Science communication is becoming very important in democratic societies where important decisions particularly in the resource allocation area are taken by duly elected bodies.

Prof M S Swaminathan received the Doctorate of Science (Honoris Causa) awarded by the Panjab University in Chandigarh from the President of India on 14th March, this year at Chandigarh. The other noted persons who received their honorary doctorates at the 64th convocation included noted mathematician Dr Manjul Bhargava and Nobel Laureate, Shri Kailash Satyarthi.

National Training Programme on “Agrobiodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Livelihoods and need for Adaptation to Climate Change” for Scientists and Technologists in the Government Sector from 21-25 September,2015 at Chennai with the support of DST (Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi).

According to recent NSS data (2011-12) only one in 10 adults receive training under the Skill India Mission.

July 14th is being observed as US Ecological Deficit Day. The aim of this programme is to create awareness of the need to strike a balance between the growing per capita human needs for food, water, land and jobs and the capacity of ecosystem services to meet them.

A recent media report indicates that the acreage under Ragi and millets is likely to go up substantially in Karnataka as well as in several other states. Remunerative pricing and effective procurement are the keys to revive interest in such crops.

The target date for achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals will end this year. The first goal is reducing poverty and hunger by half.

On the occasion of the World Earth Day our basic task is the conservation of diversity and pluralism in all living organisms ranging from microbes to man.

2015 is the International Year of the Soil and the week 19-23 April is being commemorated as the Global Soil Week. 

The changes in weather patterns and the manner in which they have affected agriculture in recent days, has raised several concerns about managing unseasonal weather, especially in the context of food security. In order to anticipate and plan for the days ahead Prof .M S Swaminathan has suggested four steps that could be adopted to prepare for different rain possibilities. The text of the statement follows:

I am glad the Kerala Government has announced a new gender policy with focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. More than 50% of women are involved in activities connected with crop and animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, agro-processing and agribusiness.

Public procurement at a remunerative price has been a key factor in stimulating and sustaining farm production. Inspite of NCF recommendation that the MSP should be C2 plus 50%, there is a trend towards reducing MSP to below economic level.