Nobody will dispute the fact that with rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and climate change, there has been a noticeable decline in availability of cultivable area and ground water.

   Increasing population coupled with shift in the food habit of the people has necessitated the development of innovative technologies to enhance food production within limited land and water sources. Agricultural scientists world over are experimenting with new techniques which can solve the problems. A few of the promising developments are outlined briefly here.

1. MIYAWAKI

   Miyawaki is a technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki that helps build dense, native forests. The approach is supposed to ensure that plant growth is 10 times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual. It involves planting dozens of native species in the same area, and becomes maintenance-free after the first three....