Regular helpings of fruit are a dietary given, but increasing use of harmful chemicals for artificially ripening has often left buyers helpless. The Union health ministry has now stepped in, deciding to punish guilty vendors with up to six months in jail and fine of Rs 1,000. Vendors often resort to use of chemicals such as calcium carbide to ripen Fruits, specially mangoes, bananas, papayas, apples and plums before time....
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Vegetables injected with chemicals to increase size by Chander Parkash
The residents of the border district, who have witnessed destruction and uprooting time and again due to flooding of the Sutlej and Indo-Pak wars, face a challenge to their lives once again and this time it is from chemically infested vegetables. Consumption of such vegetables, which are being grown in various parts of the district, has made the residents’ lives worse. The menace connected with the injection of various chemicals into...
More »How fruit trees in Indian village save girls' lives by Amarnath Tewary
In India, where traditionally boys have been preferred over girls, a village in backward Bihar state has been setting an example by planting trees to celebrate the birth of a girl child. In Dharhara village, Bhagalpur district, families plant a minimum of 10 trees whenever a girl child is born. And this practice is paying off. Nikah Kumari, 19, is all set to get married in early June. The would-be...
More »Small organic farmer groups aim big by Hemlata Verma
Kinnauri rajmash, chilgoza (pinus gerardiana), walnut and dried apricots have always been in high demand and commanded a competitive price in the market, but connecting them with the concept of organic food has yielded high premiums for farmers in the state. Himalayan Organisation for Organic Agri Products (HIMOARD), based at Rampur in Shimla, has brought international recognition for these farm products of the tribal district of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh....
More »Food Inflation rises to 16.74%
Food Inflation rose marginally to 16.74 per cent for the week ended May 29 on high prices of pulses, milk and Fruits. Inflation increased by 0.19 percentage point from 16.55 per cent in the previous week, food inflation data released on Thursday showed. Prices of pulses shot up by 31 per cent, milk by 21.1 per cent and Fruits by 18.7 per cent. However, potatoes and onions became cheaper by...
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