All that ails pulses in India
The past three decades have seen stagnation in acreage, production and productivity of pulses across the country due to a bevy of reasons that …
Why pulse production in India needs better incentives
Productivity of released varieties of pulses is much lower than the notified variety of lower-yielding ones
Pulse puzzle 2021
The government takes the usual market-regulatory steps every time there is a surge in prices of pulses — the primary source of protein for …
Wheat, palmolein, arhar: As the Centre takes anti-inflationary steps, what about the farmer, DTE asks experts
The entire burden of inflation is still borne by India’s farmers; this needs redress, say experts
How Russia-Ukraine conflict could influence Africa’s food supplies
African countries imported agricultural products worth $4 billion from Russia in 2020
Kharif season 2023: Despite rain in July, sowing not matching 2021 figures
Acreage of kharif crops reached the same level as last year by first week of August; but it is still less than in 2021
Good food: Seeds of health
Seeds hold the promise of life, and hence they are so carefully stored in seed banks across the world
Summer crops may be damaged this year due to temperature rise: Experts
States accuse the Centre of not taking any initiative to help them increase production of summer crops
Prolonged protests in Bihar over acute fertiliser shortage during rabi sowing season
Protests had also erupted in the state during kharif season earlier this year due to shortage of urea.
Nature-based solutions: Convenient ignorance of the inconvenient truth
Solutions based on going back to nature do exist, but to make a tangible impact on climate change, they need to be executed at scale and with …
India reports 22% less sowing till second week of 2022 kharif season, compared to last year
The southwest monsoon has entered the country, but the initial rainfall figures have become a source of trouble for farmers
Fabulous Faba: Ancient super food set to stage a comeback
Food scientists are now trying to give this neglected ancient crop a makeover, given its high nutrition content
Why the decision to impose stock limits on pulses is flawed policy
The government’s flip-flop on stockholding limits does not help pulses’ pricing issues
How pulses can regain their lost glory in India
Ensuring that pulses sell at the minimum support price and distributing them under the public distribution system can help them find favour with …
People who grow their own food, eat and remain healthy; But erratic weather may change this adage
Without normal weather, self-sufficient households may have to depend more on markets, thus spending more on food than before
Centre hikes MSP as kharif sowing begins
MSP hike for 17 crops was approved June 8; this is likely to encourage farmers to diversify and switch to these crops
Kharif season 2023: Drought-like situation in 16% districts, no sowing in 2 million hectares
According to the IMD’s Drought Outlook, between July 6 and 12, severe dryness was observed in 5 per cent of the country and moderate …
Bihan Mela: A seed festival aims to help tribal Kondh farmers in Odisha return to their agricultural traditions
The seed festival and bank will facilitate use of indigenous varieties and traditional farming which farmers have abandoned since the …
Kharif season 2023: Crop acreage decreases in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh
The acreage of paddy, the main crop of the Kharif season, has decreased by 24 per cent compared to last year. There has been a huge decrease in …
NSO survey: Most farmers selling in local markets, government agencies procure the least
Farmers in general satisfied with return from local sale, but a significant percentage of them get lower than market price
Lateral Thoughts: Who moved my samosa?
Indians need to eat better food, rich in fruits and vegetables and high in proteins
Kharif sowing period almost over, but huge deficit for paddy and pulses
Jharkhand most affected due to delayed monsoon 2022; Soyabean, millet see increase
Global Eco Watch: How climate may have helped exacerbate Spanish Flu
Down To Earth brings you the top happenings in the world of global ecology
Centre takes steps to monitor pulse stocks: Is India staring at another food crisis?
Heavy rain and hailstorm in mid-March and early April might affect yield of pulse crops; official says government focusing on nutrition and security
New protocol can reduce breeding cycle of pigeonpea by 3-5 years, important for nutritional security in drylands
Technique will help scientists develop climate-resilient, nutritionally superior and higher-yielding pigeonpea varieties faster