In northern desert states, farmers are scrambling to harvest as much as they can of a bean with the power to lift them out of poverty. In the United States, the multi-billion dollar shale energy industry is banking on their success.
US companies drilling for oil and gas in shale formations have developed a voracious appetite for the powder-like gum made from seeds of guar, or cluster bean, and the boom in their business has created a bonanza for thousands of small-scale farmers in India who produce 80% of the world's beans.
Links:
[1] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/news/shale-energy-industry-triggers-bean-rush-among-indian-farmers
[2] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/newspaper/financial-express-new-delhi
[3] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/north-eastern-ranges
[4] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/deserts
[5] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/farmers
[6] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/united-states-america-us
[7] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/power-industry
[8] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/rajasthan
[9] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/thar-desert
[10] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/energy-technology
[11] http://admin.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/category/thesaurus/energy