Prelims – 28th Nov 23
Leprosy
- Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae
- The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves.
- Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities. It is more common in tropical and subtropical areas.
- It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200 000 new cases reported each year.
- It is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.
- It is transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
- Scientists have recently announced that the leprosy bacillus, which is microscopically indistinguishable from that of tuberculosis, can be destroyed by an injunction of oils.
- India was declared as “Leprosy Eliminated” in 2005. But still India reports more than 1,25,000 new patients of leprosy every year.
National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP):
- It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the umbrella of National Health Mission (NHM).
- India has achieved the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem i.e., defined as less than 1 case per 10,000 populations, at the National level.
- The NLEP aims at eliminating leprosy in each of the districts by 2030.
- Nikusth 2.0 – It is an integrated portal for leprosy case management under National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP).
Fungal Diseases in Plants
- The five most important crops (rice, wheat, maize, soyabeans and potato) are vulnerable to fungal diseases such as rice blast fungus, wheat stem rust, corn smut, soybean rust and potato late blight
- Sources of fungal infections are infected seed, soil, crop debris, nearby crops and weeds
- Fungi are spread by wind and water splash, and through the movement of contaminated soil, animals, workers, machinery, tools, seedlings, and other plant material
- They enter plants through natural openings such as stomata and through wounds caused by pruning, harvesting, hail, insects, other diseases, and mechanical damage.
Bacteria
| Beans, Rice | Blight |
| Cotton | Black Arm |
| Tomato | Canker |
| Potato | Ring Rot, Brown Rot |
Fungal
| Sugarcane | Red Rot |
| Rice | Blast |
| Wheat | Rust, Powdery Mildew |
| Potato | Late blight |
Virus
| Potato | Leaf Roll |
| Papaya | Leaf Curl |
| Tobacco | Mosaic |
| Banana | Bunchy Top |
SATHI Portal
- By Min of Agri and Farmer Welfare
- Centralised online system designed to deal with challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification.
- QR code through which seeds can be traced.
Indian Seeds Programme
- It recognises 3 stages of seed production
- Breeder Seeds are produced by ICAR
- Foundation Seeds by National Seeds Corporation, State Farm Cooperation of India, State Seeds Corporation and Private Seed Producers
- Certified Seeds are produced and distributed by SGs.
- The quality of certified seeds are regulated by Seeds Act 1966.