It is being simply forgotten that the well-being of human kind is dependent on the well-being of the plants. Soil health is critical for growing healthy plants. Way too long we have been focusing on soil chemistry and greatly ignored the benefits of caring for soil biology. Indiscriminate use of chemicals has destroyed life in the soils as well as greatly polluted the air and water sources. Agroecological approaches are the answer for better use and recycling of resources. We need to value trees deeply and promote them widely – for a healthy environment, resilient livelihoods, favorable microclimate, and as a carbon sequestering measure. In this issue we have a mix of insightful scientific explanations and people led initiatives. This issue celebrates the year 2020-International Year of Plant health.
We acknowledge deeply your overwhelming response to our reader’s survey. Besides contributing regularly your experiences and wisdom, you have spared your precious time in responding to our survey. Your gesture and efforts reaffirms our relevance and is deeply motivating. We remain deeply indebted to you all for your commitment to promotion of LEISA. Together, let us celebrate 20th year of LEISA India. We heartily wish you and your families A Very Happy New Year 2020. Hope some of you have received the ’gift’ for your timely response to reader’s survey….as promised delivered or being delivered!
4. Editorial
6. Healthy plant for nutritional environmental sustainability
Pradip Kumar Sarkar, M K Dhakar, Bikash Das, Priya Ranjan Kumar, Sudarshan Maurya, S S Mali, Reshma Shinde, J S Choudhary, S K Naik, Dharamjit Kherwar, Asit Chakrabarti, D K Raghav, A K Singh and B P Bhatt
T M Thiyagarajan, S Rageshwari, L Ramazeame and C Partheeban
15. Enhancing green cover – The journey of Sankalp Taru
Sankalp Taru Foundation
19. Green Festival for Green India
M N Kulkarni
22. Bio-primed plants – The future of food and nutrition security
Deeparanjan Sarkar, Sonam Singh, Ardith Sankar and Amitava Rakshit
25. No fertilisers, no pesticides – This Karnataka farmer uses only solar energy
28. Farmer’s Diary
29. In the news
32. New Books
33. Sources
34. Growing trees, strengthening livelihoods, protecting environment
Supriya Patil