Organic farming
Lockdown cash crunch effects organic farming
With the men away, women farmers had no money to buy chemical inputs during the lockdown and shifted to organic farming. They are already reaping the benefits
Farmers go green by growing organic cotton
Switching to organic farming practices has resulted in improved soil health. It has reduced cost of cultivation for farmers, despite organic cotton fetching the same market price
A farm-cum-training hub shows the way to sustainable agriculture
Switching from conventional farming, a farmer who discovered the benefits of organic and biodynamic farming, has converted his farm into a workshop to train people in sustainable cultivation
हिमाचल के जैविक खेती करने वाले किसान बाज़ार-परक हुए
हिमाचल के मंडी जिले में, जैविक खेती करने वाले छोटे किसानों को, सामूहिक भागीदारी के माध्यम से, अपनी उपज को सीधे दिल्ली के उपभोक्ताओं को बेहतर मूल्यों पर बेचने में मदद मिली, जिससे उनकी आमदनी में वृद्धि हुई।
Of cow urine and human waste: faith, folklore and science
While there is a surfeit of folklore on cow urine as a miracle material, the waste of other cattle and humans, which are also dependable resources, should be checked for efficacy
Himachal’s organic farmers turn market-savvy
Collective representation helps smallholder organic farmers in Himachal’s Mandi district sell their produce directly to consumers in Delhi at a premium price, increasing their earnings
Diversified organic farming can transform Marathwada
Smallholder women farmers in the climate-threatened Marathwada region of Maharashtra are ensuring nutritional security and additional income for their families through diversified organic agriculture
Shyok Valley farmers lack access to market
Despite growing apricots and apples, farmers in Shyok Valley in northern Ladakh are unable to turn a profit because lack of connectivity makes it difficult to sell their produce
Community farming in Goa stops land conversion
Many villagers in Goa have banded together to revive rice cultivation through collective mechanized sowing and transplanting. The success in several villages has now become a catalyst for others
How an organic experiment went wrong
The wilting of organic paddy in a coastal farm was misdiagnosed as due to soil salinity, but was actually a pest attack brought on by an overdose of organic insecticide and nitrogen-rich manure
Women’s collectives need to think beyond livelihoods
Agricultural interventions by women have ensured nutritional security in many parts of rural Odisha. Building further capacity will now help them see themselves as change agents who can tackle societal issues
Irrigation key to fighting poverty in Kandhamal
Groundwater recharge in Kandhamal’s undulating terrain and pumps to lift water are needed to break the nexus between lack of irrigation and poverty in this seriously underdeveloped area of Odisha
Coastal farmers tackle salinity with innovative measures
Farmers in coastal Tamil Nadu are countering salinity caused by droughts and groundwater depletion through rainwater harvesting and by reviving traditional organic farming practices
Enabavi banishes chemicals for rich organic rewards
Switching to organic farming, a Telengana village has turned its arid lands into lush green farms, overcoming the scourge of farmer suicides and health problems in the process, and increasing household earnings
It’s time to explore new possibilities in village enterprises
A new generation of rural businesses are being established to cater to the changing needs of the countryside that require very little capital infusion to start and expand. There is now a need to put in place a financial ecosystem for these enterprises to thrive
Grassroots innovation using curd reduces farming costs in Bihar
A curd mixture using copper has become popular in many parts of northern Bihar despite a lack of scientific validation because it has cut the cost of cultivation while increasing productivity for many small and marginal farmers
Tribal women of Sundargarh make organic farming a life-changing economic activity
Tribal communities in Sundargarh district of Odisha have revived the traditional practice of growing food without the help of chemical fertilizers and made it viable economically by making pragmatic changes
A smart village rises in Bengal through agricultural entrepreneurship
A Food and Agriculture Integrated Development Action program implemented independently through a health, education and employment center has transformed Nandangram village in West Bengal by growing high quality farm produce
Organic farming for better yields takes wing in Gujarat
Inspired by examples of farmers earning ample returns through various techniques of chemicals-free farming, a farmers’ produce company in Rajkot is writing a new chapter on sustainable agriculture in arid and semi-arid zones
Organic farming starts paying dividends in Sikkim
Ever since Sikkim was declared fully organic in January 2016, local farmers say it is helping them increase their incomes, although connectivity for rapid transportation of farm produce continues to be a stumbling block