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