Centre may reduce moisture content limit for wheat, paddy. Why this will hurt farmers

The government is trying to gradually withdraw from procurement operations, MSP regime with this move, feel farmers

CSE experts explain: Strategies to reduce crop residue burning for air pollution mitigation

Farm residue burning is a serious seasonal problem with severe public health consequences

Scanty rainfall, low-water levels to affect kuruvai paddy yields this year, warn Tamil Nadu farmers

Deficit rain in neighbouring Karnataka also hit Mettur dam water levels

Monsoon 2022: Why a drought wasn’t declared in 4 states with drought-like conditions

A report shows drought-like situation in over 700 blocks of 91 districts of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar & West Bengal

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

After Mahanadi floods, Odisha farmers at mercy of Sitrang

Farmers harvest immature standing crops in fear of greater losses due to cyclonic storm 

Indian research can help cut nitrogen fertiliser waste

Indian scientists manage to identify phenotypes, visibly identifiable features that determine the efficiency with which cultivars use nitrogen

Rabi crop acreage witnesses a decline, pulses fare the worst

Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat among states affected; change in rainfall pattern likely reason

As told to Parliament (March 21, 2023): Maternal mortality went down to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20

All that was discussed in the House through the day  

Counting north India’s stubble fires: Stronger data science needed to study winter smog

Severe smog in north India is a result of an evil alignment of many factors. Whether those factors co-conspire this year, remains to be seen

Counting north India’s stubble fires: How do NASA satellites capture them

Overall, it is safe to assume that even if satellite images do not show a fire, it does not necessarily mean that nothing is burning on the ground

2022 too short, too far: A tough year for farmers, cattle owners

Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from 2022  

Sustainable agriculture: Punjab needs policies to support crop diversification

Growing maize instead of paddy can reduce water use by 60-70% 

Verdict 2024: Did farmer grievances about paddy MSP lead to BJD’s defeat in Odisha?

Leaders feel farmers may have bought into the BJP’s promise to pay Rs 3,100 as paddy MSP if it came to power  

Mid-monsoon update: Officially normal, but 185 districts are deficit in rainfall

Crop acreage has picked up as July rainfall dips by nearly 10 per cent  

Punjab and Haryana are unable to get out of paddy-wheat cycle; why is that?

Experts say low returns and post harvest losses and management inefficiences among major roadblocks for crop diversification 

Delhi’s poor air days start, will only deteriorate

Dip in temperature, calm surface winds and steady increase in farm fires in Punjab and Haryana reason for poor air quality 

Beyond the hoopla: Millets must be promoted. But health and economic concerns need priority

Nutritional advantages of millets are offset by presence of phytic acid; cultivation yield also poor compared to wheat and rice

A fiscal crisis: Why FCI needs provisioning in food subsidy budget

Mounting expenses, under-provisioning of food subsidy budget leading to a huge debt is highly worrisome 

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  

COVID-19: 60% farmers suffered yield loss on their harvest, shows survey

Survey aimed to evaluate the impact of the nationwide lockdown against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on agricultural production …