IGKV sets up ‘Crop Cafeteria’ to teach students about separate crops

Department of Agronomy in Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGKV) Raipur has developed a ‘Crop Cafeteria’ in the university’s farm to make students familiar about separate crops and its features.

The brainchild behind the innovative idea of establishing ‘Crop Cafeteria’ for teaching purposes was Dr K L Nandeha, head of the university’s Department of Agronomy.
“The Crop Cafeteria has been established in the university’s farm and around 30 different varieties of crops are currently planted in the cafeteria. The planted crops include different types of grains, lentils, oilseeds, fiber crops and fodders,” said Dr Nandeha, elaborating that the cafeteria was established last year.
Detailing about the objective of setting-up Crop Cafeteria, Dr Nandeha said that the initiative aims to make students of first year aware about different crops. Here at the cafeteria, students are taught about details of separate crops which include crops’ Hindi, English and botanical names; their types; growth status; yield capacity; how diseases contracted to separate crops; pathogen/insect attacks and others. Crops of both Kharif and Rabi are sown in the cafeteria as per the season.
The cafeteria is being exclusively managed and handled by the department’s professor, added Dr Nandeha.
More importantly, the cultivation of those crops which are not practices in plain areas of Raipur and adjacent districts are also planted here in the cafeteria, said Dr Nandeha, adding that these crops, which are practiced in tribal-dominated areas of the state and popularly known as tribal crops, are not familiar to students as they haven’t seen it earlier.

Women Self Groups in Chhattisgarh major role in environment protection

Raipur, July 29

Women Self Help groups in Korba district of Chhattisgarh are displaying glaring examples of conserving the environment by protecting planted saplings along with improving their livelihood.

By supplying bamboo-made tree guards to the forest department, the self help groups have concurrently managed to arrange their livelihoods and ensured their contribution in environment conservation. As many as 10 self help groups in the district have received payment of around Rs 4.50 lakh from the forest department against the supply of bamboo-made tree guards.

The bamboo-made tree guards supplied by the groups are turning out to be an effective tool in protection of saplings planted under the state government’s massive plantation drive. As of now, the groups have prepared over 6200 tree guards and provided about 1000 to the department which are being used in protection of saplings from grazing animals.

By selling around 1000 tree guards to the forest department, the self help groups have managed to generate income of around Rs 4.50 lakh in around 4 months.

According to the president of Kavya SHG Rukhmani Bai, it takes around Rs 250 in preparation of one tree guard which on other hand is procured by the forest department at Rs 450 giving significant profit.

Maize processing plant to generate employment

Raipur, July 27 

Chhattisgarh Government is established a maize processing unit with the expenditure of around Rs 136 Crore. The move taken in interest of farmers will be benefiting several people by ensuring them direct and indirect employment. 

Establishment of a maize processing unit ‘Maa Danteshwari Makka Prasanskaran’ in Kondagaon district of Chhattisgarh, the proposed ambitious project of the state government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, will be generating massive employment opportunities. 

The processing unit is likely to ensure direct employment to around 1000 people while more than one lakh people will be directly benefitted by the move, said the minister, adding that establishment of the unit will be benefitting maize farmers directly. 

To take stock of the ongoing works, Kondagaon Collector Pushpendra Kumar Meena has carried out field inspection and given specific directives to officials concerned regarding the construction. 

Notably, the state government will be bearing 93 percent expenditure of the unit to be constructed with the cost of Rs 136 crore while a cooperative committee formed by farmers will bear the remaining expense. 

The processing unit likely to be commissioned by 2022 is going to benefit around 65000 farmers in the district engaged in cultivation of maize. Besides, the unit ill be ensuring employment to around 1000 locals. The administration is closely analyzing various aspects linked to the unit, which include capacity of the plant, production, manpower, by-products of maize, transport, market management, benefits to farmers and others, said Collector Meena. 

The administration is closely tracking the progress of construction work, added the Collector. During field inspection, Collector Meena was apprised about phases of the construction works, boiler, plant machineries, and developments of administrative building and other.

Government allows home isolation for COVID ‘C’ category

Raipur, July 26

With spike in number of corona positive patients across Chhattisgarh and in the capital city, the state’s Health and Family Welfare Ministry has allowed Collector and District Magistrate Raipur to permit home isolation for COVID-19 positive patients falling under ‘C’ category in certain condition.

A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting recently held in the state capital.

Amid spike in COVID-19 cases across Chhattisgarh, the State Health and Family Welfare Ministry has decided to provide treatment to ‘C’ category COVID-19 active patients under home isolation. Raipur and Durg districts have been made model districts for the same. The decision was taken as State is receiving a spike in COVID-19 cases whereas the numbers of beds are limited. 

ON July 24, Chhattisgarh has recorded 426 new cases, of which Raipur witnessed 244 cases in Raipur. As per the order issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department, the District Collector can allow home isolation for ‘C’ category COVID-19 active patients under conditions that need to be strict compliance. The conditions include – the house of the COVID19 patient should have separate airy room with attached bath and toilet; consent/undertaking for home isolation has to be taken in prefixed format from the patient; during home isolation, a committed health worker appointed by the health department will be in telephonic

50 cows die in Chhattisgarh, opposition attacks ruling Congress government

Raipur, July 26

Godhan Nyay Yojana, an ambitious scheme of Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh, comes under controversy after around 50 cows were reportedly found dead in Bilaspur district. 

The incident took place at the district’s village Medhepur under Takhatpur development block on Saturday morning.

Sensing the incident may create controversy and give an opportunity to the opposition to attack the Congress government, senior officials including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Janpad Panchayat, District Panchayat CEO, Tehsildar and veterinary doctors rushed to the spot. Prima-facie investigation suggested that the animals died due to suffocation while other animals, which are in serious condition, are being given medical treatment.

The claims made regarding the Godhan Nyay Yojana were just propagandas, alleged BJP leaders, adding that the government failed to make proper arrangements for its implementation at the grass-roots level.

Instead of working properly on implementation of the project, the state government was busy in showing-off, alleged BJP leaders.

BJP leaders further charged that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is just trying to mislead people in the name of ‘Roka Chheka’ scheme. ‘Roka Chheka’ is an age-old tradition of villagers, but unfortunately State Government interfering into the same for publicity has given a very bad name to this tradition. Unable to protect cattle has exposed State Government’s anti-farmer face.

 “State Government is responsible for the death of these bovines. All welfare schemes for cows including Godhan Yojana, Roka Chheka are running on papers. From the information received from Medhpar village, under the Roka Chheka scheme, some 100 cows were pushed into the old panchayat building, which was converted into a temporary gothan, having no proper ventilation, no fodder or water,” alleged BJP National President Dr Raman Singh. 

Voicing for stern action against those responsible for the death of cows Dr Singh said that the ruling Congress Government should undertake a reality check of its various schemes.

Senior IPS officer, family members tested positive for COVID-19

RAIPUR, July 26

A senior IPS officer in Chhatisgarh and his family members have been tested positive of contagious Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

The officer was reportedly posted at Police Head Quarters (PHQ) in Nava Raipur.

According to information received, the family members of the officer seem to have contracted the infection from police personnel working at his residence but exact information about the transmission is still unknown.

It is to be mentioned here that to stem the spread of contagious disease, PHQ has been closed as lockdown was enforced. The weeklong lockdown enforced from July 22 will be ending on July 28. During this period, the officials and staff posted in PHQ have been directed to work from home.

Notably, 114 police personnel across the state have been tested positive for the virus.

All the Additional Director General, Inspector General of Police, Deputy Inspector General and Assistant Inspector General have been instructed to keep their phone in on mode. Similarly, the officials have been asked to keep contact numbers of their respective staff. In any emergency situation, the officials and staff can be asked to report the office. After completion of the lockdown period, the officials have been asked to ensure only 50 per cent attendances in their respective cells as a preventive measure.