Migratory beekeepers sweeten Assam’s honey production
As the sun set on the distant horizon of Borsapori village in Assam's Numaligarh area, Leela Charan Dutta and his five associates were busy packing hundreds of wooden boxes. As…
Mongabay series: Climate Innovations
If the Green Revolution rode on the strength of chemicals derived mainly from fossil fuels, now there is a shift in the thinking on how agriculture is being done in India, with a thrust on growing indigenous crop varieties and following natural farming practices. In the industrial sector, with initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, there has been growth and innovation in the medium and small enterprises (MSME) sector.
In both these sectors, individuals, collectives and communities have been innovating and finding ways of working in tune with nature, with minimum damage to the environment and climate.
With so much knowledge being generated in disparate fields, we would like to use effective storytelling as means to bring the knowledge and innovations to the larger public.
Tender coconut waste proves to be a tough nut to crack
Udaiveer Singh has been running a tender coconut stall in Nangal, a city in Punjab, for six years now. He buys 1,200 coconut pieces every six days from an agent…
Technologies to decrease food loss and increase farmer incomes
This story is Part 3 of a three-part series about the advances in agricultural technology in India. It discusses the agricultural technologies in the post-harvest stage. Part 1 and Part…
Indoor saffron farming offers hope amidst declining saffron production
Abdul Majeed Wani, a seasoned farmer from Shaar-i-Shalli village in Pampore town in South Kashmir, knows the art of preserving saffron corms (saffron bulbs). He is saving them for his…
Revolutionising dairy farming with hydroponic fodder amidst a fodder shortage
On a sweltering April afternoon, Mahesh S., a 28-year-old dairy farmer from Kempanapalya village in Karnataka, lifts a damp jute bag covering a green plastic tub lying in a corner…
Farming with AI and drones to increase yields, manage resources and reduce pests
This story is Part 2 of a three-part series about the advances in agricultural technology in India. It discusses the commonly used agricultural technologies in the crop growth stage. Part…
Experimenting with shed design to reduce heat stress in livestock, poultry
On a hot summer day in 2020, Savitri Bhanse went to tend to her chickens in her small backyard farm. But her ordinary routine of checking and feeding her chickens…
[Video] Maize takes centre stage as Bihar ramps up biofuel production
Years after Bihar banned alcohol, its active ingredient, ethanol, is finding a fresh use. The central government has approved 47 ethanol plants in the state, of which at least 32…
Wheeling towards sustainable pottery making in Khurja
Fifty-year-old Sayeed Ahamed’s approach to shaping clay diverges from the conventional method employed by most traditional potters. Instead of relying on his hand's motion to sculpt, he adopts a distinctive…
Developing cutting-edge technology for climate-sensitive agriculture
This three-part series reports the advances in agricultural technology in India. Part 1 discusses the emerging technologies in the pre-sowing stage. Part 2 and Part 3 throw light on the…
Unlocking sustainable ways to manufacture locks
On a typical Monday morning, 47-year-old Sajid Ali, a third-generation artisan from Aligarh, meticulously feeds steel sheets into a roller, which flattens them further getting them ready for the subsequent…
Converting pine needles from a fire risk into a livelihood opportunity
As the first rays of the spring sun touch the tall chir pine trees (Pinus roxburgii) in the dense forests of Sunderbani in Jammu, residents living near the jungle, also…
Kachchh potters fired up for change with improved kilns
An initiative introducing energy-efficient kilns to traditional potters in Kachchh, Gujarat, reduces firing time and firewood requirement, addressing concerns of energy-intensive pottery-making while benefiting both artisans and the environment. Pottery…
Crop covers shield delicate grapes from unexpected weather changes
On November 26, 2023, Nashik district in Maharashtra faced severe unseasonal rain and hailstorm. The onslaught was so intense that a white blanket of hail covered fields, causing damage to…
Crafting a sustainable future for artisans using bamboo
At a young age, Jyotsana Devnath embarked on a journey in Braj Nagar, West Tripura, where she was married and became a part of a family known for their livelihood…
Government support and investor interest in agritech could boost India’s farming sector
Government initiatives over the past decade are accelerating the use of technology and innovation in the agriculture sector, with significant funding and potential job creation, despite challenges such as limited…
Stitching sustainability amidst climate change challenges
Sajida Sheikh’s job is to stitch wads of raw fabric that come for dyeing at Gujarat ECO Textile Park, a textile cluster at Palsana, in Gujarat’s Surat district. For 17…
Brokpas bank on yak milk products to sustain traditional livelihood
The marketplaces in Arunachal Pradesh are brimming with an array of local delights, including seasonal kiwis, persimmons, nuts, etc. What’s most captivating to the waves of tourists flocking into the…
Special series
Wetland Champions
- [Commentary] India establishes the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia
- [Commentary] Wetland champions: Promise from the grassroots
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
Environment And Health
- Marine plastic pollution is not just a waste problem; reducing production is needed too
- Stitching sustainability amidst climate change challenges
- Gujarat bans exotic Conocarpus tree amid health and environment hazard
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes shift homes from forests to rice fields
India's Iconic Landscapes
- [Commentary] Complexities of freshwater availability and tourism growth in Lakshadweep
- Majuli’s shrinking wetlands and their fight for survival
- Saving India’s wild ‘unicorns’
- Indrella ampulla’s genetic tapestry unveils colour morphs isolated across the Palghat Gap
Beyond Protected Areas
- [Commentary] Indigenous traditions honour muggers amidst modern challenges
- The curious case of a frog and a fungus
- Wildlife rescue operations in Kashmir face an uphill battle with rising human-wildife conflict
- Pathogens find new pathways as agriculture, deforestation intensify
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Rising temperatures alter insect-crop interactions and impact agricultural productivity
- Pricey guests: Urban invasive species cost the world billions every year
- [Commentary] GROW with agroforestry, a step towards sustainable land management
- Millet tradition loses flavour among Madhya Pradesh’s tribals
Just Transitions
- [Interview] “This is in honour of adivasis fighting for their land, water, forest,” says Goldman Prize winner Alok Shukla
- How unplanned coal mine closures in India are affecting dependent communities, especially women
- Green Credit Scheme’s ‘methodology’ doesn’t inspire confidence among experts
- Conflict over critical mineral prospecting in Odisha signals need for better community involvement
