-Rediff.com Potshangbam Devakanta from Manipur shows the way in conserving the biodiversity of the state, farming around 100 traditional varieties of paddy and rare medicinal plants, finds Manu A B/Rediff.com. When farmers across India are grappling with weather woes and poor yields, Potshangbam Devakanta from Manipur has succeeded in adopting smart and eco-friendly methods of farming to ensure his harvest is satisfactory year after year. Like thousands of farmers in India, 60-year-old Devakanta...

-The Pioneer Raipur: Chhattisgarh the rice bowl of India has managed to maintain stable paddy production this year despite drought conditions prevailing in several districts of the State. The Indira Gandhi Agricultural University (IGAU) Scientists claim that except rainfall dependent fields which were devoid of showers, other regions in the State have continued to maintain the ‘good old agricultural standards’. “It is appreciable to notice that paddy farming had been carried out in...

-PTI The issue was raised by the American side during the US-India Trade Policy Forum meeting Washington: India has said that the recent order that removed "stock limit exemptions" for pulses held by importers as part of its effort to address the shortage of pulses and prevent undue hoarding is "not a trade distortion". The issue was raised by the American side during the US-India Trade Policy Forum meeting here after the US...

-The Hoot A decade of RTI, Part II---How many Indians are using their right to information? Studies suggest that the figure of users has yet to cross one per cent of the population in a given year, but there could be substantial under-reporting. More than eight million Right to Information applications are being made now, 10 years after the law was introduced. That’s the figure that was given by Aruna Roy of...

-Livemint.com A total of 302 districts across India, nearly half of its districts, received deficit or scanty rainfall this year A total of 302 districts across India, nearly half of its districts, received deficit or scanty rainfall this year (at least 20% short of normal), according to India Meteorological Department. Yet, only 110 districts in five states—Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh—have been declared drought-hit by the state governments. States...