This refers to ‘How sea microbes can protect agri fields’ (February 23). Marine bio-fertilizers show good market potential as they improve soil health, increase nutrient use, and reduce chemical use. Before large-scale launch, clear government guidelines are necessary. Reliable safety data, field results, and environmental approval will build buyer confidence. Farmers usually prefer the quick returns of chemical fertilizers, so awareness programmes are needed to explain the steady and long-term benefits of microbial inputs. Hence, gradual market entry is practical. With clear policy support and monitoring, sea microbes can create a stable agri-input market and maintain farmer trust.

S Balasubramaniyan

Villupuram, TN

Renegotiate trade pact

Apropos ‘Tricky pitch’ (February 23), the US Supreme Court’s strike against executive overreach under the International Economic Emergency Powers Act provides a critical strategic opening for New Delhi. While the ruling temporarily dismantles reciprocal tariffs, the administration’s pivot to Section 122 and the looming threat of Section 338 signify that protectionism is merely changing shape, not disappearing. India must avoid the reactionary impulse to walk away from existing framework deals. Instead, the current legal volatility in Washington should be leveraged to renegotiate terms from a position of relative strength. By focusing on digital sovereignty and agricultural standards, India can transform a confused trade environment into a bilateral pact that prioritises economic pragmatism over shifting geopolitical alignments. Persistence, not retreat, remains the smartest play.

K Chidanand Kumar

Bengaluru

School education

This refers to ‘School education will change, if children were to vote’ (February 23). Voting is a democratic exercise, which demands knowledge and maturity from voters. Children have their own limitations. Hence, they cannot step up to the plate. One feels, schools and parents should take full responsibility of catering to the needs of children, be it curriculum, evaluation or standard of teaching. Of course, they may get the views of children on the aforesaid and articulate them in appropriate forums to optimise the potential of children.

S Ramakrishnasayee

Chennai

Published on February 23, 2026