The swarms have hit various districts of western UP and the Bundelkhand region in the last 48 hours, prompting alerts in several places like Agra, Kasganj, Azamgarh, Chitrakoot and Jhansi.
Complaints of tomatoes getting devastated by the virus began pouring in from late April but the lockdown has prevented scientists from identifying it and determining its source.
Easing of lockdown restrictions to revive Indian economy may suggest end of Covid-19 ordeal for agriculture. But gaps in food value chains show fight is far from over.
The problem has chiefly arisen due to lack of coordination between Modi govt & Mamata govt as West Bengal supplies 95% of the gunny sacks required in the country.
The govt Wednesday issued fresh guidelines for phase 2 of the lockdown, allowing hospitals, agricultural, manufacturing sectors, among others, to function.
For an industry globally classified as hazardous, protections such as health insurance and a provident fund for workers are necessities. In Sivakasi, they remain elusive.
The industry forecasts exports are set to grow 16% in 2025-26, boosted by surplus domestic production and a drive to push into 26 underserved global markets with strong potential.
Indigenisation level will progressively increase up to 60 percent with key sub-assemblies, electronics and mechanical parts being manufactured locally.
It is a brilliant, reasonably priced, and mostly homemade aircraft with a stellar safety record; only two crashes in 24 years since its first flight. But its crash is a moment of introspection.
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