Clarifying the Distinction and the Journey Ahead Natural farming in India stands at a fascinating moment of transformation—born from traditional wisdom, grounded in ecological truths, and now increasingly intersecting with modern scientific inquiry. In this transition, two terms frequently surface: science-based and
Read More
Agriculture today stands at a turning point. Fields across the world face the pressures of declining soil fertility, erratic rainfall, rising input costs, and shrinking biodiversity. Farmers confront these challenges daily, often with fewer resources and growing risks. Yet beneath this uncertainty
Read More
Introduction Agrarian distress has been a persistent challenge in India, with stagnating farm incomes and rising farmer indebtedness in recent decades. In response, policymakers have increasingly turned to direct income support (DIS) schemes for farmers. Unlike traditional subsidies or loan waivers, these
Read More
After nearly 20 years of debate, court battles, seed failures, and rising input costs, India’s seed legislation is once again at a crossroads with the release of the Draft Seeds Bill 2025. The first national draft appeared in 2004, resurfaced in 2019,
Read More
1. Background: FPOs and Cooperatives in India Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and cooperatives are collective enterprises of small and marginal farmers that seek to improve their bargaining power, lower transaction costs, and strengthen their access to markets, credit, and technology. 2. Income
Read More
Introduction: The Promise and the Paradox India today hosts one of the largest organic farming networks in the world — with over 2.8 million hectares under certified organic cultivation and nearly 45 lakh farmers involved. Yet, despite these achievements, our certification systems
Read More
1. The Growing Challenge Rice sustains more than half of the world’s population and is a cornerstone of food security. Yet, as climate extremes intensify and input-intensive farming expands, an old agronomic challenge has re-emerged: lodging — the bending or collapse of
Read More
With India’s current recorded food grain production and the latest population, it is possible for the country to broadly meet the recommended dietary intake set by ICMR for every individual, but distribution challenges, food diversity, and nutrition quality gaps still pose risks
Read More
Reductionism in science and the belief systems of religion are significantly shape the course of Indian agriculture, often fueling polarized narratives that impact policy and farm-level practice. This is happening in a context where farming and food systems are facing significant challenges
Read More
Across sectors—business, nonprofits, academia, and grassroots movements—the same tragedy unfolds. Founders ignite with vision, courage, and the willingness to risk everything. Funders arrive with resources, but their money comes tied to demands, conditions, and control. Slowly, the founder’s dream is reshaped to
Read More
Recent Comments