In the 21st century, advancement of technology has reached new heights, one of the most illustrious examples is visible is the Agricultural Technology. As the word suggests, the technology is not used for the improvement of agricultural yield which includes horticulture but also aquaculture. The aim of the very field is simple, to improve yield, efficiency and profability.

The field requires the skills to manoeuvre drones, Light and heat control and utilizes Satellite photography and sensors, IoT-based sensor networks, Phase tracking, Weather forecasts, Automated irrigation, Intelligent software analysis for pest and disease prediction, soil management and other involved analytical tasks. The field of Biotechnology helps developing hybrid plants which are able to adapt to the changing environment of earth.

The water quality for hydroponic system matters to a great deal as the of it will decide the success of the farm. Since the drinking water for humans is often treated with chemicals, most commonly used, chlorine, it makes it harder for the plants to grow. Although it might be safe for human consumption, it reduces the ability of the plants to absorb nitrate and phosphate nutrients. The hard quality of water damages the system of plants as the plants have to spend more energy to absorb the nutrients from it and completely absorb it. Additionally, it can result in the formation of solid calcium carbonate which causes scaling on pipes and pumps. To combat this issue, boiling of water is highly recommended to activate the filter to remove chlorine. A Reverse Osmosis filter is recommended to combat the issue of chemicals and organisms like bacteria or pathogen that can attack the plants.

The use of technology has reached a new level. Instead of using a sprayer to kill the weeds, it can also have a catastrophic effect on the crops. To overcome this, farming robots have been introduced where they use the sensors and vision systems to identify the weeds directly with pesticides. An eminent example of this includes small motors FAULHABER DC micromotors. The dimensions of these are extremely small which start from 1.9 millimetres (mm) in diameter which are ideal for agritech robot applications.

Since the advancement of the technological field, large and heavy machines have certainly lifted the burden off the shoulders of farmers but the heavy movement of these machines leads to compaction of the soil which eventually leads to poorer crop yields and increased pollution from agricultural land. By using light machinery, it avoids the problems stated above and also reduces the use of harmful pesticides and overall can improve the health of the soil. The choice of motor used in farming robots can make a significant difference to its overall performance — helping the industry to continue to reap what they sow. These are a few examples of the benefits of the field of agricultural technology, the promising field is constantly trying to ensure the eradication of the issues faced in the field of agriculture, which hopefully, someday will be achieved.

Image Reference: https://blog.upes.ac.in/evolution-of-agritech-experts-show-the-way/

It’s June and probably not the best start to yet another month of the year 2020. The western coat had been hit with yet another severe cyclonic storm since May 20, 2020. Nisarga is said to be the strongest cyclone to ever hit the coast of Maharashtra since June of 1891.  

The name “Nisarga” was suggested by Bangladesh. The in Bangla means “Nature”

According to the reports of the Metrological Department, a low pressure was created on May 31, 2020. Due to this low pressure, it went on to create a depression to the east of the Arabian Sea on June 1, 2020. The depression gradually intensified giving rise to a cyclonic storm which was centred about 340 km south-west of Goa and 630km south-southwest of Mumbai and 850km south-southwest of Gujrat. Alerting the authorities and the citizens of the cyclone, on June 1, 2020, 33 National Defence Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in the region. It was predicted to the most destructive cyclone and its wind speeding up to 80-90 kmph. Speeding upto 120 kmph with a radius of 60km, it caused a landfall at Murud in Murud in Raigad district of Maharashtra on June 3, 2020.

Consequently, when the cyclonic storm hit the cost, it made a landfall in Alibag at 12:30pm. Videos of the destruction caused due to storm went viral, one of which depicted a banner falling into an empty plot with flowing traffic beside it. The storm claimed 2 lives and while 3 were injured as it made its way towards Pune. It was the cause of a landfall in the coastal Rigad district of Maharashtra at 1pm. The strong gusty winds made the heavy tin sheets blow away which was a roof over a few resident’s head. In Gujrat 18 teams of NDRF and six teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were sent for rescue operations.

The cyclone is said to have damaged 8,000 hectares of crops in the Rigad district of Maharashtra along with the seven districts of Konkan (including Raigad) and Nashik, Jalgaon and Dhule in north Maharashtra. According reports, the MP of Rigad and NCP leader has demanded a package of whopping 5,000 crore as a relief aid. However, the decision on the relief package is expected to be announced in the coming week. The farmers usually receive 6800 rupees to 18000 rupees per hectare for losses as a compensation while the compensation for repairs, construction of the destroyed buildings ranges within 6000 and 6 lakhs. The state has decided to pay a lumpsum of 4 lakhs as ex-gratia for those who’ve lost their lives battling for survival through the cyclonic storms.

“AMPHAN”, EVACUATION AMID CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC

Know about How India braced to fight the “Virus from Air”

AMPHAN pronounced as “UM-PUN” is the super-tropical cyclonic storm with a speed of 240 km/h, a minimum pressure of 925 hPa. A tropical cyclone is a weather phenomenon that is essentially a rapidly rotating storm system with characteristics such as a low-pressure centre, strong winds and thunderstorms that produce heavy rain, among others.

“AMPHAN” like giant engines uses warm, moist air as fuel from the area of low pressure over the southern Bay of Bengal.

 Aman initially grew powerful because the waters it passed over were exceedingly warm, as high as 88 degrees in parts of the Indian Ocean. Warmer water provides more of the energy that fuels such rotating storms. Cyclones have become stronger worldwide during the past four decades supporting what theory and computer models have long suggested: climate change is making these storms more intense and destructive. The authorities acted quickly to move people from the cyclone’s path, but worried they might be putting them into the path of the coronavirus. The Assam government on Tuesday issued a "high alert" over cyclone 'Amphan' and directed the state disaster management authority to set up a control room to deal with the situation. Quoting the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna said there is a strong likelihood of widespread effect of the cyclone in Assam, especially in west Assam districts.

Protecting people from becoming infected by the coronavirus while they are packed inside emergency shelters. Around three million people in India and Bangladesh have been evacuated to cyclone shelters. Some of these structures are huge, holding up to 5,000 people. In Nedhuali, a village on India’s coast, police officers moved from mud house to mud house with folded hands, urging residents to get to the emergency shelters. But many villagers refused, saying they were afraid of becoming ill.

Kolkata sat directly in cyclone Amphan’s path. The precautions taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus may have helped the city ready itself for the storm. Many of the 15 million or so people who live in the Kolkata metropolitan area had already been staying at home, obeying India’s lockdown rules.

The Odisha government officials estimated that the cyclone has affected around 44.8 lakh people in the state. Farmers in Odisha found their fields unfit for the coming Kharif crop as about two feet of saline water was standing on the land. Odisha, which has been ravaged by a string of cyclones over the last few years, including the cyclone Fani last year, has made arrangements to shift 11 lakh, people, from vulnerable areas, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P.K. Jena said. Twelve coastal districts—Ganjam, Gajapti, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Jajpur, Cuttack, Khurda and Nayagarh—are on high alert. He said of the 809 cyclone shelters in the 12 coastal districts, 242 are currently being used as temporary medical camps for the returnees from different states amid the COVID- 19 lockdown.

"We have 567 cyclone and flood shelters available to house the people in case evacuation is required. In addition, we have arranged 7,092 buildings to keep people if required," Jena said. "Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), NDRF, and fire service personnel have already been sent to the districts. We are also in constant touch with the Indian Coast Guard, IMD, and NDRF for any requirement," he said, adding "saving lives is our priority".
Officials were not taking any chances. They cleared out storm drains, shored up slum shanties with bamboo poles, and removed objects like potted plants from roofs and balconies so they wouldn’t turn into missiles.

More than 73 people were killed by the powerful cyclone that slammed into India. Thousands of homes were wiped out. Many of the dead were crushed by falling trees, electrocuted by downed wires or buried inside collapsing buildings as Cyclone Amphan pummelled the region, leaving a wide swath of devastation and grief. Heavy rains and flooding could have deadly consequences for rare animals there, pushing them out of their habitats and into areas populated by humans.

MANGROVE FOREST: Buffer against the Cyclone
Sundarbans acted as a buffer against the cyclone by slowing wind speed & protecting the villagers. Heavy rains and flooding could have deadly consequences for rare animals there, pushing them out of their habitats and into areas populated by humans.

“The Sundarbans will bear the brunt and soften the blow,” said Prerna Singh Bindra, a conservationist and the author of “The Vanishing: India’s Wildlife Crisis.”
Anand Sharma, the director of the India Meteorological Department, told NDTV that the bulk of the typhoon had moved a little further away from Kolkata, but that winds would batter the city until it reached Bangladesh on Thursday morning.

Well, we still don’t know the extent of the damage caused by Mr Amphan. India has always been appreciated by the world for its evacuation and saving humanity. The present situation of the two viruses attaching from all the ends challenged the potential of India’s warriors. According to me, We have fought a long 6 hours of war on Wednesday by following instructions, rescuing people along with “ social- distancing” but what we lacked is health equipment ranging from masks and sanitizers and enough emergency rooms for the evacuated people. We have always set an example to the world and will keep on inspiring the world. For now let us just pray for the humanity and especially for the all warriors fighting out there, our doctors, nurses, migrants, patients, reporters, officers, police and the administration, the cyclone survivors, social workers and cheers to all the liberators of the unending list of “fighters”.

“To me, there is only two stans – Hindustan and Foujistan.”

       -Field Marshal K.M Cariappa

Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa who was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army. KM Cariappa was born in a family of farmers, on January 28, in 1899, in Coorg. The man who made Leh part of India.  Cariapppa’s life has been a fascinating combination of character, luck, and circumstances. He had a little hand in speaking Hindi, so people often called him ‘brown Saab’.

In 1942, when he was promoted as the acting lieutenant colonel and the commanding officer of 7th Rajput Machine Gun Battalion, KM Cariappa became the first Indian to do so, in the Indian Army. KM Cariappa was the officer-in-charge of the division of Army and its assets during the time of India’s independence in 1947.

The Indian Army celebrates the formal appointment of Cariappa into their domain on the 15th of January, 1949 as Army Day which is commemorated all over India annually.

‘Jai Hind’, which was the slogan of Subash Chandra Bose-led Indian National Army (INA), was adopted by KM Cariappa, and has since then been the formal phrase to greet each other in the armed forces.

KM Cariappa was also honoured with the Legion of Merit by American President Harry S Truman – one of the rare feats. In 1986, the government conferred the rank of Field Marshal on KM Cariappa as a mark of honour and recognition of his illustrious career spanning over three decades. He, along with Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, are the only people who have been accorded this honour, till date.

There’s a story that when his son, KC Cariappa was captured as a prisoner-of-war (POW) in the Indo-Pakistani War 1965, KM Cariappa was contacted by Pakistani General Ayub Khan informing him about his son’s safety, and even offered his release. However, KM Cariappa proudly replied, “He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment.”

During the Indo Pak war, he was successful in capturing the areas of Naushera, Jhangar, Poonch, Zoji La, Dras, and Kargil. But orders from the US prohibited him from removing the Pakistani Forces out of the entire area. This led to a troublesome situation in the areas of Leh, Kargil which would subsequently put India’s security at stake. He disobeyed the Army HQ’s orders and continued with his offensive in Ladakh  and gained control to the entire region. The important thing to mention here is that any lapse in the operation would just pose a severe threat to the Indian forces and territory. For this move, he was appointed to the post of the commander in chief of the Indian Army post-independence, which was the highest post in the Armed Forces.

After the end of the India-Pakistan war, Cariappa went to the Indo-Pakistan border to boost Indian soldiers. During this time, he crossed the border and entered ‘No Man’s Land.’ Nandu Kariyappa writes in his father’s biography, ‘On seeing him, the Pakistani Commander ordered that he stays there. Otherwise, he would be shot. Someone shouted from the Indian border, saying he is General Cariappa. Pakistani soldiers lowered their arms on hearing this. His officer came and saluted General Cariappa.

Apart from his exemplary services in the Indian Army, Cariappa also had a formidable reputation as one of the boldest, revolutionary, principled and bravest officers in the Indian Army. He strongly advocated for better conditions of the Indian soldiers during the Indianisation of the British Army. He also made special provisions to ensure better living conditions for the prisoners of the Indian National Army and even spearheaded a campaign for the release of innocent prisoners who were a part of the INA.

KM Cariappa breathed his last on May 15, 1993. After suffering from arthritis and heart problems, he died in his sleep at Bangalore Command Hospital. As India observes today the 27th death anniversary of the decorated soldier of the Indian Army, lets be inspired by his patriotism and valour.

Rest in Peace, Sir! India Remembers you.

“Every Indian should be vocal for the local…. Today’s local brands were once local too but when the people started supporting them, they became global.” Stated by the honorable Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi addressed the nation March 12,2020 at 8PM. Within the speech, it was indicated that Lockdown 4.0 will contain new forms and rules, with certain relaxations to be provided, keeping in mind to follow the notions of social distancing, the government is planning to resume the public transport facilities to gradually facilitate the movement of citizens. While the decision may seem practical to boost start the economy, practically it’s asking to choose between life and livelihood. 

He announced the release of a package of Rs 20 lakh-crore which roughly sums up to 10% of India’s GDP. The aim of this package is to boost the stalled economy of India by reforming the land, labour and liquidity laws. The package will assist various sections of the industry, to name a few; cottage industry, agricultural industry (farmers), labourers, Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME’s), The details of which would be disclosed by the Finance Minister of India Nirmala Sitharaman on May 13, 2020 at 4PM. The Prime Minister gave a call for a strong and independent India and referred this as “Atmanirbhar Bharat.” He also pointed out the 5 pillars on which the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” would rest on, are given as under-

1.Economy

2.Infrastructure

3.Technology-Driven System

4.Vibrant Demography

5. Demand

He not only spoke of the financial package but exhorted people to change their mindsets and turn local brands into global brands. The financial package is equivalent to 10% of the GDP of the country, this is more than that of some countries like Germany and France which is at 10.7% and 9.7% respectively.

India is close onto touching the 10,000 mark of positive cases of covid-19 while the latest analysis claim there have been 359 more positive cases of the virus have arisen in the last 24 hours. The scientists unanimously reached to an agreement that the virus would continue to have an effect on the society for 2 years to come. Maximum precautions maybe taken to, but the truth still lies in the fact the one whose immunity maybe weak will be drastically affected by the virus which may even result in death while those having a strong immune system will act as carriers. The worst affected category of people are the migrant laborers, with absolute uncertainty about the jobs. This section of the society has been trying to rush back to their hometowns ever since the commencement of the lockdown.

The above stimulus would turn the pandemic emergency into an opportunity to make India a globally competitive economy. This would not only increase the effiency in various sectors but also ensure quality. The PM stated that life cannot be held hostage to the coronavirus and there is a need to work towards targets while exercising due caution in daily life.