economy, business and finance/agriculture

Chhattisgarh workers take over coconut tree climbing in Kerala, Lakshadweep

Chathannoor (Kollam): Not many Malayali labourers are ready to climb coconut trees ..

Remove toxins from grapes this way

Grapes are nutritious, delicious and gorgeous at the same time. The demand for has escalated in the hot summer like all other fruits ..

Lemon price soars in summer; price touches Rs 100 per kg

Thenmala (Kollam): The price of lemons soar as the scorching summer heat burns the people. As the passers-by and drivers depend ..

This summer, make a milkshake with home grown strawberries

Strawberry is one of the most loved fruit flavours. Growing strawberry at home could be a grand idea if you are a person who loves ..

Beware! Bitter gourd has highest pesticide residue

The pesticide content in vegetables can be removed to an extent by washing them thoroughly or by peeling off outer skin. But bitter ..

Make yummy candies out of watermelon rind!

When we eat the flesh of watermelon and throw out its rind, it becomes a waste in the surroundings. But the researchers of Navsari ..

Heard of ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’? It can give you fresh air

‘Mother-in-law’s tongue’ could be the least expected name for a garden plant that purifies air. But it is one ..

Have a healthy bite: Guidelines to grow guava at home

Growing our own fruit plants is the best idea to avoid consuming pesticide residue in the fruits bought from markets. Guava is ..

Shaloob quits Dubai job to start rabbit farming; earns big profits

Thrissur Cheroor Peringavu native Shaloob was fond of rabbits from a young age and has been ridiculed by both friends and family. However, ..

Sunflower field in full bloom in Nadavaramba; Visual treat for passers-by

Nadavaramba: Offering a visual treat for the passers-by, hundreds of sunflowers bloomed in the field at Nadavaramba in Thrissur ..

Quitting job, duo from Wayanad earns a fortune with long beans farming

At a time when youngsters hunt for white collar jobs, two young men has blazed a trail by resigning their jobs and started farming ..

Have a pet? Then follow these precautions to avoid sun stroke

The increasing temperature in summer is very likely to affect pets and cattle. The intense heat may have adverse impacts on eating ..

Vinaya shows the value-added products from Bilimbi

Bilimbi which is scientifically named as ‘Averrhoa bilimbi’ is loved for its tangy sour taste. Though bilimbi tree is ..

Meat residue water can give wonders to your garden rose

If you have in your garden, take good care of them to get bigger and brighter flowers. becomes more beautiful when the plant is healthy ..

Want bright 'Chembarathi' flowers? Then follow these tips

Shoe flower or hibiscus is a very common garden plant in the houses in Kerala. It normally requires no particular care and maintenance ..

Simple steps to grow organic oranges at home

Orange is a delicious citrus fruit which is rich in Vitamin C. The juicy fruit is good for resisting diseases caused by the deficiency ..

Agri dept to take action against fake campaigns on PM-KISAN scheme

Haripad: The state agriculture department has informed that the fake campaigns against the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) ..

888 tons of chemical pesticides, herbicides used in food crops in state last year

Kottayam: According to an alarming report, Keralites who are concerned about the pesticide residue in the vegetables brought from other ..

Easy way to grow roots in almond bought from market

Almond is one of the much-loved nutty snacks rich with nutrients. But does anyone know how to grow an almond tree in our yard? It’s ..

Grow rose apple for bumper harvest giving little care

Rose apple, popularly known as ‘Chambakka’ in Malayalam, is an ideal fruit for making juice, squash, wine and other products ..

How to make aloe vera oil and gel at home

Aloe vera has numerous medicinal properties. Growing at home can be helpful for treating many health and beauty problems. Aloe vera ..

Durian tree blooms after 7 years; Ansari takes pride in his rare fruit garden

After seven years of waiting, Kunjumuhammed Ansari from Cheravannur in Malappuram could see his durian tree blooming and bearing fruits ..

Growing grapes at home? Here’s some tips for you

Grapes can be cultivated during all seasons. We can even easily grow grapes at our courtyards. But there are some important points ..

Use this idea to keep raw mangoes for long without losing taste

Mangoes are one of the most popular fruits of Keralites. The soaring price of mangoes might have made many of us search for ways to ..

Make natural rose water at home

Rose water is widely used to flavour food items, for beauty and personal care requirements. Rose water bought from market may not be ..

Rs 1.5 lakh offered for a Aseel rooster; Owner declines to sell

Marayur: A rooster was offered a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh during an exhibition of Parrot Beak Long Tail Aseel Chicken held at Ayyalur ..

Hot and spicy 'Kanthari' chilli – A must item in kitchen garden

Bird’s eye chilli or Kanthari Mulaku is an essential item for the vegetable garden of Malayalis. If one or two chilli plants ..

How to keep jackfruit seeds for long without refrigeration?

The only trick we know to increase the shelf life of food items is to refrigerate them. Gone are the days when our grandparents used ..

Vishukkani Challenge: Grow your own Kanivellari this Vishu

Keralites have been in a world of challenges recently. They have taken up a number of challenges ranging from the bucket challenge ..

E. P. Jayarajan’s kitchen garden rich in organic vegetables

Pappinisseri (Kannur): Minister for Industries E. P. Jayarajan changes his working arena to agriculture once he reaches home. His residence ..

Fierce but fetching; fighter fishes can fill your pockets

Siamese fighter fish is one of the most attractive fish varieties for the aquarium. With its colourful fins and scales, fighter fish ..

Tulsi, 7 other spices of Kerala soon to get international standards

Thiruvananthapuram: The 4th session of the Codex Committee on Spices and Culinary Herbs to determine the quality of spices according ..

Have you heard of noni fruit? It fights cancer, diabetes

Noni is a fruit bearing tree popular for its medicinal properties. It is also known as Indian Mulberry, beach mulberry and cheese fruit ..

‘Kanakambaram’ - the golden beauty of garden

The firecracker flower or tropical flame which is commonly called as ‘Kanakambaram’ in Malayalam is known for its beauty ..

Giant leaf from Nicobar Islands to substitute plastic plate in Kerala

The giant leaf that was commonly found in Andaman – Nicobar Islands will be part of the flora of Kerala as well. The giant leaf, ..

Can you guess what a ‘Cat Eye’ is? Find it here!

What comes to your mind when somebody say ‘Cat Eye’? Well, it has nothing to do with a cat. It is an ornamental plant ..

Dedicating life for cactus garden, homemaker remains indoors for 10 years

A housewife who confined herself inside her house to maintain her cactus garden for the past 10 years was finally crowned as the ‘Queen ..

Heroes who loved green, reaped success in 2018

Agriculture is not everyone’s cup of tea. But there are some heroes who realised the importance of farming and decided to preserve ..

Value added products from water hyacinth gives hope to lake revival

By showcasing the value added products made from water hyacinth, a startup became the centre of attraction at the agriculture fest ..

Plant a 'Venal Poovalli' to breathe pure air

In a time when pollution is one of the threatening menace for the city dwellers, a beautiful flower from Mexico can come to the rescue ..

Sweet basil – The aromatic herb to keep you healthy

Sweet basil is a spice herb known for its unique flavour and aroma. The leaves of the plant are used as flavouring agent and as medicine ..

Class 9 student makes eco-friendly Christmas tree with bamboo frame, millet seeds

Christmas trees decorated with stars, snow drops, bobbles and gift boxes could be the best on a Christmas day. But Wayanad Ambalavayal ..

Tips to grow Rambutan; the gorgeous, delicious and moneymaking fruit

Rambutan is one of the fruits popular for its tempting taste. In Kerala, red and yellow coloured rambutan fruit varieties are cultivated ..

Tips to make worm compost in flats

With ‘organic fever’ conquering all Malayalis, most of us have already started small scale farming in our courtyards, rooftops, ..

Try these natural preservatives to keep flowers fresh

No one who loves flowers like to see them getting dried up. To keep flowers fresh and live for many hours, we can use flower preservatives ..

Coconut-buttermilk solution to prevent plant diseases, boost flowering

In order to prevent plant diseases and boost flowering, we can try coconut-buttermilk solution which is easy to prepare and is best ..

Bee Keeper’s Diary: An app for helping honeybee farmers

In order to help the apiculturists or honeybee farmers, a mobile application has been developed by ‘Madhusree Honey Farm’ ..

School girl's jackfruit tree planted in grow bag bears fruit within 1.5 years

Alpha Rajesh, a class 4 student of Nedumkunnam St. Johns School, planted a jackfruit sapling in a grow bag on the backyard one and ..

With cancer-resistant broccoli, make your kitchen garden 'rich'

Broccoli can be considered as the vegetable that has the highest capability to help prevent cancer. Having edible leaves, flower and ..

Do you know? We can eat beetroot tender leaves too!

Beetroot is a tuber vegetable that is popular for its colour and nutritional value. It could be a great news for beetroot lovers that ..

Grow Aloe Vera at home; Keep a herb handy

Aloe Vera is a common ingredient in the hair care and beauty care products. It is also used as an edible substance that can treat many ..

Get your grow bags a ‘rain guard’ in monsoon; ‘sun screen’ in summer

The months long monsoon and summer in Kerala affects the texture of the soil. The changes in weather is very likely to form clumps ..

Keep some rice water (Kanjivellam); Save your vegetables from pests

Rice porridge or gruel is a common healthy light food in Kerala. It is made by boiling rice with plenty of water. Though it is consumed ..

Tips to make more profit out of rooftop farming

With consistent efforts from agriculture department, many people have started growing vegetables and other essential crops on their ..

For beauty, medicine and nostalgia, have a ‘Thechi’ in garden

Ixora is one of the common flowering plants found in Kerala. It was an inevitable plant in the gardens of Malayali houses in the past ..

No space for a kitchen garden? Try this 'vertical' method

Many families find it hard to maintain a kitchen garden because of limited space. Houses are built in smaller plots or many families ..

Avocado is the new trend: Easy ways to grow

Avocado is popularly known as butter fruit because of its butter-like taste. Avocado grows well and bears fruit in Kerala’s climate ..

Plant roses in November; Reap flowers in December

Rose blooms well only when its planting, pruning, fertilisation and pest control are managed well. It is ideal to plant rose in the ..

Know about 'Chathura Payar' which is the best of legumes?

Winged bean, which is locally known as ‘Chathura Payar’, is one of the legumes that contains the highest quantity of protein ..

How to teach cats good habits with a water syringe

Those who have cats as pet will surely know the challenges of taking care of them. Some cats urinate and defecate inside the house, ..

Here’s how Antony Vaidyar became a ‘Doctor of Pepper’

Vazhavatta native Antony Vaidyar is one of the rare farmers who could successfully survive the devastating flood. Antony Vaidyar is ..

Jasmine: Bride's favourite, businessman's too

Jasmine flower, the all-time favourite flower of Malayali brides, is not only fragrant and beautiful but also profitable. Jasmine cultivation ..

Tips to grow vanilla, the most loved flavour

Vanilla is one of the popular cash crops. In Kerala, vanilla is cultivated in Idukki, Wayanad and Ernakulam. Though frequent changes ..

Kissing gourami: The ‘romantic’ pair for your fish tank

Kissing Gourami is an ornamental fish that is popular for its habit of ‘kissing’. Scientifically named as Helostoma temminckii, ..

How to differentiate edible fig tree

Fig trees are commonly found in many campuses in Kerala. But when they bear fruits, people often seem to be confused whether they are ..

Elephant dung compost: A good choice for organic farmers

Elephant, the biggest animal on land, has been used for many purposes by human beings. But how many of us know that elephant dung also ..

Spotted butterfish: Not only edible, but ornamental too

Keralites are familiar with spotted butterfish, which is locally known as ‘Nachara’ or ‘Kachayi’, as an edible ..

From IT industry to milk supply; Success story of Hafeez and ‘Daily Dairy’

After completing B.Tech graduation in Computer Science from Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology, Hafeez Ashraf worked ..

Have homemade chilli bajji with home-grown bajji chilli

Indian cuisine is famous for its craze for masala and hot tastes. One of the most loved street snacks here is chilli bajji which ..

Pickle, powder… Banana peel has more benefits

Banana is one of the most common and most popular fruits in our place. Also it tops the list when it comes to nutrients. But the latest ..

Know about Kohlrabi, the veggie with edible stem

Has anybody heard of a strange plant that looks like cabbage when planted, grows like cauliflower, enlarges its stem like a pineapple ..

Attempt to save ‘Karpoora Maanga’, the camphor smelling local mango of Kerala

In a study staged by Kerala Agricultural University, it has been found that the indigenous varieties of mango in Kerala are decreasing ..

Tired of bitter gourd? Let’s try sweet gourd

Sweet gourd is one of the sweet varieties of gourd. The fruit of sweet gourd has blunt thorns all over the skin. Its male and female ..

For flavour and cure, grow a curry tree in yard

Curry plant is an essential item in our kitchen garden. Apart from being a flavouring agent in cuisine, it has multiple medicinal uses ..

How to grow desert rose at home

Adenium, also known as desert rose, is a beautiful flowering plant that finds special place in every garden. Most of the flowering ..

Sugar syrup for good yield of jackfruit

Though jackfruit trees grow well in some areas, fruit yield can be disappointing. In order to improve the fruit yield, we can try a ..

Shaped as star, this fruit can be a star in cuisine too

Star fruit or Carambola is a key ingredient in a famous Italian fish stew that is enlisted in the 50 most delicious food items in the ..

Feed silage to cattle for better milk production

As the grass farms were destroyed in the flood, silage is suggested as a good alternative fodder for the cattle. Though the north Indian ..

Collect seeds from plants properly, See it grow healthy

Seed collection of vegetable crops is very important as it affects the quality of the plant in future. Although the seed is of ..

‘Communist Pacha’ can be used as effective manure

Some of the weeds which farmers consider as a curse can actually be a boon, if wisely utilized. Weeds can be turned into effective ..

New high yielding paddy variety developed in Pilicode RARS

Cheruvathur (Kasaragod): A new paddy variety suitable for coastal wetland paddy cultivation is being developed in Pilicode Regional ..

Green decoction to get rid of pest menace

Attack of pests is the biggest menace faced by farmers. Insects tend to attack the plants for inhabiting, breeding, feeding and defending ..

Tips to treat breathing trouble in domestic fowls

A gapeworm scientifically known as Syngamus trachea causes breathing troubles in domestic fowls like chicken, quails, ducks and turkeys ..

How to process cherry fruits after harvesting

Cherry fruits are rather too sour to eat directly after harvesting. The fruit need some processing to make it edible. Here are the ..

Grow peanut on ground or in grow bag; Here are some tips

Peanut plant is an unusual one as its flowers bloom on the plant but the nut grows beneath the ground. Peanut is the best-liked snack ..

This dairy farmer tells story of flood survival with 19 cows

Kumarakom: An entire village is lauding the efforts of a young farmer who struggled hard to save his cattle from the flood. Aymanam ..

Overuse of pesticide affects reproductive ability of local fish

Kozhikode: A study has shown that the reproductive ability in the indigenous fish varieties in Kerala is dropping considerably. The ..

Have a ‘Miss Kerala’ in your fish tank for a visual treat

‘Miss Kerala’ is not only the title of a beauty pageant, but also a pretty ornamental fish much popular in the market ..

Success story of first female vet surgeon in Lakshadweep

When Dr. P. P. Nilufer took charge as the first women veterinary surgeon in the Kavaratti dairy farm in Lakshadweep, everyone in the ..

How to grow Sandalwood - the most expensive wood in world

The most expensive wood in the world could be sandalwood tree. The highest quality sandalwood variety can fetch a price of up to ..

No vegetable shortage in markets; local produce less available

Kochi: A huge decline will be seen in the availability of locally produced vegetables due to the flood havoc. However, there would ..

Mushroom cultivation: Choose right varieties to eat safe

Mushrooms are a much loved dish on the dining table. Not all types of mushrooms are edible and some of them are highly poisonous. Edible ..

‘Kurunnolakkoottam’ shows how farm tradition paved way to art

A group of Thrissur based artists known as ‘Kurunnolakkoottam’ stand out by creating wonderful craftworks using tender ..

Kerala soon to have coconut, banana, honey, mango, vegetable parks

Nedumbassery: The department of agriculture is planning to start coconut, banana, honey, mango and vegetable parks in the state. Rs ..

6.75 feet long, weighs 100 kg; Giant fish from Amazon pulls crowd

Kothamangalam (Ernakulam): A giant fish that weighs more than 100 kg and has a length of 6.75 feet has drawn crowd to the fish farm ..

Award-winning photographer harvests 1500 kg Kanivellari from own farm

Prepare Vishukkani with organic, farm fresh ‘Kanivellari’