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When we picture a farmer in India, the image is almost always of a man standing tall in a field, sickle in hand, tilling the soil. But the reality shows a different picture. According to the National Sample Survey data , 80% of economically active women in India are employed in agriculture sector. Yet their role in agriculture largely remains invisible and policies rarely take them into account. These women work on their family land, as daily wage labourers, and in looking a

On May 4th, 2025, the Government of India announced the release of two new rice varieties : Kamala and Pusa DST Rice 1. These were not bred by conventional methods but were developed using gene-editing, a powerful technology that alters the DNA of living things in a lab What is Gene Editing? Why Should You Worry? Gene editing is a set of laboratory techniques that allow scientists to make supposedly 'minor’ changes to the DNA of a plant or animal. One popular tool is called C

​ICAR is an autonomous body public body under Ministry of Agriculture. It is the largest network of agriculture research and educational institutions in the world. The Council is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country. With 113 ICAR institutes and 74 agricultural universities spread across the country this is one of the largest national agricultural

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), commonly known as the Plant Treaty or the Seed Treaty, is an international, legally binding instrument with 154 States as member countries (referred to as Contracting Parties). It was adopted under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 2001 and entered into force in 2004. The primary goals of the Seed Treaty (Treaty), are said to be in harmony w

Non communicable diseases(NCD) such as heart disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes are the major diseases leading death worldwide.  NCDs kill approximately 41 million people (71% of global deaths) worldwide each year, including 14 million people who die too young between the ages of 30 and 70. India is experiencing a rapid health transition with a rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) surpassing the burden of communicable diseases like water-bo

Agriculture is the backbone of many economies around the world. It provides food, jobs, and income for millions of people. However, farmers often face numerous challenges that can hinder their productivity and sustainability. This is where policy comes into play. Effective agricultural policies can empower farmers, ensuring they have the resources and support they need to thrive. In this blog post, we will explore the critical role of policy in agriculture, how it can empower

Richhariya, was an agri-scientist who served as a Chief Scientist under the Government of India for decades. He estimated that India in 1950s, had more 200,000 varieties of Traditional Paddy Seeds. These heirloom Traditional paddy seeds were carefully breeded by Indian farmers for over thousands of years, each variety having its own unique characteristic features. At a rate of 3 unique traditional rice per day, it would take 183 years to taste every traditional rice of India.

Karuppu Kavuni rice also known as Forbidden rice is widely known for its medicinal properties and its health benefits. It is a traditional rice variety of Tamil nadu cultivated for many generations. Karupu kavuni has been very helpful in treating cancer patients in inflamation. This indigenous rice is rich in essential nutrients needed by the human body, as is the case with all indigenous rice varieties. However, today, nearly all rice consumed is hybrid rice. These hybrid va

Food is meant to nourish our bodies, but for many, it has become a source of concern. A recent study revealed that over 50% of food...

A Paddy Grain The Hidden Power of Rice Bran: Why It Matters ? When we think of rice, we often picture a steaming bowl of fluffy white grains—a global staple and comfort food for billions. But there's more to rice than meets the eye. Hidden in the layers removed during processing is one of rice’s most nutritious components: the Bran . What Is Rice Bran Rice bran  is the outer layer of the rice grain that is removed during the milling process to produce white rice . It includes

A Research done by Clinical Psychologist Dr.Julia Rucklidge , University of Canterbury, New Zealand , says that Mental health is directly related to nutritional intake. Her research shows increase in nutritional intake not only helps to cure mental illness like depression, ADHD(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), autism, bipolar disorder but also act as a prevention measure for many mental health disorders. It has been proven that high nutritional intake was very effec

In Indigenous paddy farming, harvest is a big celebration particularly in Tamil culture. In Pre-colonial era i.e before British left India, majority of India's people dwelled in villages and their major occupation was agriculture. Whole village functioned as a community. When the harvest is over, the people carry paddy to a common place. Its called "kaalathu medu". There everyone from farmer, to carpernter, to farm labour to people who work on maintaining water bodies and oth