Asserting that the Department of Agriculture has succeeded in ensuring optimum utilisation of funds allocated by the Central Government in the recent past, Commissioner of the department concerned, JP Meena yesterday stated that the process of soil mapping to further boost agricultural production is on.

Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has released a new variety each of cucumber, pumpkin, coriander, turmeric and cauliflower. It also introduced new sowing technology. Among new varieties released are Punjab Samrat (pumpkin), Punjab Sugandh (coriander), Punjab Haldi (turmeric), Punjab Naveen (cucumber) and Punjab Katki (cauliflower).

Pune Pune district is all set to house yet another national institution in the form of the National Centre for Abiotic Stress, with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) giving the green signal to the proposal. The institute will be set up in Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called for increased investment in radiation-induced mutation techniques that help in producing crop varieties with high yields and disease resistance, and can grow in stressful conditions such as drought, flood, and salinity. Using gamma radiation to produce new crop varieties through random mutations is not new.

Shashikant Trivedi / Bhopal December 12, 2008, 0:47 IST

Scientists also working on transgenic soya, potato.

Come 2012 and Indian farmers will have their own transgenic cotton. They will not have to depend on seed companies for transgenic cotton seed and can be the consumers of their own cotton crop.

KANCHEEPURAM: Union Minister for Health Anbumani Ramadoss on Tuesday said that he would oppose any move to introduce genetically modified food or seeds in the agriculture sector.

Addressing a State-level farmer

M.J. PRABU

ECOLOGICAL SANITATION: The urine collection and dilution tank, in the forefront and paddy harvest at Musiri in Tamil Nadu.

Human waste may invariably evoke strong and repulsive reactions.