-Scroll.in Heatwaves across many wheat-producing states have resulted in a dip in the production of the staple grain this year. India’s wheat production is likely to fall 3% to 106.41 million tonnes this year from last year’s output of 109.59 million tonnes, the Hindustan Times reported on Friday, citing the Union agriculture ministry’s third advance estimates of output of food grains. Severe heatwaves across many wheat-producing states have resulted in a dip in...

-The Hindu Business Line Pesticide residues in India’s agri exports calls for a multi-pronged policy response As reported recently by this newspaper, India’s cumin exports have suffered a setback in recent months, with China claiming that pesticide residues exceeded the maximum residue limits (MRLs) spelt out by it about six months back. Chinese authorities have said that consignments must be accompanied by a pesticide residue report. India has been through all this...

-Newsclick.in The government asked the ineligible individuals to surrender their ration cards by May 20 or face disciplinary actions. Lucknow: The scheme of free ration distribution is believed to have had a tremendous impact on the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) victory in the recently-concluded Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. Buoyed by its victory, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in the first decision on the second day of his second consecutive term, declared that his...

-Newsclick.in Experts worry that with the government aggressively promoting a "singular reductionist corporate-controlled silver bullet solution" like fortified Rice, a myriad of diverse local and natural solutions will get neglected and even eroded. Synthetic fortification of Rice is not proven to be effective and can be toxic to many Indians, according to a report prepared by the Right to Food Campaign. The report was released following a three-day fact-finding visit to Jharkhand...

-TheWire.in/ Undark.org Under the pretext of COVID-19 safety, employers have tightened restrictions on live-in domestic workers in India. On a typical humid Sunday afternoon in July, Soni Tirki would be polishing off the chicken and Rice that her mother makes every time the 20-year-old returns home. “I sit at ease and enjoy my meal,” Tirki says. “I eat however much I want. Nobody can stop me. Nobody can judge me.” But on this...