By T N Jha Vegetable export: Kaimur Bihar, of late, has been the focal point of national debate, inflamed largely by the political heat generated by MNS led tirade against Bihari immigrants in Mumbai. This seems to be gaining and becoming pan-Indian, as, reportedly, in other parts of the country as well, the non-acceptance of Bihari workers is getting further momentum. This, on the flick side of it, has certainly aroused Bihari sentiments and sub- nationalism across all those living in or out of Bihar, which historically remained, more as a sequel to colonial legacies, deeply divided and... 

  global warming: time for alarm! Varanasi: In view of the rampant weather change and risk factors involved with it in south Asian countries, researchers at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are contributing in implementation of the Thimpu Statement on Climate Change in collaboration with United Nations office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and SAARC Disaster Management Centre (SDMC). RK Mall of Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development, BHU has been given a task to prepare a comprehensive study of the policy, institutional landscape and resource allocation for climate... 

  By Dr. T. N. Jha      Agriculture: a mainstay! Needless to emphasize, the foodgrain production in India has recorded impressive increase from a mere 82.0 million tones in early sixties to 218.0 million tons in 2009-10. With favourable and even spread of south-west monsoon, it is expected to reach all time high of around 231.0 million tons in 2010-11. This is often taken to argue, both in the academic and policy circles that India has overcome the problem of chronic food shortages, as it used to be the case till late sixties and become self-sufficient to meet its domestic foodgrain demand.... 

  Kalahandi: from starvation to record produce! Bhubaneswar: Kalahandi for decades has stood for starvation and utter poverty. But the image needs to be modified now in the light of some new facts. Odisha’s Kalahandi district — once the cause of global embarrassment for India due to its high number of starvation deaths — today stands tall with a five-fold increase in its rice production since 1999, figures reveal. The agriculture ministry’s recent crop data ranks Kalahandi among the top 25 rice producing districts of India. The three-year average of its rice production ending 2010-11... 

by Ratnakar Tripathy Why agricultural productivity remains low in Bihar is by itself a clichéd question carrying an air of obviousness. The big landlord is either dormant or has better things to do than agriculture, a job in Patna for example. His sharecroppers are too uncertain about their land-holdings to invest seriously. When they are willing, they don’t have the knowhow or the resources. Those willing may also have too small a piece of land to take a risk or make a difference. In brief, it’s a vicious circle that no land reform based on redistribution may be able to solve. To put it... 

  Lychee: More than meets the eye! Patna: often with diseases and other phenomena, when a strong statistical correlation is found, it’s time to look deeper into the matter. Earlier, Muzaffarpur reminded everyone of Lychees, but these days, it has become associated with the killer disease of encephalitis. So the question is – is there a correlation between the heavenly fruit and the diabolical disease? Thus a team of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), New Delhi, has flown down to Bihar amidst reports that three children, suspected to have been afflicted with acute... 

    From Mandi to market! Ahmadabad: Seven IIM-A students are set to replicate the “Amul model” in the agri-belt of Bihar as part of their summer internship during which they will work for Bihar’s rural livelihood initiative Jeevika for eight weeks. “As in ‘Amul model’ where dairy farmers go and provide milk to collection centres, we have proposed common procurement centres at the village level where farmers can give their for agricultural produce. They can then be stocked at a district procurement centre, which will have a cold storage facility run by... 

  Uncovering unpleasant truths: means transfer! Chandigarh: The Haryana government Thursday transferred for the second time in six months senior IAS officer Ashok Khemka —- the man who stirred a political storm alleging irregularities in land deals involving UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra and private realty giant DLF. Khemka, at present Managing Director, Haryana Seeds Development Corporation (HSDC), has been posted as Secretary, Haryana Archives relieving Vikas Yadav of the charge. This is the 44th transfer posting of Khemka in his 22-year career. While no... 

    Nalanda: Record breaking potatoes Patna: Bihar’s farmers have done it again. A farmer from Sohdih village of Bihar’s Nalanda district has set a new world record in potato production through organic farming this year. The potato farmer, Rakesh Kumar, has harvested 108.8 tonnes of potato per hectare and set a new world record in potato production, Nalanda district magistrate Sanjay Kumar Agrawal said on Monday. Last year, a farmer of Darveshpura village in Nalanda had set a world record in potato production through organic farming. “Rakesh Kumar has created a new... 

  Power situation: looking up? Patna:  Bihar’s power supply situation is set for major improvement beginning the coming fiscal. The State is currently offered a mere 900 MW by the central sector to meet an estimated daily domestic demand of 2,000 MW. The result: Large parts of the State — outside the capital Patna (which needs 400 MW) — run on diesel generators. But, according to a senior State official, Bihar is expecting average grid supplies to improve by approximately 600-700 MW in 2013. The bulk of the additional supply will come from the upcoming 2 X 660 MW Barh-II thermal power...