Revolutionary GCES Mobile App And Web Portal for Transforming Agriculture Practices Launched
Following the Prime Minister’s aim to use digital technology for societal benefits, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) has introduced a mobile app and web portal for the General Crop Estimation Survey (GCES). This innovative platform aims to reshape farming across the country.
Here are the key problems that the GCES web portal and mobile app will address:
- Delay in Reporting- Currently, the collection, compilation, and estimation of yield data is done manually, leading to delays in reporting by states. However, a new process is being introduced to address this issue. Field data will now be collected using a GPS-enabled mobile application and stored on a server, ensuring timely reporting of crop statistics.
- Transparency- GPS-enabled devices offer accurate latitude and longitude coordinates for data collection points. This ensures that data is associated with precise geographic locations, leaving no room for ambiguity or manipulation regarding its origin.
Key Features Of The GCES Web Portal And Mobile Application
Comprehensive Information- The portal and app offer detailed information on yield estimation. They contain plans for the village-level GCES and details about the plots used for crop experiments. They also record the weight of the harvested crop and its dried weight.
Geo-referencing- A key feature of the mobile app is Geo-referencing. It allows the field worker to mark the boundaries of the experimental plot and upload pictures of the plot and crops. This feature promotes data transparency and precision.
Source: PIB
‘Samudra Prahari’
India’s Coast Guard used their Pollution-Control vessel ‘Samudra Prahari’ to show their maritime skills. They also showed their commitment to fight against marine pollution. This took place during a visit to Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok, Thailand on September 20, 2023. This visit was the last of a four-day trip.
The following points summarise key aspects of the exercise:
- The ‘Samudra Prahari’ is a vessel dedicated to controlling pollution.
- The vessel was part of a detailed Pollution Response exercise. This was a demonstration at Khlong Toei Port in Bangkok.
- Alongside the Indian Coast Guard, personnel from Thailand’s Maritime Enforcement Coordination Centre (MECC) took part in the exercise.
- Other participants included representatives from the Customs Department, Marine Department, Royal Navy, Fisheries Department, and other government officials.
- The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) worked on a Maritime Pollution Response plan. This plan encouraged knowledge sharing and teamwork, particularly for oil pollution situations.
- The ICG showed their ability to respond to pollution, demonstrating India’s commitment to the region.
- During their visit, the crew of the ship, some National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets, and representatives from the Indian Embassy did a beach clean-up at Pattaya Beach.
- This beach clean-up was part of the Puneet Sagar Abhiyan, a national NCC campaign. The goal of the campaign is to clean beaches of plastic and other waste, and educate people about the importance of cleanliness.
- Thai youth organisations also joined in on this environmental responsibility project.
- The visit of the ‘Samudra Prahari’ to Bangkok is a big step in improving relations between the ICG and Thai MECC in the maritime sector.
- This visit also showed India as a reliable maritime partner. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region) and the theme of India’s G20 Presidency ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’.
- The India-ASEAN Initiative of Overseas Deployment was announced by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Plus meeting in Cambodia in November 2022.
Source: PIB
New Fish Species Discovered In Bengal’s Digha Harbour
The scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new species of a vibrant orange coloured deep water marine fish from Digha Mohana in West Bengal.
- The new species is part of the Pterygotrigla genus, marking the fourth of its kind in India, and contributes to the global count of 178 species in the Triglidae family.
- The species was caught by a local fisher in October 2018. Scientists gathered 24 specimens from the Digha Mohana fishing harbour for study.
- Notable differences such as snout length, internuchal space shape, and cleithral spine size were found when comparing this new fish to other gurnad species.
- The new species’ detailed traits were published in an international marine science journal, Thalassas, on September 20, 2023.
- Of the collected specimens, 23 are preserved at the ZSI’s Estuarine Biology Regional Center, Gopalpur, and one is held at the Marine Fish Section, Kolkata for further research.
- The new fish species possesses unique characteristics, like a distinct pectoral-fin with black membranes on the inner surface, white posterior margin and three small white spots at the fin base. Each ray is creamy white.
- The scientists noted other unique features such as a long opercular spine, a very short cleithral spine, lateral-lines, a number of gill rakers on the upper and lower limb of the first gill arch, and a large black blotch between the 4th and 6th spines of the first dorsal fin.
Source: Down To Earth