The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Friday said an immediate ban on biofuel production can save the world from looming food crisis which can result in massive malnutrition, starvation, and riots.

The ambitious plan of the state government to indigenously manufacture bio-plastic from organic material as an alternative to polythene, a concept visualised by none other than Chief Minister Omar

Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan have refused to accept further cut on water release by the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), saying that crop must be saved first.

“Partnering States (Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan) have not agreed to take further cut on water,” an official of BBMB said here. A 10 per cent cut on water release is already in place on partnering States with effect from July 17 onwards. The cut was announced in the wake of deficient rain by the BBMB.

New Delhi In the shadow of the monsoon deficit, the Union agriculture ministry has drafted a contingency plan for states that have received scanty rainfall, focussing on alternative or short-duration crops.

The Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) blueprint includes a shift, wherever possible, to alternative crops like bajra, groundnut, pigeon peas from water-intensive maize, cotton and paddy. State-specific plans have been prepared for parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar, Gujarat and Haryana, sources said.

Jalandhar: Despite Punjab being asked by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to decrease at least 10 lakh hectare under water-guzzling paddy in state and use the same for maize cultivation, the g

France's attempt to ban the planting of a Monsanto strain of genetically modified maize was rejected by the EU's food safety body on Monday.