Jharkhand

• 12 Aug 2021

Birsa Agricultural University

Why in News

• Recently eleven high yielding, early maturing and disease-pest resistant crop varieties developed by the scientists of Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) were released by the Jharkhand State Government.

Key Points

• These varieties were released by the State Variety Release Committee (SVRC) under the chairmanship of Agriculture Secretary, Abubakar Siddiqui after intensive discussion and compliance of queries.
• These varieties include one each of black gram, tur, soybean, mustard, baby corn, ragi and two varieties of brinjal and three varieties of linseed. The yield gain of these varieties is 15 to 20 percent as compared to the existing conventional varieties.
• BAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Onkar Nath Singh and Director Research, Dr. A. Wadood said these varieties would go a long way in increasing area, production and productivity pulses, oilseeds and vegetables because quality seed plays a major role in augmenting productivity.
• BAU crop breeders, directorate of seed and farms, Regional/Zonal Research Stations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and seed villages of the state will cooperate in seed production of these crops for extending its availability to farmers.

Ophthalmologists of the State as 'Covid Warriors'

Why in News

• On August 11, 2021, Jharkhand Health Minister Banna Gupta felicitated 45 ophthalmologists of the state as 'COVID Warriors'.
  
  • This felicitation has been done for their tireless efforts to help COVID patients and their families during the pandemic.

Key Points

• Addressing the felicitation function organized by Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society in Ranchi, the Health Minister presented this honor to the ophthalmologists.
• These ophthalmologists had ensured all necessary support to the people to fight the second wave of COVID-19, leaving their comfort zones, crossing professional boundaries, without caring for their lives.
• In the award ceremony, Dr. Vibhuti Kashyap was honored with 'Dr. VS Gupta Best Free Paper' and Dr. Rahul Prasad was awarded Gold Medal for 'Manjul Pant Best Video Session'. Dr. Lalit Jain was honored for his extramural oration.
• The Health Minister also presented shawls and mementos to the families of doctors who died in the line of duty in the pandemic. The families of eminent doctors of the state, Dr. Krishna Murari Sahu, Dr. Sujit Kumar Paul and Dr. Chandrika Kishore Thakur, who were victims of the corona epidemic, were also felicitated.