Delhi Chalo: Amid police face-off, farmers keep up the march
The ‘Delhi Chalo’ (Onward to Delhi) agitation began November 26, 2020, as thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and …
"Developmental aid is part of neocolonialism"
Although RAY WIJEWARDENE, 71, holds degrees in engineering and aeronautics from Cambridge, is a Doctor of Science (Honorls causa) from Sri Lanka'…
For 2004, an article of faith
When our designers sit down to make the year planner that comes with the year's first issue, they look through the issues of the magazine in the …
Participatory Guarantee System brings credibility to small 'Organic' farmers
Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) is a new initiative for 'Organic' product certification in India. It helps small scale and marginal farmers, …
`Remote sensing is being used to predict crop-growing seasons'
Satellite technology is not just being used to monitor and predict climate change events. Its applications are now also accurately estimating crop-…
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 …
A lost name, a vanishing ecosystem
In the Kannada language, the word kere means a man-made or natural water tank, and the word for the numeral nine is ombhatthu , pronounced …
Three sides to every story
Arthur Dunkel's legacy of proposals on patent, science and investment laws continues to be perceived differently. Even in individual countries, …
China's reforms
Land use in China is in for irretrievable change. At the Third Plenum of the 16th Party Congress, held October 11-14, 2003, the world's biggest …
On the defensive at Cancun?
Recently Arun Jaitley identified agriculture and investment as the two main issues for next month's World Trade Organization ministerial …
Book review: Commercial cultivation of medicinal plants
It is an obvious business risk for a farmer to give up growing conventional crops that have assured returns and start growing medicinal plants. …
Lowland rice is a carbon sink
Pratap Bhattacharyya, senior scientist at the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) in Odisha, along with his team at the institute, says rice …
'Punjab Contract Farming Act protects traders’ interests'
In April this year, the Punjab Assembly passed the Punjab Contract Farming Act. The new law provides a legal framework to regulate contract …
Made it
Enabavi, a village of 52 families, is abuzz. It is hosting farmers from the nearby Kallem village who have come here for tips on profitable …
Who is watching GM crops?
As India gets ready to unleash a vast number of genetically modified (GM) food crops, politicians have joined activists in opposing engineered …
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 …
`Family farming is not a romantic idea. It is business'
The food price rise of 2007-08 highlighted that investments in the agriculture sector have reduced in the past three decades. One of the most …
Takeover threat
State of the world 2002 (us $15.95), vital signs 2002 (us $14.95); eco-economy: building an economy for the earth, 2001 (us $14.95) .
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 …
`Growing food is like printing your own money'
Ron Finley grows food and for this he has been branded as a guerilla gardener, a renegede, an ecolutionist. It all began four years ago, when Ron,…
"We are close to crisis point"
Agriculture and its subsequent effect on the environment, rapidly depleting natural resources like arable land and water, the slackening of the …
Fabled Fruits!
Taking off from its climatic range - Himalayan to tropical - India has much to offer in terms of fruit diversity. Large varieties of major fruits …
What's the fuss about Bt brinjal?
Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Mondal, director-general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), is among the handful of people who have …
Murder mystery in Bihar
The killing of two social activists has left behind a series of unanswered questions. On the evening of January 24 social activists Sarita and …
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 …