CONSERVATION TO DEATH
Misguided conservation efforts are leading to depletion of biodiversity and exploitation of poor people
We must explore India’s forgotten recipes, switch to good food culture: experts
In an era of convenience food and TV dinner, it’s a challenge to rediscover our traditional foods
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 …
Fading colours
Natural dyes, now popular in the West, are yet to make it big in the Indian market, reports R V Singh (Read full article)
Pursuing a nationalist IPR policy
India has enough laws to protect its intellectual property rights. It is the implementation that is wanting
Drought is in the mind
GOOD NEWS: There is more evidence to show that water harvesting can go a long way in dealing with drought and solving the water crisis, and even …
Political harvest
Report card: A scheme that can help solve the water crisis has become a tool to promote political interests of the ruling party Success level: Poor
Learning the mantra
Report card: The government realised its failures and learned from the civil society. Despite cases of corruption and some errors in planning, …
How Indigenous cultural practices can improve waste management in communities
Applying cultural practices is not common among community members because of the impacts of colonisation
Is permaculture a real solution to agricultural distress?
Permaculture farming, which spread across the West as part of the hippie movement, is fast gaining ground in India among subsistence farmers and …
What drives innovation?
The new Intellectual Property Rights policy is based on a tenuous premise that having more IPRs will result in more innovation
Plant a bone
Plant-based treatment of osteoporosis is gaining ground. The Central Drug Research Institute is adding new dimensions to ancient remedies
After India, China rejects patent claim for hepatitis C drug Sovaldi
Activists claim that the drug was developed using previously published information and an existing compound
A natural secret
Policymakers don't need to go too far to eradicate poverty. The solution is as close as is a village well to a villager
Sarguja Losing battle
First district for tribal development Rampant deforestation Malnutrition and starvation deaths
Dungarpur A 'common' death
Once rich in forest and grazing land Now known as 20th century desert 68% population 'marginal and unemployed'
Phulbani Access to poverty
Sal forest worth: Rs 30,000 crore 85% population dependent on forest 65% people below poverty line
The weather mart
Met department is not the only one predicting weather in India. Forecasts are now sold by businesses to businesses
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 …
Obituary: Pushpa Mitra Bhargava, a conscientious scientist and advocate of scientific temper
In the death of Dr Pushpa Mittra Bhargava, India has lost one of the most vocal advocates of scientific temper and rationality in India
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