Coarse correction

South Asia

Sweet victory

UPs cane farmers get to quote their price in a sellers market

India’s hidden costs of agrifood systems at $1.1 trillion, third-highest in the world, says new FAO report

Reveals true health and environmental costs of food; total global hidden costs associated with agrifood systems at $12.7 trillion

How trade regulations may be opening up a new era of sustainable growth in the Global South

Trade agreements reduce frictions in trade, and lower the amount of time required to solve trade disputes

Drought in the Horn of Africa: More than 18.5 million in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti face humanitarian crisis

As pastureland and water points dry up, 20 million may be acutely food insecure by year-end  

Update COVID-19 vaccine to target omicron variants: Advisory panel to USFDA

Unclear which combination of updated vaccine will work best; body expected to decide by July

Why new rule allowing recycled plastic in food packaging raises concerns

As recently as in 2018, the FSSAI had banned the use of recycled plastic or newspaper for packaging of food items

Dramatic changes needed in global food systems to address nutrition disparity, poverty: IFAD

The report Transforming Food Systems for Rural Prosperity called for investment in rural farms and local small- and medium-size enterprises 

Moving towards a planet-friendly diet

New study recommends more fruits and veggies, less red meat for a healthy, planet-friendly diet

Prescription for plant-based diet overlooks vitamin B12 deficiency

While an EAT-Lancet study had found that the world must shift to plant-based diets to meet the SDGs, this vitamin is only found in animal meat …

More fruits, veggies, less gluten, dairy good for multiple sclerosis patients: Study

Adhering to Wahls diet lowered levels of the total cholesterol and reduced exhaustion in patients

Are fish oil supplements as healthy as we think? And is eating fish better?

Omega 3s present in fish are key to the structure of our cells, and help keep our heart, lungs, blood vessels and immune system working

FAO warns of alarming signs as global food import bill set to rise to nearly $2 trillion

Negative repercussions for global agricultural output and food security are likely to extend into 2023, according to FAO

Lack of indigenous people’s participation big barrier to mainstreaming of biodiversity: FAO

Some 15 per cent of global forests are managed as community resources by indigenous peoples and local communities

Central committee yet to decide on cooking cost revision of mid-day meals

Another meeting of the committee will take place this month but a date has not been finalised yet

Nearly 10 million children in Horn of Africa in ‘greatest danger’ due to drought, says UNICEF

UNICEF has sought $250 million to help children facing drought in the region  

State of the World’s Forests 2022: 10% of total forest area on Earth lost in 30 years

It stated that annual global consumption of natural resources is likely to increase to 190 billion tonnes in 2060 from 92 billion tonnes in 2017

May heat in March shrivels wheat: Centre to revise procurement norms

The Punjab government April 12 appealed to the central government to allow relaxation in the norms of shrivelled grains without any value cut, …

Africa climate programme to benefit 5.4 million small-scale farmers in Sahel

The programme aims to restore degraded land, provide climate information systems and agricultural insurance

Gap between countries on animal protein consumption to widen by 2030: Report

While it will level off in high-income countries, it will increase in middle-income ones and remain the same in low-income countries

COVID-19 hits farms: Lockdown dampens selling price but stokes inflation in MP

Farmers in villages cannot reach city markets to sell their produce; Vegetable prices are skyrocketing in cities due to short supply

COVID-19: Experts urge fresh stimulus package to boost economy, help marginalised

India’s 2020 stimulus package has not been able to solve problems of informal workers, MSMEs and food security  

Wheat procurement season near, but no word from Punjab on direct MSP payment

The FCI in March asked Punjab government to give it land records of farmers to enable direct, online payment of MSP. The state has not …

Why mushrooms should be included under ICDS and MDM scheme

Mushrooms in one’s daily diet will eventually promote a healthy body, behaviour and brain power