The sharp drop in prices couldn't have come at a more difficult time, particularly for the two big producing states of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and also neighbouring Chhattisgarh as the states go to polls in the next few months.

Skymet said the monsoon this year could be 100 per cent of the long period average (LPA) with a model error of plus and minus 5 per cent.

In the first of a two-part series, Business Standard examines the impact of the upcoming summer on agriculture and drinking water supply.

The Union Budget announcement of a minimum support price (MSP) that will be 50 per cent more than the cost of production has started a debate on the calculation of cost. Ramesh Chand, member, NITI Aayog, speaks to Sanjeeb Mukherjee on this and related issues.

The Budget allocation for Ministry of Agriculture and allied activities has grown by 114% since 2010-11

Rural budget set to increase; likely to enhance market linkages for agri commodities

Critics said a 10-plus per cent annual increase in incomes is a tall order, given that between 2002-03 and 2012-13, farm incomes grew yearly by 3.6 per cent.

A clear message was that the ongoing seven-decade-old model of agriculture, based on extensive reliance on subsidy by the government at every stage, was not going to work, said NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar.

These three states sought a combined financial assistance of Rs 11,186 crore

80% of the surveyed districts did not show any change in migration

Centre, states to share the amount in 60:40 ratio to link unconnected rural habitations and upgrade existing roads till 2020

Workers moving out of agriculture to the rural labour force were largely getting absorbed in construction activities

Agriculturally important UP, MP, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Punjab received 20-30% shortfall in rain

DroughtThe Centre is expected to discuss issues related to drought management and also review the progress of major central schemes like soil health cards, irrigation programmes

While Bibek Debroy echoed his view in Twitter, Pronob Sen questioned Kumar's conclusion

Initiated move to privatise Air India, but reports on poverty and cast census remained unfinished

On average, an account-holder among Punjab farmers availed of crop loans of around Rs 2.23 lakh in the first 11 months of 2016-17.

This may rescue pulses, cotton and oilseed sowing; rain revival in the south to take longer

Modi's visit to dwell on water conservation, Israel's expertise in desalination may also be tapped

The southwest monsoon which reached the country on May 30 well within its normal onset date