Darjeeling reeling as lack of rain savages early crop
Nature is playing havoc with the tea gardens in the hills of Darjeeling. As the area did not receive rain for nearly six months, until the first week of April, the gardens not only lost huge
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Call for going organic
The UK environmental campaigners on Thursday called a for a third of conventional farms to convert to organic production by 2010 in a bid to limit "industrialised farming" methods. Environmental
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CRIDA offers expertise for neem cultivation
Research into the properties of neem or azadirachta indica, a botanical cousin of mahogany, have brought to light factors which offer scope for its commercial exploitation. At the World Neem
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State govt to incur loss to support cotton-growers
The Gujarat government would have to suffer a loss of Rs 35 crore in the current financial year as a result of the "support price" it has been giving to the state's cotton-growers since March 3,
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Critics fear libel laws are stifling debate on food safety
Every week, it seems, brings a new food scare. And each scare, whether valid or dead wrong, has the potential to jolt the nation's diet. But ever since apple sales plummeted a decade ago, after a
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Cotton farmers in 'debt trap'
Dr Dharminder Singh, member, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), Economic and Planning Cell, yesterday alleged in a press note that cotton farmers had fallen in a deep debt trap and the Punjab
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Prince Charles questions need for gene-altered crop
Taking a strong stance in Britain's debate over genetically modified food, Prince Charles yesterday said he said not think such crops were adequately tested or necessary. Prince Charle's own farm in
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How to produce crunchy apples ?
Washington's apple industry wants to make sure that a bite into a red delicious will yield a satisfying crunch, not a mouth full of mush. Rich Ozanich and Al Robinson hope their research into systems
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UNDP grant for hybrid rice, spice technology
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has granted over $3.5 millions for the development and large-scale adoption of high-yielding technologies in the rice and spice sectors in India. The
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Chinese medal for Indian scientist
Indian farm scientist Sanjaya Rajaram, who has worked on breeding different strains of wheat was presented Friendship medal, the highest award for a foreigner working in China. Mr Song Ping, former
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20 'jai Vigyan' projects cleared
The government approved 20 projects under the "Jai Vigyan" mission giving top priority to the one on improving the country's food security. This was decided during a high level meeting, the third of
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ConAgra agrees deal on GM corn
The grain trading arm of ConAgra, the second largest food processor in the US, announced that, as part of a marketing deal with Monsanto, it would accept all forms of genetically modified corn grown
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Crumbs for India in Japan rice stakes
India has managed to bag an order of only 54 tonnes in the first tender for foreign rice conducted last week by Japan for marketing year 1999-2000 under its Uruguay Round minimum access agreement.
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Varsity breeds high milk-yielding cow
Cross-breeding of the Indian 'Gir' with foreign breeds - Jersey and Hf - has produced a stable breed of cow that can deliver more milk with high fat content. The new breed christened as "Phule
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Neem-based pesticide gets ISI standard
the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) took a significant step towards encouraging the use of eco-friendly and biodegradable pesticides by granting ISI mark to Mukumbi Manufacturing Company of Belgaum
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Keep open mind on genetic foods
Blair: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Sunday the jury was still out on genetically modified food and he urged people not to condemn it out of hand as a Frankenstein
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UNDP gives $3.5m for rice, spices
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has granted over $3.5 million for the development and large-scale adoption of high yielding technologies in the rice and spices sectors in India.
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Dry spell, pests hit tea output in Assam, north Bengal
Production of golden leaf in hundreds of tea estates in north Bengal and Assam has been affected by a prolonged dry spell coupled with menacing pest infection, according to the Indian Tea
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Tobacco growers up in arms against STC
Tobacco growers in Andhra Pradesh have charged the State Trading Corporation (STC) with entering tobacco auction platforms half-heartedly without necessary expertise and infrastructure. The result
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UNDP extends Rs 3 cr aid for maize plan
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided a fresh grant assistance or $8,00,000 (Rs 3 crore) to support pilot programme on hybrid maize development under the UNDP supported country