Rice-fish farming system in India is in urgent need of conservation and promotion

Along with reducing the emission of greenhouse gases, co-culture systems have beneficial effects on farm income and improving the livelihood of …

Higher agency helps small farmers reap globalisation benefits: Study

A new study examined how flow of goods, resources and people in global market facilitated farmers’ livelihoods 

Applying modern tech to agriculture

Farmers today can use the benefits of the technological revolution to increase their yields from farming and livestock rearing

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 …

Activists cite violations of statutory regulations in GM mustard approval ahead of SC hearing

GM mustard did not undergo even the limited testing that Bt brinjal underwent

What ails climate-smart agriculture in South Asia? Limited state resources & incentives, unequal tech dissemination

By 2050, South Asia will be one of the largest food-deficit regions & requires substantial increase in production to meet growing food demand

Unseasonal showers, crops lying in mandis: Farmers across India fear the worst as IMD predicts more rainfall

Around 46% of wheat purchased this season is lying unlifted at the mandis and are at risk of water damage 

This smart tech can promote water efficiency

Information on root zone moisture status gives farmers the confidence to plan their irrigation schedules and to avoid over watering

Is contract farming in India really worth it?

It is a novel idea; but in a country where the ruling class openly favours corporates, it could prove disastrous for farmers

After Sikkim, Lakshadweep set to turn 100% organic

The use of synthetic chemicals for agriculture was halted completely in 2005 by the Union territory

Why an American farmer commits suicide

Like their India counterparts, American farmers are losing income, piling up debt and nobody listens to them  

State election results grim reminder to how deep India’s rural crisis is

The Down To Earth’s coverage in the recent past has highlighted how the agrarian crisis led to what happened to BJP in Assembly polls

Limited access to land and water affects productivity of women farmers in Africa

FAO study reveals the constraints that make women more vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation

These consumers are funding farmers to make food sustainable

A transformation in the food system is underway with 100 consumers funding traditional millet farmers

Pollinator Week: How well-pollinated crops are important for agriculture

Pollination by bees, birds, flies holds a lot of significance: They affect 35% of world’s crop production

The minimum support price conundrum and Indian farming

MSP had no legal sanction when it was conceived and can also be challenged now

How Odisha is promoting climate-resilient agriculture through rice fallow initiative

Cultivation of short-duration pulse, oilseed crops in rice fallow is helping maximise land use efficiency, boost farmers’ income and …

15 states yet to use funds of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

The Centre's flagship agriculture scheme’s 75 per cent released funds lie unspent

Rural poor lose 5% of income to heat stress every year, more vulnerable to future climate risks

Every day of extreme precipitation causes poor households to lose 0.8 per cent of their incomes relative to non-poor households