Daily News Notes: 20th Feb, 2012

• ·         Addressing the Golden Jubilee Convocation of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the Prime Minister Dr. Singh said the agriculture sector is likely to achieve about 3.5 per cent annual growth in the 11th Five-Year Plan, but stressed on scaling it up to 4 per cent or more in the next Plan, 2012-2017. The agriculture sector remained sluggish during the 10th Plan period achieving merely 2.5 per cent expansion. Stating that farm research is the key element to achieve higher expansion, he also said, the government has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to improve returns to farming and step up investment in rural infrastructure. Stating that both land and water resources are limited, Dr Singh called for developing agricultural technology, which can ensure high yield while commissioning on water and are also capable of withstanding water stress.
• ·         While inaugurating the PIANC International Conference on Coastal and Port Engineering in Developing Countries in Chennai (theme: “Meeting the Challenges of Coastal Environment” ), the Union Minister for Shipping said that the Indian Ports are aiming at a surplus capacity of above 25% in order to provide berthing facilities on arrival of the ships. The anticipated traffic at Indian Ports would grow at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 11%. Presently, Ennore Port Limited has successfully implemented 3 major BOT projects, namely, a Marine Liquid Terminal, a Common User Coal Terminal and an Iron Ore Export Terminal. The Minister said that in addition to capacity augmentation, all the major ports were aiming at bringing structural changes in the administration of the ports to improve organizational effectiveness. To this end, all the ports are planning towards implementing ‘landlord port‘ concept duly limiting their role to maintenance of channels and basic infrastructure leaving the development, operation, and management of terminal and cargo handling facilities to the private sector. 
• ·         Enrica Lexie, the Italian vessel which was involved in the killing of the two fishermen off the Kerala coast, has been moved out of Cochin harbor, but not allowed to leave. A Coast Guard vessel is keeping a watch on the ship, which is now anchored on the outer seas off Kochi. It will be allowed to leave the Kochi coast, only after the legal procedures are completed.
• ·         Atomic Energy Commission of India's Chairman Shrikumar Banerjee has said that the Centre's effort for round-the-clock operation of Indus 2, the Synchro-Radiation Source, is drawing researchers from all over the country. He said India is the only country in the world that is capable of producing energy through nuclear power at the cheapest cost.
• ·         Jordan's King Abdullah II said, he will continue with the reforms in the country and are irreversible. He expressed hope that the political reforms would lead to Parliamentary elections later this year.
• ·         Millions of Americans are getting a day off from work today to observe the birthday of the first U.S. President, George Washington. The day is often referred to as Presidents' Day as a broader celebration of the nation's leaders.