India’s vital sugar industry is facing a double whammy. First, it’s the shift towards grain-based ethanol production. Now, a new worry is emerging: a steady drop in the nation’s sugar consumption. This decline is raising concerns about potential surplus stocks and the industry’s overall financial health. The government’s ‘Eat Right Campaign’ aims to promote healthier…
A recent scientific review published in the World’s Poultry Science Journal has raised concerns about the health impacts of glyphosate, a widely used weedkiller, on poultry. The herbicide can enter the poultry production system through residues found in genetically engineered (GE) feed. These residues have also been detected in conventional eggs bought from supermarkets. The…
The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), a key global research organisation focused on food security, is facing challenges due to declining funding from the United States. CIMMYT’s Director General, Bram Govaerts, has urged India and Mexico to take a leading role in ensuring global food supplies are secure. He highlighted CIMMYT’s significant past…
Farmers in six Indian states will soon earn money by selling cow dung. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) will buy cow dung for ₹1 per kilogram. This cow dung will be used to power compressed biogas plants. This is part of a bigger plan by India and Japan to increase clean energy production. The…
Indian agriculture is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the integration of technology. Once reliant on traditional methods, farmers are now embracing innovative tools and techniques to improve efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. This shift is crucial for feeding a growing population and ensuring the economic well-being of farmers. One of the most impactful technologies is…
India has been experiencing very unusual weather patterns recently. We’ve seen extreme floods, sudden cloudbursts, and strong cyclones like Biparjoy in 2023. These events are breaking all normal weather predictions. So, is this all nature’s doing, or is something man-made behind it? Himachal Pradesh reported many cloudbursts and flash floods this year. Punjab received much…
Ten leading agricultural scientists have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to quickly remove the hold on genetically modified (GM) mustard. Three of these scientists have received the Padma Bhushan award, and two have received the Padma Shri. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had approved the use of GM mustard for producing…
The Uttar Pradesh government has launched a new initiative called the ‘Mukhyamantri Swadeshi Gau Sanvardhan Yojana’. This scheme aims to boost milk production and create more jobs in rural areas. It is part of a larger plan known as the ‘Nand Baba Dudh Mission’. The main goal of this scheme is to provide financial support…
In the quiet fields of Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district, a young farmer named Akash Chaurasia is making music for his crops. For over ten years, Akash has been playing classical melodies to his plants every morning and evening. What started as an unusual experiment has become a successful method for him. Akash believes that just…
A prominent farmer leader, Rakesh Tikait, has expressed strong opposition to the recent development of genome-edited (GE) rice varieties by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). In a letter addressed to Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Tikait stated that the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) fundamentally objects to the introduction of these GE rice…
