Page 4 - Surinder Sud

Beyond the Jal Shakti Abhiyan

NITI Aayog reckons that nearly 600 million Indians are already facing "high to extreme" water stress. The situation is set to worsen as the water demand is likely to double by 2030

Cannabis is no longer 'dangerous'

In India, cannabis has historically been grown and consumed for recreational, culinary, and commercial purposes.

When animals can be poison

A notable feature of the emerging trend is the preponderance of infections transmitted to humans from animals

Adding value to your food

There are speculations on whether the government's policy on genetically engineered products has undergone a subtle, even if undeclared, change. If it is so, it is welcome

The net loser is the farmer

Biased, unfounded propaganda by the denigrators of the GM technology is prevailing over the sane, evidence-based opinion of the scientific community resulting in loss for farmers, writes Surinder Sud

Saving agri sector from Covid-19

The steps taken by the government to contain the spread of the virus and mitigate the damage from the lockdown have come at the right time

Legalise land leasing

By dilly-dallying on the enactment of laws in tune with the NITI Aayog's model bill, state governments are doing a disservice to the farm community

Beyond loan waivers & doles

CIFA has chalked out an elaborate national agricultural agenda which it wishes the government to follow over the next 10 years

Onward and upward

The government should come up with policies to incentivise vertical farming

Not worth the hype

Evidence has already piled up to indicate that organic foods are no better than those produced through regular agriculture

Making India trans fats-free

The health objectives of the move would only be partially served till the unorganised sector is brought into the loop

Reviving rural youth's interest in agriculture

They need conveniently usable technologies that ensure higher productivity and income, at reduced cost

Teething troubles for start-ups

Agri-enterprises are finding it hard to expand due to lack of commercial guidance

Surinder Sud: Climate toll on livestock

Small and marginal farmers and backyard livestock keepers need institutional & public policy support

Surinder Sud: The need for exchange of genetic resources

The dependence of countries on each other to breed new crop varieties and hybrids is bound to increase

Surinder Sud: How India's Bt cotton revolution is coming undone

Mishandling led to immunity among pests against killer gene, jeopardising sustainability of cotton revolution

Surinder Sud: A game changer for small farmers

Medicinal and aromatic species can be grown as solo, mixed or inter-crops without expensive cash inputs

Surinder Sud: Handicaps in agri-research and education

Among them are inadequate funding, understaffing, gender issues, illogical curricula and inbreeding

Surinder Sud: Self-sufficiency in pulses a realistic goal

The mantra to boost output is to grow pulses on larger areas and ensure remunerative prices to farmers

Surinder Sud: Gains aplenty in trawling the hills

The vast potential of fish farming in India's hill region remains untapped