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Pb. Current Affairs

10th January 2022

Topic: Agriculture

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

What is the news?

Moderate rain beneficial for rabi crop in Punjab: Agri experts
Light to moderate rain lashed most parts of the Malwa belt and other parts of Punjab during the past 24 hours, which has raised the hopes of farmers for bumper wheat crop.
Agricultural experts said that the rain at that time was good for wheat, mustard and other rabies crops. Weather conditions became favourable for wheat plants to grow.
Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Faridkot, Barnala, Sangrur, Patiala, Ludhiana and other districts received moderate to heavy rains, which contributed to the irrigation of crops.

Important:

A few showers of rain during the months of December and January are beneficial to the rabi crops because theynprotect the crops from frost.

What experts shared?

Dr Shailendra Singh Dhaka, an agricultural scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Pilibhit, said the cold wave and rainfall would increase yield of wheat by 15-20%, and augment the production of lentils and mustard by 25-30%.
“In the midst of the cold wave, intermittent light rainfall uniformly irrigated the cultivated fields. The minimum temperature of between 3-8°C supports growth of tillers in wheat, mustard and lentil seedlings while the ideal rainfall contributes to their healthy and rapid growth,” said Dr Shailendra Singh Dhaka.
According to RS Sengar, professor of biotechnology at Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Agriculture University at Meerut, says, “Rainfall, accompanied by thunder, is ideal for sown rabi crop, including wheat, chana, etc. Thunder breaks nitrogen bond and transforms it into a plant-usable form, and accounts for physical fixation of nitrogen up to 5% in soil — which is actually better and natural as compared to fertilisers.”
“The intermittent rains have replenished soil moisture in sugarcane fields, which will help the cane maintain desired level of juice,” said Dr Jai Singh, director of Uttar Pradesh Council of Sugarcane Research.
A farmer, Naveen Pradhan of Meerut, said, “Rain water at this time is a boon for crops, because the fruits have not yet begun and, therefore, the chances of crop loss are minimized. Natural nitrogen fertilises the land, which is always better than industrial nitrogen. This rain will be good for crops.”

(Source: Punjab tribune and timesofindia)

Topic: Crop Management

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

What is the news?

Bathinda: Pest control can be kept at arm’s length, says the Panel.

To counter pink bollworm infestation on cotton crop in the coming seasons, a high-level meeting of agricultural experts and agri-scientists from three states, which were affected with the pest attack this season, was held under the aegis of the Interstate Consultative and Monitoring Committee here.