I have been advocating a two pronged strategy to deal with monsoon behaviour, viz., maximising output during good years and minimising the impact of adverse monsoon.

“Collaboration in agriculture and food security is crucial to deal with climate change”, said Mr Jon Georg Dale, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Norway here today. Speaking at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation at a consultation on climate change, he said “Food security is top of the global agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Agriculture must be at the heart of development and we must use water and other resources sustainably.”

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has ‘Climate Change Ready Varieties’ of rice that can help provide additional resilience to the farmers” said Dr Matthew Morell, Director General, of the IRRI. Delivering the Millennium Lecture at M S Swaminathan Research Foundation on February 10, 2017, Dr Morell emphasized the importance of rice for consumption and for farmers. The climate-ready varieties could face adverse conditions of stress such as salinity, drought, flooding and heat.

The impact of recent oil spill in the Tamil Nadu coast is being examined by scientists for possible damage to marine biodiversity including micro-flora and fauna.

Prof M S Swaminathan was today presented with the Canadian Governor General’s Medallian “in recognition of his contribution to improved agricultural practices and rural development in India and globally”.

The incoming chair of Tata Sons Shri N Chandrasekaran has made the important remark that farming can generate useful ideas for business and industry (ToI, 4 Feb 2017).

India has the highest number of Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCC) to provide foreign researchers, access to India’s Biodiversity. These researchers need apply under provisions of the Biological Diversity Act (2002).

The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley today, moved forward on the ‘agri-budget’ focus reflected last year.

Keeping in view the problems faced by farm families, who comprise over 60% of our population, the Finance Minister has reiterated the Government’s resolve to help farmers double their income in another four years.

It is not enough to just talk about hunger and malnutrition, but it is important to show results on the field, Dr V Rajagopal, Founder of the Society for Hunger Elimination (SHE), Tirupati, said at a seminar held at MSSRF on Tuesday.

Today marks the 69th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s martyrdom. It also marks a day dedicated to Leprosy eradication.