The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, will announce the organic Farming policy of the State in Kozhikode on May 17. An official spokesman quoted the Agriculture Minister, Mr Mullakkara Ratnakaran, as saying that the policy proposed the setting up of an organic Farming zone in each district so at least 30,000 hectares could be brought under organic Farming. About two lakh farmers are sought to be involved in the process....

In India peasantry is under assault. There is a five-pronged attack on this class and the mighty Indian state is sometimes an active and sometimes a passive abettor. The first point of attack is from the corporate sector. The corporate sector is in a land grab mode. Though not justified, one could understand their urge to get land for industry and real estate purposes. Not that they are causing aggressive...

Taking advantage of the state government schemes and with their own efforts and hard work farmers of this district has given a unique identity in the field of Farming to this district. Now several farmers of this district are taking interest to cultivate forest medicinal plants along with their traditional Farming. Around 300 farmers of 20 villages of this district has started cultivating forest 'Tulsi' in an area of 60...

Why do governments ignore the farm suicide numbers of the National Crime Records Bureau, when it is the only authentic source on the subject?  Kafka might have envied the script. In Delhi, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha on May 7 that there had been just six farmers' suicides in Vidarbha since January. The same day, same time in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said that figure...

India should look at Latin American countries to keep its food security intact. With little or no investment in the agriculture sector,it is estimated that 45% of Indian farmers want to quit Farming—supply-side constraints have been a major causeforconcern. Add to that rapidly falling water tables in North India – India’s bread basket, and erratic monsoons from climate change leading to domestic food output falling short of demand, repeatedlyinthefuture. Talking...