Wild arabica coffee may be extinct in 70 years, making it harder for plantations to survive long-term, scientists warn

By April 2013, expect your shopping bag to flaunt organic tomatoes, cabbages, peas, turmeric and ginger.

BHAWANIPATNA: Pests and diseases have affected paddy crop in the irrigated pockets of Indravati during the last fortnight, causing anxiety among farmers of Kalahandi district.

The Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry has taken a number of measures to control pests and diseases affecting the coconut crop with the objective of increasing production a

BHAWANIPATNA: Pest attacks are back to haunt farmers of Kalahandi district.

The Andhra Pradesh Government will probe the reported attack of sucking pests on Bt cotton in some parts of the State.

BHUBANESWAR: Stating that attack by caterpillars would damage paddy crop in several districts, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Saturday asked the State Government to take immediate

Developed by the city-based Directorate of Oilseeds Research, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), a bio-pesticide, will be showcased at the CoP-11 biodiversity conference, it was informed.

BT extract is used to kill pests such as pod borer, castor semi-looper and other insects that affect the rice crop, castor and pigeon pea and other oil seeds. Instead of transgenic crops, which give rise to serious apprehensions on bio-safety, scientists say the BT extract bio-pesticide is a safer alternative.

Official reviews pulses production programmes

Farmers have been exhorted to adopt modern machinery, conserve rainwater for agricultural purposes and put in place scientific practices such as testing of soil for nutrients, deficiency in micronutrients and use best variety of seeds, during a review of pulses production programmes by an official of National Food Security Mission (NFSM).

Moderate to heavy rain during the past 24 hours in almost all parts of this region has brought smiles back on the faces of the disappointed farmers of Punjab and Haryana.