Peatlands of Indonesia: in conversation with Myrna A Safitri
Indonesian peatlands are being burnt for palm oil and paper industries. Last year at the COP 21 in Paris though, Indonesian President Widodo …
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
State of Agriculture: Farmer suicides
Despite the Centre's promise of doubling farm income, the number of farmers committing suicide is the highest in five years
What changed when Ugandan farmers rated input quality and local vendor services
Should farmers buy commercial maize seeds from agro-input shops or just plant seeds from previous harvest?
With 10 acres of organic farm and traditional wisdom, this ‘family farmer’ can help you eat right
Sneh Yadav and Retd Col Tara Singh are very particular about what to grow and what not to grow on their land; they also maintain a very …
Massive sinkhole appears in Mexico and keeps growing
The diameter of the sinkhole was five meters when it first appeared, then grew quickly in just a few hours
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
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
Desertification is one of the biggest challenges for Indian agriculture
Loss of soil cover, mainly due to rainfall and surface runoff, is one of the biggest reasons for desertification. It is responsible for 10.98% of …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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