-The Diplomat   Climate change is stressing an already struggling farm sector, but there is a way forward. Over the last decade, India's official position in global climate negotiations has been one of opposition to agricultural mitigation. At Doha (COP18), India joined other developing countries in demanding that any talk about agriculture must be in the realm of adaptation, not mitigation. India considers the farm sector out of bounds with respect to emissions...

-The Pioneer   Bhubaneswar: Home is an integral part of life and determinant of standard of living and progress of society. Rural Odisha witnesses a very poor standard of habitation and lack of proper housing for lakhs of poor people who are dreaming of a house of their own to live with dignity. Socio-cultural barriers, landlessness and lack of credit for housing are some of the major reasons which deprive rural poor of...

-The Hindu   UDHAGAMANDALAM: The Union government favours a participatory approach to protecting natural resources, especially the precious soil and water, A.K. Sikka, Deputy Director-General (National Resource Management), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), said on Monday. He was inaugurating a six-day advanced training programme on planning and design of engineering structures in the watershed management programme organised by the Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWRTI) under the aegis...

CSA focuses on developing and promoting locally adapted farming systems, sustainable farming practices. Organic Farming, Non Pesticidal Management, Open Source Seeds, Ethno-veterinary practices Water Conservation etc are practiced to promote ecological and economic sustainability.  CSA is involved in promoting small and medium enterprises which can increase the farmers share in the consumer price and can improve village economy. It works to establish and Strengthen institutions of farmers, producers, and consumers for...

-The Times of India MADURAI: The percolation pond at Mottanuthu at the foothill of Western Ghats of Elumalai town panchayat now abounds with water. Earlier, locals had no way to store rain water. The mango orchards nearby were vulnerable to the vagaries of nature. Not anymore. The efforts of the District Watershed Development Agency (DWDA) in Madurai to conserve water have paid off. Madurai district was offered Rs 172 lakh grant by...