-The Hindu Sri Lanka’s decision to ban imports on chemical fertilizers was not backed by scientific evidence There is consensus in the scientific community that organic agriculture could reduce crop yield. Quoting three global meta-data analysis, Meemkem and Qaim (2018) pointed out that on average, the yield reduction in organic agricultural systems could be 19-25%, depending on the crop and agro-climatic region. To switch to 100% organic agriculture, a country must have...

-The Hindu Business Line Against postponing resolution and plans to expand provisions for LDCs alone India is resisting attempts by developed nations to “draw a wedge” between developing countries and LDCs in the ongoing negotiations for subsidising public stockholding programmes at the WTO, under the garb of offering an early resolution, and has asked poorer nations not to fall into the trap. “At the WTO agriculture committee on Monday, some developed nations, such...

-The Hindu Right to Food activists insist that vulnerable communities still need the support from Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, Centre’s foodgrain programme. The story so far: A scheme to provide free food grain to ration card holders as part of COVID-19 relief comes to an end this month. While the Food Ministry says the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana is no longer needed as the economy is reviving, Right...

-Scroll.in Regenerative agriculture on the fringes of cities can bolster food security while helping the country achieve its climate goals. With the onset of winter, a blanket of smog has once again settled over northern India, caused in part by deleterious agricultural practices. Heedless of the environmental outcome of their action, farmers in the region are burning crop stubble in fields to reduce manual drudgery and expedite sowing of winter crops. It...

-The Hindu Keen to be parallel repository of data, along with States The Centre has proposed amendments to a 1969 law that will enable it to “maintain the database of registered birth and deaths at the national level”. The database may be used to update the Population Register and the electoral register, and Aadhaar, ration card, passport and driving licence databases, says the proposed amendment to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act...