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India Revises Plant Variety Law to Strengthen Farmer Rights
India is updating its laws on plant varieties and farmers’ rights. The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, created in 2001 to meet World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules, is undergoing changes. The law first came into effect in 2005 and was partially updated in 2006. It was last amended in 2021. The…
India and US Finalise Key Trade Deal: Duty-Free Imports for Key Agri Products
India-US trade offs ?
Supreme Court Protects Tribal Rights in Wildlife Sanctuaries
The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment affirming the rights of tribal communities and forest dwellers within areas declared as Wildlife Sanctuaries. The Court ruled that their rights, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA) and the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA), remain valid even after an area is designated as…
Government Cracks Down on Fertilizer Black Marketing and Hoarding
The Union Department of Fertilisers has taken strong action against unfair practices in the fertiliser market. They have cancelled or suspended over 4,200 licenses and registrations belonging to fertiliser distributors. These actions were taken because of black marketing, hoarding, and diverting fertiliser stocks away from farmers. This is a significant effort to protect farmers and…
Supreme Court Bans Mining Near Sanctuaries Nationwide
In a landmark decision for environmental protection, India’s Supreme Court has banned all mining activities within national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, as well as in a one-kilometre radius around them. This significant ruling, delivered by a bench led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, came as part of the T.N. Godavarman…
Government Boosts Exports with Rs 45,000 Crore Package
The Indian government has announced a significant boost for its export sector, with a new package worth Rs 45,060 crore aimed at reducing costs for exporters and helping them explore new markets. This initiative is expected to support the country’s goal of reaching $1 trillion in exports. A key part of this package is the…
Syrian Farmers Reclaim Heritage with ‘Baladi’ Seeds Post-War
In the Syrian countryside of al-Dheibeh, a quiet revolution is taking root. Farmers, once reliant on imported, hybrid seeds, are returning to “baladi” seeds – traditional, open-pollinated varieties that are native to the Levant. This movement, championed by the NGO Buzuruna Juzuruna (Our Seeds Are Our Roots), aims to restore agricultural independence and preserve Syria’s…
Tiny Plastics in the Air: A New Health Worry for Indian Cities
Scientists have discovered a new type of air pollution: tiny plastic particles that we can breathe in. These are called inhalable microplastics (iMPs). They are so small, less than 10 micrometres across, that they can go deep into our lungs. We usually hear about fine dust like PM2.5, but now we have ‘polymer dust’ in…
Bayer Considers Phasing Out Glyphosate Amidst Growing Legal and Weed Resistance Challenges
Bayer AG, a major agricultural science company, is contemplating a significant shift in its product line by considering an exit from the glyphosate business. Glyphosate, most famously known as the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, has been a cornerstone of modern farming for over five decades. However, the chemical is now facing a dual challenge:…