Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India Launched (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- Recently, NITI Aayog, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations jointly launched the ‘Investment Forum for Advancing Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in India’ in New Delhi.
Details:
- This initiative aims to develop an investment and partnership strategy to advance climate resilient agrifood systems among the government, private sectors, and farmers’ organizations and financial institutions in India.
- The two-day meet paved the way for discussions and deliberations among key stakeholders, and their perspectives on national priorities, investment opportunities, partnership, technical support and cooperation.
Key areas:
The Forum facilitated discussions and deliberations on six key areas namely,
- Climate resilient agriculture (experiences and pathways)
- Digital infrastructure and solutions
- Financing climate resilient agrifood systems (domestic and global)
- Climate resilient value chains
- Production practices and inputs for climate resilience and
- Gender mainstreaming and social inclusion for climate resilience.
Implications for climate change:
- Climate change has profound implications for India, particularly affecting its economically vulnerable rural population which is largely dependent on climate sensitive agricultural livelihoods.
- Indian agriculture is susceptible to extreme temperatures, droughts, floods, cyclones, and soil salinity. Climate mainstreaming into agrifood systems requires much larger investments from global climate finance, domestic budgets, and the private sector.
Significance:
- This forum facilitated the identification of national priorities and policy platforms for financing climate resilient agrifood systems.
- It facilitated key stakeholders to provide insights on several opportunities that can be leveraged through regional collaboration on climate-smart food system initiatives and suggest probable arrangements to maximize resource consolidation, route catalytic findings and support large-scale climate advocacy campaigns.
How IIST and Dhruva Space propelled PSLV C58 XPoSat mission to space
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) has played a crucial role in the successful launch of the PSLV-C58 XPoSat mission on January 1.
- The mission saw the deployment of the LEAP-TD payload developed by Hyderabad-based space startup Dhruva Space.
LEAP-TD payload:
- The LEAP-TD payload was part of the nine payloads carried by the POEM orbiting platform of PSLV C58.
- It was designed for technology demonstration, including telemetry and telecommand modules, among other subsystems. This marks a significant milestone for Dhruva Space, showcasing their capabilities in small satellite systems development.
SSPACE:
- The success of satellite missions heavily relies on ground communication for telemetry and telecommand. IIST's Small-spacecraft Systems and Payload Centre (SSPACE) and its ground station tracking systems have been instrumental in this regard.
- They have supported multiple satellites, including the recent PSLV C58 mission, ensuring continuous operations for telemetry and telecommand.
Collaboration:
- LEAP-TD, now in a ~350 km low earth orbit, is visible over IIST for approximately 10 minutes during its high elevation orbits each day. During these critical windows, the ground station must accurately track the satellite to receive telemetry and send telecommands.
- A team from Dhruva Space joined forces with IIST to enhance the ground station's capabilities to meet the specific needs of the LEAP-TD payload.
Way Forward:
- This collaboration positions IIST as a provider of reliable ground station tracking systems and services for small satellites. It opens doors for universities and startups to leverage these facilities, fostering innovation and rapid deployment of space assets.
