Category: Agriculture

** World Environment Day: Book on TN flowering plants documents 6,723 species, highest in India

“A comparison of flowering plants across various Indian states conclusively points to the fact that Tamil Nadu is the most species-rich state,” author D Narasimhan told The New Indian Express

** Gecko named after Mizo chieftain who fought British 150 years ago

Cyrtodactylus bengkhuaiai is one of four new species of bent-toed gecko recorded from Meghalaya and Mizoram

A species of pest-controlling lizard new to science has been named after a Mizo chieftain who fought the British forces 150 years ago.

Cyrtodactylus bengkhuaiai, named in honour of chieftain Bengkhuaia, is one of four new species of bent-toed geckos recorded by two groups of scientists in October-November 2020. Two geckos each were found in Mizoram and Meghalaya.

** Innovator farmer Hariman Sharma’s apple variety takes root in 30 States

An innovative farmer in Himachal Pradesh has developed a self-pollinating apple variety that does not need the required long chilling hours for flowering and fruit setting.

The Man Behind The Innovation

The inventive farmer who did this is Hariman Sharma, who hails from Paniala village of Bilaspur district in Himachal Pradesh.

His innovative apple variety – HRMN 99 – has inspired farmers in thousands in his region and also horticulturists of Bilaspur and other lower hill districts in the State, which earlier could never dream of growing apples.

** After conquering the West, Indian mangoes set to rule South Korea

Keeping with the pandemic times, in a bid to boost export of the “king of fruits” in South Korea, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) organized Virtual Buyer Seller Meet (VBSM) on Thursday in collaboration with Indian embassy in Seoul and Indian Chamber of Commerce in Korea (ICCK) for buyers and sellers from both countries.

** Innovative farming of green mussel yields bumper harvest in Kerala, sold out in no time

The IMTA combines farming of fish, seaweeds and filter feeding bivalves to create balanced systems for environmental and economic stability. CMFRI started the venture in December last year.

** Kerala farmer bags India Biodiversity Award 2021

Shaji .N.M., fondly called as ‘Tuber Man’ of Kerala has been awarded the India Biodiversity Award 2021 in the individual category of ‘Conservation of domesticated species’.

Mr. Shaji, who conserves a wide array of around 200 tuber crops including greater yam, lesser yam, elephant foot yam, arrow root, colocasia, sweet potato, cassava and Chinese potato in his farm has received State awards seven times for his efforts. He has also received the Plant Genome Savior Reward 2015, instituted by PPV&FR Authority, New Delhi.