A major operation to distribute seeds and tools has been launched in the Central African Republic to support [...]

Family farming is inextricably linked to national and global food security. Both in developing and developed countries, family farming is the leading form of agriculture in food production. Family farmers [...]

FAO and China have signed a two-year tripartite cooperation agreement worth about N$10.5 million (US$1.5 million) that will boost the efforts of local farmers in Namibia. The agreement, which is [...]

With the assistance of the Delaware Farmers’ Market Coalition, a group of market managers from across the state, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is issuing protocols to help farmers’ markets safely begin opening starting May 15.

Along with the Delaware Nutrient Management Program’s annual report mailing, Delaware farmers are being encouraged to complete an additional 16-question implementation questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to measure nutrient applications and environmental deeds, allowing Delaware to recognize farmers for their stewardship efforts in 2020.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a proposed rule change on December 6, 2021, to amend the agricultural water requirements of the Produce Safety Rule. In response to the proposed change, the Delaware Department of Agriculture and University of Delaware Cooperative Extension will host two outreach sessions on January 21, 2022, to engage farmers and other stakeholders.

During the Farmers Market Managers Summit held during Delaware Ag Week today, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced that last year’s farmers markets hit an all-time high sales record of $3.7 million.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) is reminding senior Delawareans who registered to participate in the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program to visit local farmers markets and on-farm markets to use their benefits before they expire on October 31.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture reminds any farmers who have yet to enroll their property as a farmland preservation district that October 31, 2023, is the deadline to be eligible for 2024 preservation funding.

The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) announced today that last year’s farmers markets hit an all-time high sales record. In 2023, sales from all 17 Delaware community-run farmers markets totaled $4,144,951, up $437,136 from the previous record set in 2022.

While the hustle and bustle of summer may be over, Fall is the perfect time to get out and visit Delaware farmers’ markets and on-farm markets to access fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of these venues will be open until right before Thanksgiving; however, the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) reminds seniors and WIC participants with Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program vouchers to spend these by October 31.

This is the 23rd installment of The Rationalist, my column for the Times of India.

I had a strange dream last night. I dreamt that the government had passed a law that made using laptops illegal. I would have to write this column by hand. I would also have to leave my home in Mumbai to deliver it in person to my editor in Delhi. I woke up trembling and angry – and realised how Indian farmers feel every single day of their lives.

My column today is a tale of two satyagrahas. Both involve farmers, technology and the freedom of choice. One of them began this month – but first, let us go back to the turn of the millennium.

As the 1990s came to an end, cotton farmers across India were in distress. Pests known as bollworms were ravaging crops across the country. Farmers had to use increasing amounts of pesticide to keep them at bay. The costs of the pesticide and the amount of labour involved made it unviable – and often, the crops would fail anyway.

Then, technology came to the rescue. The farmers heard of Bt Cotton, a genetically modified type of cotton that kept these pests away, and was being used around the world. But they were illegal in India, even though no bad effects had ever been recorded. Well, who cares about ‘illegal’ when it is a matter of life and death?

Farmers in Gujarat got hold of Bt Cotton seeds from the black market and planted them. You’ll never guess what happened next. As 2002 began, all cotton crops in Gujarat failed – except the 10,000 hectares that had Bt Cotton. The government did not care about the failed crops. They cared about the ‘illegal’ ones. They ordered all the Bt Cotton crops to be destroyed.

It was time for a satyagraha – and not just in Gujarat. The late Sharad Joshi, leader of the Shetkari Sanghatana in Maharashtra, took around 10,000 farmers to Gujarat to stand with their fellows there. They sat in the fields of Bt Cotton and basically said, ‘Over our dead bodies.’ ¬Joshi’s point was simple: all other citizens of India have access to the latest technology from all over. They are all empowered with choice. Why should farmers be held back?

The satyagraha was successful. The ban on Bt Cotton was lifted.

There are three things I would like to point out here. One, the lifting of the ban transformed cotton farming in India. Over 90% of Indian farmers now use Bt Cotton. India has become the world’s largest producer of cotton, moving ahead of China. According to agriculture expert Ashok Gulati, India has gained US$ 67 billion in the years since from higher exports and import savings because of Bt Cotton. Most importantly, cotton farmers’ incomes have doubled.

Two, GMO crops have become standard across the world. Around 190 million hectares of GMO crops have been planted worldwide, and GMO foods are accepted in 67 countries. The humanitarian benefits have been massive: Golden Rice, a variety of rice packed with minerals and vitamins, has prevented blindness in countless new-born kids since it was introduced in the Philippines.

Three, despite the fear-mongering of some NGOs, whose existence depends on alarmism, the science behind GMO is settled. No harmful side effects have been noted in all these years, and millions of lives impacted positively. A couple of years ago, over 100 Nobel Laureates signed a petition asserting that GMO foods were safe, and blasting anti-science NGOs that stood in the way of progress. There is scientific consensus on this.

The science may be settled, but the politics is not. The government still bans some types of GMO seeds, such as Bt Brinjal, which was developed by an Indian company called Mahyco, and used successfully in Bangladesh. More crucially, a variety called HT Bt Cotton, which fights weeds, is also banned. Weeding takes up to 15% of a farmer’s time, and often makes farming unviable. Farmers across the world use this variant – 60% of global cotton crops are HT Bt. Indian farmers are so desperate for it that they choose to break the law and buy expensive seeds from the black market – but the government is cracking down. A farmer in Haryana had his crop destroyed by the government in May.

On June 10 this year, a farmer named Lalit Bahale in the Akola District of Maharashtra kicked off a satyagraha by planting banned seeds of HT Bt Cotton and Bt Brinjal. He was soon joined by thousands of farmers. Far from our urban eyes, a heroic fight has begun. Our farmers, already victimised and oppressed by a predatory government in countless ways, are fighting for their right to take charge of their lives.

As this brave struggle unfolds, I am left with a troubling question: All those satyagrahas of the past by our great freedom fighters, what were they for, if all they got us was independence and not freedom?

The India Uncut Blog © 2010 Amit Varma. All rights reserved.
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The production of solar energy by means of panels installed on small farmers’ properties or on the roofs of community organisations is starting to directly benefit more and more farmers in Chile. This energy enables technified irrigation systems, pumping water and lowering farmers’ bills by supporting their business. It also enables farmers’ cooperatives to share […]

Lolita Abril urged the CHR to conduct an independent investigation into the killing of her husband Ronel Abril and another coconut farmer Roger Clores last September 26. The two were allegedly killed by elements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2nd IB) in an “armed encounter.”

Days before Kristine (international name: Trami) developed into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Sea was warmer than usual. Under the warming climate, the typhoon-prone Bicol Region is more vulnerable with decimated forests. Both Camarines Sur and Albay saw a net loss of tree cover from 2000 to 2020, according to Global Forest Watch.

A former aid to Tony Blair has been criticised by the SNP after he said the Government "should do farmers what Thatcher did to the miners".

Farmers Insurance "We Know From Experience" Ad Campaign Spot

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Some farmers say studies suggest Paraquat could be a factor in the onset of Parkinson's Disease.

January 22, 2013 –A new research for development project was launched today by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), both members of the CGIAR Consortium (www.cgiar.org). Entitled ‘Livestock and Irrigation Value chains for Ethiopian Smallholders – LIVES’, it will directly support of the Government of Ethiopia’s effort to […]

The post Ethiopian farmers to get market boost first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Colombo, December 10, 2013. At the request of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), the Central Environmental Authority (CEA), in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), organized a stakeholder meeting to discuss improvements that can be made to the management of municipal waste in the City of Colombo. The meeting was held at the […]

The post CEA partners with IWMI to improve Colombo’s municipal waste management and farmers’ access to organic fertilizers first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Experts meet in Patna to discuss new initiative that could “future‐proof” one million smallholders.

The post Press Release: Space technology to help develop flood insurance for India’s farmers first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

International Water Management Institute (IWMI) launched a mobile app, called AgRISE, in support of a new national agricultural insurance scheme.

The post Press Release: Mobile phone app launched to strengthen new insurance scheme for India’s farmers first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Researchers at Africa Water Week call for efforts to “decolonize” and improve water permit systems, so more farmers are encouraged to invest in much-needed irrigation.

The post Press Release: Water rights for millions of African farmers threatened by law rooted in colonial times, study finds  first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Smallholder farmers are embracing climate-adaptive agriculture, innovations and partnerships.

The post Cultivating change: Sri Lanka’s smallholder farmers explore climate-resilient solutions first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The integration of groundwater-based irrigation systems with farmer-managed irrigation systems holds great potential, says IWMI researchers.

The post Making Nepali farmers happy first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The 'Resilience' project, implemented by IWMI, aims to enhance the adoption of efficient micro irrigation systems, including sprinklers and drip irrigation, among smallholder farmers in the Indian states of Odisha and Assam.

The post Save Water Save Money — Farmers In Odisha & Assam Benefit From Micro Irrigation Systems first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

IWMI and CIMMYT warn of changing climate patterns in South Africa.

The post Farmers urged to prepare for El Niño to trigger record-high temperatures first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

IWMI research shows that cocoa farmers in Ghana are interested in solar-powered irrigation pumps but face financial barriers. Policy changes and education are needed.

The post Cocoa farmers in Ghana show strong interest in solar-based irrigation, but pump costs are often too high first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

On top of its climate benefits, the technology is boosting women’s income and confidence while challenging traditional gender norms, writes IWMI's Tanmoy Bhaduri.

The post Solar pumps are empowering women farmers in India first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Smallholder farmers are embracing climate-adaptive agriculture, innovations and partnerships.

The post Cultivating change: Sri Lanka’s smallholder farmers explore climate-resilient solutions first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

IWMI commissioned this article following fieldwork conducted on the political economy of policy processes in India, under the CGIAR Initiative on National Policies and Strategies.

The post It takes a village: the Indian farmers who built a wall against drought first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

1. By the present petition, the petitioner challenges the proceedings in Complaint Case No. 476576/2016 filed by the respondent under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 ('NI Act').

2. The complaint was filed alleging that the petitioner and other co-accused persons, acting on behalf of the accused company namely M/s Fresco Foods Pvt. Ltd., entered into an agreement dated 12.03.2009 with the complainant whereby the respondent disbursed a sum of ₹1,60,00,000/- as a venture capital amount to the accused. This venture capital assistance was refundable upon the full repayment of the term loan. It is the case of the respondent that the accused undertook that in the event of the venture capital amount not being refunded on the same date as that of the repayment of the term loan from the bank, the same would attract interest at the same rate as that being charged by the bank for the term loan.

Their fields, and lives, are blooming, thanks to horticulture and improved farming techniques

Moringa honey is among the most popular varieties of floral nectar in the food sector. Farmer and beekeeper N Dhandayuthapani is one of those in the Cauvery delta reaping the benefit of combining apiary with agriculture

Farmers associated with as many as 16 farmer outfits from the States Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand would be participating

Reduced import duty on produce and relaxed norms will affect farmers and traders here, they say

The multi-state cooperative has so far earned Rs. 22 crore profit from April during the current financial year

Farmers are afraid to go to the fields because of sporadic firing by armed miscreants from higher grounds 

Farmers’ organisations say the MSP did not match the increase in input costs

Minister Carlos Fávaro offers transfer of technology to India to boost cooperative production

After dominating the region’s electoral stage for almost a decade, turmeric has lost its sheen; the PM’s announcement of a National Turmeric Board has not satisfied farmers, who also ask for MSP

On August 19, the Union government imposed a 40% duty on the export of onions until December 31,