2024-08-13 23:39:26
New Delhi: It was during the Second World War when US President Henry Truman took the unfortunate decision to drop a massive atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb ‘Little Boy’ was dropped, killing 70 thousand people and millions of people became victims of deadly radiation. Japan was still thinking about what to do when another bomb ‘Fat Man’ was dropped on Nagasaki. At least 40 thousand people were killed instantly in this bomb attack and later 40 thousand more people lost their lives due to radiation.
On 15 August 1945, Emperor Hiruhito of Japan surrendered unconditionally. With this, the Second World War ended. 90 thousand buildings were destroyed in the bomb blasts in Hiroshima. But, there was a small thing more powerful than these powerful bomb blasts, it was a seed as big as a pea. This seed was Ginkgo. You will come across such powerful seeds, which have the ability to withstand every situation. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released 109 varieties of high-yielding, climate-friendly and bio-enhanced crops at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. These crops also give abundant yield in every situation, be it flood or drought, pollution or scorching heat.
One seed has the power to bear 3 thousand trucks of explosives
How much power does a seed have? Have you ever asked this question? Probably not. Let’s do an estimation. The atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki or Hiroshima, each of them released energy equivalent to 21 thousand tons of explosives (Tri Nitro Toluene or TNT). That is, a truck has the capacity to carry an average of 7 tons of weight. In such a situation, it can be assumed that the atomic bombs dropped on these cities of Japan may have explosives equivalent to about 3 thousand trucks. Even after this, there was a tree in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, which gave hope of life even amidst the dancing death all around. These were Ginkgo trees. The seeds of these Ginkgo trees were spread all over the world as a symbol of peace. These seeds have the power to withstand atomic bombs.
What are climate resilient crops, on which Modi is focusing
According to Dr. Sana Rehman, Assistant Professor of Delhi University, Climate Resilient Crops (CIC) are those varieties that grow well even in climate stresses. These crops can withstand floods, drought, temperature rise, severe heat, pest attacks (such as locusts) and poisonous air like carbon dioxide. Generally, these crops are wheat, rice, ragi, maize and millet. Such crops are grown with the help of hybridization technology, selective gene transfer and genetically modified insects. Climate change has less effect on these crops and farmers can harvest a good crop without any worry. It is also being called Amritkaal of farming.
Providing food to 2 billion people in the world in 30 years is a big challenge
According to the Institute for Sustainable Food at the University of Sheffield, England, providing food to the world’s 2 billion population in the next 30 years will be a big challenge. In such a situation, we should develop high-yielding crop varieties using less water. In such a situation, climate resilient crops can become a big hope in this direction.
Ginkgo trees are very common in Japan. These trees have become a symbol of permanent peace around the world today
This is the era of smart crops, neither water nor protection is required
According to Dr. Sana Rehman, smart crops are those which do not require much water, pesticides or protection. They can tolerate extreme heat as well. They do not destroy the soil, so farmers benefit a lot from growing them.
Why are such crops important, will they be able to end world hunger
According to the United Nations, by 2050, there will be a need to feed 9.7 billion people in the world. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Agency (FAO), there should be a 70% increase in production to provide food to this entire population. According to the United Nations Agenda 2030, the main goal is to provide nutritious and sufficient food to the poor and vulnerable people throughout the year. The current food industry is responsible for 30% of the world’s energy consumption and 22% of greenhouse gas emissions. In such a situation, the challenge is not only to arrange for more food, but to do it regularly.
Use of technologies like AI and blockchain in agriculture
According to Sana Rehman, in smart farming, farmers are using drones, Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence. This helps in adapting crops according to the need at every stage of farming and getting more yield with weather related data. Blockchain makes it possible to monitor the growth of crops and cattle till handing them over to suppliers. At the same time, the use of AI makes it possible to accurately assess the fields and use fertilizers and pesticides correctly.
Green revolution in India started in the 60s
The Green Revolution in India is also known as the third agricultural revolution. These changes in farming started in developed countries after the Second World War and by the end of the 1980s, this revolution spread all over the world. The term Green Revolution was first used in 1968 by William Gaud, former director of the United States International Development Agency (USAID), who advocated technology in farming. MS Swaminathan is considered the father of India’s Green Revolution. This revolution also provided insurance to farmers’ crops during drought, flood, cyclone, fire and crop diseases, and loans at cheap rates for seeds and fertilizers. In 1960, a new revolution began with the improved variety of wheat and rice seeds brought from Mexico, which made the country self-sufficient in terms of wheat and rice.
The world’s oldest date palm seed
According to frontiersin.org, seeds have the potential to survive for a long time. There have been many seeds that have been used to revive extinct genotypes or species. The longest-lived seed is a species of date palm ‘Phoenix dactylifera L’. These seeds are estimated to be 2000 years old, one of which germinated in 2005. This fact was revealed in a study conducted on these date palm seeds planted in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq in 1873. Earlier, 270-year-old acacia seeds were germinated in South Africa. Similarly, 1288-year-old lotus seeds were regrown in China.