International Women's Day: How self-help group — and a phone — gave Kuntala new lease of life
Non-profit Trickle Up’s pilot project put smartphones in the hands of poor women and helped change their lives
After controversy, PPV&FR chair reiterates support for farmer rights
KV Prabhu says controversial changes noticed recently on his organisation’s website could have been made well before his tenure started
Centre hikes Kharif crops’ MSP; paddy at Rs 2,183 per quintal
The current MSP hike is significant as this will be the last hike for Kharif crops before the general elections in early 2024
Why linking MGNREGA payments to Aadhaar is a mistake
How did the government apply Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act to the payments of MGNREGA remuneration, which in no way seem to be in accordance …
WTO's assault on India
The US has serious problems with India, mostly related to programmes providing a lifeline to vulnerable farmers and ensuring food security of …
Deforestation, agriculture triggered soil erosion 4,000 years ago: Study
Increased sediment deposits and changes in land use showed the degradation of soil during the last four millenia
Can the Walmart-Flipkart deal ease the woes of Indian farmers?
US retail giant Walmart is desperate to take-over the Indian market in retail and online segments. But will it go the extra mile to fill a …
Centre washes its hands off drought relief by introducing new parameters
Thousands of villages in Maharashtra are water stressed but will not receive help from the Centre because they fall short of the new definition …
Curbing desertification as critical as mitigating climate change impact
Currently, some two billion people are affected by desertification and land degradation; 41 per cent of the landmass worldwide is prone to …
India's cow crisis: The full coverage
All that you need to know about what's wrong with India's cow laws and the problems they are leading to in a five-part series
Problems of livestock economy and growing menace of stray cattle
Several states governed by the BJP enacted strong laws against cow slaughter. But we talk less about its effect on agriculture and rural economy
Voices of women from Dilli Chalo: We need equal rights as men farmers
A large contingent of women farmers marched along with their male counterparts at the Dilli Chalo protest on November 29-30 in Delhi. The women …
Farmers explain what brings them to the capital
Why did thousands of farmers take to the streets of New Delhi? Down To Earth turned the mike over to them
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 …
Is ‘chocapocalypse’ looming? Why we need to understand what’s at stake
Even though developed markets are at the forefront of chocolate indulgence, future growth opportunities could be elsewhere
Deforestation, change in crop pattern, direct fallout of China’s pork push
The globe’s largest pork market and industry is changing itself and others in its mission to produce huge amounts of the meat
A five-point plan to make Buhari’s council on food security a success
Previous attempts to ensure a sustainable food security project have failed in Nigeria. Will this one too?
This Kenyan farmer is modernizing — and maintaining a circular mindset
A concept of growing interest in developed countries, a circular economy keeps resources in use for as long as possible, and extracts maximum value
Sustainable agriculture can be key to reducing youth migration in Africa
Agriculture is Africa’s largest employer and a possible solution to its migration problem
The karma of AD Negi
AD Negi is a retired bureaucrat. He has voluntarily planted and nurtured 65 hectares of lush green forest in a cold desert area of Kinnaur in …
How to grow a food forest that will feed you everyday
What does it take to design a permaculture kitchen garden? Peter Fernandes recounts his experience of growing a food forest using permaculture in Goa
Why do conservationists hide when the bees dwindle?
It’s time the country’s policymakers and researchers turned their attention to insect-benefitting agriculture
Climate-smart agriculture in Cooch Behar, West Bengal
The National Innovations on Climate-resilient Agriculture was launched by the central government in 2011. It covers 121 villages in the country. …
Pay farmers for providing ecosystem services; make agriculture attractive: experts
A steady income for farmers will stem migration and reduce pressure on urban areas as rural people will stay back in villages
India’s sugar output increases in December despite low production in several states
Substantial increase in sugar production in Uttar Pradesh compensated production decline in Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana