The revised draft Seeds Bill 2019, which the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare placed in the public domain recently for suggestions and comments, seems to be a watered down version of a draft prepared about nine years ago by the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Among other things, …
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened today on a remote island in the Arctic Circle, receiving inaugural shipments of 100 million seeds that originated in over 100 countries. With the deposits ranging from unique varieties of major African and Asian food staples such as maize, rice, wheat, cowpea, and sorghum …
The NSC has transformed itself from the usual non-profit-earning PSU into a vibrant entity. Private sector seed companies have, till now, had a virtual monopoly over the production and sale of seeds, mostly hybrid seeds, of high-value crops. This was chiefly because the public sector seed producers, besides being fewer …
Later this month, the first batch of seeds will be stored in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to ensure that should a major catastrophe ever hit the planet, survivors should at least have access to a seed bank and so may be able to grow food. Eventually, over 200000 crop …
A recent FAO study report sums up that the flow of transgenes from plants derived from recombinant DNA techniques has specific or special impacts on biology, ecology, agriculture, society and culture. In the case of India and Bt Cotton, it is an established and known fact that commercial cotton produce …
Biotechnology proponents claim that genetically modified (GM) crops are good for consumers, farmers and the environment, and that they are growing in popularity around the world. Unfortunately, journalists often report such claims as fact, without first subjecting them to critical scrutiny. As in past editions of
The recent trends in employment of child labour in hybrid cottonseed production in different states in India clearly indicate that the overall number of children employed in this sector is on the rise. The conditions in the fields continue to be very unsafe and exploitative for the children. The children …
on may 9, 2007, the department of Animal Husbandry of Andhra Pradesh said cattle deaths reported from a few parts in the state could have been caused by toxics from Bt cotton. The department informed the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (geac) that tests of Bt samples taken in 2006 by …
The major problem faced by the foodgrain production system of India is the post harvest losses. There are many sources of leakage between production and consumption of foodgrains that not only include wastage of grains during various post-harvest operations but also at the stage of harvesting.
The apex court nod to GM seed trials raises issues. GM seeds: Trial's not yet over Globally, the market for genetically modified (GM) seeds is estimated at Rs 25,215 crore. In India, where such seeds are seen with suspicion, it's barely worth Rs 697 crore a year, according to industry …
This report gives an overview of current research regarding the full range of possible effects of transgene flow on human health, the environment, the various stakeholders in the food and feed production chain and on the in situ and ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. …
An innovative attempt was made to promote the concept of village based seed banks by the International Crops Research Institute for Semi- Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) as an intervention of Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihood Program (APRLP) in Andhra Pradesh state. In this case study, a detailed documentation of process in implementation …
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 private sector has become an important supplier of varietal technology in agriculture. This has given rise to concerns about competition in the seed market. This study examines the evolution in the structure of India
a new study claims to turn toxic cottonseeds into nutritious dinners for millions of undernourished people across the world. Keerti Rathore, a scientist at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, has tinkered with the genes in cottonseeds to stop the release of gossypol, its naturally-occurring toxin. If cottonseeds become edible, it …
This study has been undertaken to assess the development patterns of agriculture sector in Punjab and the identification of the constraints operating in the agricultural sector dealing with land, labour, irrigation, credit etc.
A drought-tolerant maize seed has been launched to boost food security in African countries. The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have taken up the programme in 11 African countries that are the most maize-dependent and drought-affected areas. The researchers aim to generate …
the us environment agency recently slapped a fine of us $1.5 million on the agro-giant Syngenta Seeds Inc for selling seed corn that contained a genetically engineered pesticide. On December 21, 2006, the Environment Protection Agency (epa) fined the firm for using Bt 10-engineered seed corn, since the pesticide was …
