The ‘qissa’ of Basmati
As the European Union gets set to pronounce whether to give a GI tag to India’s Basmati rice, we explore the history of a grain that …
Five points on food inflation and onions
Retail inflation hitting double digit being attributed to high food prices, but is it so?
Jammu and Kashmir farmers suffering due to rain, snow and lockdown
Unseasonal weather has destroyed apples in Kashmir and paddy in Jammu even as government promises to procure crops have rung hollow
Why companies are lobbying to push for hybrid paddy seeds in India
Most of India still cultivates rice from pure-bred seeds, something which prevents companies backed by multinationals from expanding their market
India’s water is being exported as agri-exports; is there a solution
It is critical for us to adopt the circular water management model of treating and rejuvenating wastewater at source, along with efficient water …
Drought but why: The agricultural wasteland that is Bihar
Below-normal rainfall and drought-like situation for 7 years pushing out youth for livelihood
Nigeria is Africa’s leading rice producer, but still needs more — reusing wastewater for irrigation would boost farming
If a quarter of Lagos's daily volume of wastewater were to be recycled for rice production, nearly 75 per cent of Nigeria’s rice …
Why ozone levels pose a challenge to food security
When present in the lowest atmospheric layer, ozone becomes a concern for human and plant health.
Seeds of hope
Northern Bangladesh successfully fights its age-old famine-like situation by creating a new cropping season and introducing lost indigenous rice …
African rice genome decoded
The genetic information allows creating varieties more resistant to environmental challenges and having higher yields to fight global food challenge
Back to basics: COVID-19 labour crunch brings direct seeding of paddy in focus
States have been trying to promote DSR for some time; it is gaining traction now — Since June, when kharif sowing started, 0.7 million ha …
Union Budget 2019-2020: Government giving more importance to food fortification
Budgetary allocation for fortified rice scheme in the present budget increased by 18,000 crore
Excess nitrogen fertilisers hamper germination, root growth in rice: study
Indian scientists have now identified rice varieties that are efficient in nitrogen use
Ganesh Chaturthi: The modak’s history reflects its strong ties to the land; here is how
The sweet and some of the recipes used in making it are quite old; its ingredients include some of the Deccan’s famous crops like ambemohur rice
Rice, integral to Madagascar, may be hastening the decline of its unique biodiversity; here is how
Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot; most of the plants, animals, insects and fungi found there are not found anywhere else
Speciality rice varieties of Kerala are storehouse of nutrition: study
Rice can be a vital source of nutrition if some of the nutritious varieties of rice traditionally grown can be popularised
Punjab, Haryana and west UP facing severe nitrogen pollution: Down To Earth expose
Nitrogen pollution can destroy soil health, contaminate water, lead to serious health problems, and trigger climate change
Climate change to affect rice productivity, finds a new study
Elevated temperature was found to have a negative impact on rice productivity, even nullifying the positive effects of higher level of CO2 …
Vale of Apatanis
Surrounded by wooded hills in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh lies the small Apatani valley. Vikas Choudhary captures the life of …
Dehydrated state of America
As California enters the fourth year of the worst drought it has seen in over 1,200 years, Venkat Srinivasan travels through America's most …
No pesticides
Farmers can save crops without pesticides. And they can earn more in the deal. sopan joshi records a great change sweeping through Andhra …
Kagga in peril
This rice can tolerate brackish water but is on the brink of extinction. Can government save it?
Crossroad
nitin sethi visits Arunachal Pradesh and finds the Apatani grappling with stereotypes and change
Rice intensification for increasing productivity
System of Rice Intensification is new mantra for reducing water usage and increasing productivity
Scientists unravel fungus responsible for Sheath Blight disease in rice
Researchers have identified several genes and gene families in the strain that might account for their disease aggressiveness