Made it
Enabavi, a village of 52 families, is abuzz. It is hosting farmers from the nearby Kallem village who have come here for tips on profitable …
Organic thread
Even as Bt cotton invaded Indian fields in the past few years, some farmer groups kept pushing for organic cotton. In 2009-10, production in …
Organic Universe
Organic is all the rage. Organic food, cosmetics, clothes and even organic medicines. But mostly it is food. There are speciality stores that …
Toxic truths
A soil bacterium produces a lethal toxin which kills insects as they chew their way into a plant
Biopesticide delay plagues malaria control plan
As scientists debate which of two new pesticides should be used in the fight against malaria, the toll in the disease slowly rises.
Neem "green"
The menace of pesticide-resistant varieties can be effectively managed with the help of neem-based pesticides
Neem gains honour as India's wonder tree
Known in ancient India as a tree with many wondrous properties, the neem tree is slowly drawing the attention of the country's scientific and …
A whiff of death
Researchers are now trying to develop natural weapons to scare off pests by studying the olfactory mechanism of plants that emit odours when …
Natural-born killers
A naturally occuring bacterium in milk can save the losses incurred by mal1scale dairy farmers who do not own refrigeration facilities
Wood does a lot of good
It was the bane of the rubber tree, as the fungus Phytophthora literally ate into its every part. With the discovery of antifungal wood extracts, …
Pesticides leading cause of poisoning in India: Study
The second-most common cause of poisoning was miscellaneous agents, followed by drugs, venoms and corrosives
Karnataka farmers want target cargill again
Opposition to multinationals in the agriculture sector in Karnataka may soon spread throughout India
New fungicide is eco-benign
Scientists are thrilled by the discovery that fungal enzymes called chitinases are environment friendly fungicides.
Tried and tested
Traditional medical and agricultural practices, usually dismissed as unscientific, are regaining favour, with some help from Honeybee -- a …
Centre wants to ban a host of pesticides: Here’s why
Centre proposes banning monocrotophos, methomyl and carbofuran, three Class I pesticides associated with high levels of toxicity that resulted in …
No pesticides
Farmers can save crops without pesticides. And they can earn more in the deal. sopan joshi records a great change sweeping through Andhra …
Orange tumbles
Nagpur orange’s survival hinges precariously on its return to sustainable cultivation. Farmers have woken up to this, but will the government?
Punjab wants farmers to stay away from 9 pesticides. Will it help?
Europe tightened import norms since 2018, has shown reluctance to import basmati rice with pesticide residues earlier
The Green Revolution and a dark Punjab
Punjab has paid a price for food security. The use of pesticides and fertilisers has resulted in a number of health issues for the state’s …
Tit for tat
Deadly quick
Fungal enzyme that can make biopesticides efficient
Eliminating rats
Insects, too, hate the smell
Biopesticide developed from garlic
Lab-made pyrethrin will hi t Kenyan growers