Vivian Fernandes
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Chrolophile: Can canola displace wheat in Punjab?
The global prices of canola do not favour domestic producers despite the high import duty of 50%
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The truth behind genetically modified food imports in India
CSE is wrong—import of GM food is allowed, and it isn’t unregulated. The GEAC IS Empowered to regulate Such Imports.
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There is a regulatory vaccum in GM food, says CEO of FSSAI
In a study released in the last week of July, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) says it tested 65 food products and found 21 of them testing positive for material from genetically-engineered (GE) plants.
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Oil’s well with Mission Mustard? Rapeseed-mustard holds the most promise for reducing India’s dependence on edible oil imports
Rapeseed-mustard holds the most promise for reducing India’s dependence on edible oil imports … The question is whether Mission Mustard can help achieve this. The edible oil industry has its task cut out.
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Centre cracks down on illegal HT cotton
It has advised cotton-growing states—except those that also grow tea—to ban the sale of the herbicide glyphosate, to curb unapproved herbicide-tolerant cotton.
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Chlorophile: Towards cooking oil self-sufficiency
Sorry Ramesh Chand, protectionism cannot salvage India’s edible oil economy
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What ails farming – Very few people practise agriculture voluntarily
Officials see every scheme as a profit-making opportunity. Subsidised seed is sold at a mark-up to the printed price.
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The Delhi High Court order on patenting on GM traits is confidence-shattering
In a setback to Mahyco Monsanto Biotech, a division bench of the Delhi High Court has held that it cannot patent its genetically-modified Bollgard I and Bollgard II technologies and the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act will apply.
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Chlorophile: New cattle trade rules are a welcome rethink
The draft rules provide for a committee to prevent cruelty. It comprises of eight core members and three optional ones, but the owner of a cattle market is not among them. It will certify the markets and determine their maximum holding capacity.
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Chlorophile: No conflict between PPVFR Act & Patents Act
Kumble Vinod Prabhu, who is at the helm of the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Authority (PPVFRA), says that, in GM tech, a trait or an expression can’t be patented, but the GM process, the resultant event and even the gene sequence may be patented.
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BT Cotton Seed Price Control: How seed companies shot themselves in the foot
The realisation may have dawned upon seed companies that they erred by inviting the government to play the referee. They should have sorted out differences with Mahyco Monsanto Biotech at their level.
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Forget organic, residue-free is the way to go
The conventional notion is that organic is tastier because it is been artificially boosted with chemical nutrients and other enhancers.
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Why GM mustard may not see the light of day
On May 11, last year, the GEAC, the apex authority for assessing the safety of genetically modified (GM) crops, declared that GM mustard had passed the prescribed tests and recommended to the environment minister that he should approve it.
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Bamboo can be more profitable than sugarcane and rice! Check out how
How about planting bamboo extensively along the banks of the Yamuna to sequester the carbon from Delhi’s vehicle emissions?
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Karnataka pushing millets as smart food for 21st century; check out the massive benefits
The state is pushing millets, or coarse cereals, as a smart food for the 21st century, with massive nutritional and ecological benefits
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Vidarbha farmers in debt trap: Here is how to save them
Diversifying to dairy may give the farmers a way out of the debt trap. But, the larger focus has to be on developing irrigation in Marathwada & Vidarbha
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Agriculture faces headwinds from Centre; why Indian firms will be hurt more than MNCs due to this policy
Indian agriculture is facing headwinds from government policy. The dairy industry is worried about restrictions on cattle trading. The menace of stray cattle is keeping farmers awake at night.
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Rajasthan government provides tribals source of livelihood, here is how
Easing the law on trade and transport of minor forest produce has helped link tribals with wholesale market directly.
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Not possible to practice traditional farming in India anymore; here is why
For most consumers, ‘organic’ is probably a code for ‘safe’ or ‘residue-free’, not necessarily produce grown without chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
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No reason for agriculture ministry to intervene in cotton seed market; illegality thrives when ministers behave like monarchs
In 2001, when unapproved Bt cotton seeds were planted in Gujarat, the GEAC ordered the crop destroyed. But it got approval for commercial use the year after. In the HT cotton case, Mahyco has withdrawn its application for approval.
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Governance failure at environment ministry: Officials aware of illegality over planting herbicide tolerant cotton
Maharashtra’s Principal Secretary for Agriculture has asked the ministry of environment what action the state government should take against cultivators of illegal herbicide-tolerant (HT) cotton and those trading in the seed. “What is the standard operating procedure we must follow?” Principal Secretary Bijay Kumar asked the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) when, he says, it […]
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Time to bring pesticides under price control? Here is what the row is about
Pesticides are sold below the marked price because of competition
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Rajya Sabha panel on GM crops: Why there is more fault-finding than fact-finding despite ICAR evidence
It is said that for those who believe, no proof is needed, and for those who do not, no proof is possible. Into which category should one slot a parliamentary committee, chaired by Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, on “genetically modified crops and their impact on environment”?
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Cattle trade: Extortion by vigilantes, police adding to cost of transaction
Raya in Mathura district and Iglas in Aligarh district are two police posts that have become extortion centres, traders say. It is hard to find any trader who has not had to pay.
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Modern biologist who didn’t formally study biology: Pushpa Bhargava cited principle to oppose Bt cotton
I called up Pushpa Bhargava at about 6 pm on January 16, seeking an appointment. I was curious to know why he was so opposed to genetic modification of crops.
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How University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad tried to sabotage its researcher, whose transgene can challenge commercial GM genes
The researcher, whose Transgene could challenge commercial GM seeds, believes private sector interests tried to sabotage her. But it COuld be professional jealousy.
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Conservation agriculture in Uttar Pradesh has not taken off despite advantages; know why
No-till conservation agriculture has not taken off in western Uttar Pradesh because most of the fields are small.
