Why ozone levels pose a challenge to food security

When present in the lowest atmospheric layer, ozone becomes a concern for human and plant health.

Air pollution in news on April 11

Here’s a round-up of today’s news reports and debates on air pollution

In a sudden u-turn, Madhya Pradesh refuses to include three Rabi crops under Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana

The decision comes after Centre refused to contribute 50 per cent towards Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana

How useful really are mobile apps for farmers?

A review which looked at 23 studies of information services in Africa, Asia and Latin America found that perceived benefits were not always …

Bhavantar Yojna: MP farmers refuse to sign up for 2nd round

Most of the over 200 farmers Down To Earth talked to in 6 villages of Hoshangabad and Sehore districts said they would not register for the …

Hailstorms, unseasonal rains damaged 4.76 lakh hectares of crop in February

Around 300,000 hectares of crops like jowar, gram, wheat and horticulture crops like orange, grapes, bananas and vegetables were damaged in …

Farmers seek relief after hail, rain damage crops in Rajasthan, UP

The storm spoiled standing crops in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

Farm distress: Crisis at large

High input cost, flawed MSP calculation and non-inclusive crop insurance scheme are problems perpetuating farm distress

Why are pests developing resistance to Bt cotton in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh?

Low compliance to planting refuge crops along with Bt crops and selection of refuge crops are some of the problem areas identified by a recent study

Point of no Agri-return

Exploring India's unprecedented agrarian crisis

Point of no agri-returns Part 1: How India lost its historic agriculture recovery growth phase in just four years

Government reports say 2004-14 had the highest agriculture growth that has fast slipped back to near-zero growth despite normal monsoons and …

Poor show of northeast monsoon raises doubts over Rabi crops production

Erratic distribution of northeast monsoon rains is most evident in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and the Deccan regions

Delhi should follow Beijing's example in tackling air pollution

Now is the time for India to peer through the smog and learn how Beijing is taking meaningful steps to address air pollution crisis

Delhi chokes again: winter is becoming synonymous with air pollution

Sudden deterioration in air quality is due to fall in wind speed and rise in moisture content, which is making the pollutants build up fast

Can gasification be the solution to crop burning?

Biomass gasification can not only prevent air pollution from burning crop residues, but also increase farmers’ income and manage municipal …

Saffron production to drop over 90% as Kashmir sees lowest rainfall in 35 years

Scarcity of rain and the failures of the National Saffron Mission have left local farmers in a precarious position

Soil fertility is not the only measure of soil health

At the ongoing International Permaculture Convergence, experts discussed how the modern farming system has destroyed soil health

Are GM crops a real solution to pest attacks in Africa?

Adoption of GM crops is widely cited as a solution to combat pest resistance, but if recent developments are considered, the answer is not that simple

Promoting permaculture can put an end to GMO culture in India

Experts at the 13th Permaculture Convergence in Telangana reposed faith in permaculture and urged farmers to explore this as an alternative to …

Farmers propose Bills on loan waiver, fair prices in their own 'parliament'

More than 180 farmer organisations from across the country proposed Bills related to debt waiver and fair crop prices in a mock parliament 

Wild tomatoes can help in making commercial varieties disease-free

Indian and Israeli scientists found a way to develop tomatoes resistant to the most common disease, Early Blight

बड़ी समस्याओं के लिए बड़े उपाय

पड़ोसी राज्यों पंजाब, हरियाणा और उत्तर प्रदेश में फसलों को जलाने की समस्या आ गई है। इस समस्या का समाधान मुमकिन है। यह समस्या ...

Today it is hazardous; tomorrow it is going to be deadly

The air quality in Delhi is likely to worsen further with north-westerly wind expected to bring in more toxic smoke from Punjab and Haryana in …

Odisha’s deadly farmlands: Another farmer commits suicides due to crop loss

Between 2001 and 2010, over 2,600 farmers committed suicide in Odisha and this year, drought has already broken their economic backbone

Tough problems need tough solutions

In spite of all the noise about air pollution, we are doing everything to make it worse