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

Delhites, all that rain does not mean you will have a smog-free Diwali. Here is why

Firecrackers, industries, vehicles, date of the festival and late withdrawal of the monsoon, all could cause a repeat of previous Diwalis, experts say

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

Why climate change studies on rice production are important in Wayanad

Area under rice cultivation has been declining rapidly in north Kerala district between 2004-05 and 2018-19 

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

MSP on crops has major impact on inflation: RBI

After government said that it will provide 1.5 times the MSP on cost of production of crops in the 2018-19 Union budget, RBI re-assessed the …

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

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 

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

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

Stubble burning bill: Rs 2 lakh crore/year in air pollution

Over five years, economic loss due to burning of crop residue and firecrackers is estimated to be $190 billion, or nearly 1.7 per cent of India&…

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

Can changing crop pattern foil elephant raids to farmlands?

Farmers in eastern Indian states are replacing paddy with alternative crops to prevent elephant attacks. The question is can this experiment be …

Delhi air pollution: identifying perpetrators and fixing responsibility

Air pollution in Delhi is a result of a complex mix of anthropogenic and natural sources

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 

Bihar rocked by more scams, financial irregularities worth Rs 10,000 crore

Comptroller and Auditor General's report shows Rs 7,900 crore outstanding advances for 'education for all' programme but absence of receipts made …