Down To Earth (01-15 August, 2024)

About Soapstone

• Soapstone (aka steatite or talc) is a metamorphic rock rich in magnesium and silica. It has been used for centuries in various applications due to its unique properties, including heat resistance, softness, and ease of carving.

Soapstone Mining Locations in India

• Rajasthan: The state of Rajasthan is a significant producer of soapstone. Places like Udaipur and Alwar have active soapstone mines.
• Uttarakhand: The hills of Uttarakhand also yield soapstone. The region around Dehradun is notable for its deposits.

Applications

• Artistic and Craftsmanship: Its softness and ease of carving make it popular for sculptures, ornaments, and handicrafts
• Archaeological excavations reveal that soapstone was used extensively in ancient India. Artefacts made from soapstone have been found in Harappan sites, indicating its use for utensils, figurines, and seals.
• Architectural Applications: Soapstone countertops, sinks, and fireplaces are valued for their heat resistance and natural beauty.
• Soapstone has been a preferred material for carving intricate sculptures and temple architecture. The temples of Khajuraho, Elephanta Caves, and various South Indian temples feature soapstone carvings.
• Cookware, Countertops Sinks, Lamps and Candle Holders: Soapstone cookware, such as tawas (flat griddles) and kadhai (woks), is popular in Indian households. It distributes heat evenly and retains it for longer.

About the Avian Influenza

• It is caused by influenza viruses that primarily infect birds. These viruses are divided into various subtypes, such as H5N1, H5N3, and H5N8.
• The genetic characteristics of these viruses evolve rapidly, making them a complex and ever-changing threat.
• Avian influenza occurs worldwide, but the prevalence of different subtypes varies across regions.

Severity in Poultry

• Low Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (LPAI): This subtype typically causes little or no clinical signs in birds.
• High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza (HPAI): HPAI can lead to severe clinical signs and high mortality rates in infected poultry.

Transmission and Spread

• Movement of Infected Birds: Birds shed the virus in their faeces and respiratory secretions. Direct contact with these secretions, contaminated feed, or water can lead to transmission.
• Live Bird Markets: Farming and sale of live birds in markets can facilitate virus transmission.
• Wild Birds and Migratory Routes: Migratory waterfowl, in particular, serve as natural reservoirs for avian influenza viruses.
• Changes in ecology and epidemiology have led to infections in various wild bird species, which then spread the virus along established migratory routes.

Impact on Humans

• While avian influenza primarily affects birds, sporadic cases in humans have been identified.
• When avian influenza viruses circulate in poultry, there’s a risk of transmission to humans.
• However, human infections are relatively rare and often associated with close contact with infected birds.

Economic Consequences

• Outbreaks of avian influenza have devastating consequences for the poultry industry. When outbreaks occur in domestic birds, the policy often involves culling all poultry—whether infected or healthy—to contain the spread.
• Unfortunately, this results in heavy economic losses for farmers and long-lasting impacts on their livelihoods

About the BBNJ Agreement (aka High Seas Treaty)

• It is a landmark international agreement aimed at the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.
• It is a significant step towards protecting the ocean, promoting equity and fairness, tackling environmental degradation, and preventing biodiversity loss in the high seas.
• It was adopted by consensus at the 5th BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference in New York in March 2023.
• Currently, it has been signed by representatives from more than 80 countries.
• It is expected that the treaty can enter into force by the June 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France.

Key Provisions of the Treaty

• It sets up a procedure to establish large-scale marine protected areas in the high seas.
• It establishes the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources.
• Clear rules to conduct environmental impact assessments before human activities take place in the high seas are also part of the agreement.
• It foresees capacity building and the transfer of marine technology between the Parties.

Importance of High Seas Areas beyond national jurisdiction (often referred to as the high seas) comprise around two-thirds of the ocean’s surface and 95% of its volume. These areas provide invaluable ecological, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and foodsecurity benefits to humanity. Despite their importance, these areas have been vulnerable to over-exploitation and degradation due to the lack of a comprehensive legal framework.

About

• Taral Metta Mountain, located in the Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, holds immense cultural and ecological significance for the tribal communities residing in the region.
• These communities have a deep-rooted connection to the mountain, considering it not only as their ancestral land but also as a sacred space associated with their deities.

Concerns and Struggle

• Environmental Degradation: The potential mining activity threatens the delicate ecological balance of Taral Metta. The mountain harbours diverse flora and fauna, and any mining operation could irreversibly harm this fragile ecosystem.
• Cultural Heritage: Beyond environmental concerns, the mountain holds cultural and spiritual significance for the tribal communities.
• It is home to their deities, and any disruption caused by mining would be a direct assault on their cultural identity.

About the Global Climate Risk Index

• It is an annual analysis that assesses the extent to which countries have been affected by weather-related loss events such as storms, floods, and heat waves.
• Unfortunately, there was no Climate Risk Index compiled in 2022 and 2023 due to a temporary lack of data.

Key Highlights of the Report

• Extreme Weather Impacts: The index highlights the impact of extreme weather events on different countries and regions. It serves as a warning, urging nations to be prepared for more frequent and severe events in the future.
• Even high-income countries are feeling the effects of climate change more acutely than ever before. This underscores the urgency of global climate action.
• Countries Most Affected: In 2019, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and the Bahamas were among the countries hit hardest by weather-related losses.
• When considering data from 2000 to 2019, Puerto Rico, Myanmar, and Haiti ranked highest in terms of vulnerability to climate impacts.
• Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI): Apart from the Climate Risk Index, Germanwatch also publishes the Climate Change Performance Index. This index evaluates and compares the climate protection efforts of 63 countries and the European Union, which together account for over 90% of global emissions.
• CCPI monitors progress in climate mitigation and provides insights into how countries are addressing climate change.
• Global Boiling: In 2022, India experienced extreme events on 314 of the 365 days. The number increased to 318 days in 2023.
• According to the ‘Economic Survey 2023- 24’, it is alarming as agriculture employs 42.3% of the country’s population and has a share of 18.2% in its GDP.
• Consecutive, large-scale crop losses, triggered by unpredictable and extreme weather, are becoming increasingly common as the planet enters the era of ‘global boiling’.

About the NICRA

• It is a significant project launched by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 2011.

• Its primary goal is to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and variability through strategic research, technology demonstrations, and capacity building.
• Districts at climate risk: Across India, 310 districts may be majorly vulnerable to climate impacts in 2020-49. The impacts include changes in precipitation, floods, rise in temperature, drought and land degradation.

Key Objectives

• Adaptation and Mitigation Research: NICRA strategically investigates adaptation and mitigation measures. This includes identifying the most vulnerable districts or regions, developing climate-resilient crop varieties, and assessing the impact of climate change on livestock, fisheries, and poultry.
• Technology Demonstrations: Location-specific technologies are demonstrated in climatically vulnerable districts. These demonstrations aim to showcase practical solutions that farmers can adopt to cope with climate challenges.
• Awareness and Capacity Building: NICRA conducts extensive training programs across the country to educate stakeholders—farmers, extension workers, and policymakers—about climate change and resilient technologies. The goal is to enable wider adoption of climateresilient practices and improve agricultural yields.

Achievements

• Climate-Resilient Varieties: NICRA has developed seven climate-resilient crop varieties that can withstand adverse climatic conditions.
• District Agricultural Contingency Plans: NICRA has created 650 district agricultural contingency plans, which serve as guidelines for managing climate-related risks.
• Infrastructure Facilities: State-of-the-art infrastructure facilities have been established across various ICAR institutes. These include High Throughput Plant Phenomics, Free Air Temperature Enrichment (FATE), Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE), and other specialised equipment for climate change research.
• Custom Hiring Centers: NICRA has set up custom hiring centres in 121 villages to ensure timely availability of farm implements for efficient operations.

Climate-Resilient Practices

• Tolerant Crops: Developing and promoting drought-tolerant crop varieties is crucial. For instance, early maturing and drought-tolerant cultivars of green gram, chickpea, and pigeon pea have been successfully introduced in specific regions, resulting in higher yields.
• Livestock and Poultry Breeds: Identifying and promoting breeds that can thrive in varying climatic conditions is essential. Local or indigenous breeds often exhibit better foraging abilities and resilience.
• Soil Health Management: Practices like conservation agriculture and building soil organic carbon contribute to climate resilience. Healthy soils enhance plant growth and productivity.

About the PMFBY

• It aims to provide financial support to farmers who face crop loss or damage due to natural calamities.
• It covers both pre-harvest and post-harvest losses arising from events like cyclones, unseasonal rains, pests, and diseases.

Key Features

• Area Approach Basis: PMFBY operates on an area-based approach, ensuring comprehensive risk cover for crops across regions.
• Affordable Premiums: The scheme significantly reduces the burden of premium payments for farmers.
• Expanded Coverage: It covers a wide range of crops and integrates multiple stakeholders, including farmers, insurance companies, and government departments.

• Advanced Technologies: PMFBY promotes the use of technology to estimate losses accurately and expedite claim payments.
• Increased Sum Insured: The sum insured is now closer to the actual cost of production, providing better compensation to farmers in case of losses.
• Farmer-Friendly Provisions: PMFBY reduced premiums and expanded coverage, making it more accessible to farmers.

Challenges

• Assessment of Crop Loss: Some gaps exist in assessing crop losses. Inadequate sample sizes and lack of ground-level sampling can compromise accurate evaluation.
• State Disparities: While some states have seen improvements, others still face low sum insured relative to production costs.
• Flawed Execution: The CSE study found shortcomings in Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. These included inadequate sampling and corruption during implementation.
• Vulnerable Regions: Farmers in vulnerable areas like Bundelkhand and Marathwada may not receive claims even if more than half of their crops are damaged.