Former Assistant Editor, Down To Earth
Worrying dip in global biodiversity
The proportion of livestock breeds at risk of extinction is increasing and plant diversity in farmers’ fields is decreasing, says a recent …
Early elephant warning systems help, but are short-term measures: experts
Two projects in Karnataka and Jharkhand meant to warn people about elephant movements have led to a decrease in human-elephant conflict. But they …
Shadowed by Khajuraho, singhara cultivators struggle
As the Archaeological Survey of India takes over a lake near the temple town, the livelihood of a community that depends upon growing water …
A wrong righted: Chhattisgarh becomes first state to give farmers their land back
Chhattisgarh has set an example by returning land acquired forcefully from over 1,700 farmers for a steel plant. Can other states follow suit?
Jharkhand village continues its anti-NTPC stance
Residents of Jugra village have complained to district administration about forceful land acquisition for supply route to coal mine
World Soil Day: Tackle soil pollution and do away with food insecurity, says FAO
The UN agency says that addressing this issue will also help bring down soil degradation, stem rural migration and adapt to climate change
How investing in processing machines can help India promote millets
An African-Canadian company is helping promote Mali's fonio millet by investing in processing machines. India too needs to procure advanced …
Land acquired forcefully for Adani's Godda power plant
Recent visit by a fact-finding team shows that Adani's functionaries have resorted to forceful land acquisition, intimidation and even police …
‘Gender differences in internal migration patterns decrease as countries develop’
Social and employment policies affect migration but can have different impacts according to location and circumstances
World Food Day: Preserving food diversity vital to achieve zero hunger by 2030
Increasing production of staple crops such as wheat, rice and maize cannot meet the rising food demand. That is why we need to fall back on …
'Achieving zero hunger requires agriculture to be sustainable, climate smart'
FAO India representative Tomio Shichiri talks to Down To Earth on whether current government policies are effective to achieve the Zero Hunger …
World Food Day: Migration can be a strategy to overcome nutrition challenges
FAO advocates strengthening of agricultural value chains to create livelihood opportunities beyond primary agriculture in rural areas
Culture has helped millets survive
Throughout ages, many rituals have been associated with millet cultivation and women are to be thanked for this
‘Labour burden on women millet producers must be reduced’
Shailaja Fennell, an expert in gender and household dynamics in agriculture, talks to Down To Earth about millet production in India
सिकिया पर संकट
बैगा आदिवासियों के भोजन का अभिन्न अंग रहा सिकिया अनाज क…
Madhya Pradesh's century-old millet sikiya finds few revivalists
The Baiga community vouches for protein-rich sikiya but many have lost access. Deepanwita Gita Niyogi travels to Madhya Pradesh to find out what …
Millets are returning to our fields and plates
In the past 60 years, India’s agriculture policy has focused mainly on rice and wheat and neglected millets. But these nutri cereals are …
'Don't misunderstand the leopard'
Few wildlife enthusiasts have tracked leopards more closely or known them more intimately than jonathan and Angela Scott, who have made the …
Winds of change in tribal villages
A slew of measures like horticulture, beekeeping, polycropping and creation of water harvesting structures guarantee income augmentation among …
Millet processing units in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh to give impetus to farmers
Processing is difficult and rural women often feel the burden of this onerous task. To help them, both states have set up processing units
Voice calls to help Andhra farmers in decision-making
The interactive voice response system has been introduced in Anantapur district to cover groundnut farmers
Can Baiga millet be part of mainstream?
The Sikiya millet grows on its own in the bewar plots managed by the Baigas. Currently, IIMR is working towards establishing …
13 new agricultural heritage landscapes designated by FAO
The new sites are in China, Japan, Egypt, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and Sri Lanka
FAO focuses on heat stress protection measures for agriculture, forestry workers
Emphasising that dehydration leads to productivity declines, a report urges workers and employers to drink several litres of water throughout the day
Odisha plans to introduce millets in PDS, mid-day meal by year end
The initiative will be launched in nine districts in a phased manner over a period of five years