Current Affairs - 16 Jun 2021

Union Minister of Agriculture addresses the 42nd session of FAO Conference

In News: Union Agriculture Minister virtually addressed 42nd Session of FAO Conference.

Context:

India is a founder member of the FAO and has played significant role since inception as Chair and member of various statutory bodies and committees.
Food and Agriculture Organization is completing 75 glorious years of service to humanity on 16th Oct 2020.
To commemorate the long standing relationship between India and the FAO, the Prime Minister of India had released a special seventy five rupees commemorative coin which aptly combines the themes of agricultural production and nutrition in its motto – “सही पोषण देश रोशन’’ meaning “a country will shine if the nutrition is correct”.

FAO:

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security.
Its motto is “let there be bread”.
It was founded in October 1945.
The FAO is composed of 197 member states.
It is headquartered in Rome, Italy.

In News:

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ministry of Civil Aviation for development of Sea Plane services in India was signed.
This MoU envisages development of Non Scheduled/Scheduled operation of seaplane services within territorial jurisdiction of India under RCS-UDAN scheme of government of India.
MoCA, MoPSW, SDCL (Sagarmala Development Company Limited) will consider operationalising of Seaplane operating routes as identified/suggested by all agencies.

RCS-UDAN scheme:

UDAN-RCS, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) is a regional airport development and “Regional Connectivity Scheme” (RCS) of Government of India is aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread.
The scheme was launched in 2017.

In News: Department of Food and Public Distribution E-launched “Nafed Fortified Rice Bran Oil”.

Context:

This initiative will significantly reduce the country’s consumption dependence on imported edible oil in future, providing opportunities for Indian edible oil manufacturers.
It will give an impetus to the Prime Minister’s Aatmnirbhar Bharat initiative.
This Rice bran oil will be marketed by Nafed (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd).
On the occasion, FCI informed that recently a MoU has been signed between Nafed and FCI for the production and marketing of fortified rice kernel.

Rice Bran oil – health benefits

It helps in lowering cholesterol level due to its low trans-fat content.
It has high Mono unsaturated and Poly unsaturated fat contents.
It also acts as a booster and reduces the risk of cancer due to the high amount of Vitamin E it contains.
This oil is recommended by The American Heart Association and the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the best substitutes for other edible oils.
According to the FSSAI, fortified oil can help a person fulfil 25-30% of the recommended dietary intake for vitamins A and D.

In News: Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution briefed the media persons about Ethanol Blending with Petrol (EBP) program.

Context:

The roadmap for ethanol blending in India 2020-25 has been released by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 5th June, 2021 i.e. on World Environment day.
It may be noted that BIS specifications for E12 & E15 blending have also been notified.
Pilot project of E 100 dispensing from 3 locations at Pune was also launched by the Prime Minister.
Secretary, DFPD said that, it is likely that ethanol distillation capacities in the country would be more than doubled by 2025 and we would be able to achieve 20 % blending target.
To achieve blending targets, Government is encouraging sugar mills and distilleries to enhance their distillation capacities for which Government is facilitating them to avail loans from banks for which interest subvention up to 6% is being borne by Government.
It may be noted that India is facing a situation of plenty with surplus sugar, leading to liquidity problem to sugar mills and delayed payments of cane dues.
The Government is encouraging sugar mills to divert excess sugarcane to ethanol which is blended with petrol.

In News:

Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare addressed the inaugural ceremony of Global Yoga Conference 2021.
The event was organised by ‘Mokshayatan YogSansthan’ along with the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India & Indian Council for Cultural Relations to mark the occasion of 7^th International Day of Yoga which falls on 21st June 2021.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan expressed his confidence stating that this conference will further spread awareness among people about the practice of Yoga and the benefits it can bring in their lives.