South African cricketer AB de Villiers hits fastest century in ODIs

South African cricketer AB de Villiers has hit the fastest century and half-century in one-day internationals (ODI).

He achieved the feat in second match as part of the 5-match ODI series against West Indies. Overall in this match, AB de Villiers made 149 off 44 balls.

Fastest century: 

• He made the century in just 31 balls and broke earlier record of New Zealand’s Corey Anderson who had hit the century in 36 balls in 2013-14.

Fastest half-century: 

• He also made fastest half-century, off 16 balls breaking Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya’s previous record who had made half-century in 17 balls.

Most sixes in an innings: 

• His innings included 16 sixes. It equalled the previous record set by India’s Rohit Sharma against Australia in Bangalore in 2013/14.

Second Highest innings totals: 

• In this match, South Africa scored 439, which is the second highest total in one-day internationals. They surpassed their previous record of second highest score of 438 which they had made in a record run chase against Australia in 2005/06.

• It should be noted that, Sri Lanka holds the world record of highest innings. They had made this record by scoring 443 runs against the Netherlands in 2006.

Andhra Pradesh government signs pact with ICRISAT to boost sustainable farming

Andhra Pradesh government has signed a pact with the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) to boost sustainable farming in the state.

In this regard, Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed by state government with ICRISAT.

Key highlights of agreement:

• It seeks to provide assistance in making agriculture sustainable and profitable in state by increasing productivity of agriculture and allied sectors.

• Strategy paper: ICRISAT will prepare a strategy paper for primary sector mission, hold research and development (R&D) and establish sites of learning in districts of Andhra Pradesh.

• Use of Technology: Best technological tools and scientific practices from across the world will be incorporated into primary sector activities of state.

• International expertise: ICRISAT will bring in international expertise from CGIAR centres. It will include consortium of international organisations like International Livestock Research Centre (ILRI), International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), International Water Management (IWMI), Asia Vegetable Research and Development Centre (AVRDC), International Centre for Improvement of Maize and Development Centre (AVRDC), World Fish Centre and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

• This consortium will also bring in regional and national research institutions for the benefit of farmers.

• Pilot sites: It will be established in 13 districts (10,000 hectares each) of state to educate farmers for increasing productivity, profitability and sustainability through science-led development and climate-smart agriculture

• Quality assurance system for soil analytical laboratories: It will be developed to undertake capacity building for staff and upgrade existing soil labs for nutrient profile analysis.

• Public–private partnership (PPP): ICRISAT will assist state government in developing PPP mode guidelines, mobilise private entrepreneurs and organise a Global Investors Meet.