Delhi's air is not fit to inhale. Experts argue that prolonged exposure to toxic air could lead to serious health hazards like heart and lung diseases, various types of cancer etc. But is it the case that the smog, which engulfed the entire National Capital Region (NCR) and many of the north Indian cities during October-November was entirely caused due to burning of firecrackers in Diwali or because of vehicular...

-The Hindu Cheaper combine harvesters have replaced expensive farm labour but leave behind stubble Bali Ram, a 39-year-old farmer from Kaimla village in Karnal, around 120 km from Delhi, did not burn the paddy stubble in his fields this year for fear of being penalised. Despite the extra cost, he decided to plough his land with a tractor to get rid of the plant stalks. However, he conceded that most of the villagers...

-The Indian Express But they can’t make up their minds whether to farm, sell or give up their land to industry. Kolkata: Days after the Supreme Court judgment striking down the acquisition of land for Tata Motors’ car factory in Singur, the government is trying to prepare 997-acre plot for return to its original owners. But with the land’s agricultural potential still under a question mark, Agriculture Minister Purnendu Bose said...

-Livemint.com A look at the past three budgets shows that the government took note of the crisis only in 2016 On 24 April 2014, about a month before Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formed a new government at the centre, the India Meteorological Department made an ominous forecast. The four-month-long southwest monsoon which irrigates more than half of India’s farmlands was likely to be deficient. Over the next few months the...

-The Hindu Kailashmurthy of Doddainduvadi village has turned 10-acre farm into a heaven of diverse horticultural crops Mysuru: Imagine an oasis in an arid region with a water table at 30 ft against nearly 1,000 ft in most parts of the region; or forest ecology in a barren landscape. That is what Kailashmurthy has achieved following the concepts of natural farming at Doddainduvadi village in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district. The 10-acre land...