Farmers face a soaring risk of flash droughts in every major food-growing region in coming decades, new research shows
One way to help agriculture adapt to the rising risk is to improve forecasts for rainfall and temperature
Day temperature, not daylight, influences beans flowering: study
The findings of Bengaluru-based researchers may help farmers plant the right varieties to optimise yields
To reduce environmental impact, change the way we produce food: study
The biggest hurdle is finding uniform production processes across diverse geographies and climatic conditions
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 …
Plant microbiomes are not exactly a ‘treasure-trove’
Breeding plants with more beneficial bacteria to feed the world won’t be simple, study says
Pseudo science
- S K HANDA Former head, division of agricultural chemistry, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, writes in Agriculture Today (…
Delhi University's gene mystery
Department of Science and Technology has no idea where GM lines in a high-profile case came from and who gave permission for research
Low Pulse
Spiralling prices of pulses have shown India’s dependence on imports. Pulses are integral to India’s diet but not its food policy. As …
India’s R&D expenditure has tripled in a decade
However, the composition of R&D expenditure in India contrasted sharply when compared with select developed and emerging economies
Breach of trust
The world’s premier rice research institute tilts towards intellectual property rights
Rajasthan’s olive dream
An expensive project to grow imported olive trees is not yielding enough oil, and imposing other costs
Future of Indian agriculture and small farmers: Role of policy, regulation and farmer agency
The distress among small farmers in India is market-driven to a large extent in both ways — too much protection (minimum support price) or …
The fifth element: Why radhuni needs to be mainstreamed
Wild celery is specific to Bengali cuisine and is usually consumed as part of panch phoron
The age of discovery
Research in rice genomics could be the key to eradicating hunger through environmentally sustainable methods, says Latha Rangan
Sweet ’n’ sour
Moringa and tamarind are popularly known as the trees of life for Indians. Moringa is in fashion as the world eyes India to feed its frenzy for …
Pulses, neglected for long
Despite being a world leader in pulses production, India has been forced to import due to crop loss and seed deficit. The sharp rise in prices is …
'We are in a much better position than in the past'
With the Zika virus spreading across the Americas, the international community has panicked. Kundan Pandey spoke to Soumya Swaminathan, Director …
Nano urea in field trials: Fertiliser may have received nod for production too soon
ICAR states that data for at least 3 seasons must be supplied for a fertiliser to be certified
Digitising agriculture in face of climate change
Extreme weather and changing geography threatened food security and livelihood in Africa and Asia this year. Digitising agriculture has become a …
As a heatwave spectre hangs again over India’s wheat harvest, its home-grown crop simulation model can help
InfoCrop, available for free on IARI’s website, can forecast climate impact on farm yield in real time
Indian scientists convert wild legume into edible dal
A recent research shows it is possible to knock off genes that are responsible for the production of a class of anti-nutrients that make the …
Study points to quality issues in Bt cotton seeds
The study has found seed companies violating norms on the mixture of refuge seeds and Bt cotton seeds provided to farmers
Getting more with less
System of crop intensification, specially in rice, has shown sizeable savings in water and seed usage. Yet its adoption has not spread despite …
Back in f(l)avour
Entry of high yielding hybrid rice has spelt doom for traditional diversity in the Konkan belt. Thanks to a science academy, the ancient legacy …
CSE’s organic experiment: Challenge starts with procuring right seeds
Local shops and India’s premier research institute failed to provide organic seeds of vegetable