The 2023 Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor, a flagship publication of AKADEMIYA2063 and the International Food Policy Research Institute, provides an overview of trade in agriculture in Africa, including analysis of short- and long-term trends and drivers behind Africa’s global trade, intra-African trade, and trade within Africa’s regional economic communities. The …
Morgan Stanley says forecasts so far don't point to severe outcomes; however, FAO says big problem if shortage prolonged; both agree on need to track spread and amount With the deficiency of rainfall due to the El Niño occurrence forecast at seven per cent this monsoon season, its impact on …
There’s a novel experiment underway in an acre-and-a-half at Jind’s Nidana village. A group of farmers, most of them illiterate, are out to prove a point to scientists and experts: agriculture is possible without pesticides and more profitable than with the use of pesticides. Scientists of the Delhi-based National Centre …
Haryana Chief Secretary SC Chaudhary approved Rs 52.11 crores action plan under the State Food Security Mission for 2014-15. The new initiative taken by the state government would help encourage and subsidise cultivation of wheat, pulses, coarse cereals and commercial crops such as sugarcane and cotton. Chaudhary presided over a …
Move follows crop failure in 7 districts that caused huge losses to cotton growers The Karnataka government has banned the sale of Mahyco’s BT and hybrid seeds in the state, following reports of their failure. According to a release here today, crops in seven districts had failed causing huge losses …
Environmental group Greenpeace today moved the Election Commission, seeking annulment of the GEAC decision to revalidate the field trials for ten varieties of genetically modified (GM) food crops. In its letter to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, Greenpeace India Executive Director Samit Aich also asked the Election Commission to …
Karnataka state govt blacklists Mahyco and orders ban on its Bt cotton sales. Cotton is one of the important commercial crop in Karnataka. Farmers of the state are growing Bt cotton in a larger area in recent years. More than 95% of the cotton area is covered by Bt cotton. …
Says genetically modified crops have an adverse impact on human health The coalition for a gene modification (GM) Free India in the state has begun holding a series of public meetings to oppose GM field trials. The Environment Ministry had allowed gene modification (GM) trials of more than 200 varieties …
At least 13 varieties are slated for GEAC nod after a long while but states have to also agree; biotech sector waits eagerly Even as the government prepares to give a final nod to field trials for at least 13 crop varieties in the next meeting of the Genetic Engineering …
The State of Sustainability Initiatives Review 2014 provides a bird's-eye view of market and performance trends across 16 of the most prevalent standards initiatives operating across ten different commodity sectors. The Review represents one small effort toward strengthening our understanding of how voluntary sustainability standards are developing over time, both …
Thirty-five agricultural scientists, most of them associated with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), on Tuesday mooted the continuation of field trials of genetically modified (GM) crops under their guidance, without a no-objection certificate (NoC) from the respective state governments. “Agriculture is a state subject, and state agricultural universities …
Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) is seeking regulatory approvals for field trials in genetically modified (GM) rice and cotton lines that can grow under water-stressed and saline environments, besides requiring less nitrogen fertilisers. The ₹700-crore company has developed these new plants using proprietary genes belonging to Arcadia Biosciences, a privately-held …
Leaving direct taxes untouched, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram today slashed excise duty on cars, SUVs and two-wheelers, and capital goods and consumer durables to boost manufacturing and growth. Presenting the Interim Budget for 2014-15, he also provided service tax exemption for storage and warehousing of rice like it was done …
The Punjab Government has decided to rope in biotechnology giant Monsanto to set up a centre of excellence for cotton in Bathinda. The move has raised many an eyebrow especially as farmer unions and other social organisations working in the field of agriculture are opposed to the company’s agro-industrial model. …
This study analyzes the impact of transgenic crop adoption on agricultural production risk and agrobiodiversity. The genetic erosion hypothesis suggests that global biodiversity is affected by various anthropogenic stresses that have caused serious biodiversity loss over the past few decades. This also applies to agrobiodiversity, comprising the diversity of species …
New Delhi : In a signal that the stalemate over the policy on genetically modified (GM) crops could end soon with the change of guard at the ministry of environment and forests, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) is likely to take a call on over 50 applications for field …
Contrary to the perception that young farmers are abandoning active farming, the survey conducted by the Indian Society for Cotton Improvement (ISCI) demonstrates that Bt cotton technology has attracted young farmers to cotton farming in the country. "More than 50% of respondent Bt cotton farmers were from the lower middle …
The WTO’s Bali Ministerial Conference concluded a day later than scheduled on December 7, 2013, with agreement on a package of issues designed to streamline trade, allow developing countries more options for providing food security, boost least developed countries’ trade and help development more generally. Read full text: https://mc9.wto.org/draft-bali-ministerial-declaration
The Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to Communist Party of India (CPI) said that the farmers who had raised rain fed crops had suffered heavy loss due to the failure of North-East monsoon and demanded adequate compensation to the affected farmers. The farmers had raised crops fetching huge loans, and …
The debate on the relative benefits of conventional and organic farming systems has in recent time gained significant interest. So far, global agricultural development has focused on increased productivity rather than on a holistic natural resource management for food security. Thus, developing more sustainable farming practices on a large scale …
Despite lack of agreement among negotiators on the “small package” of measures for the WTO’s Ninth Ministerial Conference in Bali, draft texts on farm trade are being sent on to ministers. Director-General Roberto Azevêdo, however, has clarified that these measures would not be presented as “agreed.” The current package had …
