The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
While the moratorium on Bt brinjal has dealt a blow to the scientific community, there are several genetically modifided crops being developed by the Ministry of Agriculture, trials for which are on across the country. Interestingly, as they work on these GM crops, scientists bear it in mind that apart …
Emergence of more virulent forms of pests and pathogens is also an important concern CUDDALORE: Biotechnology cannot be a panacea for the problems confronting the agricultural sector. At the most it can be part of a solution, but, thus far it is being pushed in the wrong direction, said B.Vasantraj …
JAMES KANTER The European Commission began a new push on Wednesday to allow farmers in Europe to grow more biotech crops. In doing so, they have cleared the genetically modified potato for cultivation, despite persistent public opposition to the technolo- gy. In the first such step in more than a …
A week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh intervened to reconcile differences among ministers of Environment and Forest, Science and Technology, Agriculture, and HRD over the introduction of genetically modified food crops in the country, the government is likely to witness a discussion on the same again as the Cabinet is …
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh today said the prescribed stipulations to avoid contamination of soil and traditional crops were adequate and there was no proposal to ban field trial of genetically modified crops. "There is no proposal to ban the field trials and research of GM crops in the country as …
The story of genetically modified foods doesn't stop at the government's decision to say no to Bt Brinjal. It has taken an extremely curious turn since to touch on questions of freedom of expression and the right to information. For instance, a new draft bill, the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill …
Shiv Visvanathan About the author: Shiv Visvanathan is a social scientist Some of the choices made in biotechnology are evolutionarily irreversible. We have to realise our decisions affect the future in radically new ways, where repair may not be possible While the green revolution was publicly driven, biotechnology is controlled …
Move opposed: K. Sivaraman, Siddha practitioner, addressing a seminar in Tirunelveli on Tuesday. TIRUNELVELI: Speakers at a seminar organised here on Tuesday on
Should Bt brinjal be banned for cultivation? Those who advocate this are closing off the non-pesticide option and arguing in favour of pesticide-based production of brinjal. The use of Bt brinjal could be allowed on a carefully controlled basis, limiting as much as possible the spread of the Bt-gene. Bhaskar …
Since 1966 - and as a consequence of the introduction of the Green Revolution model of water intensive, chemical farming - India has over-exploited her groundwater, creating a water famine.
In the 14 years since the first genetically modified crops were planted commercially, their descendants, relatives and remixes have gone forth and multiplied like profitable, high-tech pondweed. A new report shows that 25 countries now grow GM crops, with the total area under cultivation now larger than Peru. Three-quarters of …
In the 14 years since the first genetically modified crops were planted commercially, their descendants, relatives and remixes have gone forth and multiplied like profitable, high-tech pondweed. A new report (see article) shows that 25 countries now grow GM crops, with the total area under cultivation now larger than Peru. …
A TUSSLE is on in the government over where to park the National Biotechnology Authority of India. Environment minister Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday said that his department or the health ministry were better suited to be the nodal agency for the autonomous authority. The current draft of the bill, which …
PM Unhappy With Public Spat Over Bt PRIME Minister Manmohan Singh, who normally opts for the path of least resistance, decided to go along with the view that the introduction of Bt brinjal should wait till safety tests are completed and consensus developed on the crop. Mr Singh, who intervened …
