The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved more pro-farmer initiatives ahead of the 2019 general elections. The government will have a new umbrella scheme that will also allow private players to procure crop produce at remunerative prices.

New Delhi, Aug 31 (IANS/Mongabay) It took the best scientific minds from 20 nations, including India, to scale what is considered as the "Mt. Everest of the genome world".

Mumbai, Aug 29 (IANS/Mongaday) On August 10, when Sanjay Rathod walked to his lush cotton field in Lasina village in Yavatmal, Maharashtra, he noticed some closed yellow flowers. Opening them, he found to his horror the tiny larvae of the pink bollworm. He shared a photo with other farmers on Whatsapp groups and immediately got a response on what pesticides he should use. Accordingly, he sprayed an insecticide Larvin and some neem spray. They didnt have any effect. He is now terrified of a repeat of last year when he lost half the cotton on his six acres of land, to the pink bollworm menace.

Taking serious note of massive deficits in crop loan targets, a Maharashtra farm panel on Tuesday warned banks that if any farmer commits suicide, the concerned officer shall be charged with 'culpable homicide'.

Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday turned into a farmer to sow seeds for a bumper paddy crop at a farm at Aralakuppe village in Mandya district, about 100 km from here.

The Karnataka government would waive additional crop loans to the tune of Rs 9,448 crore borrowed from the state cooperative banks by farmers till July 10, said an official on Friday.

Karnataka on Thursday launched a pilot project using drones for providing better governance, primarily in agriculture, urban development and police civic operations.

Strong winds, heavy rains threw life out of gear in Telangana. At least five people have been reported dead and a crop loss of over Rs 100 crores in the destruction.

Researchers in Australia have found a way to increase wheat production by up to three times through their "speed breeding" procedures inspired by NASA experiments to grow the crop in space.

With Delhi's air quality severe since the last four days, the NGT on Friday rapped the governments of Delhi and neighbouring states, saying "you've earned Delhi the title of the worst capital in the world" and ordered them to ensure an end to stubble burning.