Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 21 August 2024 | Download PDF

National and International News

• The President of India will confer the prestigious National Geoscience Awards 2023 at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre in New Delhi.

About National Geoscience Awards:

• One of the oldest and most prestigious national awards in the field of geosciences.
• Instituted: The award was instituted by the Ministry of Mines in 1966.
• Previous Name: Before 2009, these awards were known as the National Mineral Awards.
• Objective: To honor individuals and teams for extraordinary achievements and outstanding contributions in various fields of geosciences.
• Award Categories:
  • National Geoscience Award for Lifetime Achievement
  • National Geoscience Award
  • National Young Geoscientist Award
• Recognition: The award symbolizes recognition and appreciation for exceptional individuals and organizations demonstrating excellence, dedication, and innovation in geosciences.

• Researchers in Bhuj have recently conducted a study to assess the suitability of different areas in Banni for sustainable grassland restoration, with ecological value as the primary criterion.

About Banni grasslands:

• Location: The Banni Grasslands are located along the northern border of Kachchh district in Gujarat.
• Ethnic Groups: Home to 22 ethnic groups, the majority of whom are pastoralists.
• Biodiversity: The area is rich in biological diversity, featuring:
  • Wildlife: Includes Nilgai, Chinkara, Blackbuck, Wild boar, Golden Jackal, Indian Hare, Indian Wolf, Caracal, Asiatic Wildcat, and Desert Fox.
• Protected Areas: The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and Chhari Dhand Conservation Reserve are part of the Banni Grasslands.

• The Chhattisgarh Forest Department recently organized a Van Mahotsav program in the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) district, where saplings were planted using the Miyawaki method.

About Miyawaki Method:

• Origin: Developed by Japanese botanist and plant ecology expert, Professor Akira Miyawaki.
• Planting Technique:
  • Involves planting two to four types of indigenous trees within every square meter.
  • Only native species that naturally occur in the area, based on the specific climate condition, are used.
• Growth Process:
  • Dense planting leads to seedlings competing for sunlight, resulting in rapid growth.
  • Trees become self-sustainable and grow to their full length within three years.
• Speed and Density: Miyawaki forests grow 10x faster, are 30x denser, and contain 100x more biodiversity compared to conventional methods.

• A number of issues such as climate change, environmental sustainability and food security accelerated the transition to sustainable agriculture.

About Sustainable agriculture:

• Key Principles of Sustainable Agriculture:
  • Increasing Productivity: Enhance productivity while reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and focus on water- and energy-efficient systems.
  • Protecting Natural Resources: Sustainable use and conservation of soil and water resources.
  • Improving Livelihoods: Increase agricultural income, reduce poverty.
  • Enhancing Resilience: Build resilience to extreme weather events and market volatility.
• Methods of Sustainable Agriculture:
  • Organic Farming: Focus on ecological balance, natural inputs, crop rotation, and organic fertilizers. 
  • Crop Rotation: Enhances soil health, breaks pest cycles, and reduces chemical inputs.
  • Agroforestry: Integrates trees with crops/animals, promotes biodiversity, and supplements income.
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Minimizes pesticide use, manages pests while preserving beneficial organisms.
  • Zero Tillage: Preserves soil structure, reduces erosion, and improves water retention.
  • Hydroponics and Aquaponics: Efficient resource use, reduces land degradation, and combines plant and fish farming in a symbiotic system.

• Recently, around 40 Chinese yaks entered Indian territory in the Demchok area of eastern Ladakh and are currently under the control of the local villagers.

About Yaks:

• Geographical Distribution: Found throughout the Himalayan region of south-central Asia, the Tibetan plateau, and Mongolia.
• Species:
  • Scientific Name: Wild yaks (Bos mutus) and domestic yaks (Bos grunniens).
  • Wild yaks and domestic yaks are sometimes considered separate species but can interbreed with various kinds of cattle.
• Habitat:
  • Wild yaks inhabit alpine tundra at altitudes of 5000 to 7000 meters.
  • Domestic yaks can survive at much lower altitudes.
  • Habitat consists of three vegetation types: Alpine meadow, alpine steppe, and desert steppe.
• Yak-Rearing States in India: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Conservation Status: Wild Yaks are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN Red List.

• The Odisha government has requested the central government to increase the state’s wheat quota under the Public Distribution System (PDS) from the current level to 20%. 
• This would allow more people in the state to access wheat through ration shops. 
• The state previously switched to a higher rice quota due to its population’s preference for rice, but now seeks a balance to provide dietary options.

Public Distribution System:

• PDS is a government-run network for distributing essential food commodities like wheat, rice, sugar, and kerosene to a significant portion of the population at subsidized prices.
• It aims to ensure food security, especially for the poor and vulnerable sections of society.   

Key features of PDS:

• Government-managed: Operated jointly by central and state governments.   
• Subsidized prices: Commodities are sold at lower than market rates.
• Targeted beneficiaries: Primarily focuses on below-poverty-line families.   
• Fair Price Shops (FPS): Designated outlets for distributing commodities

• Sanjukta Roy, a pioneering figure in Odisha’s radio and music landscape, passed away on August 15, 2024, at the age of 91. 
• Renowned for her classical vocal prowess, Roy was a disciple of the legendary Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Saheb of Gwalior.
• A remarkable milestone in her career was her performance at the inauguration of All India Radio, Cuttack, in 1948, marking her as Odisha’s first radio artiste. 
• Her contributions to the world of music and broadcasting have left an enduring legacy.

• Odisha is poised to become a major hub for green ship recycling. 
• A private company, Neptunus Ship Builders & Recyclers, has proposed setting up an integrated green ship recycling industrial park in the state.   

Key points:

• Environmental focus: The park will prioritize green and sustainable ship recycling methods.
• Economic benefits: The project is expected to generate millions of tonnes of high-quality steel, boost Odisha’s GDP by billions of dollars, and create thousands of jobs.   
• Skill development: The state government plans to establish a skill development institute to provide trained manpower for the park.
• Strategic location: Odisha’s vast coastline and natural resources make it an ideal location for such a park.   
• This initiative has the potential to significantly contribute to Odisha’s economy and environment while positioning the state as a leader in the global ship recycling industry.

All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of Adda247.