India can’t have a piece-meal approach of fighting only food security or climate change

Any effective solution to mitigate climate change in India must take in to account poverty, inadequate food distribution and lack of basic shelter

PM Matruvtva Vandana Yojna: Full benefit for mere 14% pregnant women

Current scheme goes against National Food Security Act, activists allege; seek Rs 6,000 minimum benefit

Rural India’s expenditure on food has been declining since 1972

The leaked NSSO report on consumption expenditure reveals the state of India’s rural economy

Awa phadigom, a hidden enhancer

Manipur’s wild coriander acts as a flavouring agent in meat and vegetable dishes, besides being used as a medicine

Low inflation rates and dipping food prices: Where do they leave the farmer

Almost a fifth of India's consumer goods basket was in deflation zone in January. All were food items

Why is Johnson and Johnson talcum powder being tested by Indian authorities?

Indian authorities are verifying the truth behind the allegations of carcinogens in Johnson and Johnson's talcum powder

‘Labour burden on women millet producers must be reduced’

Shailaja Fennell, an expert in gender and household dynamics in agriculture, talks to Down To Earth about millet production in India

Madhya Pradesh govt in denial mode after 7-month-old dies due to malnutrition

The girl from Sheopur district was admitted in a centre for malnutrition treatment; in the past hundreds of children have died in several …

Kerala botanists discover 2 new ginger species in Arunachal

The first species is named after a sacred abode of a spirit invoked by Mishmi community in Lohit district, & second acknowledges …

Misleading ad endorsements by celebrities: Consumer Protection Bill, 2018 has loopholes

On one hand, the Bill has penalty provisions for the endorsers and on the other it is giving them a route to get away

Rs 1,402,680,000,000: India's agrarian import bill for 2015-16

This is India's agrarian import bill for 2015-16. More than three times of India's annual agriculture budget, this money could have been …

High on health, low on popularity

The Phalsa fruit is available for only a few weeks in a year. Yet, it's sweet and sour taste will leave you asking for more

Food safari in deserts of Rajasthan

Down To Earth travels to Rajasthan to find out about the traditional food habits of desert people. On this journey, we discovered that not-so-…

Demonetisation and rural economy: what experts have to say

As demonetisation completes 50 days, we bring to you expert comments on how the currency ban derailed the rural economy

Grow your own herbs: Edible Routes

Edible Routes organised a workshop in New Delhi, where they explained and taught participants how to grow herbs and have your own kitchen garden. …

You say tomato… why some fruits are forever doomed to be called veggies

When botany and linguistics collide: pumpkins are fruits and there's technically no such thing as a vegetable. But try telling that to a five-year-…

Beyond spice

Curry leaf is a common spice in south Indian recipes but few people outside the region know what else to do with it

Bread, values and politics

The forthcoming World Food Summit must ensure that the umbrella of food security also extends to encompass the Southern nations' poor

Whither food security?

IN THE FAMINE TRAP·Devinder Sharma·The Ecological Foundation in association with UK Food Group· London·1997

Centre bans gutkha

Activists, health experts are sceptical; pin hope on Supreme Court’s verdict on smokeless tobacco  

Think before you drink

Studies confirm energy drinks like Red Bull can be unsafe. India yet to limit their caffeine content

No regulations for cosmetics, drugs in US

McDonalds' UK promotes sustainable coffee

In Brief

Content labelling norms flouted in 48 per cent packaged food items

Survey finds nearly three-fourth food items do not display salt and sodium content on packets