Factors such as low fertiliser use, acidic soil, huge soil loss because of lack of water absorption capacity, monoculture and continuance with traditional paddy cultivation in jhums through shifting cultivation are putting hurdles in the growth of agriculture in the northeastern states, country

Initiate measures to restore biodiversity: panel
Panchayats asked to maintain seed banks

Thrissur: The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) has called for banning farming with chemical fertilizers in the ecologically-sensitive areas in the Western Ghats.

The WGEEP, which is holding a three-day meeting here, said organic farming should be promoted in a big way in the Western Ghats.

The government patched together an intricate

The government on Thursday raised the benchmark prices at which fertiliser companies and designated traders can import phosphatic and potash fertilisers with subsidy support so that farmers have uninterrupted supply of plant nutrients in the coming monsoon season despite higher global prices.

The Union Cabinet on Thursday gave a nod to increasing the benchmark prices of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) and muriate of potash (MoP) to ensure adequate availability during the upcoming kharif sowing season.

With the unrest in Middle East expected to raise fertiliser prices for the kharif crop, the Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Thursday, is likely to take a decision for upward revision in the nutrient based subsidy (NBS) rates of phosphatic and potassic fertilizers under the NBS regime that came into force in April last year.

The move has been necessitated with the Fertilizer Ministry pointing to t

Environment and Wildlife minister meets Dikshit, Hooda to discuss ways to keep river healthy
Excessive algae in the Yamuna brought Union Minister for Environment and Wildlife Jairam Ramesh

Oslo Many farmers in developing nations can double food production within a decade by shifting to ecological agriculture from use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, a UN report showed on Tuesday.

Insect-trapping plants in Kenya and Bangladesh's use of ducks to eat weeds in rice paddies are among examples of steps taken to increase food for a world population that the United Nations says wi