Immensely influenced by the environmental movements after Stockholm conference in 1972, a dynamic group of research scholars started working informally in the field of environment and sustainable development since 1975. Since 1980,GEAG is involved in implementing several development projects based on ecological principles, gender sensitivity and the livelihood issues of underprivileged and vulnerable community such as small-marginalized farmers, particularly, women farmers and landless. GEAG was registered as an NGO in the year 1983 under the Society’s Registration Act 1860.

Over the last 36 years, GEAG has gained expertise in conducting researches, advocacy and networking. Since 1990, GEAG is recognised as a prominent resource organization in North India in the field of sustainable agriculture, participatory approaches- methodologies, gender sensitization and empowerment since 1990s. United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) acknowledged the efforts, expertise and achievements of GEAG and accorded it a special ‘consultative’ status in the year 2000. GEAG has also been recognized as a north India’s hub for InterSard South Asia- a network to facilitate information sharing for sustainable agriculture and rural development. GEAG as a ‘support organization’ has joined hands with around 200 partner NGOs working at district, national and international level and its  publications augmented its characteristics of being a support organization serving the needs of hindi speaking north regions.

GEAG had been nominated a “member” of the State Agriculture Advisory Committee by Agriculture Minister of UP in 2008 due to its outstanding contributions in enhancement of adaptive capacity of marginalized farming community to the impacts of Climate Change.At present, the organization has started concentrating on urban poverty, its food insecurity and is experimenting and promoting urban Climate Change resilience.  Today, GEAG is a well established implementing, resource, consultative and support organization in North India on Low External Input Sustainable Agriculture (LEISA), livelihood models, Climate Change and adaptation issues and gender equity

For more information visit www.geagindia.org

2. Kudumbam – LEISA Network, Tamil Nadu

3. ORRISSA, Orissa

Volume 14, No.1, March 2012

Insects, as pollinators, decomposers and as natural enemies of crop pests provide a whole lot of ecological services to mankind. Insects are among the most common and diverse organisms in the environment. The contribution of insects as pollinators to the production of crops used directly for human food has been estimated at 153 billion Euros globally. But, we are gradually losing this insect diversity largely owing to the way we farm. Many studies show that insect pests tend to be less abundant and do less damage in fields which follow the agro-ecological principles. In this issue, we have presented some cases which show how individuals and institutions are taking initiatives to promote methods which are least damaging to the insects, while resulting in sustainable production.

Content

4 Editorial

5 Honeybees in mountain agriculture

Uma Partap

9 Bloom sequences keep pollinators in fields

Margaret Mayfield and Vasuki V Belavadi

12 Pollinators – key for agro biodiversity conservation

Robert Leo and Mathew John

17 Insects or Pests? Only practice decides

J Krishnan

20 Mulch, a home for insects

Sam Adams

22 Honey Bees – Inevitable for our survival

S M Shanthaveeraiah

23 Farmer friendly Owls

Satish Pande

25 Farmers Diary: Recalling biodiversity – Farming the Agnihotra way

Tejasvi Naik

26 Insect conservation

John Holland

29 The Narayana Reddy Column

Living with insects

30 New Books

32 Sources

34 Honey Bees: Farmers best friends

Vijaya Pastala and Sujana Krishnamoorthy

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For earlier issues click here

Issue 2

Issue 2