-The Hindu Kozhikode: The recent resurgence in organic farming seems to have given sales of organic fertilizers and pest control prescriptions a huge boost in the market. Different city-based groups and collectives engaged in promoting organic farming and marketing organic products including vegetables and fruits testify to this trend. Besides other channels, the recently launched, NABARD-funded exclusive outlet for locally cultivated organic vegetables under Niravu Vengeri, a progressive residential forum here, sees...

-The Hindu Taking note of the practices being followed by Krishnaveni, many have started cultivating multiple crops Medak District (Andhra Pradesh): B. Krishnaveni is in her early 50s. She is a resourceful farmer who never lets her two-acre land go vacant. Besides practising ‘Srivari' cultivation, she also grows vegetables. Not only that, she has stopped using ‘masala' (fertilizers) since the past few years and adopted the non-pesticide management (NPM) practice. "We came to...

-The Times of India PRATAPPUR: Paddy grows in a dry patch on this farm. No fertilizers are used, the farm is not irrigated either. It is an experiment by seven farming enthusiasts who are trying to revive indigenous varieties and make them commercially viable in their villages. The dry paddy patch is small but the farm of about 4.8 ha grows more than 250 indigenous, organically grown varieties of paddy, pulses...

-The Times of India PATIALA (Punjab): Even as Haryana is going to elections amid political parties' claims about development, a recently published study in a reputed economic journal has revealed that over 80% farmers in the state are reeling under debt. The study also exposed that nearly a same number of farmers are living below poverty line if one goes by the World Bank's definition of "moderate poverty", which means an earning...

-The Hindu ‘Primary sector mission' launched; due priority to drought-hit Anantapur in water grid project, says Naidu Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh): Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has underscored the need for significantly enhancing agricultural productivity to ensure food security for the ever-growing population of the country. Dr. Kalam wanted top priority accorded to organic fertilizers to ensure that the increase in productivity was sustained in the longer term. He, accompanied by Chief Minister N....