Noted agriculture scientist and Rajya Sabha member M.S. Swaminathan on Wednesday asked the government to formulate a well-devised strategy to maximise the benefit of a good monsoon (that is predicted) to achieve a growth rate of at least five per cent in farm and allied sectors. “Climate-resilient agriculture” “Had we had a scientific monsoon management strategy, we could have minimised the loss last year,” he said inaugurating the National Consultation...

Thanks to predictions of a good monsoon, Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen has projected a robust growth rate of five per cent from 0.2 per cent in agriculture and allied sectors in 2010-11. From the earlier estimate of -0.2 per cent last year, the growth rate has been revised to 0.2 per cent. Dr. Sen, who is in charge of the farm and food sector in the Commission, said food inflation was...

Depletion of ground water in Punjab and elsewhere cannot continue, says Abhijit Sen  ‘…The agriculture sector remained much more devoid of knowledge than any other…' Necessary to increase investment in research due to scarcity of natural resources At a time when agriculture growth is projected at 5 per cent for 2010-11 based on predictions of a normal monsoon, Planning Commission member Abhijit Sen says that “unless the sector delivers incomes to farmers,...

So you think the ‘fresh-from-villages’ fruits and vegetables are actually safe and healthy to eat? However, there is more to what meets the eye. With groundwater having receded as much as 300 feet, farmers in the area have resorted to growing vegetables and seasonal crops using sewerage water laced with industrial pollutants. The primary source of surface water is a 150-km long rivulet that flows from Mohali to Ratia in Haryana...

Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Ashish Mandloi died at his residence in Chhota Barda in Badwani district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday. Mr. Mandloi (38), who was associated with the struggle for the last 20 years, suffered a cardiac arrest. His funeral was attended by thousands of displaced villagers, tribals and activists. Personal loss: Medha On the occasion, NBA leader Medha Patkar said she had suffered a personal loss. “Ashish immortalised the spirit of...