Monsanto's troublesome trait
Bayer is battling seed companies and farmers in several countries over royalty on Monsanto's GM seeds
Scientists identify proteins linked with wheat infection
Karnal Bunt, the infection, reduces yield and quality of grains as they start giving off foul fishy odour and taste
India's city compost policy needs overhauling
Promised financial incentives for sale of city compost did not prove to be a game-changer in promoting its marketing and production
India's Cow Crisis Part 1: Nepal bears the brunt of India's cow vigilantism
Hounded by cow vigilantes and trade restrictions, farmers in Uttar Pradesh's border areas abandon their unproductive cattle in Nepalese villages …
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 …
Commercialisation of GM rice turns out to be a dud: report
Countries across the world continue to promote golden rice even though there is evidence to show vitamin A deficiency can be reduced without …
Smart spraying can help cut pesticide use in orchards
Researchers reported that a sensor-based spraying system saved as much as 26% in the use of pesticides and achieved an efficiency level of 95% in …
Farmers and smartphone politics
Can pre-poll sops like giving smart phones with internet connectivity to farmers increase farm income?
In 4 years, farmers’ income has increased by just Rs 2,505 per month: NABARD report
Although the average farm income per month saw a rise in the last four years, it is still not enough to help farmers cope with the current …
Winds of change in tribal villages
A slew of measures like horticulture, beekeeping, polycropping and creation of water harvesting structures guarantee income augmentation among …
Why MSP will not provide even minimum support to farmers
With a projected 5-25% rise in input prices of fuel, agricultural rentals and agrochemicals, the new MSPs for kharif crops will not lead to any gains
Voice calls to help Andhra farmers in decision-making
The interactive voice response system has been introduced in Anantapur district to cover groundnut farmers
Sugarcane crisis: Govt focuses on technology fixes, but not on mounting dues to farmers
While sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh owe about Rs 12,500 crore to farmers, the government’s measures were directed mostly towards tackling …
What Kenya needs to do to take advantage of its rainfall
Farmers need to be better informed where they can sell their crops for good prices so that they’re confident they can recoup the cost of …
Farm income drops in 16 states and union territories
The national average income from cultivation increased by just 3.8 per cent between 2002-03 and 2012-13, when the overall farm sector grew by 3 …
The craft of corrupt science
If there is evidence of toxicity in Monsanto’s glyphosate, then why are governments not banning it?
Delhi’s crop area reduced by 34%; less than 1% workforce engaged in agriculture
The Economic Survey of Delhi also revealed that the area under food-grain crops has decreased substantially
Let them eat carp: Fish farms are helping to fight hunger
Contrary to perception, a vast majority of farmed fish is consumed in the same developing countries where it is produced, and is widely …
Why are vanilla growers in Madagascar struggling to survive?
Farmers in Madagascar, world's largest vanilla-exporting country, live in poverty and constant fear of losing their crop to theft
Sick(le) charade
The NDA government's new and revised schemes to augment rural development are yet to show any results
The minuscule system of pricing
First, a farmer must sell the produce at a price wrongly discounted by unscientific calculation. Second, an unholy nexus of many players pushes …
Need to address impact of extreme weather events on crops
There is a lot the government can do to assist farmers to cope with climate-induced farming problems
New model agriculture law aims to increase farmers’ income
The draft law proposes to ensure profitable returns to farmers through features such as electronic registration, direct sale to buyers and …
Union Budget 2017-18 in figures
While agriculture saw 5.9 per cent increase in budget allocation, rural development and health sector witnessed 11.8 per cent and 22.6 per cent …
37 African countries continue to face food deficits, finds report
Agricultural slowdown in the continent is directly affecting 70 per cent of its population, who depend on the sector for livelihood