Agriculture Current Affair 28 October 2022

Government releases guidelines to speed up development of plant varieties, reduce time of approval

The government has released guidelines for a safety assessment for a regulatory review of genome-edited plants that aims to speed up development of plant varieties and reduce the time taken for approval by authorities. Genome editing is a group of technologies to change an organism’s DNA. These technologies allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.

The Department of Biotechnology said these standard operating procedures (SOPs) shall be applicable to all organizations involved in research, development and handling of the Genome-Edited Plants under SDN-1 and SDN-2 categories from the date of notification.

The SOPs provide regulatory road map, requirements for research and development and meet the threshold for exemption of Genome-Edited Plant(s) under the SDN-1 or SDN-2 categories.

Wheat sown in 54,000 hectares, increase of 59% from last year: Govt data

Wheat has been sown on 54,000 hectares so far in the current rabi (winter) season of the 2022–23 crop year, which is an increase of 59% over 34,000 hectares in the comparable period last year, government data issued on Friday revealed.

The main rabi crop, wheat, is sown beginning in October, and it is harvested in March or April. Additionally, other significant crops grown during the rabi season(July-June)include gramme and mustard.

About 39,000 hectare was covered under wheat in Uttar Pradesh, 9,000 hectare in Uttarakhand, 2,000 hectare in Rajasthan and 1,000 hectare in Jammu & Kashmir as on October 28, the seeding data elaborated.

Cotton farmers demand ₹12,000 a quintal as MSP

Growers to stage protests during October 29-31 seeking higher support

Cotton farmers have demanded a minimum support price (MSP) of ₹12,000 a quintal during the current season, saying the cost of production has increased significantly, while yields have dropped.

In Telangana, cotton growers claim the cost of production is ₹8,000 a quintal due to an increase in the usage of pesticides and labour costs.

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