CEOs need to accelerate their action plans to safeguard the production of commodities critical to the global population and economy as heat stress and drought risk rise around the world, according to PwC's report, Climate Risks to Nine Key Commodities: Protecting People and Prosperity, published. The report, which analysed nine …
Kerala's recent decision that no genetically modified (gm) crop will be grown in the state has been hailed by environmental and farmers' organisations across the state. Kerala agriculture minister Mullakara Rathnakaran announced this, saying that farmer suicides like those in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh should not happen in Kerala. "Kerala …
the Punjab state farmers commission has recently asked the state government to make delayed-sowing of rice mandatory. The move comes at a time when agriculture in Punjab is facing its worst spell since 1970. Last year, the state recorded 1.86 per cent growth in farming. Moreover, groundwater resources in the …
a new study in a high carbon content paddy field of West Bengal has questioned India's projected methane emission levels, suggesting that if rigorous research is carried out in the eastern and north-eastern parts of the country on high carbon agricultural land, our methane emission figures might actually go up …
Investment gurus such as Jim Rogers saw it coming as early as 1999. Prices of agri-commodities are soaring in the face of sustained uptick in global demand and stagnating production. Notwithstanding the scorching economic growth in India, Indian agriculture is painfully ambling along at around 2 per cent due to …
The farming system in the Uttaranchal Himalaya comprises of agricultural crops, horticulture, herb culture, the garden practices and nurseries and fruit plantation or reforestation. These practices reflect the diversity in all respects. The farming of crops is mostly traditional.
The rate at which indigenous Rice varieties are getting depleted is extremely alarming. It is becoming increasingly clear that to maintain biodiversity in farmers
The nature of agricultural diversification differs across regions due to wide heterogeneity in agro climatic and socio-economic conditions. Generally, the pattern of agricultural diversification shows a shift from crop production to livestock production during the 1980s to 1990s. The focus of this paper relates to diversification of food production and …
Experiments have been carried out on the impact of commonly used pesticides on the population of earthworms and enchytraeids in rice-wheat cropping system.
contamination of groundwater by arsenic, a well-known phenomenon, has now shown up in a different form. Scientists working in the Bengal delta have found that rice grown with or boiled in contaminated water has arsenic residues that are poisoning people in affected areas. The scientists have devised a rice cooker …
Refugee concern: A recent report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Pakistan government says that about 82 per cent of registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan have no intention to return to their homeland in the near future. Security threats in Afghanistan are a major reason for …
the boro rice crop in three low-lying northeastern districts of Bangladesh has been hit hard due to erratic weather conditions, which has necessitated change in sowing pattern. The crop, grown between November and May every year, stands damaged over 53,000 hectares (ha) in the single-crop areas of Netrakona, Brahmanbaria and …
Titas gas leak Bangladesh Gas Field Company Ltd has initiated operations to stop uncontrolled gas leaks from the country's biggest gas field Titas in Brahmanbaria district. Though the gas started leaking around four years ago, it has been aggravated by rains in 2006. According to local media reports, the gas …
on february 28, 2007, the us department of agriculture (usda) gave preliminary draft approval to a biotech company to plant genetically modified rice to produce human proteins, amidst fears about its risk to human health. If the project, proposed by California-based Ventria Biosciences, gets final approval it will be the …
Pesticides are responsible for hundreds of cases of poisoning in the developing world, where information and training on the potential negative health effects of these chemicals is often lacking. While the impact of the indiscriminate use of toxic chemicals is widely acknowledged, the economic costs of this misuse are less …
This report examines pesticide use in Kuttanad, India, an economically sensitive area often referred to as the rice bowl of Kerala. Using primary data collected from pesticide applicators and farm labor, the report assesses short-term health costs associated with pesticide exposure. The report finds that the toxicity level and dose …
The large agrarian population of West Bengal drink groundwater with arsenic content anywhere between 0.05 and 3.7 mg/L. Greater than 44% of this population suffers from arsenic related diseases like conjunctivitis, melanosis, hyperkeratosis, and hyper pigmentation. In certain areas gangrene in the limb, malignant neoplasm and even skin cancer have …
This study examines pesticide use in Kuttanad, India an ecologically sensitive area often referred to as the rice bowl of Kerala. Using primary data collected from pesticide applicators and farm labor, the study assesses short-term health costs associated with pesticide exposure. The study finds that the toxicity level and dose …
chhattisgarh became the first state to actively initiate action against biosafety violations in trials of genetically modified Bt rice in India. Besides ordering an enquiry into the matter, the agriculture minister took matters into his hands. Media reports in November showed seed company Mahyco (Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company) was conducting …
Previous studies have found that atmospheric brown clouds partially offset the warming effects of greenhouse gases. This finding suggests a tradeoff between the impacts of reducing emissions of aerosols and greenhouse gases. Results from a statistical model of historical rice harvests in India, coupled with regional climate scenarios from a …
