-The Indian Express Despite deforestation and human encroachment, the country’s forest cover has remained stable around 20% since Independence. This is because the loss of natural old-growth forests is compensated on paper by expanding monoculture plantations. Since Independence, a fifth of India’s land has consistently been under forests. The population has increased more than three times since 1947, and from 1951-80, a total 42,380 sq km of forestland was diverted — some...
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Centre pushes Rs 6,000cr plan to tackle water depletion -Vishwa Mohan
-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Fast depleting ground water in nearly 30% of the assessed blocks in the country has pushed the Centre to fast-track its Rs 6,000 crore ambitious plan aimed at efficient management of available water resources and strengthening of recharge mechanism through community participation. Half of the total cost of this central scheme, named Atal Bhujal Yojana, will be supported by the World Bank as loan while the...
More »Beyond the News: Why light showers now bring good news for farmers -Harish Damodaran
-The Indian Express Minimum temperatures are likely to come down by 2-3 degrees Celsius in Northwest, Central and Western India over the next 48 hours, the IMD said. The current spell of rain in North and Central India will be beneficial to the standing rabi crop, especially wheat, though there are concerns over chana (chickpea) and masur (lentil) that are in the maturity or harvesting stages. “This rain is very good for wheat...
More »Uttar Pradesh's Hot Potato: Another Farm Crisis Ignored -Kabir Agarwal
-TheWire.in Despite knowing the problem, both the state and central governments have failed to address the crisis that UP’s potato farmers are facing. Devi Singh (46) grows potatoes in the rabi season in Saras, a village of 1,200 people in Mathura, part of Uttar Pradesh’s potato belt. In 2017, he suffered massive losses as the price of potatoes in the wholesale market fell well below the cost of production. Last Thursday, he...
More »Pesticide used by Maharashtra victims banned in Punjab -Shishir Arya
-The Times of India NAGPUR (Maharashtra): Even as the issue of pesticide inhalation deaths dog Maharashtra government, Punjab has come up with a ban on monocrotophos as well as 19 other pesticides. As a state can impose ban on a pesticide for not more than 60 days, in Punjab orders to stop issuing fresh licences as well as renewal have been issued. Accidental inhalation of pesticides led to 52 deaths in Vidarbha...
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