The New Indian Express – Online

News on the country’s economic performance in these stressful times has generally been bleak. The one silver lining on the horizon is the steady rise in farm output. Food grains production, according to the Union agriculture ministry, is estimated to rise 2% for crop year 2020-21 to a new high of over 303 million tonnes (MT) from the earlier 297.5 MT on the back of higher rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals production. The crop year is taken from July 1 to June 30.

While rice production is projected to cross 120 MT, wheat production will be up to 109 MT from the earlier 107.9 MT. The rain gods too seem to be smiling. ...

The Times of India – Online

In all, 11 students of Thanthai Roever Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development (TRIARD), Perambalur took part in a four-day workshop involving field visits on organic farming techniques organised by Thaneer, a Trichy-based environmental organisation.

 Thaneer secretary K Sathish Kumar said this is the first time they have tied up with an educational institution for organised field visits and interaction. The students interacted with experts and innovators in organic farming. R Rincy Jaslin, a final year BSc agriculture student, said that visiting Vanagam — founded by green revolutionist G Nammalvar in Karur district — was a unique experience. She had read in books about permaculture, which is based on regenerative agriculture techniques, rewilding and ...

The Wire – Online

The Farmer (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020, will set in motion the push for contract farming, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020, lifts regulations for storing essential grains, and thereby increasing hoarding. While the laws have been introduced in response to long standing demands for market reform, and promise to alleviate farm distress, will the single-minded focus on liberalisation eventually backfire due to neglected environmental costs?

India’s food production will have to increase substantially in the coming decades to cater to a growing population with demand predicted to increase by 70% by 2050. The fact that this will need to be done while keeping greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agriculture ...

France24 – Online

In the 1960s, the Green Revolution had a phenomenal impact on India’s food production, but it also made the land infertile, led to extensive water consumption and exacerbated groundwater loss. It also led to widespread use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers. In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, water scarcity and poor soil quality forced many farmers to walk away from agriculture. They were perennially buried under a vicious debt cycle, with most of their earnings funnelled into buying pesticides and fertilisers.

 But a few years ago, the state launched an ambitious programme called Zero Budget Natural Farming that is transforming things on the ground. The idea is simple: to stop the dependency on chemicals and revive the land. It’s already starting to ...

The Economic Times – Online

Less than 4 per cent of Indian farmers have adopted sustainable agricultural practices and systems, according to a study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The study, supported by the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), found that scaling up sustainable agriculture would be critical to improve farm incomes and bolster India’s nutrition security in a climate-constrained future. States such as Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim have already taken a lead in sustainable agriculture.

Speaking about sustainable agriculture, NITI-Aayog Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar said: “Embracing sustainable agriculture could not only lead to better incomes for farmers but also have multiple environmental benefits.