Belgavi (Karnataka) [India], March 6 (ANI): Skyrocketing prices of Rajapuri turmeric due to its low production last harvest season are bringing smiles on the faces of Belgavi’s farmers as they were not getting good prices for the last 10 years.
“We have not seen the spice being sold for such a high price in the last 10 years. The production of the spice is 25-30% less this year due to excessive rainfall in Karnataka last year and the demand is the same which is causing the prices to go up,” Dharmaraj Deokar, a farmer from Satara district.
Low production of turmeric in Karnataka in the last harvest season has caused its prices to skyrocket in the local markets of Maharashtra’s Sangli district, where farmers from Belgavi sell their produce.
High-quality Rajapuri turmeric is costing as much as Rs 21,000 per quintal.
“The market price of the spice has escalated upto Rs 30,000 per quintal here. It looks like the price might go higher as a result of low production, high prices of the spice are due to the excessive rainfall last year which reduced the yield of turmeric,” said Rajendra Menkar, a turmeric seller.
“With reduced yield and the demand remaining the same, prices have increased this much. Also, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the import of some spices has reduced amidst increasing demand,” Menkar added.
At the Sangli Agricultural Produce Market Committee’s (APMC) Satara Sales Corporation, rates of the tuber are pegged at a minimum of Rs 7,000 per quintal and a maximum of Rs 21,000 per quintal at the deal, while the average price remained at Rs 14,000.
In a deal struck earlier last week, Rajapuri turmeric from Gokak had fetched Rs 17,100 per quintal. (ANI)

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 6 (ANI): Health Minister of Karnataka K Sudhakar on Saturday informed that the number of COVID-19 vaccination centers will be increased to 3,000 across the state from Monday.
“From March 8, COVID-19 vaccination will be provided at about 3,000 centres including Primary Health Centers (PHCs), Taluk Hospitals and District Hospitals and the target is to vaccinate 1.5 lakh people each day across the state,” Sudhakar said during a review meeting held by him here on Saturday.
The state Health Minister also informed that for several weeks about 200-250 cases of COVID-19 were being reported in Bengaluru each day but increased to 400 yesterday.
“12 clusters have been identified in Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits,” he said.
“Contact tracing will also be made more robust and centre has directed to trace 20 primary and secondary contacts for each positive case. All these 20 contacts will be subjected to the COVID-19 test,” the Minister said.
“The challenge is due to the neighbouring states of Kerala and Maharashtra which have high caseload. Along with strict measures at borders restrictions on large gatherings will also be tightened,” Sudhakar further said.
“Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa will hold a video conference with the district administrations of districts where positivity rate is high. Since there are more inter-state travellers to Mangalore, testing will be ramped up there. Instructions have been issued to Bengaluru Urban, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Chamaajanagara, Udupi, Kodagu, Belagavi and Tumkuru to be more vigilant,” he added.
According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 6,393 active cases of COVID-19 in Karnataka while 12,354 people have succumbed to the virus till now. (ANI)

New Delhi [India], March 6 (ANI): The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has given approval to the COVID-19 vaccination of veterans and dependents of Armed Forces personnel at the Armed Forces medical facilities, the army informed on Saturday.
Taking on Twitter, the Indian Army said that the process would likely commence next week.
“Approval of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for vaccination of veterans and dependents of Armed Forces personnel in Service hospitals has been received,” Indian Army tweeted.
“The process is likely to commence next week after completion of registration of Armed Forces medical facilities on Co-WIN Platform,” the tweet further read.
Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 1.90 crores on Friday.
The countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, 2021, and the vaccination of the frontline workers (FLWs) started on February 2, 2021. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination has commenced from March 1, 2021, for those who are over 60 years of age and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. (ANI)

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 6 (ANI): The District Magistrate of Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow on Saturday announced that women will be given free entry at the historical monuments in the district on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8.
According to a notification issued by Lucknow’s DM Abhishek Prakash, this step has been taken under ‘Mission Shakti’ campaign.
“On the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, women will be given free entry to Chhota Imambara, Bada Imambara and Picture Gallery in the city,” the notification read.
International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide every year on March 8 to recognise the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the globe.
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is ‘Choose To Challenge’ (ANI)

North Goa (Goa) [India], March 6 (ANI): Goa police arrested two youth in connection with a theft incident at Mandrem beach in Pernem. The arrested have been taken in police custody for three days.
“We received a call from the complainant Karan Vahi (26) that he along with his friend had come for a vacation to Goa and visited Mandrem Beach on Friday evening. The tourists went to have a swim and kept their belongings at the shore. Upon returning, they saw their belongings were missing,” said Police Inspector Jivba Dalvj.
“Receiving the information, police launched a big search campaign. We zeroed on one scooter moving suspiciously and further traced the accused persons who were immediately placed under arrest,” read a statement by the police.
The accused were identified as Chandan Bhanwarlal Sahu (23) and Vishal Bhavanishankar Sahu (22). Both are cousins and belong to Jaipur, Rajasthan. They had come to Goa on February 27, had rented a bike, and were committing theft.
Police have recovered entire stolen articles, along with the vehicle used for committing theft, from the accused persons.
“A team, headed by Police Inspector Jivba Dalvj, and having Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) Sanjeet Khanolkar, Vivek Halankar, constables Ravi Maloji, Anish Poke, and Vinod Pednekar successfully carried out the entire operation,” added the statement.
Further investigation is in progress. (ANI)

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) [India], March 6 (ANI): Andhra Pradesh reported 115 COVID-19 cases, 93 recoveries and one death in the last 24 hours, as per the State Health Department on Saturday.
With this, the total number of cases in the state has escalated to 8,90,556 including 921 active cases and 8,82,462 total recoveries.
However, the total number of deaths has mounted up to 7,173 including the new death. One death was reported from the Chittoor district.
As per the state COVID nodal officer, 46,566 samples were tested in Andhra Pradesh in the last 24 hours.
As many as 18,327 new COVID-19 cases and 108 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours, the union health ministry informed on Saturday.
The country’s overall COVID-19 cases tally has reached 1,11,92,088, including 1,80,304 active cases while the death toll has mounted to 1,57,656.
A total of 22,06,92,677 samples have been tested for COVID-19 up to March 5, 2021, of these, 7,51,935 samples were tested on Friday, as per the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
According to the health ministry today, a total of 1,94,97,704 people have been vaccinated against coronavirus so far.
India commenced its second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination drive to inoculate people above 60 years and those over 45 with comorbidities against the coronavirus from March 1. (ANI)