Findings reignite debate over genetically modified crops.

The Kashmir valley is all set to have a bumper crop of rice
and maize and likely to achieve the target production of these principle crops during this year following the timely rainfall and use of good-quality seeds by the farmers. The rain showers witnessed by the valley on Tuesday have also brought relief to the farmers who can now expect good production of Rabi crop as

Importance of maize as a food as well as fuel crop stressed

Tuticorin: Training camps were conducted recently to inculcate the techniques of maize hybrid seed production among farm women in the villages Kalkumi, A.Kumarapuram of Vilathikulam block and Sankaralingapuram, Vembur of Pudhur block in Tuticorin district by the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Killikulam.

A computer whiz turned geneticist borrows tactics from Wal-Mart and cattle breeders to manage what may be the world's largest genetic analysis.

Climate change will have significant impacts on agriculture, particularly in East Africa where there is such variation in topography and climate. Modelling studies can help to show where these impacts may be largest, to help guide adaptations to ensure food security in the coming decades. Results suggest that crop yield reductions may be expected over 50% to 70% of the area simulated.

Lethal viruses are taking over the world of food IN agricultural research, new breakthroughs have helped elaborate the workings of two strains of potentially lethal viruses destroying important food crops like wheat and maize. Research into the Maize Streak Virus (msv) destroying Africa

food Light too affects drinks Conventional methods to test the shelf life of products, say on retail displays, focus on heat and ignore the effect of light. Scientists exposed a soft drink containing saffron to different levels of light at rising temperatures. They found that the beverage grew lighter in colour as the intensity of the light increased, confirming that light can cause a

Bs Reporter / New Delhi July 31, 2008, 3:43 IST

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to remove the recently-imposed ban on maize exports. At 1.7 million tonnes, the state accounts for 10 per cent of the country's total maize output.

"The recent ban on export has led to depressed market conditions. The price of maize before the ban hovered around Rs 732 a quintal. Now, it has now crashed to Rs 500-600 a quintal. The procurement of maize by buyers has also come down drastically,' Kumar has stated in a letter to the PM.

Around 30 percent of the maize crop in two gewogs of Mongar dzongkhag, that was hit by windstorms on June 27, suffered considerable damage, according to the agriculture minister, Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho. The minister visited some of the affected areas on July 9 with a team of agriculture, dzongkhag and gewog officials. According to a preliminary report, more than 80 acres of maize crop belonging to 96 households of Chali and Mongar were flattened by the windstorm. Meanwhile, villagers have been trying their best to straighten their crops using sticks.

The final press conference of the meet was postponed by an hour and a half because there were disagreements on the final document to be read by DG Diouf. According to fao sources, the dispute was to do with biofuels and the liberalization of agricultural trade. The delay did not come as a surprise; an undercurrent of dispute, stemming from differing concerns, was there all through the

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