Searching for Roots

India's wealth of flora and fauna provide a rainbow of natural dyes

REVIVING WISDOM

Rainwater is abundant in India. So is its mismanagement. This has led to a human-made water scarcity. The only way to solve modern India's water …

Highs and lows

The government's vanaspati van scheme is good news, but for it to succeed small-scale farmers and local communities have to be brought in its fold

Grow more

There is no land to cultivate medicinal plants, neither are there any legal provisions, nor market access. At present, the risks involved are …

A Himalayan Tragedy

People who have no idea about forests step in to further trade, while the indigenous herb gatherers get exploited further

Herbal heist

Hand-in-glove with the forest department, traders of medicinal plants and herbs make hay while communities who depend on herb gathering for …

Predicting the future

A severe shortage of medicinal plants and herbs threatens ISM. Cultivation may be the only way out. But currently medicinal plants that are …

Orphans of the river

Riverine fisherfolk, arguably the oldest among traders, are being sold down the river. An unholy synergy of poisoned rivers, government apathy …

Scaling sustainable food production in face of climate change is the defining challenge of our times

Localised and climate-smart agriculture can help preserve agrobiodiversity and reshape the larger narrative of responsible food production  &…

World Food Day: our agriculture must keep pace with changing climate

To feed the world, agriculture, along with forestry, fisheries and livestock, needs to become more resilient and productive

Third side of a coin!

We must not manifest prejudices against societies with primitive technology, without understanding their challenges completely

Finally, community forest rights

Tribals of BR Hills can now manage resources in Karnataka reserve

Chayawanprash, an ayurvedic tonic has artificial sweetner

Disclosure-shy industry

Pharma and biotech firms are lobbying hard to block disclosure of origin of genetic material used in inventions, but they also raise thorny issues

Printers' devil

The Jaipur bench of the Rajasthan High Court has ordered the relocation of Sanganer's polluting dyeing and printing units within a year. Failure …

India has a living tradition of healthy food

Our country has the opportunity to be different in its food journey. With our ancient wisdom, we can prevent McDonaldisation of food

New leaked chapter of Asia trade deal shows RCEP will undercut farmers’ control over seeds

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership threatens to increase corporate power in member countries, leaving ordinary people with little rights

Why Nairobi must spread the right food message in an unhealthy environment

Residents in Nairobi's urban slums are opting for fast food rather than healthy alternatives, which is increasing their risk of …

India opposes patent application by British company

Earlier, an attempt by Colgate-Palmolive to use patent on a mouthwash was also foiled

In Short

Reclaiming Simple Clod

More and more loss

More and more water

More yield per hectare

More and more urea

Fertilisers boost plant growth but imbalanced application soon leads to use-fatigue