-Down to Earth These traditional varieties of rice are on the verge of extinction from farm fields As many as 12 folk varieties of Indian rice examined by researchers can supplement the nutritional demand of important fatty acids in undernourished mothers, a recent study has claimed. These can further supplement the arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in neonates through breast-feeding. DHA and ARA are fatty acids found in breast milk, as...

-Newsclick.in The lack of proper relief measures has caused the locals in the worst-hit regions to protest against the local TMC leaders and administration. Kolkata: Inadequacy of relief measures are plaguing four flood affected districts of West Bengal—Howrah, Hooghly, West Medinipur, and Burdwan—as Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) continues to release water following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas. There are protests breaking out in areas under affected and leaders of the ruling...

-Down to Earth Aggressive sugarcane farming contaminates land, water The Union government intends to increase the amount of ethanol in the energy mix to lower the country’s dependence on imported oil and carbon footprint, as well as stabilise petrol prices.  India currently blends about 8.5 per cent ethanol in petrol. The government is targeting a 10 per cent ethanol blend by 2022 and a 20 per cent blend (E20) by 2025. E20 can save...

-The Telegraph This year, a combination of factors is hurting the agriculture sector immensely A quiet, reverse transformation is happening in the countryside, and it is disconcerting. This sowing season, growing numbers of farmers are falling back on their bullocks as fuel prices are piercing the roof. The tractor, the symbol of modern farming, is becoming a luxury in the literal sense. The conventional ploughing equipment tied to bullocks costs only a...

-GaonConnection.com Climate researchers have found that excessive irrigation across the northern India is shifting the monsoon rainfall towards the northwestern parts of the country, putting the paddy farmers at an increased risk of crop failure. What is the relationship between irrigation and monsoon rainfall — a researcher explains. A study conducted by climate researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B) has found that excessive irrigation in northern India shifts the...