agriculture
-
The farm looks peaceful at sunrise, but beneath the leaves, a silent war rages. Some wear red spots. Ladybirds and wasps are out there, hunting pests with an efficiency no chemical can match. Why Not All Insects Are the Enemy One random day in our Entomology practical class, we went for insect collection in the Read more
-
Ever noticed how rainwater seems calmer when it follows the natural curves of the land instead of rushing straight downhill? It’s almost like the earth knows how to guide water gently if we let it. That’s the quiet wisdom behind contour farming a practice that not only protects soil and water but also gives us Read more
-
Ever noticed how a simple mud ridge at the edge of a field can decide whether crops thrive or wither? At first glance, these soil bunds look ordinary just low earthen walls drawn across slopes. But in reality, they are quiet climate warriors. Across India, bunding has been shown to reduce runoff by 40–60% and Read more
-
Ever noticed how a cup of tea tastes different when you squeeze in too much lemon? That sharp sourness isn’t just in your mug it’s quietly creeping into our soils too. And the culprit? Climate change. Why Soil Turns Acidic When we talk about climate change, we usually picture melting ice caps or rising seas. Read more
-
Ever noticed how a field can look drenched, yet the plants still thirst? Sunlight pulls water into the air, streams carry it away, and only a fraction reaches the roots. Imagine if every drop could travel straight to the spot where life begins the root itself. The Origins of Drip Irrigation The story begins in Read more
-
During a lecture, my professor casually dropped the phrase: “Precision farming is like using GPS for soil.” At first, I thought he was joking. Soil? With GPS? Broo, that image stuck in my head. I mean, we track Uber rides with pinpoint accuracy but still throw fertilizer across fields like it’s confetti. So I did Read more
-
What Are Mycorrhizal Fungi? Let’s break it down simply. Mycorrhizal fungi are microscopic soil organisms that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They basically extend the plant’s root system using fungal filaments called hyphae, which act like nutrient highways running through the soil. In return for sugar from the plant, these fungi help deliver: Read more
-
One day, during our Agricultural Heritage course, we had an objective-type question. Among all the options, one word caught my eye Vrikshayurveda. I had never really paid attention to it before, but for some reason, it hit me differently that day. Out of curiosity (and habit), I did what I always do went deeper and Read more
-
I was deep into mid-exam prep, flipping through my Crop Production notes the usual stuff on cereals, pulses, cropping systems. Then I came across a section titled “Ratooning in Sugarcane.” I stopped. Hold on. Farmers can grow a second sugarcane crop without even replanting? That line hit me. Not just because it was part of Read more
-
Last week, my mom signed up for a Mandala art course online. After her workshop, I casually asked, “What did you learn, Mummy?” She smiled and said, “We did a few circles, dots, petals… it felt nice. But Mandala isn’t just drawing it’s a kind of therapy.” Then she added something unexpected: “It’s also used Read more
-
A few days ago, I was watching a startup pitch show where a young student presented a climate-resilient agri-startup. It wasn’t some high-tech, buzzword-heavy thin it was simple, smart, and rooted in solving real problems for farmers. That moment made me pause. Since then, I’ve seen YouTube videos of students composting on balconies, growing food Read more
-
One question that’s been quietly sitting in the back of my mind, popping up during lectures, field visits, even while eating lunch… Can organic farming really feed the world in a warming future? It’s not just an academic thought. Every time I hear someone say “organic is the future” or see big, bold labels in Read more
-
Let me start with a quick scene: Imagine you’re standing on a rooftop in peak May. It’s 46°C. Your phone says “feels like 51.” The sky looks like a blur. You step back inside and think Is this it? Is this our future? We’re all feeling the heat, literally and emotionally. And when things get Read more
-
In recent years, farming has landed on the frontlines of climate chaos. Heatwaves scorch fields. Droughts empty wells. And when the skies finally open, it’s often a deluge washing away topsoil, and with it, the hopes of farmers. These aren’t one-off events anymore. They’re patterns. Industrial agriculture once hailed as the path to food security Read more
-
One day, I was casually scrolling through my Google feed when I saw a headline: “International Millets Day Celebrated Worldwide” And my first reaction? What? Millets Day? That’s a thing now? Out of curiosity, I tapped the article. It said the UN had declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets, with India playing a Read more
-
If you had to name one plant that could survive in a wasteland with blazing sun, cracked soil, and barely a drop of water aloe vera would be it. It doesn’t just survive harsh conditions. It thrives in them. That’s partly because aloe vera belongs to a unique group of plants known as CAM plants Read more
-
A few months ago, I was growing fenugreek in my college field. Every morning, I’d check the plants bright green leaves stretching out, that faint methi aroma in the air, soil still moist from last night’s watering. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching a seed turn into something edible. I’d pluck a few leaves, crush Read more
-
It was one of those bus ride back from college the kind where the road feels endless, and my thoughts start drifting like clouds over the fields outside. I had just slipped into my usual window seat, the breeze nudging through the open pane. I wasn’t in the mood for music. My mind was busy Read more
-
This week we went on an educational visit to CRIDA – the Central Research Institute for Dry-land Agriculture as a part of our course work from Seed Technology and Crop Production. It was about 2-hours drive from our college and we traveled together in our college bus. As soon as we arrived and stepped off Read more
-
Plant-Fungal Communication, VOC Signaling, and Biosensors in Organic Agriculture One day, while flipping through pages in our college library, a strange phrase caught my eye “Wood-Wide Web.” It sounded like a typo. But as I read on, I realized it referred to an underground fungal network that connects plant roots like nature’s own version of Read more
-
It started as just another late-night deep dive. I was messing around with AI tools like ChatGPT, exploring one of my all-time favorite topics organic farming. I’ve always been fascinated by how nature can heal itself if we just step back and let it. While skimming through a few articles and research papers, one term Read more
-
Until a few months ago, I believed soil was non-negotiable when it came to growing plants. No soil? No farming. Period. Then one day, my maternal uncle sent me a reel. It showed rows of leafy greens lettuce, spinach thriving in a setup with no soil at all. Just water, pipes, and some high-tech looking Read more
-
A few weeks ago, I attended a hydroponic farming workshop about an hour from home. The setup looked like science fiction: neat rows of lettuce, no soil in sight, roots dangling in nutrient-rich water. Halfway through, I raised my hand and asked the question bugging me: “Is this considered organic?” The trainer paused, smiled awkwardly, Read more
-
Last week in the college library, I stumbled on a book titled Climate Change and Food Security. One chapter was about nutrient cycles nothing unusual until a single line made me pause: “Thunderstorms help in fixing atmospheric nitrogen into the soil functioning as a natural fertilizer.” Wait. What? I’d studied microbial nitrogen fixation. I’d memorized Read more
-
It started with a small act of rebellion. I walked into class 14 minutes late after lunch, and my lecturer let’s call Alexa refused to let me in. For a second I stood there thinking, “Fine. Who needs this class anyway?” Now, truth be told, I wasn’t just sulking. A few days earlier, I had Read more
-
An ancient idea, modern science, and a spark of curiosity that’s how I discovered biochar, and why I believe it might change farming in India. The Corridor Question That Sparked It All First semester of B.Sc. Agriculture, subject: Agricultural Heritage. Our professor was wrapping up a lecture on plant nutrients when one word made me Read more
-
I’m a full-time coffee addict. Two to three mugs a day, every day. Mornings are cappuccino time espresso shot, steamed milk, a touch of sugar. Afternoons, it’s cold brew or French press, depending on mood. I brew it all at home with my Agaro manual machine. Grinding, tamping, locking in the portafilter I love the Read more
-
I was 19 when mum sent me to buy 1 kg of tomatoes. Simple task, nothing big. Back then, I already “knew” organic food was better chemical-free, healthier, kinder to the soil. But honestly? I didn’t really understand what that meant beyond a few textbook lines. At the store, I stood staring at two baskets. Read more
-
Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention acid rain and how it’s quietly weakening the very soil we depend on. As an agriculture student, this isn’t just theory for me. Healthy soil is farming’s backbone, and without it, food security becomes a guessing game. What’s the Deal with Acid Rain? Think of acid Read more
-
I was scrolling through my phone one evening when I stumbled upon a short clip: a farmer in Maharashtra explaining how an AI-powered weather advisory had saved his cotton crop from unseasonal rains. It struck me the same technology that drives global industries is now guiding decisions in small village fields. For farmers standing at Read more
