decade; to plant Grand Naine banana rhizomes over 1,500 hectares




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Mushrooming in the Valley

With demand increasing and new schemes available for farmers, mushroom farming is picking up fast in Kashmir




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Now, formula milk for calves

Dairy Development Board of Punjab is promoting milk substitute for better growth of calves




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Going organic

In Punjab''s Roopnagar district, farmers with small landholdings are shunning costly chemical fertilisers and pesticides to grow wheat, paddy, maize and vegetables, using organic methods




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The new orchid

Manipur has discovered an entirely new variety of orchid, names it Ione Kipgenii; orchid gene conservation centre has also found 24 other species new to the state




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A jamun drought in Punjab

Long winter, hotter summer and lack of rain take a toll on the fruit




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When zucchini comes to Mewat

Farmers are using innovative trench technique to grow the European vegetable they call 'jugni'', and are earning a good profit; none of them aware of its real name




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Best of waste: Pine needles boost rural economy

Inflammable pine needles that caused forest fires are now being used as bio fuel, giving Himachal Pradesh villages a source of income




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Gloom in potato belt

But things may change for one of the largest potato belts of Maharashtra this year.




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MP looks to better soya yield

Ties up with a Japanese agency to share and transfer knowledge, experience and technologies for soybean cultivation




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Organic dairy farming picks up in villages

US-returned businessman sets up modern dairy farm, shares equipment and know-how with locals




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With plans to upgrade Verka, Punjab hopes for second white revolution

Govt efforts get a boost with NABARD deciding to increase credit for dairy sector




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Basmati aroma spreads in MP

Area under the paddy crop has gone up to more than 2 lakh acres in 6 years; private firms coming up with processing plants




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MP chases Andhra on chilli trail

Khargone strives to outmatch Guntur, with help from Andhra




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Paddy shift from monsoon drift

Late rains make Punjab opt for more basmati while Haryana moves towards paddy varieties with assured minimum support price




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The apple debate, before and after FDI

On one side, fear of wipe-out by foreign arrivals. On the other, hopes of better infrastructure




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Some damage but still hope for soybean

Devkaran Malvi of Habidabad village has been less fortunate. Heavy rains brought down his yield from 15 quintals last year to less than 10, and he may not even recover the cost of cultivation.




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Dripping with irrigation success

Drip irrigation growing year by year in Maharashtra, bringing rich rewards to farmers and helping save water




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Honey is where the money is

Beekeeping and its promise attract an advocate, a coffee maker and other professionals in Punjab




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Kashmir youth drawn in with courses, subsidies

A projected honey output over 500 tonnes, 7,500 beekeepers and growing, with 29,850 bee colonies between them. Beekeeping has been catching on in Jammu and Kashmir




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MP starts to warm up to farming machines

Tractor sales pick up; govt promotes use of implements, launches schemes for machines on rent and at subsidy




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High on quality, often too high in quantity

Lahaul potato finds a favourable market this year but farmers keep looking at other options




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After paddy, the fruit and vegetable surplus

Having drawn up a plan to diversify from paddy, Punjab''s challenge is to find a way to market fruits and vegetables, especially when they come in a glut




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Nagaland, land of honey and happiness

Its consumption puts other states to shame, govt sets out to boost production with training but struggles with marketing outside




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Rickshaw-puller who turned farmer and inventor

In Damla, he began cultivating on his ancestral property of two acres and found it was his true calling.




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Rose country in the making

Churah valley, site of a flower revolution, aims to diversify to exotic roses




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Punjab looks to reform agri marketing

To break monopoly of state-run markets, encourage direct procurement




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Newcomers show old-timers the way

Madhya Pradesh farmers fare better after picking up tricks of the trade from Punjabi settlers




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The man with the machines

How to prepare soil for next crop without burning field




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Assam''s red rice gets ticket to global market

Organic by default, rich in nutrients, bao-dhaan gets bulk order from California




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Saving on a level field

Laser levellers catch Punjab farmers'' fancy, help save water, fertiliser, power




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Double breakthrough in cotton research

Weightiest boll comes up by accident, gene source for strongest fibre by design, both at Nagpur''s cotton research institute




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Medicinal resources: Cures at hand, finally being tapped

Kashmir warms up to cultivation of its countless medicinal plants




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Horticulture: Madhya Pradesh's parallel growth claim

Says horticulture booming alongside agriculture, but not all are convinced




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Buzzing from place to place

Encouraged by CBRTI director M T Wakode, Vivek, 28, applied for a credit-linked subsidy scheme under the Prime Minister''s Employment Generation Programme.




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Honey: Handled with better care

Hives of the wild rock bee are no longer burnt by beekeepers in Melghat, who have learnt scientific techniques and are extracting enough to export




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It''s the organic branding that counts

MP farmers rarely use chemicals but few manage the organic farming certificate to market their produce better




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In season of ups and downs, kinnow clicks when sour

And farmers still managed good prices in the beginning because of better marketing, though these eventually did drop in the glut.




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Fresh as a Daisy

Punjab''s alternative fruit will be sweet when the kinnow is still sour, and with more value




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Cracking the cotton code

Genome sequence drafted, scientists on evolution trail




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Pioneer at the grassroots

Farmer experiments on barren land with lemongrass, a crop never grown in Punjab before.




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Wonder food with all nutrients

Hoshirapur''s Hash Biotech Farm has been set up by a private limited company, also called Hash Biotech.




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They can''t have their cake and eat it too

If a MP farmer claims damage relief, govt will buy only what is supposed to remain




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Variety of offers, one clicks

Punjab Agriculture University launches two new varieties each of paddy and basmati; most farmers opt for the paddy option that promises the higher yield