/topics/food-and-nutrition
Food and Nutrition
Is zero budget natural farming the way forward?
Posted on 11 Jan, 2020 12:16 PMA recent study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water offers insights into Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) vis-à-vis its effect on the economics of agriculture in Andhra Pradesh.
![Alternative agriculture practice called zero-budget natural farming being popularised in Andhra Pradesh by Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Government of Andhra Pradesh (Image: Council on Energy, Environment and Water)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/zbnf2.jpg?itok=_QKh3VcG)
Water policy for rainfed areas
Posted on 10 Jan, 2020 12:12 PMA committee has been constituted to draft a new National Water Policy (NWP) and make key changes in the water governance structure and regulatory framework. It is chaired by Mihir Shah, who is a former Planning Commission member and a water expert. The committee is expected to produce a report within six months.
![Public investments on water in rainfed areas have much higher social rate of returns (Image: Kannan, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/kannan-paddy.jpg?itok=k_T485Ip)
Junk food red alert
Posted on 29 Dec, 2019 12:50 PMA new study by the Centre for Science and Environment has exposed that levels of salt and fat in junk food is far higher than proposed thresholds in the country.
![The study by CSE underlines the need to regulate bad food (Image: Ankur Gulati, Flickr Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/junk_food.jpg?itok=_-FqFGvA)
Trading in virtual water
Posted on 13 Dec, 2019 09:12 AMThe recent trade war between the United States and China was, among other things, about virtual water - the hidden water in products. Producing anything, whether it is soyabean or clothes, uses water, and has a water footprint.
![A farmer uses a hosepipe to irrigate crops at her farm in Nilgiris mountains, Tamil Nadu (Image: Hamish John Appleby for IWMI, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/farmer-crop-irrigation.jpg?itok=DDYpBxSG)
Replacing rice will improve India’s climate resilience
Posted on 11 Dec, 2019 11:50 AMA new study finds that introducing coarse cereals such as millet and sorghum could improve India’s national food supply in many ways.
![Rice field in Karnataka (Image: Guldem Ustun, Flickr Commons, CC BY 2.0)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/rice-karnataka.jpg?itok=wdupTeYL)
How farm ponds in Madhya Pradesh are building agricultural resilience
Posted on 24 Oct, 2019 12:33 PMMadhya Pradesh, promoted as 'The Heart of India' by the state's tourism board is aptly named so because of its central location. The campaign made me keen to visit the state, for the last many years.
![A farm pond constructed by Sheshrao Dhurve in Karaghat Kamti village of Madhya Pradesh](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/sheshrao_farmpond.jpg?itok=ivphWGF7)
From droughts to floods: India’s tryst with climate extremes
Posted on 01 Oct, 2019 11:54 AMIndia has witnessed extreme weather conditions this year. While parts of the north and south have battled drought like conditions this summer, the northeast and western coastal areas witnessed heavy rains and floods.
![Water talk Series at Mumbai (Image Source:Tata Insitute of Social Sciences)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/water_talk_series1.jpg?itok=cs3tu1tn)
The Water Future Conference in Bangalore: Towards a Sustainable Water Future
Posted on 30 Sep, 2019 12:38 PMThe Water Future Conference in Bangalore last week, saw many from the scientific community, academia, research, civil society and the media come together to discuss the state of water resources across the world and in India, as well as future pathways and scenarios, and different technological a
![Charles Vorosmarty, Chair, COMPASS Initiative, Water Future at the opening plenary on advanced water system assessments to address water security challenges of the 21st century.](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/img_7269.jpeg?itok=y8Th5XHv)
Return of the pearl millet
Posted on 28 Sep, 2019 01:46 PMPandutalav, a small quiet village nestled in the dry teak forests in the tribal pocket in Dewas boasts an authentic rural way of life. This little dot on the map is known for its attempts to introduce indigenous varieties of crops, in particular pearl millet these days.
![This variety of bajra has extended whiskers on its seeds when on the plant. This prevented the birds from eating it. Growing bajra in Pandutalav became possible only when Majlis could lay its hands on this variety. (Image: Majlis)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/bajra.jpg?itok=pntS2Nlu)
Farm ponds change farmers’ fortunes
Posted on 13 Sep, 2019 01:09 PMWhile enhanced irrigation coverage has been hailed as an important way to improve agricultural productivity, it continues to lag behind in India and agriculture continues to be rainfed, subject to the vagaries of the monsoon.
![Farm ponds are one way to deal with water scarcity (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/valni.jpg?itok=qUS5qmpw)