Metals for food

Depleting groundwater sources compel farmers in Gujarat to use industrial effluents for irrigation

Struggle for existence

Large-scale habitat loss and massive encroachment of the forestland have escalated the instances of wildlife-human conflict in recent times

Coconut capital

Toddy tappers in Kerala fought off social stigma and repression only to fight new demons like the government's excise policy

Depleting food grain stock ring alarms: Is India staring at a rice crisis?

Over 44 million tonnes of grains in stock compared to 78.6 million tonnes last year; Wheat dangerously close to buffer limit

Farm losses: Heavy rains destroy paddy, cotton crops in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

Scarce rain during monsoon, heavy rain during harvest spell agricultural doom; Bajra, jowar also affected

Not just groundwater, flouride has poisoned agricultural soil, crops in Bengal

Farmers in Bankura and Purulia rely on groundwater, heavily contaminated with flouride, to cultivate crops  

UN Committee for World Food Security endorses voluntary guidelines to end hunger

The guidelines will contribute to realisation of global goals on  hunger and nutrition even as more than 3 billion people do not have access …

Jharkhand’s success story of fruit plantation under MGNREGA

The state’s experience in horticulture orchards can serve as a model for the country

Traditional seeds need to be conserved for organic farming

At the 19th Organic World Congress, more than 55 groups have come together to call for the conservation of indigenous seeds and shunning GM crops

Hailstorm lashes parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

Temperatures dip in a number of places, experts say occurrence good for Rabi crops

Biotech is not just GM

Michael Antoniou teaches Molecular Genetics at King's College, London. In his spare time, he likes to help non-profits with information on the …

Biotech regulator approves GM mustard, now Centre to take a call

Biosafety mechanisms ignored, conflict of interest over GEAC panel as well, say experts 

Water-stressed in India: How bunds helped farmers in Mahoba put drought behind

Construction of bunds helped revive groundwater levels and recharged wells in drought-stricken Bundelkhand district  

Crops failing against rising temperatures, pest attacks: Study

Rising temperatures due to climate change may be compounding the stress on crops in multiple ways, it says

Worrying dip in global biodiversity

The proportion of livestock breeds at risk of extinction is increasing and plant diversity in farmers’ fields is decreasing, says a recent …

GEAC approves field studies of GM mustard on honey bee

Similar approvals for Genetically Modified mustard were also given in March this year by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee

Climate disruption

Global warming has compromised Africa's ability to feed its population. It's time African nations adapt to the changing scenario

Seeds of decline

Frequent pest attacks, rising seed costs and declining returns are forcing farmers to abandon India's first genetically modified (GM) crop, Bt …

Pawar's daughter on panel that will examine biotechnology Bill

Supriya Sule joins Parliament panel on science and technology; panel to submit report on Bill that gives easy access to GM crops in three months

Hard time for honeybees

Entomologist May Berenbaum of University of Illinois in USA has inspired a character in TV series, X-Files. The winner of this year’s Tyler …

Rajasthan ignores seed advice

It distributed Monsanto’s hybrid maize seeds that were not recommended for the state

GM mustard: Crop’s release would irreversibly damage the environment, SC told

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing Aruna Rodrigues, presented arguments against the crop

Jharkhand may be declared drought-hit again this year

Paddy planted in just 44% of target area this year, 37% rainfall deficit recorded till now this monsoon

Centre hikes Kharif crops’ MSP; paddy at Rs 2,183 per quintal

Paddy MSP up by Rs 143 for 2023-24; expected margin to farmers at least 50%, claims Centre

Budget kick: Keep these factors in mind while setting up a Bio-CNG plant

Political and institutional support must be gained through a sustained and deliberate communication process in which Bio-CNG’s economic and …