11 Oct, 2015
Prediction predicament
In order to be useful to the farmer, IMD predictions must be at the block level. Lack of accuracy and specificity render forecasts irrelevant for individual farmers.
1 Oct, 2015
Farmer’s night without end
It is time for the country to undergo a deep introspection into the causes of farmland suicides because they are not prompted by natural calamities but by a man-made malady.
24 Sep, 2015
Fudged farm data; flawed goals
Unhappiness on the farms is growing first because first wrong objectives were set and then there were intentional errors in measuring growth.
28 Aug, 2015
Regressive restrictions
Export restrictions are a form of regressive taxation because they are imposed when domestic prices skyrocket but there is no concerted action when prices collapse.
1 Aug, 2015
Killer data; enfeebled farmer
Farmer interests are ill served by the fake erudition of questionable academics and farmer representatives, who do not farm. Suicides are a natural corollary of the policy mess
31 Jul, 2015
Reviving the farmer agenda
Vested interests, including global food giants, constantly influence Indian farm policy, which is like getting GM seed manufacturers to frame food-labelling guidelines.
29 Jul, 2015
A harvest missed
Indian agriculture cannot be jump-started without plant variety research, a developed food processing industry, inter-ministerial coordination and favourable trade agreements.
21 Jul, 2015
A kisan policy for farmers?
Despite shortcomings, India can achieve higher GDP growth but only when farmers’ views are incorporated in the farm policy fine print, driving the country towards equitable growth.
1 Jun, 2015
Farmer forgives; nation forgets
Misgovernance and muddled policy have transformed an unequally prosperous rural society to one that is equally distressed, as farmers accept their fate.
23 May, 2015
Deepening furrows
No government can come up with effective farm policies without listening to critical inputs from farmers and farmers cannot survive on lip service and political posturing.
