Corona Pandemic, Farmers Protests, MSP Procurement, Deforestation

19 May 2021

• Quantity of wheat and paddy procured under MSP much greater than last year

  70 LMT more wheat and 51 LMT more paddy, have been procured this year compared with the procurement of these crops last year. About 150 Lakh farmers have benefitted from the procurement of these two crops combined.

• PM Narendra Modi may lose popularity over Corona handling

  A large number of people in India are not satisfied with the way Government is handling the Corona Pandemic. This is having an impact over PM Narendra Modi's popularity in the country but he is way ahead of the competition, as there is no match for him in the opposition parties.

• Farming needs behind deforestation across the globe

  With increasing demand for food, with increasing populations more farm lands are required to feed these people. To setup these farmlands most of the time the forest areas are cleared for cattle farming, traditional farming for crops or horticulture activities. Illegal deforestation is the term given to forest lands cleared without government approval. In most of the developing countries, the farming is taking over illegally deforested areas.

• Parts of Gujarat and Maharashtra still under alert for heavy rainfall

  Junagarh, Amreli, Botad, Bhavnagar and Navsari in Gujarat are on alert due to heavy rainfall. Raigad and Sub-urban Mumbai are also under alert for heavy rain.

• Prayers for late Ajit Singh on Gazipur Border

  Ajit Singh, former Union Minister of Agriculture and former Cabinet Minister for Food Processing Industries passed a fortnight ago due to Corona complications. He was 82 and highly regarded by the protesting farmers. These farmers yesterday prayed for him at his teharavi, while protesting at the   Gazipur border.

• Fuel shortages disrupt agriculture in Venezuela

  A large number of farmers are facing issues with their farming activities due to fuel shortages. They are not able to get enough diesel for their farming machines. This has caused problem in a country suffering from food shortages.

• Electricity problems affect life and businesses in Ivory Coast

  Ivory coast is the biggest producer of cocoa in the world. However, its Cocoa processing plants output has gone down with electricity shortages. This problem may continue throughout this summer in Ivory Coast.

• Mice attacks in Australia

  Australia has been suffering from mice attacks for last half year, they initially fought it in every way they could, but now they are learning to live with them.