How to inspire India's youth to take up farming?
Arguably, reviving India's agriculture is the country's most important agenda. But who will carry forward this primary livelihood activity? There …
Where are the panchayats?
Of the three farm water conservation programmes currently under way in Karnataka, the Jal Samvardhene Yojana (jsy) has completed a year of …
Don't need subsidies, give us the right price
For most Indians, Mahendra Singh Tikait is the man who brought Delhi to its knees in 1988 with a rally that brought the national capital face to …
Paan loses flavour
Iconic paan no more appeals to farmers, traders and common people. They say the contagious spread of chewing tobacco, especially gutkha, is fast …
Maize Mania
Maize has become the queen of cereals, courted by state governments, seed companies, farmers and the feedstock and starch industries as the crop …
Long yarn
The cotton story is a tangled tale. In many parts of India, farmers are committing suicide. It's been a while Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and now …
Organic thread
Even as Bt cotton invaded Indian fields in the past few years, some farmer groups kept pushing for organic cotton. In 2009-10, production in …
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
‘Rationalising subsidies, improving infrastructure could revive agri-sector’
For every million rupees spent on agricultural research, 328 people are pulled out of poverty. In contrast, the same amount spent on power …
Now an app to help farmers practice precision agriculture
By determining health of the crops using hyperspectral imaging of crop leaves, the app could help in rational use of fertilisers
Parliamentary panel finds tobacco harmful for forests
The panel found that financial benefits due to tobacco cultivation were negligible as compared to losses suffered in terms of deaths
A grain revolution for Africa
In just a few decades, Africa has become a net food importer. But it has to feed more and more people in the future. Estimates suggest the …
42% of India’s districts use 85% of its chemical fertilisers
A parliamentary standing committee blamed Agriculture Ministry’s skewed policy for the inequality in fertiliser usage
Goa sees sharpest dip in farm sizes, Sikkim follows
The latest provisional Agriculture Census shows that the average size of farmlands in Goa decreased by 30 per cent in five years
Model law on contract farming on the cards this year
According to experts, the law must address dependency that farmers can develop on the private parties for seeds and farm equipment
Bacteria that reduces fertilser use
indian scientists have discovered a novel microorganism in salty marshlands, which has the potential to absorb nitrogen -- an essential plant …
CACP recommends Centre to bring urea under NBS regime to check overuse
Disproportionate use of urea in agriculture over the years has been one of the primary reasons for worsening plant nutrient imbalance
Telangana pushing for organic farming, but focus is now on giving respite to farmers
Telangana's Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister, Jupally Krishna Rao, says his government is offering loan waiver and subsidies to farmers
Going to town with agriculture
Helped by a proactive government, residents of Havana resort to urban agriculture to solve their food crisis
Neem-coated growth
The Union government's decision to produce neem-coated urea will not only improve soil health and agriculture, but also halt its illegal …
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh organises ‘Kisan Garjana Rally’ in Delhi to demand remunerative prices for farmers
Demands included abolition of GST on agricultural inputs and increase in PM-KISAN direct cash transfer scheme
Askew
As Parliament mulls the Seeds Bill 2004, there is intense opposition to it. It's likely the government will redraft it. sopan joshi and sourav …
Participation or takeover?
Private companies now dictate terms in Maharashtra’s agriculture sector. Punjab follows suit
Climate smart agriculture proposed at COP 22 raises concerns
Climate smart agriculture has not been defined, giving way for industrial agriculture to be promoted under its name
Wasted wealth
Organic composting is filthy business. Facilities flout norms, produce poor quality manure