Indian farmers have sown 7% less land this summer
The total area of sowing has been reduced by 63 per cent compared to the national average, according to data published by the Union Ministry of …
No shortcuts to crop diversification
Pricing policies, market infrastructure and technologies that make cultivation of alternative crops viable are crucial
Green Revolution lab Jaunti shows agriculture in crisis now
Five decades after the green revolution, Down To Earth visited the village from where it all started, to assess the agrarian crisis …
High resolution rice maps can help boost production
The maps for Northeast India and Bangladesh will help study cloud-prone rice paddy cultivation regions in South Asia.
This startup is making fiber from stubble so that farmers don't burn it and cause pollution
A young startup formed by IIT Delhi students have found a novel way to take care of paddy stubble
Will Paul Ehrlich's prediction finally come true?
The Green Revolution may have prevented the fate that was forecasted for a world bursting at the seams and unable to feed itself. But unlimited …
State of farmers' protests
Farmer protests continue to be at the centre stage with farmers in at least 15 states taking to the streets. There are three broad reasons for …
'Biotechnology does not mean only GM crops'
The media and policy makers need to be sensitised more about the concept and advantages of biotechnologies in crop improvement for developing …
India's biodiversity and advocacy for GM seeds
What is the justification to advocate GM seeds in a country with one of the richest inventory of agricultural biodiversity
Rabbit farming: an emerging business
Rabbit farming has emerged as a new business opportunity. It require less investment and land. Farmers are slowly taking up rabbit farming to …
'Kisan Ekta' – voice of the farmer: In conversation with Devinder Sharma
Kisan Ekta Manch held their 3rd National Convention of Farmers Organization in Shimla from June 18-20, 2016. Down To Earth travelled to Shimla …
Interview: Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture
Radha Mohan Singh, Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare talks about a contingency plan to tackle the current drought and new crop …
Zero Budget Natural Farming: Interview with Subhash Palekar
Subhash Palekar is an Indian agriculture scientist. He has been conferred with 'Padma Shree' in 2016 for his invention and extensive work on an …
Wannabe Backwards: Reservations and the Agrarian Crisis
India's influential farming communities demand to be branded poor and underprivileged. Down To Earth unearths the real story behind this growing …
J S Parihar talks about Usage of Technology in Crop-loss Estimation
J S Parihar is former scientist from SAC-ISRO, and author of many studies on use of technology in agriculture. He talks about crop loss …
Government considering law to recognise tenancy
The Taskforce on Agricultural Development set up by the NITI Aayog strongly recommends creation of a land bank to boost farming
New report outlines pathways to transform food systems
Most countries are yet to realise the full potential of including & implementing action on food systems in their climate strategies and …
Sustainable agriculture: Choosing compost with precision can ensure food security
Precision composts will be created by identifying the configurations that produce either unsatisfactory or good results
60% wheat remains ‘unlifted’ from Punjab mandis
Amritsar and Tarn Taran Sahib have the highest amount of unlifted wheat in Punjab, 13 days after procurement started
PM-KISAN: Agriculture ministry tells Parliament Rs 23,727 crore yet to be used
Rs 2,326.88 crore of Rs 139,370.15 crore was disbursed to those ineligible for the scheme; Rs 231.76 crore has been recovered
Eighth round of talks between farmers, Centre ends in deadlock
Both sides refused to stand back from their positions; next meeting on January 15
Africa's agri-productivity growth only 2% for 2019: Report
The six-year progress report highlights less than half of development measures were made on several other indicators
Africa must be proactive about drought, not reactive, says FAO
As the continent feels the heat of climate change, it is time it adopts measures to better manage its water and land to build greater resilience …
People in Southern Africa need support to produce food
Farmers must plant by October and failure to do so will result in another reduced harvest in March 2017
Farmers give a thumbs-down to day-long talks, even as govt says progress made
The government agreed to talk about seven major objections of farmers in new farm laws; farmers not satisfied with talks