No to organic farming

Punjab farmer commission says it's not feasible THE Punjab State Farmers Commission has said that organic farming is not feasible in the state due to shortage of organic raw material. The commission in its report has advocated a mix of organic and synthetic chemical farming. "Organic material like green manure available in the state is sufficient only for 20 per cent of the land," said G S Kalkat, the commission's chairman. "Fertilizers and pesticides need to be used in the remaining cultivable land to maintain yields," he added.

No pesticides no debts

Enabavi and Ramachandrapuram villages broke away from the pesticide-debt trap. They are now teaching other villages to become debt free and self-reliant

Cow dung smoke could cause arsenic poisoning

using cow dung as cooking fuel could expose people to arsenic. A recent study shows villagers on the Ganga Meghna Brahmaputra plain were exposed to smoke containing high levels of arsenic everyday while cooking. The study by Jadavpur University's School of Environmental Studies says the region's groundwater is contaminated with the

Punjab's spiritual farming

The Sharma household at Chaina village in Faridkot is buzzing with activity. Charanjeet Kaur is busy ensuring that she does not run out of gram flour, jaggery, green chillies, garlic and neem leaves. No she is not preparing for a lavish lunch. This is a "magic potion" for her two-hectare (ha) farm.

Women, children worst victims of indoor air pollution

World Health Organization (who) says over 3 billion people use solid fuels, including biomass--wood, dung and crop residues--and coal for cooking

Organic drive in Uttaranchal ignores farmers' concerns

It's not routine for organic to get a bad press. But when quixotic officials turn it into an article of faith without doing the homework, the repercussions can be seriously debilitating.

Cow manure to to help PG&E generate power

The Pacific Gas and Electric Co (pg&e), California's biggest natural gas company, has announced plans to buy natural gas generated from cow manure in the state dairy farms to fuel its power plants. The move follows California's new state law related to global warming under which state utilities are required to boost renewable energy use to 20 per cent of total consumption by 2010.

Organic chemistry

Organic is happening in the wetlands of Hollagaru village in Shimoga district of Karnataka. The high production of arecanut, paddy, vanilla and coffee has changed the fortunes of the local farming community. There are about 200-300 farmers in the village. Each owns between one and two acres of land. The farmers work in the Swa-Sahaya Sangha (self-help group). "The method has really helped increasing yield. As of now, organic farming has been introduced on nearly 80 hectares (ha).

Poop pays

I mpressed by the uses of cow dung, researchers around the world are looking at excreta of other animals for their possible benefits.

South Asia

pipeline blast: Suspected tribal rebels recently blew up a gas pipeline in Pakistan. This led to the closure of the nearby Uch power plant, which is owned jointly by the US and the uk, for the second time in January 2006. The blast damaged a 60 cm-diameter pipeline in the Dera Mura Jamali area of Baluchistan province. "It is an act of sabotage," said Abdul Samad Lasi, a senior local administration official. He added that Baluch tribal militants were suspected to be behind the attack.