‘No need to decommission Mullaperiyar dam’

Is there a solution to the current impasse? Interviewee:  T Hanumantha Rao

Secretive tribunals, hidden damages

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) appears to have generated the most number of investor-state treaties and shows that rich countries are as much at risk as developing countries. Would you agree?  Interviewee:  Gus Van Harten

India’s many investment treaties make it vulnerable

Would it be correct to say that all countries are at risk from BITs and FTAs although the treaties are targeted at developing countries? Interviewee:  Nathalie Bernas...

Justice league for people’s rights

What is the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT)? Interviewee:  Gianni Tognoni

‘Let farmers decide the price’

What makes your formula a novel contract farming model? Appachi formula differs from conventional contract farming models, especially on the price front. We do not create uncertainty by fixing the price of the produce in advance. Our contract allows farmers to sell their commodity at the prevailing market rate. Though we have the first right to negotiate, farmers are free to auction off the produce in case of a disagreement. We motivate them to form self-help groups to enhance their bargaining power. Interviewee:  Mani Chinnaswamy

Infosys to switch to renewable energy, go carbon neutral

When did Infosys decide to tread the path of clean energy and efficient use of natural resources?   Interviewee:  Rohan Parikh

‘Rethink economics of poverty’

Your book Poor Economics dispels clichés associated with poverty, like there is nothing interesting about poor people’s economic existence because they possess so little. What are the most striking of these clichés? Interviewee:  Abhijit Banerjee

'Corporate India needs to rethink growth'

What is the industry’s perception of sustainable development? It’s been more than 25 years since the report of the Brundtland Commission, also known as the World Commission on Environment and Development, was released. But it is still very difficult for the industry to understand what sustainable development is. Interviewee:  Seema Arora

Idea of farmer wisdom is relentlessly manipulated

You speak of a seed and pesticide treadmill that farmers are on. Why is it worrying? Interviewee:  Glenn Davis

Mobile tester for crop diseases

How does the device work? Gene-Z is based on the technology used to identify cancer markers in the body. It has a microfluidic chip and a device to carry out and visualise the reaction, and is operated by an iPod Touch or Andriod-based tablet. The pathogen is swabbed off the plant tissue and placed on the chip. It is then inserted into the device, which performs genetic analysis and identifies the pathogen and extent of the disease. Some pathogens, however, require to be processed before they can be tested by Gene-Z. Interviewee:  Syed Hashsham