Today (23 March 2016) is World Meteorological Day.

Today (22 March 2016) is observed as the World Water Day. The importance of water in all aspects of human life needs hardly any elaboration. In our country, inter-state water conflicts are growing.

MSSRF had initiated ‘Custom Hiring Centres of Farm Implements’ in three villages in Vidarbha in 2012. MSSRF’s experience with respect to the functioning of these centres indicates the enormous reach of the centres to the most marginalized sections of the village community.

Today (21 March 2016) is the International Day of Forests. This is to remind us of the critical role played by forests in climate regulation, protection of hydrologic cycles, conservation of biodiversity and provision of a wide range of minor forest produce which protect the lives and livelihoods of tribal and other forest dwellers.

Myanmar is the last country in the old British Empire to take to the democratic pathway of governance.

A recent article in Down to Earth (1-15 March 2016) has described the serious malnutrition prevailing in several parts of Maharashtra, particularly Amaravati district.

Dr Jose Graziano Da Silva, DG of FAO has recently warned that achieving the zero hunger target is a challenging task and that the battle for eliminating hunger is far from over. This is a timely warning since there is complacency in the food production and consumption areas.

Pulses are the dried edible seeds of cultivated legumes and belong to the family of peas, beans and lentils. The protection of stored agricultural products against insect attack is essential for safe and steady supply of high quality food. Insect damage and pulses may amount to 10-40% of the stored grain.

On the occasion of the International Women’s Day, it will be appropriate to remind ourselves of the significant contributions being made by women to our nation’s food and nutrition security. Over 60 % of all agricultural work is done by women.

“Disasters halt progress and are a hurdle to socio economic development of nations,” said Tamil Nadu Governor, Dr. K. Rosaiah during the release of the book “Disaster Management in India: Evolution of Institutional Arrangements and Operational Strategies” authored by Dr. Mohan Kanda IAS, former member of the National Disaster Management Authority.

Doubts have been rightly expressed about our ability to double the income of farmers in five years as proposed by the Finance Minister. In my view, doubling is possible because of the vast untapped yield and income reservoir prevailing in our major farming systems.

MSSRF is organizing a meeting to commemorate the 2016 International Women’s Day on 7th March 2016.