THE NEWS IN
PROPORTION
27 February 2020
27 February 2020
ORGANIC FARMING
What binds every family in this Kerala Panchayat
What binds every family in this Kerala Panchayat
The thrust on chemical-free cultivation of vegetables that started as an experiment in the 90s has now evolved into a culture in Kerala’s Kanjikkuzhi Gram Panchayat. P N Venugopal traces the growth and success of this initiative so far.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Farming for self-reliance in KalahandiThe struggle to feed themselves and their families round the year drives millions of farmers in remote rural areas to desperate measures. Abhijit Mohanty’s story shows how sustainable agriculture has helped farmers in Odisha’s backward Kalahandi district pull themselves out of poverty and food insecurity.
RECLAIMING THE COMMONS
Food security, courtesy Odisha's tribal womenIn 25 villages across Rayagada district of Odisha, tribal village women have reclaimed the denuded commons and achieved a remarkable turnaround in food security and livelihoods through eco-friendly alternatives to shifting cultivation. Abhijit Mohanty highlights a few successes of the project.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING
Good food from dry landAcross 20 villages of Bankura and Birbhum districts in West Bengal, 800 families are learning to farm dry land anew in a sustainable manner, resulting in increased income, better health and nutritional outcomes, and food security. Ajitha Menon reports from Bankura.
FOOD TRADITIONS
Looking beyond the spread on our tablesOvercoming our ignorance of the richness of traditional food options, and imbibing the culinary cultures of those who live in harmony with nature could signify a giant step towards food and nutritional security, says Devinder Sharma after his visit to a tribal food fest.
THE COLDIRETTI DEBATE
Lessons from Italy for the Indian farmerItalian farmer group Coldiretti is ushering in a new paradigm in farming, and has emerged as a powerful lobby for the interests of the small farmer. Keya Acharya reports on the campaign and wonders if Indian agriculture can emulate the same.
KITCHEN GARDEN SUCCESS
Vegetables in the backyardA retired physician in small-town Manipal in Karnataka sets an example in kitchen gardening and highlights the many benefits it brings apart from the yield itself. Shree Padre brings us his remarkable story.
MILLET REVOLUTION
Winning the battle against hunger, silentlyRevival of millet cultivation in Medak of Andhra shows how a variety of millets can fight hunger even during drought, keep farmers debt-free, and provide the much-needed nutrition without using pesticides, reports Ramesh Menon.
CHEMICAL-FREE FOOD
Organic veggies in my InboxIn operation now for more than two years, Gorus has a network of about 50 committed families as consumers and 25 farmers as suppliers, and growing steadily. Shripad Dharmadhikary reports.
AGRICULTURE/HEALTH
Good food, Indian-styleThey are two simple, rural women, living in rural Andhra Pradesh, in an area known for its arid soils, its resultant lack of food and its poverty. And unbelievable as it may seem, the answer to the healthy skins of Chandramma and Narsamma lies in good nutrition. Keya Acharya has more.
AGRICULTURE
Timbaktu Organic is scaling upThis year, 160 farmers in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district committed 480 acres for organic production. Two complete cycles of procurement, processing, and marketing of organic produce in a number of cities have already been completed. Rajni Bakshi says Timbaktu Organic is expanding.
ORGANIC FARMING
Nothing unscientific about itThe scientific establishment remains highly sceptical about organic methods. But Dr Tarak Kate and his colleagues at a Wardha-based NGO have collected data systematically, to negate the charge that this alternative is unscientific and unproven. Darryl D'Monte reports.
PUNJAB DIARY
Farmers persist with organic, see resultsFor a number of reasons including frustration with chemical agriculture, improved economic prospects and concern for nature, some farmers in Punjab are growing organic. Kavitha Kuruganti travelled around parts of the state to meet a number of farmers and dealers of organic products last month.
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- Retired Scientist
- National Physical
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From Aug 2013, published with support from Oorvani Foundation, a champion of public-funded media for the new India.
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