3rd March 2021, Biotech, Ocean Initiative, RMS procurement, warehouse storage, Corona, farmers protest

3 March 2021

• More than 850 Biotech Startups in 2020

  Biotech sector in India is on course for becoming a USD 150 Billion Industry. Just in the  last year there have been more than 850 Biotech startups. The Biotech sector is expected to improve the life of common man. Project Development Cell for Biotechnology has been announced by the Union Minister, Mr. Piyush Goyal.

• Indo-Norway Integrated Ocean Initiative starts

  India and Norway have joined hands to make sure that the offshore and onshore activities are safe and sustainable. Fisheries, energy and aquaculture are some of the sectors with human activities that depend on sea, for their existence.

• 9.56% more wheat to be procured in RMS 2021-22

  Indian government has announced that they intend to procure 427.363 LMT wheat in the next Rabi Marketing Season (RMS), which is 9.56% more than what is being procured in the current 2020-21 RMS.

• GOI plans to increase warehouse storage space

  Mr. Piyush Goyal, Union minister, Government of India  has told the Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) to increase its storage capabilities, particularly for the 22 essential items. Warehousing infrastructure is essential for farmers, as it helps in reducing wastage and controlling commodity prices.

• Central Government assures States on vaccines

  The Central government has assured the State Governments that there will be no shortage in supply of vaccines for COVID-19. The number of COVID affected patients varies across different states.

• Farmers rally against Current Governments in State Elections

  The national elections being far away, the state elections have caught the eye of the protesting farmers. They intend to oppose BJP and support the parties who are willing to take action on their behalf.

• Swine fever confirmed in Yunnan, China

  African swine fever has been confirmed on some piglets in Yunnan, China. Government is trying to identify farms where the disease might have spread and contain it. African swine fever is a lethal disease for pigs but does not affect humans.

• Coffee prices to rise in USA

  Coffee that you buy from the shops in USA is getting expensive. Coffee prices are going to rise in USA, on account of increased transportation costs. This is because of excessive use of shipping services in the pandemic.

• Indian sugar production increases by 20 percent

  India the largest producer and consumer of sugar has increased its output of sugar by 20 percent in last 5 months. Some of the sugar producing mills had to stop functioning due to lack of transportation facilities. There are limited number of trucks and hence will not be available to carry excess sugar.

• MoU between India and Fiji includes agriculture

  Memorandum of Understanding is to be signed by India with Fiji, which includes cooperation  on developing infrastructure for agriculture, training for farmers through seminars and workshops, marketing and processing of agricultural commodities, capacity development in all areas of agriculture and direct access to each other's agricultural markets. Once signed the Memorandum will be in effect for 5 years. 

• 29 Private hospitals in Mumbai authorised to vaccinate against Corona

  Government has started permitting Private hospitals across India to vaccinate against Corona. In Mumbai 29 Private Hospitals have been authorised to vaccinate.