14.12.22 Daily [Assam] APSC Current Affairs

The Assam State Zoo-cum- in Guwahati has prepared to keep the animals and birds in the enclosure warm in the biting chill by installing heaters in the enclosures.

Zoo keeperRajnikanth Dekasaid the zoo is taking all precautionary measures to keep the animals warm during winter.

Deka said the zoo has installed heaters for the tigers, lions as well as other big animals.

However, the heaters are placed in such a way that it keeps their enclosure warm but at the same time prevents the risk of the animals directly coming in contact with the machines.

It also has a botanical garden spread over 82 hectares. It has varied Flora and Fauna species and houses 112 species in all.

Established in 1957, theAssam State Zoo, commonly known asGuwahati Zoo, was opened to the public in 1958.

No rhino poaching incident took place in 2022: Assam CM

While interacting with media during the first day of the year, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that in the year 2022, no rhino poaching incident took place across the State. The last poaching incident took place on December 28th 2021 at Hilakunda, Kohora in Golaghat district. The State govt has taken strict measures to prevent poaching of one-horned rhinos. A huge campaign was launched which was followed by the burning of 2,400 rhino horns seized from poachers. A special anti poaching task force was constituted by the Assam Government Special DGP (Law and Order) to protect the one-horned rhino.

In order to bridge the <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture gap by empowering agriculture and villages and boosting private Investment, the Government of India launched a Central Sector Scheme of financing facility under Agriculture Infrastructure Fund. The AgricultureInfrastructure Fund (AIF) is a medium-long term debt financing facility through interest subvention and credit guarantee support on loans for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets.

Under the scheme, Rs. 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with interest subvention of 3% per annum and credit guarantee coverage under CGTMSE for loans up to Rs. 2 Crores to the eligible beneficiaries include farmers, FPOs, PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Start-ups, and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private PARTNERSHIP Projects for creation of post-harvest management infrastructures like Supply chain Services including e-marketing platforms, Warehouses, Silos, Pack houses, Assaying units, Sorting & grading units, Cold chains, Logistics facilities, Primary processing centres, Ripening Chambers etc.

Community farming assets eligible under Agri Infra Fund includes: Organic inputs production, Bio stimulant production units, Infrastructure for smart and precision agriculture, Projects identified for providing supply chain infrastructure for clusters of crops including export clusters, Projects promoted by Central/State/Local Governments or their agencies under PPP for building community farming assets or post-harvest management projects.

To implement the budget announcement 2020-21, a Committee was constituted on Kisan Rail and Krishi Udan. The Committee constituted a sub-committee for detailed deliberation and preparation of concept note under convenership of Executive Director, RAILWAY Board.

Ministry of Railways after due deliberation with Ministry of <a href="https://exam.pscnotes.com/Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture & Farmers Welfare has started operating Kisan Special Trains for transportation of perishable / agriculture products, Dairy, Fisheries etc. These trains are multi-commodity, multi-consignor/consignee Services, running in a time-tabled manner with stoppages at all major stations.

The first Kisan Rail was flagged off from Devlali (Maharashtra) to Danapur (Bihar) by Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Shri Piyush Goyal, then Hon’ble Minister of Railways, Commerce & Industry on 7th August 2020, for transportation of perishable agriculture/horticulture products, dairy, fisheries etc.

Currently, a total of 2359 trips of Kisan Rail trains have been operated on 167 routes, wherein nearly 7.9 lakh tones of consignments have been transported.

The routes for Kisan Rail are decided on demand received from farmers and other stakeholders. Whenever a demand for Kisan Rail for a particular route is received, arrangements are made by the concerned Zonal Railway for supply for rakes and operation of Kisan Rail train, duly considering the operational feasibility of the proposed route.