Outbreaks of different forms of rust, the most destructive wheat disease, have frequently lowered wheat production. Wheat scientists have no doubt successfully overcome this peril every time it emerged, especially after the green revolution, by breeding disease-resistant varieties. But the combat seems endless.

Surinder Sud: Fighting wheat rust

Business Standard

After the eradication of dreaded livestock ailments like rinderpest and contagious bovine pleura-pneumonia, the focus now is on stamping out another equally perilous malaise called foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The World Animal Health Organisation has identified this disease as the most important constraint on international trade in animal products.

Surinder Sud: The foot-and-mouth scourge

When agricultural growth was decelerating in the early noughties, the blame was put partly on the slowdown in the generation of new technology by the farm research network. This was also the phase in which the agricultural research manpower was shrinking owing to the bar on recruitments. The move impeded the flow of fresh scientific talent into farm research bodies, leading to an ageing cadre of scientists and a backlog of unfilled positions in research institutions.

Surinder Sud: New testing grounds

Agricultural development is considered a reliable means to reduce rural poverty. But this is not true in Bihar&rsquo;s case. After a protracted phase of near stagnation or even slowdown in agriculture, the state, over the past few years, witnessed a notable acceleration in agricultural growth and the implementation of poverty alleviation programmes. Yet, going by the findings of a recent study, rural poverty in the state has not been impacted in any significant way.

Surinder Sud

Surinder Sud

Page 9 - Surinder Sud

Surinder Sud: Fighting wheat rust

Surinder Sud: The foot-and-mouth scourge

Surinder Sud: New testing grounds

Surinder Sud: Still the 'B' of Bimaru