Linkage between science and public policy has weakened
M S Swaminathan, popularly known as the father of India’s Green Revolution, has been associated with national agricultural research system (…
Private sector is profiting from vacuum left by ICAR
In the agriculture research hierarchy, Swapan Kumar Datta occupies the second rung, one of eight deputy director generals (DDGs) in the Indian …
A plant breeder comes into his own
Awards are finally coming to K Vinod Prabhu, 54, a plant breeder, for his work on building resistance in wheat, mustard and rice through the …
Dealing with crop stresses and scandals
Subbanna Ayyappan has made history in the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (IACR) by becoming the first non-crop scientist to head this …
Science under siege
Agricultural science has ossified in India. Despite a vast network of public research institutions and agriculture universities across the country,…
Organic Universe
Organic is all the rage. Organic food, cosmetics, clothes and even organic medicines. But mostly it is food. There are speciality stores that …
The fifth element: Why radhuni needs to be mainstreamed
Wild celery is specific to Bengali cuisine and is usually consumed as part of panch phoron
Study points to quality issues in Bt cotton seeds
The study has found seed companies violating norms on the mixture of refuge seeds and Bt cotton seeds provided to farmers
Lumpy skin disease: Indian vaccine awaiting approval for 10 months even as more cattle fall prey
From January 2022 to May 2023, 165,000 cattle died
Budget 2020-21: Local level adaptation may be focus vis-à-vis climate change
Funds might be allocated to Panchayati Raj ministry, IMD, other institutions to minimise impact of extreme weather
Rajasthan ignores seed advice
It distributed Monsanto’s hybrid maize seeds that were not recommended for the state
Ban use of TB drug on crops: Central panel
Minutes of the meeting said that streptomycin, tetracycline use be phased out by 2022-end for crops for which no options were available
Why experts want GM freeze
Say regulatory system has grave deficiencies; challenge agriculture ministry’s claims
Bt Brinjal – the war goes on
Pro Bt Brinjal group releases a report challenging contention that the vegetable is used in medicine
Regulatory battle
Industry and activists have expressed conflicting opinions on GM crops. GEAC has a difficult decision to make
Act of omission
Public institutions do not seek permission from the biodiversity authority before genetically manipulating crops
Yellow rust strikes wheat in northern India
ICAR, agricultural universities and state agriculture departments issue advisories, alerts
COVID-19: Experts look at mushrooms for employment, immunity concerns
The Directorate of Mushroom Research in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan announced release of four new high-yielding strains of mushrooms recently
Blue revolution report an attempt to sell off India’s marine wealth to MNCs, big Indian firms: fisher groups
Among other things, panel has suggested joint ventures with foreign companies and transfer of technology be taken up for exploiting waters more …
Moily bats for GM trials
After he revives regulatory body for GM crops, industry demands removal of state clearances
All the way to Brazil to find Vidarbha cotton solution
Government takes seven years to admit Bt cotton has failed in Vidarbha and return to Desi varieties
Scientists’ panel to add new member for report on GM field trials
Weeks after expert committee recommended moratorium Supreme Court agrees to agriculture ministry's request to add new member to panel
Jungle raj
CAG memo shows IFS officers are administering country’s premier forestry research body like a fiefdom
FSSAI's scientific panel reconstituted
But members of the panel now designated as “independent consultants” were a part of the panel as representatives of the industry till …
Indefinite moratorium on GM field trials recommended
Supreme Court’s expert panel of scientists for ban on herbicide tolerant crops for India