-Mumbai Mirror A behind the scenes look at what’s driving the region’s return to traditional paddy techniques. It’s certainly not the global shift towards organic cultivation. A recent study conducted by Harvard University has established that consuming just one cup of white rice (polished rice) a day can put you at risk of diabetes, regardless of your nationality or whether you have a family history of the disease. Bhairav Saini lives in...

-The Hindu The headline in a recent PTI report “Saving 2 tigers gives more value than Mangalyaan”’ was intriguing, since it said that saving two tigers yields a capital benefit of Rs. 520 crores, while Mangalyaan cost us Rs. 450 crores. The headline was both exciting and hurtful. Excited by it, I contacted Professor Madhu Verma of the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal, and she shared with me both...

-TheWire.in The government knows what it wants to achieve where the environment is concerned, even if it is at the cost of the protection of ecosystems, and people’s livelihood and well being. The last three years under the Modi government have seen the transformation of the environment from being a field of relative stability and inactivity, to functioning as an active instrument of capital accumulation. The sharp polarisation between extremely positive initiatives...

-The Times of India JAIPUR: In 20th Livestock Census, Rajasthan government for the first time will enumerate breed-wise details of its cattle population to improve progeny of indigenous breeds and enhance milk production. Compilation of breed-wise details will help government in preparing baseline data of cattle, particularly of indigenous breed and help in their Conservation. Officials of animal husbandry department claim information gathered will assist them to frame policies and focus on...

-The Hindu Business Line Threat of fluoride contamination in crops looms large in Assam Dilwar Hussain may not be able to give you the exact scientific explanation for how excessive fluoride can harm one’s bones and teeth, but he knows that it crippled his young son, causing his legs to bend. Children suffering from skeletal and dental fluorosis — marked by stained and crooked teeth, and bent legs — are a common sight...