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From beauty parlours to farming, prisoners in India’s jails are channeling their time into creative new outlets

Some trivia from prisons across the country




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Study unravels the recipe that gives mushk budiji rice its unique aroma

Researchers say the rice variety’s export potential can be maximised by cultivating it in places where its flavour compounds are expressed the most




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CSIR-IICT demonstrates tech to turn dry leaves into soil conditioner

Using a method called accelerated anaerobic composting, a demonstration plant installed in a gated community in Hyderabad is turning dry leaves into bio-manure with recommended nitrogen and carbon content




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Mango output is set to increase by 14% this year; heat wave unlikely to impact yields

The total production of mangos could jump to 24 million tonnes in the 2023-24 crop year, as against 21 million tonnes in 2022-23




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Centre aims seven-fold jump in wheat procurement from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar this year

“Even as the ban on outbound shipments of wheat continues, “it will be a dream for us to export now”, Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra said.




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Innovations in traditional methods revolutionising farming in Rajasthan’s parched Shekhawati

The decline in the groundwater level is a major issue for agriculturists in all four districts of Shekhawati — Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, and Neem Ka Thana




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CSDS-Lokniti 2024 pre-poll survey | Understanding perspectives: farmers’ protests raise divisive opinions

The farmers’ protests have become a critical point of contention, sparking diverse opinions across the nation



  • Lok Sabha Elections

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How can small-scale farmers benefit from trees on farms?

The adoption of agroforestry at scale in India by smallholders is currently stymied by ecological and socio-economic factors




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KAU, Asia’s largest cocoa germplasm repository, ready to release six more clones




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Mangoes in Tamil Nadu hit by excessive heat, but farmers hopeful

Farmers in Tamil Nadu are struggling with poor yield, but there is also good news with new varieties being discovered




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The happy, hopeful coffee farmers of Karnataka

The soaring prices of coffee beans, driven by a global shortage in crop production, have provided a ray of hope for growers in Karnataka, which produces most of India’s coffee. Planters tell Darshan Devaiah B.P. and G.T. Sathish The Hindu that while this is good, the more significant problems remain




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Space data fuels India's farming innovation drive

Satellite data has gives an Indian farmer optimal sowing times, weather warnings, and better use of irrigation and pesticides




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SC notice to Centre on plea alleging overuse of pesticides on crops and food items




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Above-normal pre-monsoon rain triggers agriculture activities in Raichur district of Karnataka

The district received 26.5 mm of rain in 72 hours against the average of 1.9 mm




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 Kuruvai coverage rose by 40% above normal in last five years

The normal coverage is about 3.24 lakh acres for the delta. However, going by the average for the last five years, the figure comes to 4.57 lakh acres — a nearly 40% rise.




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2024 turns out to be the worst-ever season for mango growers in Rayalaseema in five decades

With over 80% dip in yield following adverse weather conditions, the prospects of earning profits have faded; the situation has turned adverse, as competitors from Telangana and Tamil Nadu started supplying stocks to the pulp units predominantly located in Chittoor district




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Farm loan waivers and elections: How do they affect farmers and governments?

Promises to waive off farm loans have been issued by most political parties during this Lok Sabha election. Here’s a look at how these waivers are implemented, the effect on farmers and governments and what alternatives exist



  • Lok Sabha Elections

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Chittoor farmers worried about frequent crop-raiding by jumbos

A herd of 16 elephants raided the paddy and tomato fields at Irikipenta village of Somala mandal on Saturday




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Mango growers demand uniform relief of ₹30,000 per acre, fixed prices at tripartite meeting in Krishnagiri




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More aquatic animals were farmed than fished in 2022, for the first time ever

The total amount of aquatic animals captured in the wild fell to 91 million tonnes and the global production rose to 94.4 million in 2022, the FAO said




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GI tag sought for the Senkanthal seed whose flower holds a special place in Tamil literature

Minister for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare M.R.K.Panneerselvam, while presenting the State’s Agriculture Budget, had said that Geographical Indication tag would be obtained for 10 agricultural products at a cost of ₹30 lakh




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TNAU, Coimbatore, gets design patent for seed cube making machine




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Watch: This Kerala agrarian fair is over 800 years old

What started as a cattle fair, is at present, a market for agricultural produce and products from cottage industries




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Over ₹13 crore funds needed to support farmers in drought-affected areas of Nellore, says Collector

Ten in the district have been declared as ‘drought mandals’ by the NDMA; over 50% of crop was lost in Sitaramapuram while 30-40% of crops were lost in the remaining nine mandals




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Paddy MSP up 5.35% to ₹2,300 per quintal as Cabinet clears MSP hikes for 14 kharif crops

MSPs for bajra, arhar dal, maize offer highest margins above production costs; Cabinet nod for Varanasi airport expansion, new Maharashtra port, wind energy projects in Gujarat and T.N., forensic infrastructure development




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Eyebrows raised as Central team visits Anantapur to assess rabi drought during rainy kharif

The team choosing mandals like Vidapanakallu and Vajrakarur which received excessive rain in June, draws flak from farmers and district officials alike; farmers worry as to how to present their drought woes to the officials who are visiting their fields which are now rain-fed and green




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Climate-resilient agriculture is prerequisite for sustainable development, says ICAR chief

Tobacco industry contributes ₹32,516 crore annually to national economy through exports and excise tax reviews and sustains employment for 45.7 million people, says Director General of ICAR




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First of its kind ‘Product Santhe’ at UAS attracts 15,000 visitors 

Products like coconut oil, handmade scented soaps and face creams, value added products of millets, nutritional laddu, bakery products, ready to cook powders and mixtures and pickles were also popular among the visitors. 




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First International Dairy Federation Asia-Pacific summit in Kochi from June 26 to 28




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‘Dairy dilemma’ engulfs women farmers in CM Chandrababu Naidu’s constituency Kuppam with sudden fall in milk price

Recently, the dairy industry has experienced a decrease of ₹5 per liter in the milk price, causing concern among the predominantly women farmers involved in the sector. 




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In Assam, banks suffer from ‘militancy hangover’: experts

The absence of bank linkage is affecting optimum production by 25 lakh small and marginal farmers in the State, they said




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‘Outstanding work’: IIT-M team makes mineral nanoparticles with water

Infusing soil with silica nanoparticles made using the technique could transform agriculture




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Scientists found a bacteria tricked a wasp to get rid of its males

A new study reports Wolbachia may have taken it a bit too far, after scientists found it manipulated the evolution of Encarsia formosa wasps




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Farmers rush to plant summer crops as monsoon revives

The monsoon brings nearly 70% of the rain India needs to water farms and refill reservoirs and aquifers; nearly half of the farmland depends on the annual rains




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Shivraj Chouhan asks scientists to visit fields, help farmers to use technology

Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that if the country does not pay attention to the livestock and fisheries sectors then the sectors may fall down




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Budget 2024: Agriculture, Employment, Infrastructure feature in nine priorities of third NDA government

Union Budget 2024 unveils nine priorities for this financial year as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivers her seventh budget speech in Lok Sabha




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Watch: Budget 2024 | What’s in it for agriculture?

A look at how the Union Budget has treated the agriculture, food, public distribution and consumer affairs sectors




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The trials and tribulations of apples and other imported fruits in the Nilgiris

English fruit trees were imported to the Nilgiris as soon as the first Europeans settled there. But no systematic record survives of the varieties that were tried or the success each achieved. The first person to succeed in cultivating apple was John Davison, a gardener trained at Kew in England. He was also said to have introduced pippin




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India’s agri transformation a lesson for others: Modi

India has become the second-largest producer of food grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton, sugar, and tea, says PM Modi at the inauguration of the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists




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Shivraj Chouhan blames Congress again for problems in agricultural sector; Opposition walks out in Rajya Sabha

Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asks Mr. Chouhan to look at pending issues of farmers




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Mangrove restoration in T.N. makes a small but steady progress

The Tamil Nadu Forest Department and non-governmental organisations are working to restore mangroves at various sites of the Ennore-Pulicat wetlands. In the meantime, the National Centre for Coastal Research has identified land available for restoration in Cuddalore, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, and Thoothukudi




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Cabinet clears new scheme to supply virus-free planting material

It will cover all farmers, regardless of their landholding size or socioeconomic status: Ministry




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Centre launches new system to understand cropping patterns, impact of weather

Union Agriculture Ministry launches Krishi-DSS, a digital platform providing real-time data insights for stakeholders in Indian agriculture




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90-year-old farmer convicted, sentenced to one-year imprisonment for encroaching 36 guntas of government land in Karnataka

Small and marginal farmers are worried about being punished for encroachment, demand action against influential people who allegedly encroached on government land




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ICAR team makes tool small enough to edit plant genomes

In a genome-editing landscape low on options for plants, the new tool has scientists enthused about its applications in agriculture




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Taking roots in Tirupati, ‘Konark’ set to reach the kitchens of Odisha and Bengal




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Centre talks to States on new mechanism to gather crop data

The national conference discusses the Digital General Crop Estimation Survey to enhance agricultural statistics accuracy and transparency for policy formulation and planning




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Why communities should retain their heirloom seeds and knowledge systems

Seed Stories, a documentary recently screened in Bengaluru, is a nuanced exploration of the efforts of barefoot ecologist Dr. Debal Deb and his team and their attempt to conserve over 1,000 endangered heirloom varieties of rice




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The road to 2047 for Indian agriculture

There are several challenges but also opportunities




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Fertilizers are source of several diseases; switch to organic farming, says Amit Shah 

Shah said that the movement for organic farming has reached an important stage and cooperatives have an important role in making India the world’s largest organic food producing country