20-February-2024-Daily-Current-Affairs

FARMERS REJECT CENTRE’S PROPOSAL ON MSP ON FIVE CROPS

TOPIC: (GS3) ECONOMY – SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

In the recent talks between the Central government and protesting farmers, a proposal for crop diversification in Punjab was introduced.

The proposal aimed to address concerns related to water usage and environmental degradation by encouraging the cultivation of alternative crops.

However, despite its innovative nature, farmers rejected the proposal, signaling a continuation of the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest.

This rejection prompts a closer examination of the reasons behind pushing for crop diversification, challenges faced, procurement patterns, and recommendations for addressing these issues.

Reasons for Pushing Crop Diversification:

• Water Usage Concerns: Punjab’s heavy reliance on rice and wheat cultivation has raised worries about excessive water consumption and groundwater depletion.
• Environmental Degradation: The proposal aims to diversify crops to reduce water usage and mitigate environmental degradation associated with monoculture.

Challenges in Crop Diversification:

• Limited Results: Previous attempts at crop diversification have yielded limited results, with declines in areas under cotton and maize cultivation.
• Market Prices and Disposal Mechanisms: Challenges persist in areas like pulse cultivation, with issues related to market prices and disposal mechanisms highlighted by the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).

Procurement Patterns and Challenges:

• Key Procurement Agencies: The Food Corporation of India (FCI), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd (NAFED), and the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) play crucial roles in procurement.
• Low Cotton Procurement: While cotton procurement has slightly increased in Punjab, it remains low compared to other states.
• Challenges in Pulse Procurement: NAFED faces challenges in pulse procurement, including stock disposal below MSP and disruptions in market prices.

Recommendations for Addressing Challenges:

• Alternative Disposal Mechanisms: The CACP suggests exploring alternative disposal mechanisms, such as distributing pulses to households in aspirational districts, to enhance nutrition without impacting market prices.
• Stock Disposal Challenges: Addressing challenges in stock disposal is essential to prevent market disruptions and ensure fair prices for farmers.

Improving Crop Diversification in India:

• Identifying Suitable Crops: India should identify crops and varieties suitable for diverse environments and farmers’ preferences.
• Skill Development Policies: Implement skill development policies to promote the cultivation of identified crops among rural livelihoods.
• Research Initiatives: Research institutes like ICAR should conduct further research on crop diversification to identify viable options.
• MSP for Alternative Crops: The government should procure crops, other than wheat and rice, at Minimum Support Prices.
• Reducing Agricultural Emissions: Implement measures such as smarter livestock handling, technology-enabled monitoring of fertilizer application, and more efficient agricultural techniques to reduce agricultural emissions.

LA NINA IMPACTED AIR QUALITY IN INDIA IN THE WINTER OF 2022

TOPIC: (GS1) GROGRAPHY – SOURCE: HINDUSTHAN TIMES

A recent study by Indian researchers from the National Institute of Advanced Studies and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology explores the connection between La Nina events and air quality in India.

La Nina, characterized by the cooling of the eastern Pacific Ocean, has been found to influence air quality in Indian cities, revealing a potential indirect impact of climate change on air pollution.

Impact on Air Quality:

• Factors Affecting Air Quality: Meteorological factors like temperature, moisture, wind speed, and direction significantly influence air quality by trapping pollutants and transporting them across regions.
• Deviation from Normal Patterns: Winter 2022 saw a deviation in air quality patterns, with northern Indian cities experiencing cleaner air while western and southern cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai reported worse-than-usual air quality.

Anomalous Behavior and Wind Circulation:

• Change in Wind Direction: An essential factor was a change in wind circulation; winds blew in a north-south direction, bypassing Delhi and transporting pollutants to southern regions.
• Extended La Nina Effect: The prolonged La Nina event lasting three years influenced wind patterns, leading to anomalous air circulation. Computer models indicated similarities between observed changes and La Nina conditions.

Uncertainties and Further Research:

• Future Implications: While the study highlights La Nina’s impact on air quality, uncertainties persist regarding El Nino effects and the cumulative impact of La Nina events.
• Need for Further Research: Comprehensive research is necessary to understand complex interactions between climate phenomena and air pollution better.

Conclusion:

The study concludes that changes in wind patterns, driven by La Nina events, significantly contributed to unusual air quality trends in the winter of 2022.

However, it acknowledges that local meteorological conditions unrelated to La Nina could also influence pollutant concentrations.

The findings emphasize the intricate relationship between climate variability and air quality, underscoring the need for comprehensive research and policy measures to address air pollution challenges in India.

About La Nina:

La Nina, meaning “The Little Girl” in Spanish, is also known as El Viejo, anti-El Nino, or “a cold event.”

• Conditions: It occurs when the Eastern Pacific’s water temperature falls significantly below average, creating high pressure over the Eastern Equatorial Pacific.
• Indicators: Sea surface temperature dropping by more than 0.9°C for at least five consecutive three-month seasons indicates a La Nina event.
• Features: La Nina brings cooler-than-normal seas in the tropical Pacific, lower-than-normal air pressure in the western Pacific, increased rainfall in certain areas, and higher-than-normal pressure in the central and eastern Pacific.
• Regional Impacts: While it leads to above-average rainfall in northern Brazil and southeast Africa, it can cause catastrophic floods in northern Australia. Drier-than-normal weather is reported in the US Gulf Coast, the pampas region of southern South America, and the west coast of tropical South America.

WHY ARE HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICTS ESCALATING IN KERALA?

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Kerala has seen a steady rise in human-animal conflict in recent years. Attacks from wild animals not only pose a threat to life but have also wreaked havoc in the state’s agriculture sector.

Scale of Human-Animal Conflict in Kerala:

• Forest Coverage: Kerala boasts nearly 30% forest cover, leading to close proximity between human settlements, agricultural plantations, and wildlife habitats.
• Escalation: A sharp rise in human-animal conflict incidents, resulting in over 600 casualties since 2015.
• Forest Department’s Study: The State Forest department’s study reveals conflicts in 1,004 areas, with over 48,000 incidents of crop damage between 2013-14 and 2018-19.

Causes of Increase in Human-Wildlife Conflict:

• Human Activities: Increased cultivation around wildlife habitats, changing cropping patterns, and human movement during odd hours contribute to conflicts.
• Conservation Efforts: Population growth of elephants and tigers due to successful conservation efforts.
• Habitat Issues: Habitat depletion, fragmentation, invasive species, and monoculture adversely affecting plant biodiversity.

Proposed Solutions and Challenges:

• Effective Measures: Elephant-proof trenches and solar fences are effective if properly maintained.
• Forest Department’s Proposals: Proposals include hanging power fences and an eco-restoration policy to discourage animals from agricultural lands.
• Technological Solutions: Early warning systems utilizing drones are suggested but face limited implementation.

Connection to Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Norm:

• ESZ as a Solution: ESZ norm is suggested to reduce human-wildlife conflicts by creating protected zones around wildlife habitats.
• Legislative Assembly’s Stance: Kerala’s legislative assembly urges exemption from ESZ due to land scarcity and dense population.
• Implementation Challenges: Challenges arise due to the close proximity of people to wildlife habitats, making ESZ implementation complex.

CAMBODIA TO REVIVE TIGER POPULATION WITH INDIA’S HELP

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE: THE HINDU

Cambodia aims to revive its tiger population with assistance from India, planning to import four tigers this year.

                

• The decline in Cambodia’s tiger population is attributed to intensive poaching, leading to their functional extinction by 2016.
• A memorandum of understanding was signed between Cambodia and India in 2022 to restore tigers and their habitats.
• Plans involve bringing one male and three female tigers to Cambodia by the end of 2024.
• The tigers will be acclimatized in a 222-acre forest within the Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary before release into the wild.
• Over 400 cameras are being installed at one-kilometer intervals in the Cardamom Mountains reserve to monitor wildlife, aiding in tiger breeding.
• If successful, the project aims to import twelve more tigers over the next five years.
• India, with a wild tiger population exceeding 3,600, offers its expertise to assist Cambodia in tiger conservation efforts.

DOZENS OF MEN KILLED IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA TRIBAL VIOLENCE

TOPIC: (GS1) GEOGRAPHY – SOURCE: NDTV

A fresh outbreak of tribal violence in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea has resulted in the deaths of dozens of men.

About Papua New Guinea:

• Location: An island country in the southwestern Pacific, comprising the eastern half of New Guinea and several smaller offshore islands.
• Neighbours: Shares borders with Indonesia to the west, Australia to the south, and the Solomon Islands to the southeast.

Capital: Port Moresby.

• Terrain: Predominantly mountainous with low-lying plains in southern New Guinea.

Population and Settlement:

• Inhabited over 40,000 years by diverse peoples, collectively known as Melanesians.

Language and Religion:

• English is the primary language for government and commerce.
• Tok Pisin is widely spoken in everyday contexts.
• Linguistically, it is the world’s most diverse country, with over 800 languages.
• Majority of the population is nominally Christian.

Government and Independence:

• Gained self-governance on December 1, 1973, and achieved independence on September 16, 1975.
• Constitutional monarchy and a member of the Commonwealth.
• The British monarch, represented by a governor-general, serves as the head of state, and the Prime Minister is the head of government.

DGCA ISSUES SHOW CAUSE NOTICE TO AIR INDIA FOR VIOLATION OF AIRCRAFT RULES

TOPIC: (GS2) POLITY AND GOVERNANCE – SOURCE: ECONOMIC TIMES

Recently, DGCA issued a show cause notice to Air India related to an incident where an 80-year-old man passed away after walking to the terminal due to a lack of wheelchair assistance.

About Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):

Regulatory Body: DGCA is the regulatory body in civil aviation, focusing on safety matters.

Attachment: It operates as an attached office of the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures safety in air transport services to/from/within India.
• Enforces civil air regulations, air safety, and airworthiness standards.
• Coordinates regulatory functions with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Headquarters: New Delhi.

Functions and Responsibilities:

Safety Assurance:

• Ensures safety for passengers and crew on all flights within India.
• Conducts regular safety inspections of airlines and aircraft.
• Investigates incidents or accidents within Indian airspace.

Industry Growth:

• Plays a vital role in developing and growing the Indian aviation industry.
• Collaborates with airlines and airport operators for industry development.

Air Traffic Regulation:

• Regulates air traffic in India, working with the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• Develops new air traffic control systems and technologies for airspace efficiency.

Licensing and Certification:

• Issues licenses and certificates to aviation personnel, including pilots and maintenance engineers.

CHINOOK HELICOPTER PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN PUNJAB

TOPIC: (GS3) SECURITY – SOURCE: NDTV

Recently, an Indian Air Force Chinook helicopter made a precautionary landing in Punjab’s Barnala due to a technical snag.

About Chinook Helicopter:

• Role: It serves as the primary heavy troop and supply transport aircraft for the U.S. Army and international defence forces.
• Manufacturer: Boeing, an American aerospace and defence firm.
• Usage: Used for troop transportation, artillery movement, and logistics support on the battlefield.
• India’s Fleet: India operates around 15 CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Features:

• Design: Twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter.
• Cockpit: Equipped with a fully integrated digital cockpit management system.
• Cargo Handling: Advanced capabilities for handling troops, artillery, and supplies.
• Airframe: Monolithic structure with vibration reduction.
• Speed: Capable of reaching a maximum speed of 160 knots (296 kmph).
• Cargo Capacity: Can carry up to 55 troops or approximately 10 tonnes of mixed cargo.
• Hook System: Features a triple hook system providing stability for large external loads or multiple external loads.

PONMUDI HILLS

TOPIC: (GS3) ENVIRONMENT – SOURCE: DOWN TO EARTH

A team of researchers has discovered a new species of damselfly at Ponmudi hills in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala.

About Ponmudi Hills:

• Meaning: Translating to ‘Golden Hill’ or ‘Golden Peak.’
• Location: Situated in Kerala, part of the Western Ghats mountain range.
• Altitude: Positioned at an altitude of 1100 meters above sea level.
• Biodiversity: Recognized for its rich biodiversity.

Key Facts About the Damselfly Species:

• Name: Cliffside Bambootail (Phylloneura rupestris).
• Group: Belongs to the bambootails group, named for their bamboo-like abdomen.
• Habitat: Lays eggs in moss beds in seasonal rills flowing over rock cliffs.
• Significance: The discovery is notable as the genus Phylloneura was previously considered monotypic for over 160 years.

Myristica Bambootail:

• Existing Species: The Myristica Bambootail is the only previously described species in the genus Phylloneura.
• Habitat: Associated with myristica swamps, found in the Western Ghats, particularly between the Nilgiri Hills and Sharavathi Valley.
• Conservation Status: Considered near-threatened according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.