How Sumi Nagas’ traditional knowledge helps them navigate nature’s vagaries
The Sumi tribe of Nagas uses several ecological indicators to facilitate agricultural practices and predict seasonal variation; but this wisdom …
Dragon fruit: Is it the next big thing in Indian horticulture
The dragon fruit, which is indigenous to the Americas, can grow in arid and semi-arid regions with very low input cost
New targets to protect biodiversity must include farmers and agriculture
Africa’s protected areas cover an area of 20.4 million km² or 15.1% of the landmass. But experts say this isn’t enough.
‘Crop residue can boost soil health’
Andy MacDonald, manager, Rothamsted long-term experiments, Rothamsted Research, UK, speaks to Down To Earth on key findings of the Broadbalk …
Creepy-crawlies on my plate
The writer tasted creepy crawly creatures during a conference on indigenous food in Shillong, Meghalaya
'Agricultural censuses can monitor environmental changes'
From providing agricultural information for specific countries to identifying trends in the sector, censuses serve a variety of purpose
Synthetic influx
Synthetic menthol threatens the livelihoods of 400,000 families of farmers who grow Mentha
Maratha silent protests make noise for economic security, social justice
Reservation in government jobs and relief to drought-hit farmers are among the major demands of the Marathas
Land grabbing intensity doubled in last four years, says report
Land deals primarily target areas previously used for agriculture, which increases competition for land and the potential for conflicts
Cocoa wilts in Ghana
Ghana, known to provide a favourable price regime to cocoa farmers, discontinues the perks as the crop price crashes in international market
The global food system still benefits the rich at the expense of the poor
Global food system issues can be traced to colonial history. It's time food production became more sustainable so that it meets the needs of …
Can farming mean a permanent renewal of life?
For the past three decades, the practice of permaculture has found acceptance from not just rural communities in India but also from urbanites …
Rs 1,402,680,000,000: India's agrarian import bill for 2015-16
This is India's agrarian import bill for 2015-16. More than three times of India's annual agriculture budget, this money could have been …
In the Parliament on March 15, 2016
Here’s a round-up of today’s debates and reports on environmental and developmental issues
Beware of the developers
In its bid to get out of poverty, the Bihar government has finalised a plan to drain out lakes and convert them to farmlands. But it seems to be …
Environment for change
Shifting over to sustainable agriculture requires a new climate for convincing and aiding farmers to change the existing practices
This man saved his village from flash floods, reclaimed surrounding sal forests
He constructed the first check dam in Jamtoli village in Jharkhand to ensure heavy rains don't wash away farms
This 45-year-old makes farming profitable for the entire Soliga tribe
Prakash roped in 30 Soliga farmers and 1,000 other marginal farmers and formed a collective to set up a millet processing unit in Karnataka's …
Bihar’s advice to villagers — cook lunch early morning to avoid fire incidents
Spike in fire incidents coupled with losses due to COVID-19 lockdown has become cause of worry for farmers
How to strengthen the National Occupational Safety and Health systems
The National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at the Workplace announced in 2009 had proposed several actions at the national and state …
Why farmers in Uttarakhand prefer indigenous seeds over hybrids
In Uttarakhand, farmers are slowly shifting away from hybrid seeds to traditional varieties. They find the traditional seeds better …
Centre to roll back controversial ban on trade of cattle for slaughter
The government’s May 23 notification on changes made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017, …
What is pushing India's small dairy farmers out of business?
A new study establishes a link between global development in dairy industries and slowing down of local small-scale dairy business
Cattle can no longer be traded for the purposes of slaughter: Centre
Sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets banned; now cattle can only be sold for ‘agricultural purposes’
Droughts getting intense, more frequent in southern states
Be it temple tanks or rainwater harvesting structures, South India had set the standard in water conservation. Now they are just forgotten traditions