IT IS not a coincidence that agr-iculture—the only sector that is in the green today—is at the helm of one of the most fierce protests in the country. As farmers harvest more, their demand for a fair price and assured markets is growing stronger. And the three “unpopular” farm laws have only added fuel to the growing dissent.
On November 27, the Union government stopped thousands of angry farmers from entering Delhi. Many hours later, the government relented. Close on the heels, the National Statistical Office released its report on the pandemic-contracted economy for the second quarter. Of the eight major sectors used to calculate the gross domestic product, agriculture alone reported growth. Some of the sectors had shrunk by almost 30 per cent. Agriculture’s contribution to the economy in the first half of the current fiscal year—a gross value added worth ₹834,897 crore— remains the sector’s highest contribution in the past three years. It means farmers managed to deliver a record-breaking production in the Kharif (monsoon) season despite the pandemic. The good spell is likely continue as the area sown under the rabi (winter) crop has increased by 4 per cent, compared to last year.
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
