SMART TECH PROJECT FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

The U.K. and Tamil Nadu are working together on a smart technology project for sustainable water, waste and resource management.
The project is titled as ‘Smart district administration using loT technologies for better quality of life.’
The ‘Smart district’ project aims to address global sustainability challenges by deploying sensors across the district.
It gathers data in real-time on water and waste management and environmental quality.
The sensors will analyse data patterns for efficient resource allocation.

TILAPIA PARVOVIRUS

Tilapia parvovirus (TiPV) is affecting farm-bred tilapia.
It is a freshwater fish species.
TiPV is causing a huge mortality rate.
It has been reported for the first time in India at ponds in Walajah in Ranipet district.
TiPV-positive was found through PCR [Polymerase Chain Reaction]. This DNA virus caused mortality ranging from 30% to 50% in the farm.
Mozambique tilapia was considered as “a poor-man’s fish.”
It was introduced to Indian fresh waterbodies in the 1950s.
It is called Jilabi in Tamil.
It is Capable of surviving in low-oxygen levels.
The fish has turned invasive across the country.
Nile tilapia was introduced in the 1970s.
It is bigger and cultured on a larger scale.
It available in the market at ₹100 to ₹150 per kg.
In 2022, the tilapia production was estimated to be about 70,000 tonnes, of which 30,000 tonnes come from aquaculture.
The TiPV was first reported in China in 2019 and in Thailand in 2021.
India is the third country to report its occurrence.

Vizhinjam port welcomes its first vessel.
About Vizhinjam port
The Vizhinjam International Seaport is located in Thiruvananthapuram.
It is a multi-purpose port.
It is also the first automated port in India.
It is the sole port in the country to be located adjacent to an international shipping.
It just 10 nautical miles from the international shipping route connecting Europe, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East.

The organisms respond to unfavourable conditions by suspending their activities and go into a period of deep sleep. Summer sleep is called aestivation.
It is a biological phenomenon whereby the animal enters a long period of dormancy, or inactivity, in response to high temperature or maybe even drought-like conditions.
It is a survival strategy that helps the animal conserve energy and water in a difficult time.
During estivation, the animal often seeks shelter in a cool underground burrow, crevice or cocoon.
It will remain in a state of reduced metabolic activity, which in turn reduces the rate at which the body consumes energy.
Estivation can also be a way to avoid desiccation (extreme dryness of the skin).
It also lower the risk of being preyed on by a predator.

For example, the West African lungfish

(Protopterusannectens) burrows into the mud of a drying water body and secretes a cocoon of mucus around itself during a drought.
Desert tortoises (Gopherusagassizii) dig burrows and retreat into them in hot summer months.
Many land snails seal themselves in their shells with a mucous plug, and stay inactive until the conditions outside improve.

WORLD FOOD DAY – OCTOBER 16

World Food Day is observed every year on October 16.
The event commemorates the establishment of United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in 1945.
The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the issues like poverty and hunger and the adoptive measures for solution of these issues.
The theme of World Food Day 2023 is ‘Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind’.