Flowers at will
Down To Earth|January 16, 2020
FARMERS OF A VILLAGE IN WEST BENGAL USE ARTIFICIAL LIGHT TO MAKE FLOWERS BLOOM AS PER MARKET DEMANDGURVINDER SINGH PURBA MEDINIPUR
Flowers at will

PRAHALLAD MAITY gushes over the sight of chrysanthemum flower in his small field in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. A resident of Mahatpur village, around 80 km southwest of Kolkata, Maity thanks the 9-watt light emitting diode (led) bulbs hanging in his field for his financial prosperity. Situated near the national highway connecting Kolkata to Mumbai, the village attracts attention of passersby. Vehicles stop to witness the array of small bulbs turning green fields milky white after dusk.

This story is from the January 16, 2020 edition of Down To Earth.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 16, 2020 edition of Down To Earth.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM DOWN TO EARTHView All
INVISIBLE THREAT
Down To Earth

INVISIBLE THREAT

Significant presence of microplastics in Puducherry’s agricultural soil raises concerns for soil and crop health

time-read
3 mins  |
May 01, 2024
Feeding off each other
Down To Earth

Feeding off each other

VEGETARIAN MOVEMENTS IN SOUTH ASIA AND THE WEST GREW WITH MUTUAL SUPPORT AND VALIDATION

time-read
3 mins  |
May 01, 2024
India's unhealthy patent amendments
Down To Earth

India's unhealthy patent amendments

Despite strong pleas, the Modi regime has changed the rules to impose a cost on those who challenge faulty patents

time-read
4 mins  |
May 01, 2024
URBAN DISCOMFORT
Down To Earth

URBAN DISCOMFORT

Poorly planned, heat-trapping infrastructure, along with dwindling natural spaces, turn up the temperatures in major Indian cities

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 01, 2024
"H5N1 may be more severe than COVID-19"
Down To Earth

"H5N1 may be more severe than COVID-19"

In early April, the US confirmed the first case of avian influenza in livestock, along with cow-to-human transmission of the virus disease.

time-read
3 mins  |
May 01, 2024
THE FOREVER POLLUTANT
Down To Earth

THE FOREVER POLLUTANT

From production to usage to disposal, plastic is a threat to those who come in its contact SIDDHARTH GHANSHYAM SINGH

time-read
7 mins  |
April 16, 2024
Seeds from the past
Down To Earth

Seeds from the past

For a decade,200 villages in Odisha have conserved and grown 190 indigenous rice and millet varieties with proven climate resilience

time-read
6 mins  |
April 16, 2024
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Down To Earth

BREAKING NEW GROUND

Soil health is typically measured by its nutrient content, by presence of elements like nitrogen and phosphorus. No country in the world measures it in terms of soil biodiversity-a counting of underground faunal populations and microorganisms.

time-read
8 mins  |
April 16, 2024
PRIME TRIGGER
Down To Earth

PRIME TRIGGER

Heat stress dominates debate on the causes of a mysterious chronic kidney disease that continues to baffle health experts and is on the rise globally

time-read
5 mins  |
April 16, 2024
India set to see warmer temperatures
Down To Earth

India set to see warmer temperatures

A DEADLY tornado struck the Mainaguri area of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, on March 31.

time-read
1 min  |
April 16, 2024