Main reasons for the agricultural crisis in India: Rising pressure of population on farming and a steady declining trend in land holdings Risks in production, weather and disaster, price, credit, market and those in policy. Predominance of informal source of credit. Price risks due to low resilience High production cost. Read the full summary here.

WHY ARE FARMERS DISTRESSED ACROSS INDIA? Author: Vikas Vasudeva Read the full article here. Read the POINTERS. The agriculture sector is characterized by instability in incomes because of various types of risks involved in production, market and prices. The National Commission of Farmers (2006), chaired by M.S. Swaminathan, had pointed out that something “very serious and terribly … Continue reading Summary- The Hindu- Why are Farmers Distressed across India?

MANAGING NON-PERFORMING ASSETS: A PARADIGM SHIFT Source: Yojana – January 2018 Author: Deepak Narang Banks cause money to be circulated in the economy by seeking deposits from those who have a surplus and lend for investment activity. It has a multiplier effect in the economy. Sustainable lending leads to higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. … Continue reading Summary-Yojana-Managing Non-Performing Assets: A Paradigm Shift

MAKING FINANCIAL SAVINGS LESS TAXING Author: Aarati Krishnan Read the full article here. Bumping up the household savings rate and nudging savers to park their surpluses in financial assets can have a profound effect on the economy. However, the tax rules for investors are complex. The tax rules could be reworked keeping the following in … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Making Financial Savings Less Taxing

THE BALANCING ACT Author: Rajiv Bhatia Read the full article here. India is important to Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); it is viewed as a benign power; and huge scope exists to develop cooperation with it. This is proved by the participation of leaders of the members of ASEAN countries in the ASEAN-India Commemorative … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-The Balancing Act

Source: The Hindu Why in news recently? (Between July and October last year, more than 40 farmers died in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region in what were feared to be cases of pesticide poisoning. The situation was worst in Yavatmal region with at least 21 deaths.) Pesticides are important for controlling vectors responsible for diseases in crops … Continue reading The Pesticides Management Bill, 2008

PROBLEM OF PLENTY Author: NA Read the full article here. Boom and bust in the prices of agricultural goods has become a common phenomenon.  The price of potatoes which has been quite high for the past few months, has fallen sharply (less than Re.1 at some places in wholesale markets) after a year of bumper … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Problem Of Plenty

AGRICULTURE NEEDS A REFORM PACKAGE Author: Puja Mehra Read the full article here. The objective of price stability of farm products is tilted in favour of consumers, who make a bigger vote bank. Following are the reasons for unattractive farm incomes: Restrictive trade and price controls (e.g. farmers are forced to sell in the domestic … Continue reading Summary-The Hindu-Agriculture Needs a Reform Package

A NEW WEAPON IN THE CARBON FIGHT Author: Sujatha Byravan Read the full article here. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have crossed 410 parts per million and oceans are already turning acidic. Soil, if used as a sink for carbon dioxide, can help solving this issue and our transition to a ‘zero-carbon lifestyle’. Soil, the … Continue reading Summary – The Hindu – A New Weapon In The Carbon Fight

LEFT BEHIND ON THE PATH AHEAD Author: Nikhil Shenoy Read the full article here. Mandatory digitization is causing immense pain to the poor, non-literate and marginalized section of the country. An 11 year old girl has died in Jharkhand died allegedly due to starvation as she was denied government rations because her ration card was not … Continue reading Summary – The Hindu – Left Behind On The Path Ahead