ELS COTTON

Context

• Union Finance Minister announced a five-year mission to improve cotton farming productivity and sustainability, with a focus on promoting extra-long staple (ELS) cotton varieties.

Background

• India’s cotton yields per acre are significantly lower than global competitors.
  • Brazil: 20 quintals per acre
  • China: 15 quintals per acre
• India needs improvements in seeds, agronomic advice, and technology adoption to improve yields and grow premium varieties like ELS cotton.

Key Insights on Extra-long Staple (ELS) Cotton

• Cotton Classification:
  • Cotton is classified by fiber length into long, medium, and short staple categories.
  • Gossypium hirsutum (96% of India’s cotton) is a medium staple variety with fiber lengths ranging from 25 to 28.6 mm.
  • ELS cotton has fiber lengths of 30 mm and above, typically sourced from Gossypium barbadense (Egyptian or Pima cotton).
  • Countries like China, Egypt, Australia, and Peru are major producers of ELS cotton.
• Production in India:
  • Limited cultivation of ELS cotton in areas like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu (rain-fed regions).
  • ELS cotton fabric is of the highest quality, with top-tier brands mixing ELS cotton with medium staple cotton to enhance fabric quality.

Challenges in Growing ELS Cotton in India

• Economic Disincentives:
  • Minimum Support Price (MSP) for medium staple cotton (Rs 7,121 per quintal) is lower than that of long staple cotton (Rs 7,521 per quintal).
  • Farmers are hesitant to adopt ELS cotton due to its lower yields (7-8 quintals per acre) compared to medium staple cotton (10-12 quintals per acre).
• Marketing Issues:
  • Farmers face challenges in marketing ELS cotton at premium prices, reducing the incentive to grow it.

NASA’s Discovery of Asteroid 2024 YR4: A Potential Earth Impact

Introduction

• NASA has flagged Asteroid 2024 YR4, revealing a 1% chance it could collide with Earth in 2032, sparking interest in planetary defense.

Importance for Prelims

• Key information on Asteroid 2024 YR4 and the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft is critical for understanding planetary defense strategies.

Details about Asteroid 2024 YR4

• Discovery: First spotted in December 2024 by a telescope in Chile.
• Size: The asteroid ranges from 40 to 100 meters in diameter.
• Closest Approach: Came within 800,000 kilometers of Earth, roughly twice the distance to the moon.
• Tracking Efforts: Scientists are utilizing advanced telescopes to track its path and size before it becomes too faint for observation.
• Classification: As a Near-Earth Object (NEO), it intersects Earth’s orbit, which increases the potential risk.

Challenges in Tracking and Assessing Asteroids

• Determining Size: Astronomers estimate the asteroid’s size based on its brightness, but this is complicated by its reflectivity.
• 1% Collision Risk: If the asteroid were to collide with Earth, it would release 8-10 megatons of energy, significantly more destructive than an atomic bomb.

What Are Asteroids?

• Origins: Asteroids are the rocky remnants from the early formation of the solar system, around 4.6 billion years ago.
• Types: They are categorized as:
  • C-type (carbon-rich)
  • M-type (metallic)
  • S-type (silicate-based)
• Location: The majority of asteroids are located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is the largest asteroid, with a diameter of 940 km.
• Historical Observation: The NASA Galileo spacecraft conducted the first close-up observation of an asteroid in 1991.

Asteroids as Potential Threats to Earth

• Frequent Entries: Thousands of small asteroids enter Earth’s atmosphere daily, with most burning up due to friction.
• Noteworthy Incident: A 20-meter asteroid exploded over Russia in 2013, causing significant damage despite most of its energy being absorbed by the atmosphere.
• Planetary Defense: Agencies are working on mechanisms to prevent asteroid collisions that could have catastrophic consequences.

Planetary Defense Strategies

1. Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART):
   • Mission: Launched in 2021, DART aimed to test deflection techniques on hazardous asteroids.
   • Target: The binary asteroid system—Didymos and Dimorphos.
   • Objective: Intentionally crash DART into Dimorphos to alter its orbit.
   • Outcome: The 2022 impact successfully changed Dimorphos’s trajectory, providing key data for future asteroid deflection methods.
2. OSIRIS-APEX Mission:
   • Focus: The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is now tracking Asteroid Apophis, a potentially hazardous asteroid.
   • Close Encounter: Apophis will make a rare close pass by Earth in April 2029, and Earth’s gravity will influence its orbit.
   • Research Objective: Study the asteroid’s changes in orbit, spin, and surface. The spacecraft will also stir up loose material on Apophis’s surface for scientific analysis.

ARAKU VALLEY

Event Overview

• The three-day Araku Utsav, titled ‘Chali’, concluded with a vibrant celebration in Araku Valley, located in Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Adivasi Performances: The festival showcased cultural performances by tribal groups from Northeast India, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Rajasthan. The tribes from ASR district performed the famous Dhimsa dance.

Araku Valley: A Scenic Destination

• Location: Situated in Alluri Sitharama Raju district, Andhra Pradesh.
• Elevation: The valley is located at an altitude of around 1,200 meters above sea level.
• Climate:
  • Monsoon: Receives substantial rainfall during the monsoon season (June–September).
  • Winters: Winters are cool and pleasant, with temperatures ranging between 5–10°C (December–February).

Biodiversity and Flora & Fauna

• Biodiversity Hotspot: Araku Valley is part of the Eastern Ghats biodiversity hotspot.
• Flora: It is home to dense tropical forests, with species like teak, bamboo, and various medicinal plants.
• Fauna:
  • Wildlife: The valley is home to wildlife species such as the Indian bison (gaur), leopards, and peacocks.
  • Reserved Forests: The Anantagiri and Sunkarimetta Reserved Forests are rich in biodiversity and are mined for bauxite.

Economic Importance

1. Coffee Plantations:
   • Araku Valley is renowned for its organic coffee cultivation, which has earned it a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
2. Tourism:
   • Borra Caves: Limestone caves with unique formations of stalactites and stalagmites.
   • Katiki Waterfalls: Scenic waterfalls that attract tourists.
   • Padmapuram Gardens: Famous for its variety of plants and pleasant atmosphere.
   • Dumbriguda Chaparai: A natural rock formation with waterfalls, offering a picturesque view.

India-Bangladesh Border Fencing Dispute: Key Issues and Developments

1. Context

• In January 2025, tensions escalated between India and Bangladesh over border fencing.
• Both countries exchanged diplomatic notes regarding security measures and past agreements.

2. India-Bangladesh Border Overview

• Length: 4,096 km (India’s longest international border).
• States Involved: Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal.
• Border Security: Guarded by the Border Security Force (BSF).

3. Fencing Progress and Challenges

• Current Fencing Status: 3,141 km fenced (76% of the total border).
• Challenges in Completion:
  • Riverine Stretches: Over 900 km of rivers (Ichamati, Padma) make fencing difficult.
  • Land Acquisition Issues: Delays due to lack of cooperation from the West Bengal government.
  • Local Resistance: Villagers object to fencing as it disrupts their access to land.
  • Difficult Terrain & Population Density: Close proximity of villages to the border complicates fencing efforts.

4. Security vs. Diplomatic Concerns

• India’s Position: Emphasizes security concerns, citing cross-border crimes and smuggling.
• Bangladesh’s Position: Raises concerns about territorial integrity and adherence to the 1975 agreement.

5. Protocols and Agreements

• 1975 Guidelines: Both countries agreed to restrict permanent structures within 150 yards of the boundary.
• Exceptions: Fencing near the zero line requires mutual consent.
• Recent Disputes:
  • India claims agreements exist for fence construction, but Bangladesh contests this, especially after the 2024 regime change.

6. Bangladesh’s Objections

• Proximity Issues: Opposes fencing within 150 yards, citing 1975 guidelines.
• Smart Fencing Concerns: Objects to surveillance technology (cameras, drones) near the border.
• Impact on Communities: Causes logistical and social challenges, particularly in enclaves.
• Local Disputes:
  • Objections raised in Malda’s Kaliachak and Cooch Behar’s Mekhliganj due to BGB concerns.

7. India’s Justification for Fencing

• Prevention of Crimes: 60% of trans-border crimes occur in unfenced areas, including smuggling and trafficking.
• Agricultural Protection: Prevents cattle movement damaging crops (e.g., in Mekhliganj).
• Not a Defensive Measure: India asserts that single-row fencing (SRF) is for security management, not military defense.

8. Technological Solutions for Border Gaps

• Surveillance Measures:
  • Use of floodlights, cameras, and drones to monitor unfenced areas.
• Simultaneous Coordinated Patrolling (SCP):
  • Over 600 SCPs conducted between BSF and BGB to ease tensions.

9. Recent Developments and Diplomatic Engagement

• West Bengal’s Approval: In Jan 2025, the state government allocated land for fencing in Karimpur.
• BSF-BGB Talks: Director-General-level discussions scheduled for February 2025.
• Mutual Restraint: Both BSF and BGB continue dialogues to prevent escalation.