The Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills region, with its unique landscape, climatic phenomenon of heavy cloud cover and torrential rainfall, and agricultural richness involving the majority of the population, has been proposed as another National Agricultural Biodiversity Heritage Site based on six indices.

According to a study from a group of environmental scientists at the University of Kuopio in Finland, human urine and wood ash make a reasonably potent tomato fertilizer, boosting plant growth and fruit yield dramatically over untreated plants and nearly keeping pace with conventional fertilizer.

This study was conducted in the tribal district Nandurbar in northern Maharashtra. The data was collected from 60 men and women of four villages through conventions, discussions and interviews. The respondents were from Pawara and Bhil tribes, who still believe in superstitions and local medicines only.

Insect pests affect plants, animals and humans. Chemical pesticides are often used indiscriminately to control these pests. But most of these pesticides are toxic and non biodegradable and have adverse effects on the environment by polluting soil and water and affecting health. Therefore, there is a need to develop suitable plant-based pesticides.

This lecture to agricultural educators and officials uses dual meanings of key words as a mechanism to explain the deepest teachings of Buddhism in terms related to agriculture. It begins by interpreting the essential truth of and indeed the etymological origins of Dhamma as a duty and the performance of one's duty.

Conservation of Deo-rahati (sacred groves) in India has ancient roots from Vedic period. Even in modern days ethnic groups conserve religiously preserved forest patches through their customs, taboos and local festivals associated with the deities. Therefore, these forest pockets serve the vital function of conserving biological diversity and natural water streams.

Willows have been growing in Kashmir Valley and other adjoining temperate areas of India since time immemorial. The willow constituted an important tree species to mankind in view of its multipurpose usage. Introduction of wicker and bat willows from England during early 20th century and their multiplication in suitable areas of Kashmir Valley acted as a boon to the willow based cottage industry.

Rainfall prediction has prime importance in an agrarian country like India, wherein the agricultural production is solely dependent on the monsoon rainfall. Among various astro-meteorological methods for rainfall forecasting, the Antariksha method, which is based on sky observation, is most popular.

A brief survey of views thus far expressed in regard to the identification of the Rg-vedic Soma plant is given. In the present study, the problem has been approached from the point of view of the effects produced by Soma drinking rather than from the morphological aspects of the plant. A comprehensive report on the later Soma-substitutes is also provided.

The Brahmaputra Valley region has a unique landscape, with the Brahmaputra River and other rivulets running between the parallel hill ranges. The valley gets flooded during the monsoons, which deposit a large amount of silt and debris on the riverbeds.

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