Hi, NewsWrap for June 29, 2023

29-June-2023: RGB, Karnataka, Green Hydrogen, ICAR-SBI Signs MoU with Indian Sugar Mills Association, Haryana's Cotton Yield Hits 20-Year Low

29 June 2023

  • Scientists Uncover Rare Underground Palm that Flowers and Fruits Below Surface

    Researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens (RGB), Kew, in collaboration with their partners, have made a remarkable discovery: a palm species that flowers and bears fruit almost entirely underground. This groundbreaking finding, published in the journal PALMS, unveils a new-to-science species named Pinanga subterranea, derived from the Latin word for 'underground.' Native to the lush tropical island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, the plant and its fruit have long been known to locals, who even enjoy consuming the sweet and juicy bright-red fruit. Surprisingly, P. subterranea remained unnoticed by scientists for years, despite the study of over 300 different palm species on the island.

  • K’taka Govt Offers Cash in Place of 5 kg Extra Rice for BPL Families Amid Grain Shortage

    The Karnataka government has announced its decision to provide cash payments to beneficiaries instead of rice under the 'Anna Bhagya' scheme. The move comes as the government faces difficulties in procuring the required quantities of rice to fulfill its election promise. According to the Congress' election manifesto, the party had pledged to provide an additional 5 kg of rice per month, in addition to the 5 kg provided by the central government, free of cost. The disbursement of cash payments will begin from July 1, as stated by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after a Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

  • Int'l Conference on Green Hydrogen to be Held in New Delhi from July 5-7, 2023

    The Government of India is set to organize the International Conference on Green Hydrogen (ICGH-2023) from July 5th to 7th, 2023, at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi. The conference aims to bring together experts from the global scientific and industrial communities to discuss the latest advancements and emerging technologies in the field of green hydrogen. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, in collaboration with the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and the Office of Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, is organizing the conference. It aligns with the objectives of India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, which seeks to achieve the country's target of net-zero emissions by 2070.

  • ICAR-SBI Signs MoU with Indian Sugar Mills Association to Identify Climate-Resilient Sugarcane Varieties

    The Sugarcane Breeding Institute in Coimbatore, in partnership with the Indian Sugar Mills Association (ISMA) based in New Delhi, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a pioneering project aimed at developing location-specific and climate-resilient sugarcane varieties. This collaborative effort seeks to enhance the yield and quality potential of sugarcane crops in both tropical and sub-tropical regions across the country. The President of ISMA, Aditya Jhunjhunwala, expressed his enthusiasm for the project during the signing ceremony. With a financial outlay of Rs.7.5 crores, the initiative aims to identify sugarcane varieties that offer higher yields, benefiting farmers across the nation.

  • Haryana's Cotton Yield Hits 20-Year Low: Pest-Resistant Bt Variety and Untimely Rain Blamed

    Haryana, a key cotton-producing state in India, has experienced its lowest cotton yield in over two decades during the 2022-23 season. This decline comes despite the widespread adoption of genetically modified Bt cotton, which was introduced in northern India in 2005-06 to enhance yield and resist pests. Several factors, including attacks by pests like Pink Bollworm and Whitefly, as well as diseases like leaf curl and parawilt, have contributed to the sharp drop in yield. Cotton and paddy are the primary crops cultivated in Haryana during the kharif season, covering a significant portion of the state's cultivable land. Data from the textile commissioner's office reveals that the cotton yield in Haryana stands at 295.65 kg lint cotton (ginned cotton) per hectare, which is only 39 percent of the yield recorded in 2013-14 (761.19 kg per hectare).

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29 June 2023

That's it for for 29 June 2023
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