Agricultural Current Affairs May 2019

1. Which public sector bank, has become the first bank in the country that has linked its deposit accounts and short term loans to an external benchmark?Agrilearner { Agricultural Current Affairs }

1) State Bank of India (SBI)

2) Canara Bank

3) Indian Bank

4) Bank of Baroda

5) None of these

Answer: 1) State Bank of India (SBI)

Explanation: India’s largest bank State Bank of India (SBI) has moved to a new interest rate regime on large savings account deposits with balance above Rs 1 lakh as well as short-term loans like overdraft and cash credit. In March 2019, SBI has announced that it will link its interest rate on large savings account deposits and short term loans to RBI’s repo rate which would be effective from May 1, 2019.By this move, SBI became the first bank in the country which has linked deposit accounts and short term loans to an external benchmark.Currently, repo rate is 6%. So according to external benchmarking formula, the large savings account with balance above Rs 1 lakh earn less interest rate as compare to small savings account. However, if the repo rate increases and goes above 6.25% then large savings account will earn more interest rate than small savings account.( Agriculture Current Affairs )

2. Name the International organization of India that has partnered with BGI-Shenzhen, China to develop resistant to vagaries of weather conditions.?

1) Indian Council of Agricultural Research

2) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics’ (ICRISAT)

3) Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture

4) International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center

]5) None of these

Answer – 2) International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics’ (ICRISAT)

Explanation: The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics’ (ICRISAT) team partnered with the BGI-Shenzhen, China, involving 39 scientists from 21 research institutes worldwide, notified that scientists have successfully completed the largest-ever exercise of entire-genome re-sequencing of chickpea, by sequencing 429 chickpea lines from 45 nations to identify genes that are resistant to various extreme factors. The study has been published in Nature Genetics online with the title, “Resequencing of 429 chickpea accessions from 45 countries provides insights into genome diversity, domestication and agronomic traits“. The objective of this sequencing for the agricultural community will cater to the successful development of newer varieties of chickpea with better and large-scale production, with a yield that is tolerant to disease, pest, drought, heat (up to 38 degree Celsius ) and variable weather conditions. This will thus contribute to the sustainability of agricultural development in the developing countries.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

3. What was the theme of the International Labour Day 2019? Agrilearner

1) Theme – “Celebrating the International Labour Movement”

2) Theme – “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement”

3) Theme – “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”

4) Theme – “Create peace, solidarity and decent work”

5) None of these

Answer – 3) Theme – “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”

Explanation: International Labour Day or Workers day is observed annually on 1 May, It is also known as May Day.The day was promoted by the international labour movement, socialists and communists.The theme of International Labour Day 2019 is “Sustainable Pension for all: The Role of Social Partners”. In India, the first Labour Day was celebrated on 1 May 1923 in Madras by Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. Labour Day is also called Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas or Kamgar Din in India.Workers day is observed to commemorate the happenings of May 4, 1886, the Haymarket affair (Haymarket Massacre) in Chicago.( Agriculture Current Affairs )

4. Which country’s parliament has become the first national legislative body in the world to declare a Environment and Climate Emergency?

1) United Kingdom

2) United States

3) Russia

4) China

5) None of these

Answer – 1) United Kingdom

Explanation: The UK Parliament becomes the first national government to pass an exemplary measure, that is, a national declaration of an Environment and Climate Emergency. This move marks a serious emergency in dealing with climate change. The declaration was preceded by a visit by teenage activist Greta Thunberg (to the Parliament), the feature of David Attenborough’s documentary movie titled ‘Climate Change: The Facts’ and the 11-days of constant protest by an environmental group ‘Extinction Rebellion‘.Britain’s opposition Labour Party called for this serious action.

5. World Tuna Day 2019 is observed annually on ___? Agrilearner

1) 1st May

2) 30th April

3) 29th April

4) 2nd May

5) None of these

Answer – 4) 2nd May

Explanation: World Tuna Day was observed on May 2 worldwide to highlight the importance of tuna fish and to promote more sustainable fishing practices which will help in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In December 2016, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) officially recognized May 2 as a World Tuna Day in its resolution 71/124. After the resolution has passed, the day was first observed on May 2, 2017.Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its latest report in 2018 titled, “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals” highlights the tuna fish role in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 14 which talks about conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

6. Who is the Director-General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)? – Jose Graziano da Silva

7. Name the mission, under which Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC) distributed 1 lakh bee-boxes that produced 246 metric tonnes of honey so far.

1) Honey Mission

2) Sweet Mission

3) Bee Mission

4) Honey Bee Mission

5) None of these

Answer – 1) Honey Mission

Explanation: For the first time in India, under the ‘Honey Mission’ initiative, (KVIC) Khadi and Village Industries Commission (in less than 2 years) distributed more than 1 lakh bee-boxes among farmers and jobless youths across India.KVIC has helped in creating more than 10,000 new jobs and 25,000 additional man-days through the manufacturing of bee boxes and honey extractors. Bee-keeping would also open many job avenues for aspiring young entrepreneurs. In August 2017, the initiative of ‘Honey Mission’ was launched in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for ‘Sweet Revolution‘ in 2016 while introducing Banaras

8. Where the researchers from Indigenous Biodiversity Foundation (IBF) have sighted 363 nests of the grizzled giant squirrel for first time?

1. Amarambalam Reserve Forest ,Kerala

2. Pakkamalai Reserve Forests,Tamilnadu

3. Sholayar Reserve Forest,Kerala

4. Hanumasagara Reserve Forest,Karnataka

5. None of these

Answer – 2. Pakkamalai Reserve Forests,Tamilnadu

Explanation: A team of researchers and wildlife activists from Indigenous Biodiversity Foundation (IBF) have sighted 363 nests of the grizzled giant squirrel, a large tree squirrel at Pakkamalai Reserve Forests near Gingee in the Eastern Ghats,TamilNadu.Its Scientific name is Ratufamacroura.The research was headed by K. Raman, a naturalist of IBF.

9. What is the name of the world’s first complete parent-wise genome assembly of buffalo developed by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)? Agrilearner

1) NDDB_ABRO_Murrah

2) NDDB_AGRO_Murrah

3) NDDB_AVNI_Murrah

4) NDDB_ACRO_Murrah

5) None of these

Answer – 1) NDDB_ABRO_Murrah

Explanation: Anand-based National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has developed world’s first complete parent-wise genome assembly of buffalo named “NDDB_ABRO_Murrah” of riverine buffaloes.This comes on the back of the successful launch of a customized genotyping chip for indigenous cattle and their crosses, named INDUSCHIP. To ensure better accuracy, for the first time a trio binning was used for separating haplotypes of a buffalo, using a father-mother-offspring trio. World buffalo population is estimated to be 224.4 million, of which 219 million (97.58 per cent) are in Asia.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

10. What was the theme of the World Migratory Bird day, 2019? Agrilearner

1) Theme – “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”

2) Theme – “Unifying our Voices for Bird Conservation”

3) Theme – “Their Future is our Future – A Healthy Planet for Migratory Birds and People”

4) Theme – “Year of the Bird”

5) None of these

Answer – 1) Theme – “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”

Explanation: The World Migratory Bird Day for 2019 is observed on May 11. It is celebrated twice in the year, which falls on the second Saturday in May and October. In 2019, it will be celebrated on May 11 and October 10. The theme for this year is “Protect Birds: Be the Solution to Plastic Pollution!”. It is organized by the Secretariats of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the African Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) along with Environment for the Americas (EFTA). It is celebrated to raise the awareness on the need for protecting the migratory birds and their habitats.The first world Migratory Day was observed on the weekend of April 8-9, 2006.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

11. Name the Indian regulatory body, whose subsidiary Nabventures launched ‘NABVENTURES Fund I’ to provide support for agriculture, food and rural start-ups with capital investment of Rs 700-crore.

1) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD)

2) Reserve Bank of India(RBI)

3) Securities and Exchange Board of India(SEBI)

4) Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority(IRDAI)

5) None of these

Answer – 1) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD)

Explanation: A subsidiary of NABARD (The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development), Nabventures notified its first time funding termed ‘NABVENTURES Fund I‘ which is a Rs 700-crore venture capital fund for equity investments to provide support for agriculture, food and rural start-ups (which would help improve rural livelihoods). The fund has a proposed corpus of Rs 500 crore, has a greenshoe option of Rs 200 crore and has received an anchor commitment from NABARD.The aforementioned fund is registered with SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund and would raise the resources from domestic and global investors.( Agriculture Current Affairs )

12. Which non-life insurance provider has launched a scheme termed ‘Mosquito Disease Protection Policy’ which will cover a person against common mosquito-borne diseases?

1) United India Insurance Company

2) HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company

3) Reliance General Insurance Company Limited

4) Aviva Life Insurance Company Limited

5) None of these

Answer – 2) HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company

Explanation: India’s 3rd-largest non-life insurance provider in the private sector, HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company launched a scheme termed ‘Mosquito Disease Protection Policy’ which will cover a person against common mosquito-borne diseases, namely, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis, Kala-azar, Lymphatic Filariasis and Zika Virus.There has been a stark rise of 300% dengue cases in India between 2009-2017,according to the report published by National Health Profile 2018.These mosquitoborne diseases leads to financial burden due to hospitalisation or affects the No Claim Bonus of any conventional Health Insurance.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

13. Name the flagship program launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which provides crop insurance to farmers. Agrilearner

1) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

2) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana

3) Pradhan Mantri Gramin Awaas Yojana

4) Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana

5) None of these

Answer – 1) Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Explanation: The flagship program of Prime Minister Modi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) which provides crop insurance to farmers has failed. Recently, a senior official from Agriculture Ministry disclosed that out of Rs 1,400 crore designated fund for the North-Eastern state annually under PMFBY, only around 0.57% or Rs 8 crore was spent in 2018-19.Four North-eastern states are not covered under PMFBY and the states are Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram.Other large states like Bihar and West Bengal had earlier withdrawn from crop insurance scheme and launched their own state-level scheme and states like Punjab had never joined the scheme. ( Agriculture Current Affairs )

14. What was the theme of the World Metrology Day 2019?

1) Theme – “Constant evolution of the International System of Units”

2) Theme – “Measurements for transport”

3) Theme – “Measurements in a Dynamic World”

4) Theme – “The International System of Units – Fundamentally better”

5) None of these

Answer – 4) Theme – “The International System of Units – Fundamentally better”

Explanation: World Metrology Day was observed on May 20, 2019 with a theme “The International System of Units – Fundamentally better”. This theme was chosen because last year on 16th November 2018, the General Conference on Weights and Measures agreed to revise the International System of Units (SI). The World Metrology Day was celebrated every year because of the signature of the Metre Convention on May 20, 1875. ii. The World Metrology Day project was jointly recognized by International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML).

Agriculture Current Affairs

15. What was the theme of the World Bee Day 2019? Agrilearner

1) Theme – “Preserve Honey”

2) Theme – “Protect Bees”

3) Theme – “Save the Bees”

4) Theme – “Save Bees and utilize honey”

5) None of these

Answer – 3) Theme – “Save the Bees”

Explanation: World Bee Day is celebrated on May 20 annually. It is celebrated to raise the awareness of the importance of pollinators, the threats they face and their contribution to sustainable development. The theme of this year is “Save the Bees”.( Agriculture Current Affairs )

16. Whose birthday was commemorated as the World Bee Day? ?

1) Anton Janša

2) L. L. Langstroth

3) Johann Dzierzon

4) Karl Kehrle

5) None of these

Answer – 1) Anton Janša

Explanation: World Bee Day was declared by the United Nations General Assembly and it was celebrated for the first time on May 20, 2018, in Slovenia.This day marks the birthday of Anton Janša (1734) who pioneered the modern beekeeping techniques in his native Slovenia in the 18th century.Slovenia had proposed to celebrate May 20 as World Bee Day. In December 2017, The United Nations and the UN Member States approved Slovenia’s proposal and since 2018 this day is celebrated. ( Agriculture Current Affairs )

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

17. What was the theme of the International Day of Biological Diversity 2019?

1) Theme – “Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”

2) Theme – “Celebrating 25 years of Action for Biodiversity”

3) Theme – “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”

4) Theme – “Mainstreaming Biodiversity: Sustaining People and their Livelihoods”

5) None of these

Answer – 3) Theme – “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”

Explanation: International Day of Biological Diversity (IDB) was celebrated on May 22. It was declared by the United Nations to raise awareness and increase understanding of biodiversity issues. The theme of this year is ” Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”. As a part of celebrations, the Convention on Biological Diversity has partnered with the Slow Food International, an organization that promotes local food and traditional cooking. The theme ” Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health” is aimed at spreading knowledge and awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems.( Agriculture Current Affairs )

18. Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu called to protect and promote which cattle breed ? Agrilearner

1) Hereford

2) Ongole

3) Angus

4) Shorthorn

5) None of these

Answer – 2) Ongole

Explanation: On May 20, 2019, Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu called to protect and promote Ongole cattle breed and released a Compendium on Ongole breed of cattle at the Swarna Bharat Trust in Vijayawada, Andra Pradesh.Compendium on Ongole breed of cattle consists of 1200 pages. It provides the history of the animal from 1885 to 2016 with the information from 13 books and 80 research findings.The compendium is a collaborated work of Mullapudi Narendranath, an agricultural scientist and former Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Adusumilli Madhusudan Rao.Instructions have been given to officials to strengthen up the work on the breed at National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre, Chintaladevi in Nellore District of Andra Pradesh.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

19. Which entity has signed an MOU with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for the year 2019-20 to provide enhanced services ? 2019-20 ?

1) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development(NABARD)

2) National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC)

3) Small Industries Development Bank of India(SIDBI)

4) Khadi and Village Industries Commission(KVIC)

5) None of these

Answer – 2) National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC)

Explanation: The National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC) inked Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) for the year 2019-20 to provide enhanced services. The MoU was signed in the presence of National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) Chairmancum-Managing Director (CMD); Additional Secretary of MSME, Ram Mohan Mishra and MSME Secretary Arun Kumar Panda.It aimed at enhanced services by NSIC under its marketing, financial, technology and other support services schemes for MSMEs in the country.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

20. Which Indian State, is now permitted to export fruits and vegetables to Saudi Arabia?

1) Madhya Pradesh

2) Andhra Pradesh

3) Kerala

4) Karnataka

5) None of these

Answer – 3) Kerala

Explanation: Saudi Arabia has lifted export ban on fruits and vegetables from Kerala. In June 2018, the ban was imposed due to the outbreak of Nipah virus.Saudi Arabian authorities had communicated this information to the state in the second week of May and it has led to the commencement of direct exports from the 3 airports.Kozhikode airport exports 20 tonnes of fruits and vegetables per day worth $50,000 to various destinations in Saudi. Other 2 airports of Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram export the items to Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah airports.The major items of export at present are mangoes such as Alphonso, Banganapalle, followed by banana and pineapple.Kerala exports around 150 tonnes of perishable commodities to Gulf countries. It alone exports 30-40 tonnes to Saudi Arabia.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

21. Who was conferred with ‘Lifetime Recognition Award’ by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India on 28th May, 2019 ?

1) P.Malarvizhi

2) N Kumar

3) C.R.Anandakumar

4) J.Suresh

5) None of these

Answer – 2) N Kumar

Explanation: On May 28, 2019, Professor N Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) was conferred with ‘Lifetime Recognition Award’ by the Confederation of Horticulture Association of India (CHAI). He was awarded for his contributions to the field of horticulture and academic leadership focused on human resource development in agriculture.It was presented to him at the International Conference on Innovative horticulture held at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

22. What was the theme of the World Hunger Day 2019 ? Agrilearner

1) Theme – “#Our Actions are our Future”

2) Theme – “#SustainabilityIs”

3) Theme – “#Agricultural Cooperatives”

4) Theme – “#Change the future of migration”

5) None of these

Answer – 2) Theme – “#SustainabilityIs”

Explanation: The 9th annual World Hunger Day was observed on May 28, 2019, with a theme of “#SustainabilityIs”. World Hunger Day is an initiative by The Hunger Project, first started in 2011. The objective is to raise awareness about more than 821 million people living in chronic hunger worldwide. It seeks to celebrate sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty and to inspire everyone to be a part of the solution.The Hunger project used an innovative, holistic approach that tackles all the issues of poverty and hunger and also empowers those people who are living in hunger so that they can become the agents of their own development and lift their communities above the poverty line.Out of the total 821 million people living in chronic hunger, 60 percent of them are women.

(Agriculture Current Affairs)

23. What was the theme of the World No Tobacco Day 2019 ? Agrilearner

1) Theme – “Tobacco and Lung health”

2) Theme – “Tobacco and heart disease”

3) Theme – “Tobacco – a threat to development”

4) Theme – “Get Ready for Plain Packaging”

5) None of these

Answer – 1) Theme – “Tobacco and Lung health”

Explanation: World No-Tobacco Day (WNTD) was observed on May 31. It is celebrated to raise awareness to the public to stop smoking. The theme of the year is “Tobacco and Lung health”. The member states of the World Health Organization(WHO) declared this day for the first time in 1987.In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed a Resolution WHA40.38 to celebrate April 7, 1988 as ‘World No-Smoking Day’. In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed to celebrate ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year on 31 May.Since 1988, WHO has presented awards to organizations or individuals who have made exceptional contributions in reducing tobacco consumption. ( Agriculture Current Affairs )

Read More-