PIB Summary- 2nd May, 2022 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Signing of a joint declaration with Germany on agro-ecology and sustainable management of natural resources

Context
Initiatives have been taken by India and Germany jointly on agroecology and sustainable management of natural resources.

What is agroecology?

• Agroecology is a holistic and integrated approach to the design and management of sustainable agriculture and food systems that incorporates both ecological and social concepts and principles.
  

Agroecology brings solutions to multiple Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 1: Poverty alleviation: Agroecology contributes to the improvement of farmers’ livelihoods and the reduction of rural poverty. It can help to boost economic resilience and provide income stability throughout the year.
• SDG 2: Zero hunger: Agroecology promotes local, stable, and diverse diets. It is based on territorial production systems that are diverse, resilient, and long-term. 
• SDG 10: Human rights: Agroecology promotes marginalised groups’ inclusion and equal access to resources for all. It encourages resource governance that is inclusive, responsible, and transparent.
• SDG 13: Climate change resilience: Agroecology helps to protect, restore and improve agriculture and promote greater carbon sequestration, and provide climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions. 

Significance of joint declaration on agroecology for India:

• The joint declaration will promote research, knowledge sharing, and innovation among academic institutions in both countries as well as practitioners, such as farmers.
• Encouragement of exchanges, partnerships, and research collaboration with the private sector will aid in the transfer of technology and scientific knowledge.
• Germany plans to provide up to 300 million euros in financial and technical assistance for projects under this initiative by 2025.

‘Promoting Kisan Drones – Issues, Challenges and Way Forward’

Context
The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare inaugurated the conference on “Promoting Kisan Drones: Issues, Challenges and the Way Ahead”.

What is a Kisan drone?

• The Kisan drone is an unmanned tank filled with insecticides and nutrients. 
• The drones are expected to have a high capacity of 5 to 10 kg. The drone will spray the same amount of pesticide on about one acre of land in a few minutes. 
• They will also be used to carry vegetables, fruits, fish, etc. to the markets from the farms.

Government Efforts to Promote Kisan Drones

• The government is promoting the use of the ‘Kisan Drone’ for crop assessment, land record digitization, and pesticide and nutrient spraying.
• The government is offering a 50% subsidy, up to Rs. 5 lakh, to SC-ST, small and marginal, women, and farmers in northeastern states who want to buy drones.
• Financial assistance will be provided to other farmers up to 40%, or a maximum of Rs.4 lakh.
• Financial assistance @ 100 % cost of drone together with the contingent expenditure is extended under Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanisation (SMAM) to the following institutions:
  (i) Farm Machinery Training & Testing Institutes,
  (ii) Institutions of Indian Council of Agricultural Research,
  (iii) Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and
  (iv) State Agricultural Universities (SAUs)
• Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs) are given grants worth 75% of the cost of drones to be used in demonstrations on farmers’ fields.

Forest landscape restoration

Context
Joint Declaration of Intent on Forest Landscape Restoration between India and Germany signed virtually.

What is Forest Landscape Restoration?

• Forest landscape restoration (FLR) is a continuous process of restoring ecological function and improving human well-being in deforested or degraded forest landscapes.
• FLR entails restoring an entire landscape to meet current and future needs, as well as providing a variety of benefits and land uses over time.

Indo – German Green Hydrogen Task Force

Context
India and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on the Indo- German Hydrogen Task Force virtually.

Indo – German Green Hydrogen Task Force

• Indo – German Green Hydrogen Task Force will be established by India and Germany.
• Aims:
  (i) To strengthen mutual cooperation in the production, utilisation, storage and distribution of Green Hydrogen.
  (ii) To build enabling frameworks for projects, regulations and standards, trade and joint research and development (R&D) projects.

Significance for India:

• It will support the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to make India a global leader in the production and export of green hydrogen.
• India has the ability to produce low-cost Green Hydrogen to help decarbonize a variety of industries while also exporting it to meet global demand.

National Open Access Registry (NOAR)

Context
National Open Access Registry (NOAR) has successfully gone live recently.

National Open Access Registry (NOAR)

• The Ministry of Power established the National Open Access Registry.
• NOAR is an electronic platform with a single-window interface that allows all stakeholders to process short-term open access applications electronically.
• The administration of short-term open access in the interstate transmission system will be automated as a result of this.
• Functions:
  (i) To act as a repository for information relating to interstate transmission’s short-term open access, such as standing clearance issued by RLDCs or SLDCs.
  (ii) To provide customers with short-term open access, and to make it available to stakeholders via the internet.
• Benefits:
  (i) Facilitate faster electricity markets.
  (ii) Enable integration of Renewable Energy (RE) resources into the grid.
  (iii) Easier and faster access to the short-term electricity market.
• Nodal Agency: The National Load Despatch Centre (NLDC) has been designated as NOAR’s nodal agency. NLDC is run by Power System Operation Corporation Limited (POSOCO).