G20 RIIG experts discussed mechanisms to collaborate and work for sustainable energy technologies
Author: BI Bureau
New Delhi: Delegates deliberated on ways of working jointly to solve the energy challenges collectively to achieve carbon emission net-zero goals for environment protection and sustainability at the G20 conference on ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ on 2nd March at Ranchi.
Dr S Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and RIIG Chair, said that many G20 nations including India, have enormous minerals and materials wealth that is required to be sustainably used for meeting our energy requirements.
Highlighting the theme of the G20 under India’s Presidency - ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR said it underlines the need for the entire world to come together and focus on sustainable energy so that we can have one global future with net zero emissions.
As G20 delegates from Indonesia and Brazil, the other two troika countries, reiterated the importance of the conference, delegates from several countries called upon the G20 nations to join hands for furthering research and developing technological solutions in sustainable energy storage, distribution and management.
Various facets of ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ were discussed under three sessions -- 21st century challenges related to energy materials and devices, solar energy utilisation and photovoltaic technology, and materials and processes for green energy.
A total 21 foreign delegates from 16 G20 member countries, invited guest countries and international organisations participated in the conference along with about 40 Indian experts. The Conference was coordinated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.
Following this, the conference on ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ in Ranchi, three more RIIG events will be held in Dibrugarh (Assam), Dharamshala (HP) and Diu on the themes ‘Circular-bio-economy’, ‘Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition’ and ‘Scientific Challenges and Opportunities towards Achieving a Sustainable Blue Economy’ respectively. /BI/
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The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores.
As the economy comes to a standstill amid the coronavirus-led lockdown, India’s agriculture sector has taken the baton of economic growth in its hands. The exports of agricultural commodities from March to June 2020 shot up by 23.24 percent on-year to Rs 25,552.7 crores, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. The government said that self-reliant agriculture is critical for the goal of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and for this, agricultural export is extremely important as besides earning foreign exchange for the country, the exports help farmers, producers, and exporters to take advantage of the wider international market and increase their income.
The surge in exports has also resulted in increased production in the farm sector by increasing coverage area and productivity. The share of India’s agricultural exports and imports in the world agriculture trade in 2017 was 2.27 percent and 1.90 percent, respectively. Even during the difficult time of pandemic lockdown, India took care not to disturb the world food supply chain and continued to export, the government said.
Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a comprehensive action plan for the promotion of Agri trade; the twofold approach focuses on boosting Agri Export with emphasis on value addition and action plan for Import Substitution. Recently, the Agriculture sector has witnessed a series of reforms, giving more choices to the farmers to sell their produce at competitive rates.
To mention a few, the Export strategy focuses on the export promotion of fast-evolving niche markets of Wellness food/ Health-conscious food/nutraceuticals, Development of “Brand India” in campaign mode to help penetration into new foreign markets and of new products which automatically translates into higher value realization, Gulf countries have been identified as focus destination to increase the market share which is a strong market for India though presently India caters to only 10-12% share of their total imports. A product-market matrix has been made containing a list of products of strength that could be expanded in new geographies and a list of known markets which can be introduced with newer products.
At the behest of the Department of Agricultural Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, product-specific Export Promotion Forums have been created to lead Agri exports to new heights. Each Export Promotion Forum shall be having exporters of the related commodity as its members along with official members representing concerned Ministries/Departments of the Central and State Governments. Chairman APEDA shall be the chairman of each of these forums. The forums will meet at least once every two months, to discuss recommendations on issues pertaining to the export.
The recommendations of the forum will be placed in the product committee / Authority of APEDA. The Forum will keep in close contact with the concerned organization of the Ministry of Agriculture such as MIDH, Extension, NPPO, etc., DGFT, Ministry of Civil Aviation, MoFPI, etc. to further the interest of agricultural export.
