05-November-2023: Saffron Crop Decline, Bayer CropScience Reports Strong Q2 Performance, Delhi-NCR Air Pollution

5 November 2023

• Saffron Crop Decline Puts Officials Under Pressure During Jashn-e-Zaffran

  During the Jashn-e-Zaffran festival at the India International Kashmir Saffron Trading Centre (IIKSTC) in Dussu, Pampore, senior officials faced the frustration of saffron farmers. The festival aimed to promote agro-tourism and agro-industry. As officials began their speeches, some farmers stood up and voiced their concerns about the government's apparent indifference to saffron cultivation.

• Bayer CropScience Reports Strong Q2 Performance with a 37% Increase in Net Profit to Rs 222.9 Crore

  Bayer CropScience Ltd has announced a significant boost in their financial performance for the September quarter of the current fiscal year. The company reported a substantial 37% increase in net profits, with earnings reaching ₹222.9 crore as compared to ₹162.6 crore in the same period the previous year. Their revenue for the September quarter also saw a notable rise, climbing by 11.38% to ₹1617.2 crore, in contrast to ₹1451.9 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

• Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Stubble Burning and Unfavourable Winds Maintain 'Severe' AQI Streak at 504 for 3rd Straight Day

  Delhi-NCR for the third consecutive day is grappling with hazardous levels of air pollution, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) persistently in the 'severe' category, reaching an alarming 504. The dire situation has caused serious health concerns among residents, who are struggling to breathe in the polluted air. Delhi's ITO area was enveloped in a thick layer of haze, as captured by drone camera footage, while the Indira Gandhi International Airport (T3) recorded an even higher AQI of 571.

• ICAR Revolutionizes Agriculture with Pusa Bio-Decomposer, A Game-Changer for Stubble Management

  Farmers in the key paddy-growing regions of Punjab and Haryana have shown limited interest in adopting the Pusa bio-decomposer, a technology developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). This reluctance comes amidst growing concerns about paddy stubble burning, an environmentally harmful practice. The Pusa bio-decomposer was designed to naturally decompose paddy stubble, effectively converting it into valuable organic manure.