Wheat, palmolein, arhar: As the Centre takes anti-inflationary steps, what about the farmer, DTE asks experts

The entire burden of inflation is still borne by India’s farmers; this needs redress, say experts

People who grow their own food, eat and remain healthy; But erratic weather may change this adage

Without normal weather, self-sufficient households may have to depend more on markets, thus spending more on food than before

Kharif sowing period almost over, but huge deficit for paddy and pulses

Jharkhand most affected due to delayed monsoon 2022; Soyabean, millet see increase 

India reports 22% less sowing till second week of 2022 kharif season, compared to last year

The southwest monsoon has entered the country, but the initial rainfall figures have become a source of trouble for farmers

Centre hikes MSP as kharif sowing begins

MSP hike for 17 crops was approved June 8; this is likely to encourage farmers to diversify and switch to these crops

Fabulous Faba: Ancient super food set to stage a comeback

Food scientists are now trying to give this neglected ancient crop a makeover, given its high nutrition content

Summer crops may be damaged this year due to temperature rise: Experts

States accuse the Centre of not taking any initiative to help them increase production of summer crops  

How Russia-Ukraine conflict could influence Africa’s food supplies

African countries imported agricultural products worth $4 billion from Russia in 2020

Prolonged protests in Bihar over acute fertiliser shortage during rabi sowing season

Protests had also erupted in the state during kharif season earlier this year due to shortage of urea.   

Pulse tales: What is Indian food without them?

Pulses are found in every corner of the country and are essential in Indian cuisine

India’s pulses problem: We need real reform

The government needs to revise its pricing policy to incentivise pulses production

Why the decision to impose stock limits on pulses is flawed policy

The government’s flip-flop on stockholding limits does not help pulses’ pricing issues

How pulses can regain their lost glory in India

Ensuring that pulses sell at the minimum support price and distributing them under the public distribution system can help them find favour with …

All that ails pulses in India

The past three decades have seen stagnation in acreage, production and productivity of pulses across the country due to a bevy of reasons that …

Pulse puzzle 2021

The government takes the usual market-regulatory steps every time there is a surge in prices of pulses — the primary source of protein for …

NSO survey: Most farmers selling in local markets, government agencies procure the least

Farmers in general satisfied with return from local sale, but a significant percentage of them get lower than market price

Why pulse production in India needs better incentives

Productivity of released varieties of pulses is much lower than the notified variety of lower-yielding ones 

Nature-based solutions: Convenient ignorance of the inconvenient truth

Solutions based on going back to nature do exist, but to make a tangible impact on climate change, they need to be executed at scale and with …

Sour saga of chana saag: Easier access to tender chickpea greens can promote this nutritious food

BONUS: Easy-to-cook good food recipe inside

Good food: Seeds of health

Seeds hold the promise of life, and hence they are so carefully stored in seed banks across the world

Lateral Thoughts: Who moved my samosa?

Indians need to eat better food, rich in fruits and vegetables and high in proteins 

Global Eco Watch: How climate may have helped exacerbate Spanish Flu

Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology  

Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana has been extended for five more months

Activists and experts welcome Prime Minister Modi’s announcement

India to import 3 mln tonnes of pulses in 2020-21

Import could lower prices of domestic pulses, increasing losses to farmers

Arsenic: Lurking in the shadows across Ganga, Brahmaputra basins

As the geography of arsenic contamination spreads, there is an urgent need for governments to reorient mitigation measures. That’s because …