A recent report titled ‘From the Ground Up: Documenting Pesticide Use in Bangladesh, India, Laos & Vietnam (2025)’ reveals significant pesticide use among farmers in four Asian countries. The study, which surveyed 4,392 farmers, found that India has the highest proportion of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). Across the surveyed nations, 87.09% of farmers reported using…
For a long time, the world has focused on innovation coming from big tech companies and research labs. This story often talks about rapid growth and making things bigger and better. But sometimes, we forget about the people who have been innovating for centuries in harmony with nature. The author, who has spent years with…
The Indian government plans to continue its central scheme for Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for another five years, from 2026 to 2031. This extension aims to address challenges that have prevented FPOs from growing larger and more effective. Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi announced this at the CII FPO Summit. The scheme began in February 2020…
India’s tractor industry has achieved a major milestone, crossing the one-million-unit mark for production and sales between January and November 2025. This is the first time in the nation’s history that such a high number has been reached in just 11 months. Domestic tractor sales during this period reached 1.02 million units, a significant increase…
The Supreme Court has asked the government to provide a detailed report on steps being taken to help farmers. This comes after a long-standing case filed by an NGO called ‘Citizens Resource and Action and Initiative’ (CRANTI). The petition, first filed in 2014, initially focused on the suicides of farmers in Gujarat. However, in 2017,…
Scientists have issued a serious warning about synthetic chemicals used in our food system. These chemicals, including phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides, and “forever chemicals” (Pfas), are linked to rising rates of cancer, infertility, and developmental problems in children. They are also harming the environment and agriculture. A new report estimates that the health costs from these…
Farmers in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, have been protesting an under-construction ethanol factory for two days. The demonstrations began peacefully, but on Wednesday, the situation became violent. Hundreds of farmers marched to the construction site of Dune Ethanol Private Limited in Rathikheda village. Protesters broke down part of the boundary wall and set fire to offices and…
Sagar Hanuman Singh, the Director-General of the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), has highlighted a critical need for a formal national soil health framework in India. He believes this framework should be similar to those already established in Europe and the United States. Mr. Singh stated that chemical agriculture has caused significant damage…
India must be very careful when discussing trade with the United States, especially concerning farm products and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). A research group called the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has advised India to be cautious and ask for big reductions in taxes on goods India sells to the US. GTRI suggests that India…
The term ‘innovation’ is everywhere, from government policies to company slogans. We are told to ‘innovate or die’. But what does this constant push for newness really mean for our food systems, and for the movements trying to create a fairer, more sustainable future? This article explores why the focus on ‘innovation’ might be holding…
