They are washed before cut and chopped and washed again before being used in food preparations. But how far does this washing cleanse vegetables?

Tribal farmers from Vanchivayal in Kerala's hilly and backward Idukki district will be exporting about four tonnes of organic black pepper to Germany from this month. The export purchase order in this regard was handed over to Geeta Ramesh, Chairperson of the Vanchivayal Eco-Development committee by State Forest minister, Binoy Viswom, at a function here.

The Kerala government yesterday decided to set up 200 vegetable centers to check soaring prices of vegetables in the state. The centers would function from April 10 for two weeks across the state and a Task Force, comprising Agriculture Production Commissioner and secretaries of Finance, Food and Agriculture, would review the price level in the market.

A Cuban farmer loads boxes filled with tomatoes onto a tractor at a farm in Guira de Melena 50 kms (80 miles) south of Havana, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. Cuba has begun lending unused land to private farmers and cooperatives as part of a sweeping effort to step up agricultural production, a small but potentially landmark step that could change the face of farming on the island.

In a country where almost everyone works for the communist state, dairy farmer Jesus Diaz is his own boss. He likes it that way — and so does the government.

Living on a plot of land just big enough to graze four dairy cows, Diaz produces enough milk to sell about four quarts a day to the state.

Brazil, the world's largest ethanol producer, has thrown open its doors to investment by Indian companies in sugarcane farming, extracting ethanol and exporting it back home for mixing in petrol.

India and New Zealand are likely join hands soon for exchange technology transfer and research in the agriculture sector. We are in the process of finalising a few things at the official level in this regard, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told reporters here after meeting his New Zealand counterpart Jim Anderton.

The Kuttanad package should be implemented within three months, said Dr M S Swaminathan. When the Vidarbha model agricultural relief project was implemented in 31 districts, Alappuzha and Idukki was not included and following the exclusion, a complaint was lodged and Swaminathan was entrusted to study the agricultural crisis of these districts.

The LDF Government has been able to achieve a major progress n the field of agriculture, opined Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

The progress in the field has been able to lessen the suicides of farmers. He said this at the inaugural function of CPM Ernakulam district meet.

The peanut, or groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is native to South America, Mexico and Central America. It is an annual herbaceous plant growing to 50 cm. The flowers are yellow with reddish veining.