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1st May 2021
National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign-2021
Recently, the Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has inaugurated ‘The National Conference on Agriculture for Kharif Campaign-2021’.
Key Highlights
Operation Samudra Setu II
- It aims to review and assess the preparedness for management of Kharif crops and ensuring availability of seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, machinery and their prepositioning at Block levels.
- It appreciated the efforts of farmers for the record production for food grains (303.34 million tonnes), which is over 1.96% higher than the previous year's output (297.50 Million Tonnes).
- The pulses and oilseed production are 24.42 & 37.3 million tonnes, respectively.
- The agriculture and allied sectors registered a continuous growth in GDP contribution amid the adversities of COVID-19 pandemic.
- The share of agriculture in GDP increased from 17.8% in 2019-20 to 19.9% in 2020-21 as per Economic Survey 2020-21.
- The shortage of soyabean seeds is pegged at 87,656 tonnes and also the shortfall in maize seeds is estimated at 73,445 tonnes.
- It announced the setting of higher production targets of food grains from 301.92 to 307 million tonnes for the year 2021-22.
- The higher production targets for pulses and oilseeds are the necessity of the nation to reduce our dependency on import and to achieve the dream of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
- The production target for rice, the main Kharif cereal crop, has been set higher at 104.3 million tonnes.
- The pulses production target for crop year 2021-22 is set higher at 25 million tonnes, while oilseeds the target is pegged at 37.6 million tonnes.
- The production of coarse cereals is set higher at 51.21 million tonnes for the next season.
- The maize output is targeted higher at 30.9 million tonnes against projected production of 30.16 million tonnes this season.
- Among cash crops, the output of cotton is targetted at 37 million bales of 170 kg each, while that of jute and mesta has been fixed at 10.6 million bales (180 kg each).
- The requirement of urea for Kharif season has been assessed at 177.53 lakh tonnes, higher than this season’s 166.72 lakh tonnes.
- The Codex standards for dried / dehydrated forms of cloves, oregano, basil and ginger will join the ranks of the other four standards adopted for dried or dehydrated forms of black/ white/ green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.
- The committee also took up the following new work items:
- To develop Codex standards for small cardamom and turmeric; and
- To develop the first group standard for spices that falls under the class 'dried fruits and berries'.
- The CCSCH is the youngest of the Codex Commodity Committees.
- The Committee is chaired by India and Spices Board India is its Secretariat.
- The committee is mandated to elaborate worldwide, science-based quality standards for spices and culinary herbs, in accordance with the Codex principles of consumer protection and fair trade practices.
- The higher demand for immunity boosting spices like turmeric has helped the nation in reporting a 19% growth in export of spices and spice products during the first half of 2020.
- The studies show that India produces approximately 3 million tonnes of spices on an annual basis, which are worth around Rp 186 billion (US$ 3 billion).
- According to the Spices Board, India accounts for about 30% of the world’s pepper production, 35% of the world’s ginger production and 90% of turmeric production.
- Among all the states in India, Kerala tops the chart when it comes to the production of spices because the state produces close to 96% of pepper, 53% of cardamom, and 25% of ginger in the country.
- Andhra Pradesh leads the country in the production of chilli and turmeric, with 49% and 57% respectively.
- Rajasthan is the largest producer of coriander, cumin and fenugreek, and the figures stand at 63%, 56% and 87% respectively.
- It was formed in 2013 with support of more than a hundred countries under Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).
- It has been successful in developing harmonised global Codex standards for spices and herbs.
- It has developed and finalized standards for four spices, viz. dried or dehydrated forms of black/ white/ green pepper, cumin, thyme, and garlic.
- It is an intergovernmental body established in 1963.
- It is constituted jointly by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), within the framework of the Joint Food Standards Programme.
- It aims to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.
- It is the body responsible for all matters regarding the implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
- The Membership of the Commission is open to all Member Nations and Associate Members of FAO and WHO.
- The Commission meets in regular session once a year alternating between Geneva and Rome.
- The Commission works in the six UN official languages.
Key Highlights
- The combined Index of Eight Core Industries stood at 143.1 in March, 2021, which increased by 6.8 (provisional) per cent as compared to the Index of March, 2020.
- Its cumulative growth during April to March, 2020-21 has been (-) 7.0%.
- The final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for December 2020 is revised to 0.4% from its provisional level (-) 1.3%.
- Coal: Coal production (weight: 10.33 per cent) declined by 21.9 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 4.8 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over corresponding period of the previous year.
- Crude Oil: The Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) declined by 3.1 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 5.2 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Natural Gas: The Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) increased by 12.3 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 8.2 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Petroleum Refinery Products: The Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent) declined by 0.7 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 11.2 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Fertilizers: The fertilizers production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 5.0 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index increased by 1.8 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Steel: The steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent) increased by 23.0 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 9.5 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Cement: The cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 32.5 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 11.9 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- Electricity: The electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) increased by 21.6 per cent in March, 2021 over March, 2020.
- Its cumulative index declined by 0.6 per cent during April to March, 2020-21 over the corresponding period of previous year.
- It is an index of the eight most fundamental industrial sectors of the Indian economy and it maps the volume of production in these industries.
- The industries included are Coal, Natural Gas, Crude Oil, Refinery Products (such as Petrol and Diesel), Fertilisers, Steel, Cement and Electricity.
- The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 per cent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP).
- The base year of the ICI has been revised to 2011-12 from 2004-05 in alignment with the new series of IIP.
- The MoU is aimed at employment generation by providing support to tribals for increasing value addition in their produce and products.
- It has called for sustainable livelihoods and value addition for increase in income and employment generation through technological intervention for efficiency in value addition for MFPs.
- Both the organizations will also work together to creating women-centered infrastructure and innovation and entrepreneurship.
- The LINK Fund is excited to commence the intervention working in close coordination with TRIFED’s leadership team and to draw out Detailed Project Implementation Plan, Estimate budgetary estimates for impactful interventions and to mobilize funds etc.
- The aim of MoU is to pooling strengths together and undertakes work that will help in boosting the income and livelihoods of the tribal people.
- It is a practitioner-led fund headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
- It works to end extreme poverty and mitigate the effects of climate change.
- It bridges the gap between the financial and philanthropic worlds, providing an optimal solution both to funding and implementing integrated development programs.
- The Fund addresses basic human needs - food and nutrition security, education, women’s economic empowerment and large-scale infrastructure.
- The Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED) came into existence in 1987.
- It is a national-level apex organization functioning under the administrative control of Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
- The ultimate objective of TRIFED is socio-economic development of tribal people in the country by way of marketing development of the tribal products on which the lives of tribals depends heavily.
- The Indian Navy had procured eight P-8I aircraft from Boeing in January 2009 via direct commercial sale and contracted for an additional four aircraft in July 2016.
- The first P-8I aircraft were delivered to the Indian Navy in 2013, providing critical capabilities to coalition maritime operations.
- The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship.
- It will improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region.
- It is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft offered by Boeing for the Indian Navy.
- It replaced the ageing fleet of the Indian Navy’s Tupolev Tu-142 aircraft.
- The P-8I aircraft is a variant of the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft (MMA) operated by the US Navy.
- The aircraft is equipped with a CAE AN/ASQ-508A magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) system, APS-143C (V) 3 multimode radar and a global version of the Raytheon APY-10 surveillance radar.
- The APY-10 radar provides precise information in all-weather, day and night missions.
- The P-8I aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of 789km/h and can reach a maximum altitude of 12,496m.
- It will allow the Indian Navy to expand its maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) capability for the next 30 years.
- India will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.
- The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
- It can conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (AsuW), intelligence, maritime patrol, and surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
- It provides India's maritime warriors a significant edge in the strategically important Indian Ocean region.
- The office of the USTR reviewed more than 100 trading partners for this year’s “Special 301 Report”, and eight on Priority Watch List and 23 on the Watch List.
- It placed India and eight other countries on the Priority Watch List for IP protection and enforcement.
- The other countries that have been put on the list are Argentina, Chile, China, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and Venezuela.
- The countries will be the subject of intense bilateral engagement during the coming year.
- India’s enforcement of IP in the online sphere has gradually improved but a lack of concrete benefits for innovators and creators persists, which continues to undermine their efforts.
- The report highlighted that India remains one of the world’s most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of IP.
- The 23 trading partners on the Watch List are
- Algeria, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Guatemala, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
- The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for the preparation of Special 301 Report.
- It is the result of an annual review of the state of intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in U.S. trading partners around the world.
- USTR conducts this review pursuant to Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 and the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.
- It reflects the outcome of a Congressionally-mandated annual review of the global state of intellectual property (IP) rights protection and enforcement.
- The review reflects the Administration’s resolve to encourage and maintain enabling environments for innovation, including effective IP protection and enforcement, in markets.
- The Report identifies a wide range of concerns that limit innovation and investment, including:
- The deterioration in the effectiveness of IP protection and enforcement and overall market access for persons relying on IP in a number of trading partner markets;
- Reported inadequacies in trade secret protection in countries around the world, as well as an increasing incidence of trade secret misappropriation;
- Troubling “indigenous innovation” policies that may unfairly disadvantage U.S. rights holders in foreign markets;
- The continuing challenges of copyright piracy and the sale of counterfeit trademarked products on the Internet;
- Additional market access barriers, including nontransparent, discriminatory or otherwise trade-restrictive, measures that appear to impede access to healthcare and copyright-protected content; and
- Ongoing, systemic IP enforcement issues at borders and in many trading partner markets around the world.
- It is an annual Jewish festival observed during the Hebrew month of Iyar.
- It is celebrated on the 33rd day of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot.
- Lag B’Omer is the only day during the 49-day period when celebration is permitted.
- Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish pilgrims make their way to the base of Mount Meron every year to mark the occasion.
- The pilgrims aims to pay their respects to Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second century sage and mystic, who is believed to have died on this day.
- Rabbi Shimon was said to have been a gifted Talmudic scholar and a disciple of Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest Jewish sages of all time.
- According to some accounts, Rabbi Shimon authored the ‘Zohar’, which is the main work of Kabbalah, or Jewish mysticism.
- Jews believe that on the day of his death, Rabbi Shimon told his disciples the many secrets of the Kabbalah, which some believe is how Lag B’Omer became a day of celebration.
- It is an ambitious health insurance scheme of the Rajasthan government.
- It is the first health insurance initiative from the Rajasthan Government that givescashless treatment in the registered hospitals.
- It aims to provide annual cashless insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh to every family of the state.
- The registration is free for those who are covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC), Small and marginal farmers, contractual workers and those who have received COVID-19 ex-gratia.
- The applicants who do not fall in these categories will have to pay Rs 850 as 50 per cent of the annual premium.
- The main eligibility criterion is to be a permanent resident of the Rajasthan state.
- The cost of tests, medical expenses, and a related package of 15 days after getting discharged from the hospital is also covered under the scheme.
- The health insurance cover is provided to all the families under Below-Poverty Line, NFSA, and SECC categories
- The beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Gandhi Rajasthan Swasthya Bima Yojana can also get covered under the scheme
- The small/marginal farmers and contractual workers can also get covered free of cost
Operation Samudra Setu II
- It is launched by Indian Navy as part of Indian’s fight against coronavirus pandemic.
- The Indian Naval ships such as Kolkata, Kochi, Talwar, Tabar, Trikand, Jalashwa and Airavat have been deployed under the operation.
- The operation is carried out for shipment of liquid medical oxygen-filled cryogenic containers and associated medical equipment from various countries.
- INS Kolkata and INS Talwar, mission deployed in Persian Gulf, were the first batch of ships that were immediately diverted for the task and entered port of Manama, Bahrain.
- INS Talwar, with 40 MT Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) embarked, is headed back home.
- INS Kolkata has proceeded to Doha, Qatar for embarking medical supplies and will subsequently head to Kuwait for embarking Liquid Oxygen tanks.
- INS Airavat is scheduled to enter Singapore for embarking Liquid oxygen tanks and INS Jalashwa is standing by in the region to embark medical stores at short notice.
- The second batch of ships comprising Kochi, Trikand and Tabar mission deployed in Arabian sea have also been diverted to join the national effort.
- Medical Liquid Oxygen is supplied and stored as a liquid at very low temperatures, in vessels and storage tanks.
- It is converted to Medical Oxygen, a gas at normal temperatures, for the patient to breathe when required.
- The Medical Oxygen is used:
- during anaesthesia and for recovery following surgery;
- to treat or prevent oxygen deficiency in the body in many different situations such as:
- surgery or major trauma such as a road traffic accident
- heart attacks
- severe blood loss
- carbon monoxide poisoning
- severe lung and heart conditions
- very high fevers
- for resuscitation of adults, children and babies.
- If this gas or liquid comes in contact with the skin it will cause cold burns.
- The Medical Liquid Oxygen is only given to a patient after it has been converted into Medical Oxygen at room temperature.
POSTED ON 01-05-2021 BY ADMIN
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