TOBACCO farmers in Andhra Pradesh are keeping their fingers crossed over this year

V S Achutananthan, Kerala Chief MinisterKerala is split when it comes to the genetically modified. While the government has consistently taken a position against anything GM, and has vowed to keep the state GM-free as a matter of policy, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), which rules the state, has quite the opposite view.

Govt

With an annual turnover of over Rs 760 crores in 2010, rubber cultivation in the Northeastern States has emerged a major player in the economy of the region.

LUCKNOW: In a bid to promote bamboo cultivation and its usage, the state forest department along with the national bamboo mission would hold a workshop here on January 10. Currently, in India, there are 1,275 varieties of bamboo.

The national bamboo mission is to be implemented in 20 districts of the state. UP had sanctioned Rs 4.10 crore under the mission in 2008.

Meena Menon

Chicle, or gum, is extracted, sold at 55 pesos a kg; 50 years ago, they got five kg from a tree

12 million people live in Mexico's forest areas: Mexican Civil Council for Sustainable Forestry

CANCUN: Santos Eligio prepares to climb the 12-metre-tall gum tree with his rope in place and a large machete, which he uses to expertly slash the trunk criss-cross.