Prosperity of nation depends on status of its women, as they not only constitute nearly half of its population, but also positively influence growth of remaining half of population. Hence, a study was conducted to study personal profile of women farmers, per formance of women in tea cu ltivation, potato cultivation and livestock activities. Physiological assessment was done in terms of RPE and REBA. By simple random sampling, 30 women were selected in Nilgiri district. Seventy percent were 30 years of age and educated up to high school.

India is the largest tea-producing country in the world and contributes 33% of the global tea production. Much of this tea
comes from the biodiversity hotspots in the northeastern regions and the Western Ghats. Due to market fluctuations,
increasing costs of production and lease expiry, many coffee, tea and cardamom plantations have become unviable for
active management, resulting in labour unrest. In Thiruvananthapuram division of Kerala alone, 536 ha (55%) of the

With the declining competitiveness of tea estates, smallholdings have emerged as a major producer of tea in Assam. Yet despite higher productivity and lower outsourced labour costs, and regardless of market conditions, tea smallholdings remain at the mercy of estate processing factories in price determination. The Sri Lankan model of price fixation and regulatory support can prove useful in this sector, but the current acreage defi nition for smallholdings needs to be lowered.

Over the last several millennia, people have made steady inroads into the elephants’ natural habitat through agriculture and settlements along river valleys. With their habitats now fragmented, degraded and compressed, these mega-herbivores spill into human settlements thereby setting the stage for a highly volatile combat.

Only when farming is based upon "natural principles" can it be truly sustainable. Ecological farming is based on nurturing and nourishing the soils. Emphasizing soil conservation and building up organic matter are key to maintain these natural ecological balances in crop ecosystems. Mojo plantation is one such attempt.

Down To Earth finds out how analog forestry has created an economically productive and ecologically diverse landscape in Sri Lanka

Darjeeling tea makes its mark world over, but back home it brews suspicion between planters and workers finds Down To Earth.

In the present study, we surveyed the primate species in the Highwavy Mountains of Tamil Nadu, India. Five primate species, including Nilgiri langur, Hanuman langur, bonnet macaque, lion-tailed macaque and