Banks offer higher rates on NRI deposits
Non-resident Indians are being wooed with higher rates of interest by several banks after the Reserve Bank of India allowed lenders to offer NRIs a better return than local depositors and relaxed reserve requirements on these deposits.The freedom to price deposits is available only on those with tenures above three years. On its part, Federal Bank has hiked its non-resident external (NRE) term deposit rates in the three-year and above bucket to 9%, which is higher than the 8.75% offered on identical domestic deposits. The bank has seen a 50% growth in its NRE deposits in the first quarter of FY14 when compared to the same period last year. "A higher NRE rate than the domestic term rate would give a further boost to the remittances business," said A Surendran, head, retail and international banking, Federal Bank.
Bankers said that a hike in NRE rates of long-term maturities is a more cost-effective way of raising resources from abroad when compared to NRI bonds as the latter would entail additional costs like having roadshows overseas. In the past, the government has relied on State Bank of India to raise funds from NRIs through the Resurgent India Bonds in 1998 and India Millennium Deposits in 2001.
Oil-rich South Sudan looks to India
South Sudan is looking to India to improve its agricultural and food security practices and hopes the New Delhi visit of Salva Kiir Mayardit, the president of the world's youngest nation, will "lay a solid foundation to further promote bilateral relations", a senior minister of the oil-rich African nation said here."We know the Indian government is preparing to give the president a warm welcome. We are looking forward to the outcome as it would strengthen the ties between the two countries", Barnaba Marial Benjamin, South Sudan's minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation, told IANS during a visit here.
Mayardit, accompanied by a large delegation comprising ministers, officials and business leaders, will be in India Aug 26-28 at the invitation of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The invitation was delivered to Mayardit Aug 9 by India's special envoy to South Sudan PS Raghavan, a special secretary in the external affairs ministry.
NSEL may face payment crisis again; mops up only Rs 8.50 crore
The beleaguered National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) is expected to face a payment crisis yet again as it managed to collect only Rs 8.50 crore till Friday - the last day for pay-in, against the pay-out of Rs 175 crore to be made on Tuesday.For the first settlement, the exchange could mop up only Rs 92 crore which has been distributed among investors. There was a shortfall of Rs 82 crore.
"We have asked NSEL to sell stocks and recover the money. We are still evaluating concerted action against the exchange," BSE Brokers Forum official Alok Churiwala
Infosys: Narayana Murthy overturns CEO SD Shibulal's move
Infosys Technologies under chairman NR Narayana Murthy is centralising decision making, several senior executives said, in a development that has implications for the time the company takes to respond to client needs or market changes.The chairman's office — the new power centre created after the return of retired cofounder Murthy — has to sign off on key decisions related to large technology contracts, such as pricing or the way a deal is structured that might expose Infosys to future risks, at least three senior executives told ET on the condition of anonymity.
"For all practical purposes, Murthy is the chairman, CEO, COO all rolled into one," said one of the executives.
Centralisation drive
Before Murthy's return, chief executive officer SD Shibulal was in the process of decentralising decision-making, especially those related to negotiating and signing contracts.Australia's Haddin sets new wicketkeeping record
Australia's Brad Haddin set a new world record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test series when he caught England's Joe Root on the final day of the fifth Ashes match at The Oval on Sunday.Root's exit saw Haddin complete his 29th dismissal of the five-match series, surpassing the mark of 28 set by Australia wicketkeeping great Rodney Marsh, now a selector, against England during the 1982/83 Ashes in Australia.
In both cases, all the dismissals were caught.
England players celebrate Ashes win by urinating on Oval pitch
In an embarrassing display about five hours after the last Ashes Test was stopped due to bad light with England close to victory, the players gathered near the Oval pitch and urinated on it in turns to the cheers of their teammates.According to news.com.au, while the centre of the ground was quite dark, lights were on in the grandstands with dozens of people still cleaning up after a late finish, which saw the game go beyond usual time.
A number of players including Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson are said to be involved in the act, the report said.
Curator Cam Sutherland said that it was not a good look and called it unfortunate.
Gopichand Academy bags award
The Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy (PGBA), which has been producing world class shuttlers like Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu and P Kashyap, has been honoured by the union government on Thursday.The sports ministry has recommended the Rashtriya Khel Protsahan Puruskar for the PGBA. The other entities recommended for this honour are Services Sports Control Board (for financial support ), Petroleum Sports Promotion Board (Employment for sportspersons and welfare measures) and UK Mishra, National Sports Academy , Allahabad (Community Sports Identification and Nurturing of Budding Young Talent).
Consensual sex with minor not a crime, Delhi court says
A city court has observed that consensual sex with a girl aged below 18 years does not constitute an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The court said the provisions of POCSO Act suggest that where a physical relationship — which is not in the nature of an assault — takes place with the minor girl's consent and where the consent has not been obtained unlawfully, no offence can be said to have been committed.
Rejecting the plea of the police and Delhi Commission for Women that POCSO Act prohibits minors from having any kind sexual relationship, additional sessions judge Dharmesh Sharma said, "I am afraid if that interpretation is allowed, it would mean that the human body of every individual under 18 years is the property of the state and no individual below 18 years can be allowed to have pleasures associated with one's body."
LTC scam: MPs may also be inflating air travel bills
The stink of forged airline tickets being used to defraud the government is spreading to Parliament.Ever since TOI on Thursday exposed the widespread scandal in LTC (leave travel concession) claims, where officials of the central government and public sector units have been submitting forged or inflated airline travel bills, information has been emerging of the scam being far more widespread than known, and quite efficiently organized.
Here comes the latest shocker: It may not be just government officials who have been submitting forged airline tickets in connivance with travel agents to defraud the government. According to multiple sources, there seems to be a well-oiled network of travel agents supplying members of Parliament with similarly inflated flight tickets.
England players celebrate Ashes win by urinating on Oval pitch
In an embarrassing display about five hours after the last Ashes Test was stopped due to bad light with England close to victory, the players gathered near the Oval pitch and urinated on it in turns to the cheers of their teammates.According to news.com.au, while the centre of the ground was quite dark, lights were on in the grandstands with dozens of people still cleaning up after a late finish, which saw the game go beyond usual time.
A number of players including Stuart Broad, Kevin Pietersen and James Anderson are said to be involved in the act, the report said.
Curator Cam Sutherland said that it was not a good look and called it unfortunate.
The Government of Brazil Liberalised Issuing Short
Term Work Visas
The
Government of Brazil liberalised issuing short term work visas. This move from
Brazil Government will enable the IT professionals from India to take up their
work assignments in Brazil. The Government of Brazil announced that anyone who
applies for the short term work visas will no longer be required to get
clearance from Brazil Labour Ministry.
Initially, the person who wanted to work in Brazil for short term had to apply for short-term work visa, which in turn allows a person to remain in Brazil for up to 90 days. This short term work visa had to get a nod from Brazilian Labour Ministry before being processed. The clearances from this ministry eventually required two months time.
With the formation of this new law for short-term visa, a person can get it in around 10 days in case all the documents are perfect. It is important to note that the Brazilian Embassy in India as well as the Consulate in Mumbai had issued around 11000 visas in the year 2012, an increase from 7600 visas issued in the year 2010.
It was also estimated that more than 60 percent of 625 people applying for work visas that were issued in Delhi in the year 2012, will benefit with this new law.
Initially, the person who wanted to work in Brazil for short term had to apply for short-term work visa, which in turn allows a person to remain in Brazil for up to 90 days. This short term work visa had to get a nod from Brazilian Labour Ministry before being processed. The clearances from this ministry eventually required two months time.
With the formation of this new law for short-term visa, a person can get it in around 10 days in case all the documents are perfect. It is important to note that the Brazilian Embassy in India as well as the Consulate in Mumbai had issued around 11000 visas in the year 2012, an increase from 7600 visas issued in the year 2010.
It was also estimated that more than 60 percent of 625 people applying for work visas that were issued in Delhi in the year 2012, will benefit with this new law.
Sania Mirza - Jie Zheng pair won WTA New Haven Open
Title
Indian
tennis player Sania Mirza lifted the women’s doubles trophy at the WTA New
Haven Open along with her partner Jie Zheng of China on 24 August 2013.
Third seeded Sania and Jie defeated the second-seeded pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues and Katarina Srebotnik 6-3, 6-4 in the summit clash.
This is Sania Mirza's 17th WTA doubles title and the third Title in 2013 and Jie Zheng's 15th WTA doubles title and the first in last two years. Each player had won New Haven once previously: Sania with Mara Santangelo in 2007 and Zheng with Yan Zi in 2006.
About New Haven Open
The New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is a Premier tournament on the WTA Tour. Until 2010 the tournament was a part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the ATP Tour. It is held annually at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, just before the fourth and last Grand Slam tournament of the year, the US Open.
Third seeded Sania and Jie defeated the second-seeded pair of Anabel Medina Garrigues and Katarina Srebotnik 6-3, 6-4 in the summit clash.
This is Sania Mirza's 17th WTA doubles title and the third Title in 2013 and Jie Zheng's 15th WTA doubles title and the first in last two years. Each player had won New Haven once previously: Sania with Mara Santangelo in 2007 and Zheng with Yan Zi in 2006.
About New Haven Open
The New Haven Open at Yale presented by First Niagara is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is a Premier tournament on the WTA Tour. Until 2010 the tournament was a part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the ATP Tour. It is held annually at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis Center in New Haven, Connecticut, United States, just before the fourth and last Grand Slam tournament of the year, the US Open.
Loss of Arctic Sea Leading to Greening of the
Arctic: Research
Researchers
from the University of Alaska Fairbanks's Geophysical Institute, in the last
week of August 2013 revealed that loss of the Arctic sea was leading to
greening of the Arctic. Researchers revealed that declining sea ice as well as
warming trends are the factors leading to change of vegetation in the Arctic
coastal areas.
Uma Bhatt, an associate professor with University of Alaska Fairbanks's Geophysical Institute explained that the researchers wanted to find out if the depleting sea ice was the factor contributing to greening of the tundra along the coastal areas. This was relatively the new idea.
The team of researchers analysed 10 years of data as well as research on this subject in order to reinstate the fact. The findings of the study revealed that the loss of sea ice was changing the terrestrial food chain as well as marine food chain. It is also important to note that the disappearance of the sea ice also means that there was a loss of sea ice algae, which in turn meant that there was underpinning of the marine food web.
The researchers also explained that the larger planktons were flourishing and that these were more nutrient dense planktons. Above the water level, the loss of sea ice has also destroyed the old ways of animal migration all across the sea. In the meanwhile, it has also opened the new pathways for the marine animals in the other seas.
The researchers explained that the depleting sea ice will cause more isolation to the plants and the animals. In case of the farthest north and coldest parts of the Arctic, all of the biomes would be lost without the presence of cooling effects of disappearing summer sea ice.
Uma Bhatt, an associate professor with University of Alaska Fairbanks's Geophysical Institute explained that the researchers wanted to find out if the depleting sea ice was the factor contributing to greening of the tundra along the coastal areas. This was relatively the new idea.
The team of researchers analysed 10 years of data as well as research on this subject in order to reinstate the fact. The findings of the study revealed that the loss of sea ice was changing the terrestrial food chain as well as marine food chain. It is also important to note that the disappearance of the sea ice also means that there was a loss of sea ice algae, which in turn meant that there was underpinning of the marine food web.
The researchers also explained that the larger planktons were flourishing and that these were more nutrient dense planktons. Above the water level, the loss of sea ice has also destroyed the old ways of animal migration all across the sea. In the meanwhile, it has also opened the new pathways for the marine animals in the other seas.
The researchers explained that the depleting sea ice will cause more isolation to the plants and the animals. In case of the farthest north and coldest parts of the Arctic, all of the biomes would be lost without the presence of cooling effects of disappearing summer sea ice.
Pollution Warning Application for Swimmers and
Surfers Launched in UK
Surfers
Against Sewage (SAS), the charity organisation, with the financial aid of the
Environment Agency of UK created an application which allows the surfers and
the bathers to get real-time warnings regarding the pollution incidents on the
beaches.
This is the free service which enables the user to get the text messages or the alerts regarding the discharge of the storm or the sewage water at around 250 beaches of Wales and England. The application was created in the backdrop of rising concerns about the sewage spills which can be the major cause of illness for the beach-goers.
It is important to note that in the year 2012, the UK beaches failed to meet the basic norms for water quality. The application is available for free download on the Android smartphones as well as iPhone.
The application works by accessing data from the water companies on the combined sewer overflows, which in turn allows for untreated sewage and storm water in sea during heavy rains in order to prevent the sewers backing up.
The application service works by sending to its users, the alerts or the text messages when the pollution reaches dangerous levels. The information about this is posted online. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) expressed hopes that the application will enable the beach-goers to bathe at the favourite places safely without the fear of stomach bugs, chest or eye infections, sore throats, hepatitis as well as skin infections.
The alert service application was also tested on three beaches of Cornwall. A poll conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 591 people found that 94 percent of people receiving information about these short-term spills also took actions for avoiding the pollution.
The Director of SAS explained that the application was an innovative concept and was a campaign against the secretive combine sewer overflow sewage discharges from water companies. The application would enable the beach-goers to decide where to swim.
This is the free service which enables the user to get the text messages or the alerts regarding the discharge of the storm or the sewage water at around 250 beaches of Wales and England. The application was created in the backdrop of rising concerns about the sewage spills which can be the major cause of illness for the beach-goers.
It is important to note that in the year 2012, the UK beaches failed to meet the basic norms for water quality. The application is available for free download on the Android smartphones as well as iPhone.
The application works by accessing data from the water companies on the combined sewer overflows, which in turn allows for untreated sewage and storm water in sea during heavy rains in order to prevent the sewers backing up.
The application service works by sending to its users, the alerts or the text messages when the pollution reaches dangerous levels. The information about this is posted online. Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) expressed hopes that the application will enable the beach-goers to bathe at the favourite places safely without the fear of stomach bugs, chest or eye infections, sore throats, hepatitis as well as skin infections.
The alert service application was also tested on three beaches of Cornwall. A poll conducted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on 591 people found that 94 percent of people receiving information about these short-term spills also took actions for avoiding the pollution.
The Director of SAS explained that the application was an innovative concept and was a campaign against the secretive combine sewer overflow sewage discharges from water companies. The application would enable the beach-goers to decide where to swim.
Julie Harris, the US actress known for record Tony
Award wins, passed away at 87
Julie
Harris, the US actress known for stage and screen, passed away on 25 August
2013 at the age of 87 years at West Chatham, Massachusetts, United States. She
was most popular for her roles in the Broadway, for which she has the record of
most Tony Award Wins. She died because of heart failure.
Life History of Julie Harris
• Julie Harris was born on 2 December 1925 at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States.
• She made her debut in the year 1945 to the Broadway.
• She held the record of winning five Tony Awards. Only other performers who have won five competitive Tony Awards include Angela Lansbury and Audra McDonald.
• For her 1950 play The Member of the Wedding, she was nominated for an Oscar. The play was adapted for big screen in the year 1953.
• She won her first Tony Award in the year 1952 for playing the role of Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera, adapted from Christopher Isherwood's book Berlin Stories.
• Other works for which she won Tony awards included playing Joan of Arc in The Lark in 1956, for Forty Carats in 1969, role as Abraham Lincoln's wife Mary Todd Lincoln in 1973's The Last of Mrs Lincoln. Final Tony Award came for portraying poet Emily Dickinson in her one-woman show The Belle of Amherst in 1977. This performance also won her the Grammy Award for best spoken word recording.
• She received a special lifetime achievement Tony in the year 2002.
• She appeared in over 30 films including playing James Dean's love interest in East of Eden, on the Silver Screen.
• For the Television, she won three Emmy Awards between 1959 and 2000 as well as playing country music singer Lilimae Clements in Knot's Landing in the 1980s.
• In the year 1994, she was also awarded the National Medal of Arts.
• She was the member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
Life History of Julie Harris
• Julie Harris was born on 2 December 1925 at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, United States.
• She made her debut in the year 1945 to the Broadway.
• She held the record of winning five Tony Awards. Only other performers who have won five competitive Tony Awards include Angela Lansbury and Audra McDonald.
• For her 1950 play The Member of the Wedding, she was nominated for an Oscar. The play was adapted for big screen in the year 1953.
• She won her first Tony Award in the year 1952 for playing the role of Sally Bowles in I Am a Camera, adapted from Christopher Isherwood's book Berlin Stories.
• Other works for which she won Tony awards included playing Joan of Arc in The Lark in 1956, for Forty Carats in 1969, role as Abraham Lincoln's wife Mary Todd Lincoln in 1973's The Last of Mrs Lincoln. Final Tony Award came for portraying poet Emily Dickinson in her one-woman show The Belle of Amherst in 1977. This performance also won her the Grammy Award for best spoken word recording.
• She received a special lifetime achievement Tony in the year 2002.
• She appeared in over 30 films including playing James Dean's love interest in East of Eden, on the Silver Screen.
• For the Television, she won three Emmy Awards between 1959 and 2000 as well as playing country music singer Lilimae Clements in Knot's Landing in the 1980s.
• In the year 1994, she was also awarded the National Medal of Arts.
• She was the member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame.
Tata Medical
Centre of Kolkata to Start Bio-Bank to Store Cancer Tissues
Tata
Medical Centre (TMC) of Kolkata on 24 August 2013 announced the setting up of a
bio-bank that will store tissues of cancer patients for furthering research in
the discipline.
The Tata Translational Cancer Research Centre (TTCRC) will be set up near the existing Tata Medical Centre-Cancer Hospital in Kolkata. The TTCRC will facilitate the bio-bank with an estimated cost of 60 crore rupees. This bio-bank will be the eastern India’s first bio-bank.
The Tata Translational Cancer Research Centre (TTCRC) will be set up near the existing Tata Medical Centre-Cancer Hospital in Kolkata. The TTCRC will facilitate the bio-bank with an estimated cost of 60 crore rupees. This bio-bank will be the eastern India’s first bio-bank.
The
hospital has also planned to involve about 20 scientists in the new research
facility where emphasis will also be on preventive oncology along with the
bio-bank.
About Bio Bank
• The Bio-bank will store cancer tissues for further research with the consent of the patients of course. The tissues which have been surgically removed will be preserved.
• A Bio-bank is a repository that houses and stores biological samples for future research and diagnostic purposes.
• The centre will target application oriented research and provide a crucial link between scientific data collated and how clinicians could use the inferences in their treatment of cancer patients.
• Bio-bank will bridge the translational gap that lies between scientific research and the solutions to these questions in the laboratory.
About Tata Medical Centre
• Tata Medical Center (TMC), Kolkata is a philanthropic initiative from the House of Tata. Its mission is to promote Prevention, Early Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Palliation and Research for cancer patients.
• The Tata Medical Centre treating cancer patients from all over the country and also from neighbouring countries. 70 percent of patients are from West Bengal, 15 percent from neighbouring states like Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar and about 5 percent from Bangladesh and one to two percent from Pakistan.
• The cancer hospital holds the unique distinction of being the official referral hospital for cancer for the Government of Bhutan.
About Bio Bank
• The Bio-bank will store cancer tissues for further research with the consent of the patients of course. The tissues which have been surgically removed will be preserved.
• A Bio-bank is a repository that houses and stores biological samples for future research and diagnostic purposes.
• The centre will target application oriented research and provide a crucial link between scientific data collated and how clinicians could use the inferences in their treatment of cancer patients.
• Bio-bank will bridge the translational gap that lies between scientific research and the solutions to these questions in the laboratory.
About Tata Medical Centre
• Tata Medical Center (TMC), Kolkata is a philanthropic initiative from the House of Tata. Its mission is to promote Prevention, Early Diagnosis, Treatment, Rehabilitation and Palliation and Research for cancer patients.
• The Tata Medical Centre treating cancer patients from all over the country and also from neighbouring countries. 70 percent of patients are from West Bengal, 15 percent from neighbouring states like Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar and about 5 percent from Bangladesh and one to two percent from Pakistan.
• The cancer hospital holds the unique distinction of being the official referral hospital for cancer for the Government of Bhutan.
Union Government set up Tax Administration Reform
Commission under Parthasarathy Shome
The Union
Government of India on 26 August 2013 set up a commission under the
chairmanship of Parthasarathy Shome to review tax laws and suggest ways for a
stable and non-adversarial tax administration.
The seven-member Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC) will have a 18-month tenure to suggest various measures including an appropriate organisational structure for tax governance.
The seven-member Tax Administration Reform Commission (TARC) will have a 18-month tenure to suggest various measures including an appropriate organisational structure for tax governance.
Commission
members
•Chairman:
Parthasarathy Shome.
•Full-time members: Y G Parande and Sunita Kaila
•Part-time members: M K Zutshi, S S N Moorhty, M R Diwakar and S Mahalingam
The Terms of Reference of the Commission
•The Commission will review the existing mechanism and business processes of tax governance and recommend appropriate measures. It will also suggest measures for deepening and widening of the tax base and enforce better tax compliance.
•The commission will review the existing mechanism of dispute resolution covering time and compliance cost and recommend measures for strengthening the same. This includes domestic and international taxation.
•The Commission will also look into enhancing the predictive analysis to detect and prevent tax and economic offences.
•The Commission will recommend measures to strengthen inter-agency information sharing between CBDT, CBEC, FIU, Enforcement Directorate, and also with the banking and financial sector.
•The commission would also look at mechanism for grievance redressal, timely disbursal of tax refunds and duty drawbacks.
The committee, which was proposed by the Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Budget 2013-14 seeks to review the application of tax policies and tax laws and submit periodic reports that can be implemented to strengthen the capacity of the tax system.
•Full-time members: Y G Parande and Sunita Kaila
•Part-time members: M K Zutshi, S S N Moorhty, M R Diwakar and S Mahalingam
The Terms of Reference of the Commission
•The Commission will review the existing mechanism and business processes of tax governance and recommend appropriate measures. It will also suggest measures for deepening and widening of the tax base and enforce better tax compliance.
•The commission will review the existing mechanism of dispute resolution covering time and compliance cost and recommend measures for strengthening the same. This includes domestic and international taxation.
•The Commission will also look into enhancing the predictive analysis to detect and prevent tax and economic offences.
•The Commission will recommend measures to strengthen inter-agency information sharing between CBDT, CBEC, FIU, Enforcement Directorate, and also with the banking and financial sector.
•The commission would also look at mechanism for grievance redressal, timely disbursal of tax refunds and duty drawbacks.
The committee, which was proposed by the Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Budget 2013-14 seeks to review the application of tax policies and tax laws and submit periodic reports that can be implemented to strengthen the capacity of the tax system.
Bangladesh Developed World's First Zinc-Enriched
Rice Variety
Bangladesh
Government on 25 August 2013 released the world's first zinc-enriched rice
variety capable of fighting diarrhoea and pneumonia-induced childhood deaths
and stunted growth.
The National Seed Board of Bangladesh gave its approval to the country's first biologically fortified rice variety, which will be available to farmers for cultivation in the next aman season beginning June -November 2014. Aman season is monsoon season of Bangladesh (June to November) and the major crop of Aman season is rice.
The zinc-enriched variety developed in Bangladesh has the maximum zinc content ranging from 20-22 ppm as against the world average of 14-16 ppm in other varieties. It also has a shorter maturity period of 100 days against 110-120 days for other fortified varieties giving the advantage of releasing the land for growing vegetables.
The zinc-enriched variety is developed by Dr. Alamgir Hossain from Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Alamgir Hossain, a principal scientific officer at the plant breeding division of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), led the long and arduous process of zinc biofortification in rice since 2003.
The enriched zinc variety is expected to bring relief to an estimated 44 percent of Bangladeshi children under five who are at risk of zinc deficiency and consequent stunted growth.
About the project
The BRRI breeders developed the hi-zinc rice with support from Harvest Plus, which is a global biofortification mission launched back in 2004 under the Washington-based global agro-science coordinating body- Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
The Harvest Plus programme, coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), provided assistance to both Bangladesh and India for pursuing the breeding work for developing zinc-enriched rice.
Importance of Zinc
•Zinc, iron and vitamin-A are the three most vital micronutrients, deficiency of which hampers children’s natural growth and decreases their disease prevention capacity.
•Nearly half a million children die each year in the world due to zinc deficiency. Over 17 percent of the global population is at risk of inadequate zinc intake while the regional estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake ranges from 7.5 percent in high-income regions to 30 percent in South Asia.
•The role of zinc in human body includes helping normal growth and development, maintenance of body tissues, vision, sexual function, and the immune system. Zinc deficiency causes stunting while zinc supplementation can reduce the severity of morbidity from a number of common childhood diseases including diarrhoea and pneumonia.
The National Seed Board of Bangladesh gave its approval to the country's first biologically fortified rice variety, which will be available to farmers for cultivation in the next aman season beginning June -November 2014. Aman season is monsoon season of Bangladesh (June to November) and the major crop of Aman season is rice.
The zinc-enriched variety developed in Bangladesh has the maximum zinc content ranging from 20-22 ppm as against the world average of 14-16 ppm in other varieties. It also has a shorter maturity period of 100 days against 110-120 days for other fortified varieties giving the advantage of releasing the land for growing vegetables.
The zinc-enriched variety is developed by Dr. Alamgir Hossain from Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI). Alamgir Hossain, a principal scientific officer at the plant breeding division of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), led the long and arduous process of zinc biofortification in rice since 2003.
The enriched zinc variety is expected to bring relief to an estimated 44 percent of Bangladeshi children under five who are at risk of zinc deficiency and consequent stunted growth.
About the project
The BRRI breeders developed the hi-zinc rice with support from Harvest Plus, which is a global biofortification mission launched back in 2004 under the Washington-based global agro-science coordinating body- Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).
The Harvest Plus programme, coordinated by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), provided assistance to both Bangladesh and India for pursuing the breeding work for developing zinc-enriched rice.
Importance of Zinc
•Zinc, iron and vitamin-A are the three most vital micronutrients, deficiency of which hampers children’s natural growth and decreases their disease prevention capacity.
•Nearly half a million children die each year in the world due to zinc deficiency. Over 17 percent of the global population is at risk of inadequate zinc intake while the regional estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake ranges from 7.5 percent in high-income regions to 30 percent in South Asia.
•The role of zinc in human body includes helping normal growth and development, maintenance of body tissues, vision, sexual function, and the immune system. Zinc deficiency causes stunting while zinc supplementation can reduce the severity of morbidity from a number of common childhood diseases including diarrhoea and pneumonia.
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