Backyard mess
Wastepaper is abundantly available in India. Yet the Indian paper industry depends heavily on imports. MONALI ZEYA HAZRA finds out why
Bihar plans to sterilise, not cull, nilgais
State government plans to sterilise 5,000 nilgais in 2022, says Bihar forest minister
Leaves from nitrogen-rich trees can be potential fertilisers
Banaras Hindu University scientists have shown that application of leaves from nitrogen-rich trees in soil can increase the soil fertility and …
'Indigenous Rice Seeds' central to sustainable farming in India
Changing climate and erratic weather events have forced agriculturists to revisit traditional rice varities that had once lost their popularity …
False predictions
For years, energy experts and foresters have believed that the poor will eat away the forests of the developing world like locusts in order to …
Climate crisis: Staple crop yield in 8 African countries may decline by 80%, flags report
The crisis will exacerbate food insecurity and poverty if no changes are made to agricultural practices or global policies, erratic …
International Biodiversity Day 2021: We are part of the solution
Let us make the International Biodiversity Day a routine action rather than a mere one-day celebration every year
Scientists identify proteins linked with wheat infection
Karnal Bunt, the infection, reduces yield and quality of grains as they start giving off foul fishy odour and taste
How crop burning affects Delhi's air quality
Polash Mukerjee from Centre for Science and Environment explains how crop burning in Punjab and Haryana affects Delhi's air quality
Crop burning: Small farmers left in lurch as machines favour big landholders
Even those who choose to grow crops other than wheat do not find suitable machines to handle residue
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
El Nino-induced drought leaves Africa dry and hungry
El Nino-induced drought in Africa has destroyed crops, challenged food security and caused cattle deaths. Ahead of the African Drought Conference …
Smoke from Punjab fires added to Delhi’s deadly air cocktail
Data captured by MODIS Aqua/Terra with active fire points marked as red dots Aqua images are at approximately 10.30 am and Terra at 1.30 pm …
Wheat crisis: All eyes on weather as mercury shoots up in February
Farmers worry about a repeat of last year even as Centre claims record production for this year
Why we need to study day-to-day weather
While the link between summer monsoon and agriculture has been thoroughly researched, there is absence of deliberation over the impact of rains …
Swarm warning
Officials claim the locust problem is under control, but unless millions of hoppers -- young locusts -- stalking the deserts are exterminated …
Kharif crops take a severe hit by intense and unprecedented rainfall across India
IMD advises farmers to drain maize fields, delay sowing paddy in several states
Centre’s crop insurance scheme not good enough; Bihar launches its own plan for farmers
Bihar State Crop Assistance Scheme will ensure that farmers have enough money for next crop cycle if their current crop is destroyed by natural …
Smart device developed for precise use of herbicides
Indian and American researchers have developed a weed removal device for precise application of herbicide that can reduce crop damage and …
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.
High production, palmolein imports to blame for low market price of rapeseed?
Mustard is a key oilseed crop for boosting domestic oilseed production and reducing the country’s dependence on import of edible oil
Fall Armyworm attack: 'It is the biggest pest attack ever'
The worm prefers maize, but its diet comprises up to 300 plant species, including vegetables and ornamental plants
New web-based platform to help with micro irrigation
Researchers have come up with a web-based application that helps design customised micro-irrigation systems for individual agricultural fields
Why farmers in Punjab and Haryana continue to burn rice stubble?
Every year during October and November, farmers in Punjab and Haryana are blamed for polluting the Delhi air by burning stubble
Maharashtra heads towards a drier drought
While last year, the state’s 14,679 villages were hit by drought, this time 20,000 villages are already facing drought-like conditions