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Agriculture/Energy

Agriculture and agro industries remain crucial to India's growing economy. Agriculture and allied sectors contribute nearly 22 per cent of GDP, while about 65-70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.
Thirty years ago, India saw a landmark "green revolution" that led to the introduction of new technologies and the high-yield variety of seeds, resulting in higher productivity and a dramatic improvement in the living standards of a large number of farmers.

Lahaul's seed potatoes now most lucrative for farmers

By Vishal Gulati

Cultivation of Himachal Pradesh's prized seed potato, grown in the cold deserts of the Lahaul Valley, is losing its charm but its returns have doubled this season compared to previous years, say agriculture experts.

Maharashtra farmers get climate smart with hi-tech weather alerts

By Sahana Ghosh

Farmers in Maharashtra are getting climate smart! Thanks to advanced technology they are now empowered to adapt to extreme climatic changes and accordingly plan their agricultural activities.

Reviving the rare 'kala cotton' of arid Kutch

By Shilpa Raina

Kala cotton, a rare species indigenous to the arid region of Kutch, was left in a forlorn state for financially better option of genetically-modified cotton varieties. But a British-based research project has helped in reviving this traditional craft, renewed the livelihood of many families and promises to make it global.

Riot of colour, fragrance in Kashmir's saffron fields

By Sheikh Qayoom

As saffron flowers bloom and farmers begin harvesting the royal spice, the fields in this south Kashmir town are a riot of colour and fragrance these days.

India gears up its waste-to-energy initiatives

By Sahana Ghosh

India is all set to convert its trash to treasure as it gears up, albeit a bit slowly, to strengthen its waste-to-energy sector and boost recycling and reuse - with one expert estimating the annual earnings from biofuel alone at Rs.50,000 crore ($11 billion).

Improved air conditioners can save India 60,000 MW

By Rajendra Shende

The India-US climate cooperation agreed to during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent summit meeting with President Barack Obama will also include a focus on improving the energy efficiency of air-conditioning in India, which has the potential to avoid as many as 120 large power plants of 500 MW each, and to help avoid brownouts and blackouts. More importantly, it has the potential to significantly reduce the import of fuel for power plants, thereby reducing the vexing issue of the current account deficit that the finance ministry and the new Reserve Bank of India governor are trying to tackle.

India-US-Africa agriculture training programme

A graduation ceremony in Jaipur marked the completion of the first training programme on agricultural marketing management under the India-US-Africa Triangular Training Program.

West Bengal to get world's first mangrove zoo

The world's first mangrove zoo, a specialised facility housing the fauna of the Sunderbans, is to open in West Bengal soon, an official said.

Parliament approves food security for 800 million Indians

Parliamentary approval was accorded to the landmark Food Security Bill, which gives right to subsidised grains to two-thirds of India's 1.2 billion population numbering around 800 million, the largest such scheme anywhere in the world.

Gujarat women script unique chapter in conservation

By Shudip Talukdar

Women foresters in Gujarat are scripting a unique chapter in conservation, keeping poachers and encroachers at bay with their soft skills and emotional bond with villagers.