Reportage
Jawahar Model of farming with bags of merit
Scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University, Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh have developed the Jawahar Model of farming in which crops are grown not on land but in grow-bags. This technique is less expensive, uses less water and fertilisers, and needs limited space.
Divendra Singh
Lakhimpur Kheri a ‘planned conspiracy’, says SIT; Court orders adding of murder charges against the accused
The Special Investigation Team of the UP police probing the Lakhimpur Kheri violence incident of October 3, which killed eight people, has revealed that the violence was a planned conspiracy with an intention to kill. The Court has ordered addition of several IPC sections against the 13 accused, including attempt to murder. Union Minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra is one of the accused, at present lodged in jail.
Gaon Connection
Non-pesticidal management in agriculture is a win-win for farmers and consumers
The non-pesticidal management (NPM) method of farming involves multiple strategies to control pests and to maintain the health of the crop – before, during and after the crop cycle. These include intercropping, mixed cropping, crop rotation, planting of trap crops and border crops, and use of organic matter.
Anukriti Mishra
Hasdeo Aranya coal mining controversy heats up; Chhattisgarh HC stays land acquisition for a coal block
After the environment ministry approved the coal mining in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo forest, more than 25 conservationists wrote to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister demanding dismissal of coal mining expansion in the ecologically sensitive region. Meanwhile, the High Court has issued a stay on land acquisition for the Parsa coal block in Hasdeo Aranya.
Shivani Gupta
Omicron’s impact expected to be less severe due to rising COVID19 vaccination: Finance Ministry
In its monthly report on economy, the Finance Ministry mentioned that the Omicron variant of COVID19 poses a risk to the reviving economy but estimated its impact to be ‘less severe’. Details here.
Gaon Connection
UP govt orders prompt compensation worth Rs 5,350 million for crop losses due to floods
Additional Chief Secretary Rural Development informed that the state government has released an installment of Rs 63.16 crore (Rs 63,16,82,771) to be distributed as relief to over 182,731 farmers affected by the flood.
Gaon Connection
Citing security concerns, SC approves double lane for Char Dham road project in Uttarakhand
The acceptance came almost a month after Attorney General K K Venugopal, while representing the Union government, urged the apex court to grant the approval as the present width of the road is not wide enough for the Indian Army to mobilise its missile regiments.
Gaon Connection
COVID restrictions on sale of crops across the border to Nepal has plunged Bihar farmers into losses
Farmers in districts along the India-Nepal border in north Bihar prefer selling their farm produce in Nepal as they lack a mandi system in Bihar. However, restrictions on the movement of goods across the international border, since the beginning of the COVID19 pandemic, has adversely affected their livelihoods. Farmers of Bihar desperately await the opening of the border to resume sales.
Nishant Kumar
Parliament Winter Session: CBSE drops passage from question paper after Sonia Gandhi flags sexist undertone
A reading comprehension passage in the CBSE’s class 10 question paper was criticised for its sexist content by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi. Minutes later, CBSE dropped the passage and issued a clarification. Details here.
Gaon Connection
Should tigers in forest reserves be treated for their wounds — or not?
A viral photograph of an injured tiger in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna Tiger Reserve has set off a debate on should the big cats, who get injured in the jungle due to natural reasons of territorial rivalries, be offered medical treatment, or left for Nature to take its own course?