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The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001, based on the European seed patenting model, is increasingly proving to be more of a burden on small farmers. Shalini Bhutani explains why.
THE NEWS IN PROPORTION
23 FEBRUARY 2020
Agriculture : Agriculture Policy
FARMERS’ RIGHTS
Pay up, or give up your IP!
Pay up, or give up your IP!
BUDGET BLOG
As has been the historical trend, most of the budget announcements on agriculture this year, too, are geared towards benefitting agribusiness rather than augmenting farm income, writes Devinder Sharma.
PDS ALTERNATIVES
The erstwhile UPA government’s Food Security Act, now set to be implemented by the present government, could mean unendurable strain for the country’s public distribution framework. P V Rajeev spells out better alternatives to explore.
BUDGETING FOR AGRICULTURE
For over two decades now, agriculture has suffered overall neglect as successive governments, led by World-Bank prescribed growth models, have issued disproportionate doles to industry. While the present allocations do not spell much hope, Devinder Sharma suggests what the Modi government may still do to reverse the trend.
GM EFFECT
At the 101st Indian Science Congress in Jammu, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his faith in the potential of biotechnology for agricultural development. Devinder Sharma discusses findings that raise questions about the basis of his conviction.
THE COLDIRETTI DEBATE
Italian farmer group Coldiretti is ushering in a new paradigm in farming, and has emerged as a powerful lobby for the interests of the small
farmer.
Keya Acharya
reports on the campaign and wonders if Indian agriculture can emulate the same.
INFLATION
It is certainly not because of mere demand-supply mismatch.
Kannan Kasturi
deconstructs the supply chain dynamics and credit linkages in the vegetable markets to show how these, coupled with government impotence, have
led to uncontrolled, spiralling inflation.
GENE CAMPAIGN CHARTER
Despite India's reliance on the agrarian sector, a serious farming and food crisis persists due to lack of government action and policy
indifference. On its 20th anniversary, Gene Campaign releases a Charter of Demands to form the basis of an advocacy programme for bountiful
farming, prosperous farmers and healthy food.
NUTRITION CRISIS
This linkage between agriculture and nutrition, and its impact on development indices is very clear, and a number of recent
reports point the finger of blame at agricultural policies.
Rupa Chinai
reports.
FARM MARKETS
The Mayawati government proposes to reduce the distance that farmers must travel to take their produce to market to an average of
seven kms. This should help farming families boost their incomes, writes
Devinder Sharma.
AGRICULTURE IN PUNJAB
Sick soils, declining yields, growing debts and rising malnutrition stalk the Punjab farmer, as the practices of the boom years
catch up with him, writes
Bhaskar Goswami.
AGRICULTURE IN CRISIS
A vicious cocktail of weak purchasing power among the hundreds of millions of poor people, and a systems failure in tackling supply
side challenges is driving food prices beyond the reach of many, writes
Sarosh Bana.
ENVIRONMENT/AGRICULTURE
Barely three days after the conclusion of the last of six public hearings, Minister of Environment Jairam Ramesh slapped a moratorium on the release of Bt Brinjal.
Anupama Rao
summarises key points from the Minister's note.
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