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 …
'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
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
Production of milk, meat and eggs increased in 2016 rainy season
The production of wool decreased during the same period of July 1 to October 31, 2016
Climate change will increase drought intensity, frequency in the Caribbean
Theregion is vulnerable to variable and unpredictable rainfall, a FAO report says
Farm sector fell short of targeted growth of 4 per cent: Economic Survey 2013
'Investments are the only way to motivate the farming community to produce more'
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
An index for monitoring effectiveness of climate-smart agriculture practices: How it can help
Awareness and training was the highest weighted dimension among the five that were used to develop the index