Centre Reviews Agriculture Sector, Orders Swift Relief for Farmers Hit by Adverse Weather

New Delhi, March 20 (BNP): Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan conducted a comprehensive review of the agriculture sector, focusing on crop losses, insurance claims, and timely assistance to farmers affected by adverse weather conditions.

The high-level meeting, held at Krishi Bhavan, examined the impact of heavy rainfall, hailstorms, and other weather-related disruptions across several states. The Minister stressed that the government’s approach goes beyond production and includes scientific assessment of crop damage, proper insurance settlement, and prompt relief measures.

Chouhan directed officials to ensure that crop-cutting experiments are conducted without delay and losses are assessed accurately using scientific methods. He emphasised that affected farmers must receive timely compensation and should not face delays in insurance claim settlements.

Highlighting the need for coordination, the Minister instructed central and state authorities to work closely to strengthen relief mechanisms and improve field-level implementation. He also noted that forecasts by the India Meteorological Department indicate possible further weather disturbances, underlining the urgency of preparedness and advisory services for farmers.

The review also focused on long-term agricultural strategy, including farmer welfare, income stability, and risk management. Chouhan said the sector must prioritise not only production but also farmer security and resilience against climate-related risks.

On procurement, the Minister stated that the government is prepared for the upcoming wheat and paddy procurement season, noting sufficient stock levels. He highlighted a renewed push under the self-reliance mission for pulses, assuring farmers that crops such as tur, urad, and masur will be procured at Minimum Support Price (MSP) through agencies including NAFED and NCCF.

Emphasising quality alongside quantity, Chouhan called for promotion of superior crop varieties and bio-fortified produce to help farmers secure better market prices. He also reviewed preparations for the nationwide Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, aimed at delivering scientific advisories and region-specific agricultural guidance to farmers.

The Minister announced that regional agricultural conferences will be held across five zones, with upcoming meetings scheduled in Jaipur, Lucknow, and Odisha, to develop crop-specific and state-specific roadmaps.

Reaffirming the Centre’s commitment, Chouhan said the government is working to ensure that farmers receive comprehensive support from sowing to marketing, with the broader goal of strengthening agricultural growth and rural prosperity.

Inspected Celebrates Florida Legislature’s Unanimous Passage of Building Inspection Reform That Reduces Fees, Speeds Timelines, and Cuts Red Tape

PLANTATION, Fla., March 21, 2026 – Inspected, a Florida-based, tech-enabled private provider offering alternative plan review and remote virtual inspections for residential and commercial contractors, celebrates the Florida Legislature’s unanimous passage of amendments to the state’s private provider statute. HB 803 will now reduce bureaucratic barriers that stall or drastically slow renovation and building projects, which have a crippling effect on the state’s building industry. 

Homeowners and builders will see immediate benefits, as the amended legislation requires local enforcement agencies to reduce permit fees by 25-50% when private providers are used to review plans or inspect buildings on commercial projects. The bill also establishes strict deadlines for permit approvals, mandates local agencies must accept electronic document submissions, and allows counties, municipalities and school districts to use private providers on public work projects. 

Additional changes include banning building departments and local governments from charging additional fees and documentation requirements when using a private provider during building code inspections and calls on the Florida’s Building Commission to create uniform commercial and uniform residential permit applications. 

“These statutory improvements represent a major victory for contractors and property owners across Florida,” said Ian Cohen, CEO of Inspected. “We worked closely with legislators and industry partners to create clarity where confusion existed and ensure that contractors maintain their right to choose the inspection services that work best for their projects and the people of Florida.” 

The Florida House passed the measure 109-0, while the Senate approved it 37-0, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for inspection reform that will benefit contractors and property owners across the state. With Governor Ron DeSantis’s signature, the changes could take effect as early as July 1, 2026. 

Inspected worked with the Florida Home Builders Association to push these amendments forward and remove statutory ambiguity while establishing clear processes between contractors, fee owners, private providers, and building departments. While most Florida building departments operated in compliance with F.S. 553.791, the changes will force persistent non-compliance issues in certain jurisdictions like Miami-Dade that willfully misinterpreted statutes to make immediate changes. 

For example, building departments that refused to modernize legacy practices despite state requirements, or created unauthorized processes that obstructed private inspection services and delayed project completion for contractors and property owners will need to change immediately. 

“The growth opportunities for virtual and remote inspections just expanded significantly with this legislative victory,” said Marty Hebert, Director of Growth at Inspected. “These changes will help contractors in every corner of Florida access faster, more efficient permit processing and inspection services while maintaining the highest safety standards.” 

The amended legislation strengthens existing contractor rights while providing building departments with clearer guidance on working with private providers. Contractors and fee owners throughout Florida can now move forward with greater confidence that their choice to work with qualified private providers will be honored and supported by local building departments without delays or additional barriers.

Organic Tattva and Kareena Kapoor Khan Champion ‘Shuddhasana’: Inspiring India to Balance Pure Food with Everyday Wellness

Mumbai, India Mar 20th: Organic Tattva, one of India’s leading organic food brands, has unveiled its latest campaign featuring brand ambassador Kareena Kapoor Khan. At the heart of the campaign is the concept of Shuddhasana – the belief that true wellness begins with the purity of what we eat.

While yoga and fitness routines have become an integral part of modern lifestyles, the campaign reminds audiences that good health is a balance of mindful exercise and pure, nourishing food. Through this message, Organic Tattva aims to encourage Indian households to rethink wellness not just as time spent on a yoga mat, but also as the everyday choices made in the kitchen.

Kareena Kapoor Khan, brand face for Organic Tattva Rice and Pulses range said: “For me, wellness has always been about balance. A daily dose of yoga keeps me centered, but what truly completes it is the food I eat. I love simple, home-cooked meals like dal chawal, khichdi and even the occasional indulgence like biryani. Knowing that the ingredients I cook with are pure and organic gives me peace of mind for my family. That’s why I trust Organic Tattva. It’s about making small, mindful choices every day that lead to a healthier and happier life.”

The film builds on the idea that popular yoga postures such as Padmasana and Tadasana may strengthen the body, but they remain incomplete without Shuddhasana – the practice of eating food that is clean, organic and free from harmful chemicals.

As a mother and a strong advocate for balanced living, Kareena Kapoor Khan highlights how simple lifestyle habits, regular yoga and wholesome home-cooked meals play a crucial role in maintaining health and wellbeing.

The campaign also showcases Organic Tattva’s industry-leading QR code based traceability system, enabling consumers to scan product packs and instantly access detailed test reports and quality data. This initiative reinforces the brand’s commitment to transparency, authenticity and informed food choices.

Rohit Mehrotra, CEO, Organic Tattva, said: “Eating pure and organic is not just a concept, it’s a lifestyle choice. At Organic Tattva, we believe that true wellness comes from the right balance of good food and an active lifestyle. Through the idea of Shuddhasana, we want to inspire Indian households to consciously choose purity, transparency and organic ingredients in their everyday meals.”

With the powerful message, “Switch to Purity. Switch to Organic Tattva,” the campaign speaks directly to modern Indian families especially mothers who seek uncompromised safety and purity in the food they serve their loved ones.

With this campaign, Organic Tattva and Kareena Kapoor Khan hope to inspire millions of Indians to adopt ‘Shuddhasana’, where pure food and mindful movement come together to create a truly holistic approach to health.