Fighting Corona, Farmers Protest, Subsidy, GM Veggies, Lockdown, Weather

29 May 2021

• Sugar subsidy reduced by INR 2,000

  Indian government has reduced subsidy on sugar exports to INR 4,000 from INR 6,000, after the worldwide price of sugar increases. As the prices increase the sugar producers should not need government help.

• GM veggies field trials not approved in India

  India has banned field trial of Genetically Modified vegetables. The big Agri companies are being hit hardest by this as they have invested heavily in such technologies.

• Lockdown forces farmers to sell crops at a loss

  Farmers across the country are at distress as they have to sell their products at cheaper rates due to the lockdown. They have no option but to sell their crops to government at MSP, when these crops would have sold at double the price in open market. MSP is popular among farmers but not for all crops. Some farmers have thrown away their crops instead of selling after low offers.

• Farmers plan anti-BJP campaign in UP

  The demands of protesting farmers have not been accepted by the BJP-led government at the Centre. Assembly elections will take place in Uttar Pradesh in 2022 and the farmers are planning an anti-BJP campaign as part of their protests.

• Brazil to face drought conditions

  Normal rainfall is not expected this year in Brazil, and this will lead to drought across the country.

• Districts of Eastern UP to face heavy rainfall

  Kushinagar, Maharajganj and Siddharthnagar Districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh will see heavy rainfall today. 

• The success of HRMN-99, new variety of apple

  Harinam Sharma from Himachal Pradesh developed a new variety of apple that can grow in warmer conditions, some years ago. Most apples require cold weather to grow, hence this variety of apples was tested in non-traditional regions. It has proved to be a success and hence you will get to eat apples even in warn seasons

• An indigo dye that will guard your eyes

  Reseachers have found a natural Indigo dye that absorbs harmful radiations. This will now be used to create optical limiters and tested to see the protection that it can provide to human eyes. 

• More green zones for drones

  166 more green zones have been added to the existing list of green zones in India. Drones will be allowed to fly over these regions after taking permission through a dedicated App.

• IPL to re-start in September in UAE

  This year’s IPL edition which was stopped after Corona cases among the players, will restart in September in UAE and should complete without trouble in October.

• Big Basket taken over by TATA

  TATA is now the majority stake holder in Big Basket. TATA likes to diversify and online shopping is increasingly popular in India.