The government needs to midwife Indian agriculture to an organic revolution
Instead of making it difficult for the organic farmers, government should devise methods to reduce the complexity of the certification process
Urbanisation to cause huge loss of prime farmland: UNCCD
Between 1.6 and 3.3 million hectares of such land could be lost by 2030, estimates the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification report
Farm income drops in 16 states and union territories
The national average income from cultivation increased by just 3.8 per cent between 2002-03 and 2012-13, when the overall farm sector grew by 3 …
The craft of corrupt science
If there is evidence of toxicity in Monsanto’s glyphosate, then why are governments not banning it?
Delhi’s crop area reduced by 34%; less than 1% workforce engaged in agriculture
The Economic Survey of Delhi also revealed that the area under food-grain crops has decreased substantially
Let them eat carp: Fish farms are helping to fight hunger
Contrary to perception, a vast majority of farmed fish is consumed in the same developing countries where it is produced, and is widely …
Why are pests developing resistance to Bt cotton in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh?
Low compliance to planting refuge crops along with Bt crops and selection of refuge crops are some of the problem areas identified by a recent study
‘Pro-farmer’ Madhya Pradesh government in a fix as land acquisition protest gains steam
A massive agitation would be staged in New Delhi on February 23 if the demands of farmers are not met
Why farmers don't have electoral clout
Although farmers vote at least as much, if not more than industrial workers or urban middle classes, elections are not fought around farmers' issues
Permaculture is growing rapidly in India
A science meant for small scale farmers, permaculture can hugely benefit India as 67% of farmland is owned by marginal farmers
Agriculture as part of climate mitigation and adaptation
The agriculture sector contributes up to 25 per cent of the total anthropogenic emissions
Why are vanilla growers in Madagascar struggling to survive?
Farmers in Madagascar, world's largest vanilla-exporting country, live in poverty and constant fear of losing their crop to theft
Sick(le) charade
The NDA government's new and revised schemes to augment rural development are yet to show any results
The minuscule system of pricing
First, a farmer must sell the produce at a price wrongly discounted by unscientific calculation. Second, an unholy nexus of many players pushes …
Need to address impact of extreme weather events on crops
There is a lot the government can do to assist farmers to cope with climate-induced farming problems
New model agriculture law aims to increase farmers’ income
The draft law proposes to ensure profitable returns to farmers through features such as electronic registration, direct sale to buyers and …
Union Budget 2017-18 in figures
While agriculture saw 5.9 per cent increase in budget allocation, rural development and health sector witnessed 11.8 per cent and 22.6 per cent …
37 African countries continue to face food deficits, finds report
Agricultural slowdown in the continent is directly affecting 70 per cent of its population, who depend on the sector for livelihood
`Many regions in Asia will face a decline in food productivity'
Kundhavi Kadiresan, Assistant Director-General and regional representative for Asia and the Pacific, FAO, talks about how achieving the Zero …
Can agriculture in Africa sustain a nourishing rural non-farm economy?
Across Africa interest in agricultural investment as a source of employment growth and profit is increasing
Fisheries: an answer to food security and nutrition
For several countries fish exports are essential to national economies, FAO experts say
Impact of climate change and Indian Ocean warming on monsoons
Roxy Mathew Koll from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune talks about the effects of ocean warming on the Indian Monsoons
Plant non-grata
Book>> Weeds, in defense of nature’s most unloved plants • by Richard Mabey • Harper Collins • US $25
Fall of the bees
Population of bees, the main pollinators of food crops, is declining. This can constrain food supply, warns a UN report
Toiling unsung
Rural women manage the family and the field, yet most development programmes target just the male farmer