Category Archives: Business & Economy

Indian-origin aeronautical engineer to fly into space

Sirisha Bandla
Sirisha Bandla

Sirisha Bandla, a 34-year-old aeronautical engineer, is set to become the third Indian-origin woman to head to space when she flies as part of Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed flight test on Sunday.

Ms. Bandla, who was born in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, and brought up in Houston, Texas, will join Sir Richard Branson, the company’s billionaire founder, and five others on board Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity to make a journey to the edge of space from New Mexico.

“I am so incredibly honoured to be a part of the amazing crew of #Unity22, and to be a part of a company whose mission is to make space available to all,” she tweeted.

Ms. Bandla will be astronaut no 004 and her flight role will be Researcher Experience, according to her profile on Virgin Galactic.

She will become the third Indian-origin woman to fly into space after Kalpana Chawla and Sunita Williams.

Ms. Bandla started in her role as the Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic in January 2021.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> International / by PTI / Houston, July 10th, 2021

RGUKT-Nuzvid signs MoU with Kusalava International Limited

The MoU will serve as an opportunity for collaborative research and lead to better employment and internship opportunities for the students.

Vijayawada :

RGUKT-Nuzvid signed an MoU with Kusalava International Ltd, manufacturer of engine critical parts on Friday, for establishing a research and development centre to promote exclusive research on products belonging to Kusalava International Ltd.

The MoU will serve as an opportunity for collaborative research and lead to better employment and internship opportunities for the students.

Director of RGUKT-Nuzvid campus Prof D Surya Chandra Rao, administrative officer, P Shyam and dean B Prasad explained the potentiality of advanced research facilities of various departments of the campus.

“Technical Director of Kusalava International Ltd Mr Chakravarthi Chukkapalli,  has expressed interest in collaborating with metallurgical & materials engineering (MME) and chemical engineering departments for conducting research related to batteries,” the Director said, adding,” He also sanctioned two more projects and accepted the proposal of establishing an R&D centre at our campus to promote exclusive research on products belonging to Kusalava International Ltd.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / October 20th, 2019

Vizag cybercrime cops win best crime detection award

Explaining their efforts, Vizag cybercrime police inspector V Gopinath said the officers spent hours only to analyse 7,010 common numbers as the accused made WhatsApp VOIP calls.

Vizag cybercrime CI V Gopinath receiving ABCD award from DGP on Monday | EXPRESS
Vizag cybercrime CI V Gopinath receiving ABCD award from DGP on Monday | EXPRESS

Vijayawada :

Director General of Police (DGP) D Gautam Sawang presented the Award for Best in Crime Detection (ABCD) to police officials at the Police Headquarters in Mangalagiri on Monday.
Vizag city cybercrime police bagged the first prize for solving the sensational case of extortion of money by four youths, impersonating themselves as personal secretary of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

Vizianagaram Central Crime Station (CCS) police received the second prize for solving a theft case and Railway Kodur police of Kadapa district got the third prize for solving the murder case of a Muslim youth.

Addressing the media, DGP said a total of eight cases were shortlisted and three were selected based on various parameters such as efforts, intelligence and presence of mind of officials while investigating the case.

Sawang said that such awards would bring a friendly competition among police and help them share, know, improve and refine their style of investigation.Awards were given to those officers who thought out of the box and solved critical cases with their outstanding investigation skills and presence of mind, the DGP said and added that in all the three cases, the investigating officers showed their mettle while unravelling the mystery.

Explaining their efforts behind the investigation, Vizag cybercrime police inspector V Gopinath said the officers spent hours only to analyse 7,010 common numbers as the accused made WhatsApp VOIP calls. Based on the complaint of Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh, police tried to trace IP address of the accused. “Unfortunately, we did not get needed help from WhatsApp. They gave anonymous IP address, which made us verify Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDRs) to trace the IMEI numbers of the mobile phones used by the accused.

After validating cell IDs with the tower location and WhatsApp destination server IP address through command prompt and further filtration, we obtained the customer application form and showed it to driver of Bandaru Satyanarayana, who lost `10 lakh to the gang. The accused, P Vishnu Murthy and his three friends, were arrested and `5.8 lakh cash and gold ornaments were recovered,” the CI said.

Similarly, Vizianagaram Central Crime Station (CCS) DSP J Papa Rao explained how he and his team arrested a lorry driver who absconded with a paper load of truck. Also, Railway Kodur police inspector K Balaiah recounted his team’s investigation.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / July 30th, 2019

When 24 mango varieties grow on a single tree

Mango bite: Kuppala Rama Gopalakrishna showing the mangoes grown in his orchard. | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR
Mango bite: Kuppala Rama Gopalakrishna showing the mangoes grown in his orchard. | Photo Credit: CH_VIJAYA BHASKAR

School dropout used grafting technique to achieve the sweet success

This school dropout is scripting a success story in the field of horticulture. He has grafted 24 varieties of mangoes on a single tree in his orchard spread over seven acres.

Everyone laughed at Kuppala Rama Gopalakrishna, 25, when he shared his plans to go for grafting technology to tide over the ‘off-season on-season’ problem associated with the mango crop, in 2015. In less than four years, he became a role model in his village and also villages nearby. Unlike other mango growers, he doesn’t harvest the crop and transport the produce to nearby mandi or Nunna market. “Instead, the prospective buyers visit my garden in view of the quality. We harvest the crop in front of them,” he says.

Mr. Gopalakrishna recalls that the mango yield of Chinna rasalu, Banginapalli and Collector (Totapuri) mangoes in his farm was not encouraging in 2015, and his well-wishers advised him to clear the garden and go for fresh plantation.

“But, by then five years of our life and lakhs of rupees were spent on the orchards. I did not want our sweat and toil to go waste. So, I started experimenting with grafting,” he says.

Showing the mangoes grown on the experimented tree, Mr. Gopalakrishna explains each variety: Banginapalli, Pachadara kalasa, Suvarn Rekha, Kobbari mamidi, Alphonso, Chinna rasalu, Pedda rasalu, Nalla rasalu, Nuzvid mamidi, Dasheri, Panduru mamidi, Collector, Himayat, Jalam, Neelisha, Mallika and some local varities. “And, this is Punasa mamidi,” he says, “which will grow throughout the year.”

The farmer managed to grab the attention of the Horticulture Department officials and was felicitated by the then Krishna District Collector B. Lakshmikantham for his experimenting spirit and innovation a year ago.

“This feat and success would not have been a reality had I followed my well-wishers’ advice. Now, I get invitations by farmers from nearby villages to guide them in emulating my techniques. And, I get invitations from my friends who advised me to cut the trees,” he smiles.

Now, Mr. Gopalakrishna has plans to grow more than 50 varieties of locally-available mangoes in his orchard and also go for high-density cultivation. “We also have a share in another three acres. I will go for high-density plantation there,” he adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by G.V.R. Subba Rao / Vadlamanu – April 27th, 2019

Passion for pigeons brings a windfall for him

Bhupatiraju Visweswara Rama Venkatapathy Raju with a brown pigeon at his house at Revidi village in Padmanabham mandal in Visakhapatnam district.
Bhupatiraju Visweswara Rama Venkatapathy Raju with a brown pigeon at his house at Revidi village in Padmanabham mandal in Visakhapatnam district.

Venkatapathy Raju makes ₹11,000 per exotic breed

His 150-year-old ancestral house at Revidi village of Padmanabham mandal in Visakhapatnam district gives a look of an aviary. On the terrace, piegons, rosters and hens flock together, pecking at grains of maize. A stairway that leads to the terrace is almost taken over by another flock, cooing. Some pairs cosy up in their enclosures while the others are busy taking short flights, flapping their wings.

Meet Bhupatiraju Visweswara Rama Venkatapathy Raju who has taken up his childhood penchant for birds as his profession. Now, he owns around 200 pigeons, many of them are exotic breeds, apart from a good number of exotic fowls.

“My ancestors used to collect taxes for the Vizianagaram royals. After my Intermediate and degree education from Bheemunipatnam Government College and post graduation from Andhra University, I got a job in a private firm, only to relise that my calling was somewhere else. I called it quits, returned to my native village and started rearing the birds,” Mr. Venkatapathy Raju says.

And the passion for birds it seems is paying him well.

Thriving trade

“Some of the exotic birds command a price of ₹10,000 or more. The American Shield in black and brown colours sells at ₹11,000 each,” Mr. Venkatapathy Raju says, while showing around the other breeds including Beauty Homer, Jacobin, Spanish Carora, Chinese Howl, Indian Fantail, Bokaro, King, Rant and Indian Homer.

But, the birds go about their activities, oblivious to the approaching footsteps of his owner.

These pigeons do not need any specialised feed, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju says. “They eat the regular ‘gantelu’ and maize grains like the country fowls. However, I make it a point that the brids are supplied enough feed at least twice a day and the water bowls are not overturned,” he explains.

Summer care

Referring to the birds, he says some of the breed may face problems such as neck twisting in the summer. When they suffer from this problem, they need to be hand-fed. There is no special treatment or medicine for this as it subsides automatically, Mr. Venkatapathy Raju says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by B. Madhu Gopal / Revidi (Visakhapatnam District) , April 16th, 2019

Dhanush gun enters the scene with a bang

Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system.
Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system.

Vizag-based research centre facilitates patenting of Bofors’ ‘desi version’

A premier research establishment located in Visakhapatnam has facilitated patenting and trademarking of India’s first home-made long-range howitzer gun Dhanush, which was formally inducted into the Indian Army recently after trials in the desert regions, and glaciers of the Himalayas.

Termed ‘desi version of the Bofors gun,’ the patent facilitation was made by experts of the National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) Intellectual Property Facilitation Centre and UN-WIPO Technology Support Centre located at Innovation Valley here.

“We feel proud because of our association with the innovation made by the Indian Ordnance Factory, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). We also feel that due to thrust on indigenisation in defence production, which is key to global competitiveness, a system should be evolved for recognising and protecting the IPs,” NRDC Chairman and Managing Director H. Purushottam, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

Fully loaded

Dhanush has inertial navigation-based sighting system, onboard ballistic computation and most advanced any time firing system. The ordnance factory, also known as gun carriage factory, has successfully passed through accuracy, quality, speed, timing and other rigorous tests during the trial phase.

The design was made on the lines of Bofors Haubits fh77 of the 1980s.

Production started in 2019 after development trials during last year. Sources said the Army had ordered for 114 guns, which could go up to 414 for phase-wise supply.

The new weapon, which will give a fillip to the Army’s firepower, will replace 105mm Indian field gun, Russian 122-mm gun and 105mm light field gun.

This is the third type of artillery gun manufactured in the country after K-9 Vajra and M-777 ultra light howitzers.

“We are very happy that we have facilitated the IP and trademark for Dhanush howitzer gun. So far we have made IPs for 19 products from our Visakhapatnam-based office. We are keen to create awareness on IPs and help researchers to patent all their innovations,” B.K. Sahu, head of NRDC’s IPFC in the city, pointed out.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Santosh Patnaik / Visakhapatnam – April 17th, 2019

Behind Araku Valley coffee’s GI Tag

ArakuCoffeeKF12apr2019

It might have been around for a century, but Araku’s Arabica coffee didn’t get the tag that easily

Araku Valley, the highlands of the Eastern Ghats mountain range overlooking the Bay of Bengal, is brewing one of the best coffees in the world and its aroma just got headier with the Geographical Indication (GI) tag it was recently awarded.

Located 2,985 feet above sea level, coffee plantations here are spread across hilly terrain growing under the shade of towering silver oaks. What makes this coffee unique is that it is organic and cultivated by Adivasi farmers in 10 mandals of the region. The peculiar mix of climate in Araku — hot days and cool nights — coupled with naturally iron-rich soil lends the Araku coffee body, intensity and a rich aroma. No wonder it has fans across France, Sweden, Dubai and Switzerland as well.

Interestingly, the Girijan Cooperative Corporation (GCC), which has been promoting Araku coffee for three years now, had applied for the GI tag at the Chennai-GI registry in 2016. However, its claims at that time were dismissed by the Coffee Board of India, an organisation managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

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Coffee Statistics

  • In India, coffee is cultivated on approximately 4.54 lakh hectares
  • There are nearly 3.66 lakh coffee farmers (according to government figures, 98 % are small farmers)
  • In 2018-19 Coffee production in India is estimated to be 3,19,500 tonnes (according to Coffee Board).
  • There has been a rise of 13.26 % in the first two months of this year, totalling to to 48,330 tonnes

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Things changed, however, when the Coffee Board itself applied this year; the Chennai-based GI registry awarded the GI tag to Araku, along with four others (Coorg Arabica coffee from Karnataka, Wayanad Robusta coffee from Kerala, Chikmagalur Arabica from Karnataka and Bababudangiris Arabica coffee also from Karnataka).

“The GI tag will help Indian coffee varieties be specifically identified with their unique flavour and also increase their popularity. The adivasis of Araku will now get a better price for their produce,” says T Baburao Naidu, GCC vice-chairman and managing director. The GCC is expanding its footprint across the State and the country by setting up outlets selling Araku coffee.

Coffee cultivation in the Araku region began around the early 1900s. But it came into the limelight only a few years ago after a couple of players like GCC and Naandi Foundation (an organisation working in the social sector) entered the fray to help the adivasis grow quality beans and market their produce on the global platform.

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What it means

  • A GI is a name or sign used on products which belong to a specific geographical location or origin and is a certification that the product possesses certain qualities that are unique to that locality.

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Manoj Kumar, CEO of Naandi Foundation, says, “When I started working in the area as part of Naandi Foundation 20 years ago, people told us this is was a ‘non-traditional’ coffee region! We have come a long way since then, with a strong cooperative of 10,000 adivasi farmers and a central processing unit. We opened a flagship store in Paris, and won the Gold Medal for the best coffee pod at the Prix Epicures OR 2018 Award. The GI tag is a safety net and a recognition that this region’s coffee has a unique identity.”

A loyal Araku coffee fan, Vidya Raghu, says, “It is different. There is an exhilarating aroma, golden-brown froth and a lingering, slightly sharp after-taste that envelopes your senses. I haven’t experienced this kind of refreshing flavour with any other coffee I’ve had.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style>Food / by Nivedita Ganguly / April 11th, 2019

APSRTC bags two national awards for effective operation

NV Surendra Babu then lauded the efforts of the corporation employees towards winning the national awards.

APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director NV Surendra Babu receiving the award in New Delhi on Tuesday | EXPRESS
APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director NV Surendra Babu receiving the award in New Delhi on Tuesday | EXPRESS

Vijayawada :

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has bagged two national awards from Association of Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) for its performance in effective operation of vehicles in Vijayawada city.

APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director NV Surendra Babu received the awards from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan at the 63rd Annual Celebrations of ASRTU, that were held at Gulmohar Habitat World, New Delhi, on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, NV Surendra Babu said that after receiving the two national awards, the corporation’s responsibility had increased immensely.

“After bifurcation, the Corporation has won a total of eight awards — four in 2014-15, two in 2016-17 and two in 2018-19,” he said.

NV Surendra Babu then lauded the efforts of the corporation employees towards winning the national awards.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / March 27th, 2019

‘Gold’ rating for Vijayawada Railway Station

Speaking on the occasion, Dhananjayulu lauded the efforts of the staff instrumental in achieving this feat.

GoldratingANDHRA26mar2019

Vijayawada :

Vijayawada Railway Station was awarded a ‘Gold’ rating by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) R Dhananjayulu received the IGB councils’ ‘Gold’ rating Shield from IGBC (Amaravati Chapter) Chairperson Vijaya Sai Meka at Divisional Conference Hall here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhananjayulu lauded the efforts of the staff instrumental in achieving this feat. He called upon the field staff and branch officers to work hard and strive to achieve the ‘Platinum’ rating for the railway station next year. The station stood 4th for maintaining cleanliness among the A1 Category stations of the Indian Railways consecutively for the years 2017 and 2018, he said.

IGBC (Amaravati Chapter) Chairperson Vijaya Sai Meka said that the rating was a big achievement and the staff must continue to make efforts in order to achieve the ‘Platinum’ rating next year. The hardwork done by the railways could clearly be seen as with the installation of LED lights, fans (BEE 5-star rated), pumps and motors, solar water heating systems etc, he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Vijayawada / by Express News Service / March 26th, 2019

‘Natural’ wisdom made hima farmer with a difference

Y. Jagdeesh Reddy at his paddy field at Moghili in Chittoor district.
Y. Jagdeesh Reddy at his paddy field at Moghili in Chittoor district.

Y. Jagdeesh Reddy conferred ‘Innovative Farmer’ award by IARI, New Delhi; hopes son will follow in his footsteps

Some two and a half decades ago, Y. Jagdeesh Reddy, quit his polytechnic studies as a teenager and took up farming as a profession, with a resolve to make a difference. He started tilling his 25-acre land at his native village Nalagampalle and the nearby Moghili in Bangarupalem mandal in Chittoor district.

Like any other farmer, he had used chemical fertilizers and pesticides for almost 15 years. But, his venture gathered steam after he bid a goodbye to the use of inorganic compounds in cultivation and now, his name is synonyms with the very mention of ‘natural farming’ in the district. In recognition of relentless pursuit of the goal to liberate farm produces from chemical fertilisers, the Indian Agriculture and Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi conferred the ‘Innovative Farmer’ award on Mr. Reddy on Friday.

“Inspired by the lectures of agriculturist and Zeo Based Natural Farming (ZBNF) pioneer Subhash Palekar, I practised natural farming on a small stretch land for the first time in the 2009 kharif. I used chemical fertilizers on the rest of my land as I was experimenting,” he says.

For three years, Mr. Reddy recalls, there was not much yield from the natural farming while the chemical fertilizers had an upper hand. “In 2012, I had outstanding results in terms of healthy growth of paddy and sugarcane crops, which eventually ensured good yield. Once for all, I stopped using chemical fertilizers,” Mr. Reddy says.

Trade secret

Explaining about the farming methods, Mr. Redddy says, “The dung and urine of native breed cows are what I am using as fertiliser. I use leaves of ten tree species to prepare a special concoction which I mixed with the dung and urine. I prepare Jeevamrutham, Ghanamrutham and Akula (leaves) Dhravam, which are used as fertilizer, insecticide and pesticide. This method augers well with the growth of useful worms and bacteria in the field.”

Ms. Reddy has also done several experiments with growing inter-crops with paddy, mango and sugarcane. Through out the year, his fields remain green with one crop or the other. The groundnut oil produced from Mr. Reddy’s farm has takers from several northern cities. “Growing multiple crops simultaneously acts as an insurance if one crop fails,” he says.

At a time when farmers across Rayalaseema are worried over the drought, Mr. Reddy appear relaxed. “Natural farming methods have proved that it can beat drought conditions as the soil moisture is preserved. Moreover, avoiding use of chemicals leads to tremendous reduction of heat, particularly in the summer,” he explains.

Healthy produce

More than business, Me. Reddy says his ambition is to make farmers shun chemical farming. “Natural farming will protect a farmer from huge loss for sure. It also helps save on the huge expenditure involved with chemicals. More importantly, the crop you produce is healthy, away from the risks of life-threatening ailments,” he says.

Mr. Reddy’s farm has now become a laboratory, attracting hundreds of students every week to have a look at the natural farming methods.

His son, Parthu Reddy (7), is a regular visitor to the field. “Its my ambition to see my son as a natural farmer,” he adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by K. Umashanker / Chittoor – March 09th, 2019