There is now widespread concern on the prevailing high rate of food inflation. Inflation in vegetable prices is particularly high, rising to 12.9% in May from 2.2% in April. Obviously this will further aggravate the problem of malnutrition, highlighted recently by the Global Nutrition Report.

The occurrence of widespread malnutrition, particularly amongst women and children, is a cause for concern.

The World Ocean Day was recently celebrated. 97% of the world's water comes from oceans and in view of the growing inland water scarcity, sea water will play a major role in food and livelihood security. there is also the danger of sea level rise from climate change.

The Telangana Government deserves appreciation on launching ‘Mission Kakatiya’ for desilting tanks and reservoirs in order to increase rain water harvesting and holding capacity.

Today All India Radio completes 80 years of service to the country. I recall when I was young, All India Radio was the source of cricket and other important commentaries. Commentators like Melville De Mello became household names.

Even as results of various Board exams were declared, MSSRF’s Village Resource Centre (VRC) Pudukkottai offered career guidance to students who passed Class XII examinations.

Following the UN Conference on the human environment held in Stockholm in 1972, June 5 of every year is observed as a World Environment Day.

Considering the fact that a majority of population of Afghanistan are farmers, India offered assistance in the following two areas: 1) establishment of Afghan National Agricultural Science and Technology University (ANASTU); and 2) genetic garden of Afghanistan to preserve for posterity a representative sample of the genetic diversity in major crops and economic plants.

There are reports that we will be importing fairly large quantities of wheat to meet the demand – supply gap. We have also food security legislation which provides a legal right to most citizens of the country for a certain amount of wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, etc.

A recent news item mentions that Bayer’s 62 billion dollars all cash offer to buy Monsanto has implications for seed research and development in our and other developing countries.

22nd May is commemorated every year as the International Day of Biodiversity. This is because of the importance of biodiversity in every aspect of human life and wellbeing. MSSRF has chosen the area of community conservation of agrobiodiversity for special attention.

Declining Sex Ratio - A matter for deep concern: Prof M S Swaminathan