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Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF

Why in News Scientists from the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have developed an on-farm green energy refrigeration system...

20 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Farmers Producer Organisation

This article is based on “The push small farmers need” which was published in The Indian Express on 11/03/2021. It talks about the...

11 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award

Why in News The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) received the prestigious International “King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020...

11 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme

Why in News The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Silk Board on a convergence...

08 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
CSIR Floriculture Mission

Why in News Recently, CSIR Floriculture Mission has been approved for implementation in 21 States and Union Territories of India. CSIR’s...

06 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission

Why in News Around 500 farmers across villages in Doda district in Jammu had their incomes quadrupled after shifting from maize to lavender...

03 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs

Why in News Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare celebrated the first anniversary of the Central Sector Scheme titled...

02 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Operation Green & Flood

This article is based on “A project of slow motion” which was published in The Indian Express on 01/03/2021. It talks about what...

01 Mar 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Certified Jute Seeds

Why in News The Ministry of Textiles has launched a Certified Jute Seed Distribution Plan under Jute ICARE Program. Jute Corporation of India...

18 Feb 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Issues with Agriculture in India

Why in News The protest by thousands of farmers at Delhi’s borders have brought to focus a range of issues in agriculture in India. The...

12 Jan 2021 Agricultural Marketing
The Big Picture: The Demands of Farmers

Why in News? Farmers have been protesting for over months and have congregated on the periphery of the National Capital. They have blocked...

06 Jan 2021 Agricultural Marketing
Moringa Powder

Why in News The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been supporting private entities in creating...

01 Jan 2021 Agricultural Marketing
100th Kisan Rail

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister has flagged off the 100th “Kisan Rail” service from Sangola in Solapur district of...

30 Dec 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Next Instalment of PM-KISAN

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister has virtually released the next instalment of financial benefit under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi...

26 Dec 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Mandi System In India

This article is based on “The perils of deregulated imperfect agrimarkets” which was published in The Hindu on 01/12/2020. It talks...

01 Dec 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Rural Non-Farm Sector

This article is based on “Spot the seeds of growth” which was published in The Indian Express on 18/11/2020. It talks about the...

18 Nov 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Stubble Waste Management

This article is based on “Wealth from stubble” which was published in The Indian Express on 27/10/2020. It talks about the issue of...

27 Oct 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Pulse Release from Buffer Stocks

Why in News The Union government plans to release 40,000 tonnes of tur dal from its buffer stock into the retail market in small lots, in a bid to...

15 Oct 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Agricultural Reforms

Introduction The Government with the aim of transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers’ income have passed three important...

13 Oct 2020 Agricultural Marketing
Need For MSP Reforms

This article is based on “MSP in the age of surplus” which was published in Indian Express on 12/10/2020. It talks about the need for...

12 Oct 2020 Agricultural Marketing

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		'article_id' => (int) 7976,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Refrigeration System Pusa-FSF',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Scientists from the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ICAR</a>-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)</strong> have developed an <strong>on-farm green energy refrigeration system (Pusa-FSF)</strong> and a <strong>technology for extraction of gluten from wheat dough</strong> and its<strong> regeneration in bajra</strong> (pearl-millet) <strong>and makka</strong> (maize) flour.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pusa-FSF:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Pusa Farm Sun Fridge (Pusa-FSF)</strong> is<strong> a 100% solar-powered battery-less cold store</strong> that<strong> can preserve around 2 tonnes of freshly-harvested produce</strong> at 3-4&deg;C during the day and 8-12&deg;C at nighttime.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has rooftop solar panels that <strong>generate 5 kilowatt (KW) power,</strong> which helps in running air conditioning.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The panels <strong>also power a 105-watt submersible pump</strong> circulating about 1,000 litres of water from a tank through overhead PVC pipes.</li>
<li>At night, there is<strong> only passive evaporative cooling,</strong> with the water chilled during the day acting as a natural heat sink.</li>
<li>All <strong>farmers with solar pumps are a potential market</strong> for the Pusa-FSF. India has <strong>an estimated four lakh-plus installed solar water pumps.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An average 5-horsepower pump costing Rs. 2.5 lakh <strong>attracts 70-90% subsidy.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers can <strong>store and preserve their own produce.</strong> It can <strong>avoid distress sales and help improve prices.</strong></li>
<li>It will help <strong>minimise post harvest losses.</strong></li>
<li><strong>More room to grow perishable items</strong> such as tomatoes, fruits, other than Paddy and Maize.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technology for Extraction of Gluten from Wheat Dough:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Need:</strong> Bajra, maize, jowar (sorghum), ragi and other <strong>millets contain comparable levels of protein and more vitamins, minerals,</strong> crude fibre and other nutrients than wheat. But<strong> they don&rsquo;t have any gluten proteins,</strong> which results in poor dough quality.</li>
<li><strong>About the Technology:</strong> The technology<strong> imparts elasticity and structural strength to bajra and maize dough,</strong> making their chapattis as soft as from regular wheat atta flour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The proteins extracted and dried into powder have the capacity for regeneration or forming gluten networks in non-wheat dough.</li>
<li>Scientists have <strong>developed gluten based &lsquo;Hallur&rsquo; soft bajra flour,</strong> with the help of technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Technological Developments in the Field of Agriculture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crop-stubble-burning-challenge-in-punjab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Happy Seeder</a></strong> - machine for in-situ management of paddy stubble (straw).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/session-on-precision-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Precision Agriculture Technologies</strong></a> - Precision Agriculture (PA) is an approach to farm management that uses information technology to ensure that crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Gluten</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Gluten is a family of storage proteins &mdash; formally known as<strong> prolamins</strong> &mdash; that are naturally found in certain cereal grains, such as wheat, barley etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>two main proteins</strong> in gluten are <strong>glutenin and gliadin.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Gluten offers a variety of functional culinary benefits and is responsible for the <strong>soft, chewy texture</strong> that is characteristic of many gluten-containing, grain based foods.</li>
<li>When heated, gluten proteins form an elastic network that can stretch and trap gas, allowing for optimal leavening or rising and maintenance of moisture in breads, pasta, and other similar products.</li>
<li><strong>Celiac disease,</strong> also spelled as coeliac disease, is the <strong>most severe form of gluten intolerance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-agricultural-research-institute-women-scientists-7234860/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7908,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Farmers Producer Organisation',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/nabard-agrarian-distress-farmers-protest-farm-laws-7222830/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The push small farmers need&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 11/03/2021. It talks about the prospects of strengthening the Farmers Producer Organisation for addressing agriculture distress.</p>
</div>
<p>The government of India has envisaged doubling farmer&rsquo;s income by 2022, but this target is likely to be missed. This is because the efficiency, productivity, and economic viability of Indian agriculture are affected by many factors.</p>
<p>Factors like poor supply chain management, lack of modernization, and the declining average size of farm holdings are some of the reasons for agrarian distress. Moreover, these factors affect the small farmers to a bigger magnitude.</p>
<p>Recognizing the problems of small and marginal farmers in India, the government is actively promoting <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmers Producer Organisation (FPO).</strong></a> The aggregation of small, marginal, and landless farmers in FPOs has helped enhance the farmers&rsquo; economic strength and market linkages for improving their income.</p>
<h3>What are FPOs?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>FPOs are voluntary organizations controlled by their farmer-members who actively participate in setting their policies and making decisions.</li>
<li>They are open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political or religious discrimination.</li>
<li>FPOs operatives provide education and training for their farmer-members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their FPOs.</li>
<li>FPOs in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and some other states have shown encouraging results and have been able to realise higher returns for their produce. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, tribal women in the Pali district of Rajasthan formed a producer company and they are getting higher prices for custard apples.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Benefits Emanating From FPO</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Delining Average Land Holding Size:</strong> The average farm size declined from 2.3 hectares (ha) in 1970-71 to 1.08 ha in 2015-16. The share of small and marginal farmers increased from 70 per cent in 1980-81 to 86 per cent in 2015-16.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FPOs can engage farmers in collective farming and address productivity issues emanating from small farm sizes.</li>
<li>Further, this may also result in additional employment generation due to the increased intensity of farming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Negotiating With Corporates:</strong> FPO can help farmers compete with large corporate enterprises in bargaining, as it allows members to negotiate as a group and can help small farmers in both input and output markets.</li>
<li><strong>Economics of Aggregation:</strong> The FPO can provide low-cost and quality inputs to member farmers. For example, loans for crops, purchase of machinery, input agri-inputs (fertilizers, pesticides, etc.) and direct marketing after procurement of agricultural produce. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will enable members to save in terms of time, transaction costs, distress sales, price fluctuations, transportation, quality maintenance, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Impact:</strong> Social capital will develop in the form of FPOs, as it may lead to improved gender relations and decision-making of women farmers in FPOs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This may reduce social conflicts and improved food and nutritional values in the community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Adding More FPOs:</strong> Some studies show that we need more than one lakh FPOs for a large country like India while we currently have less than 10,000. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In this context, the government has taken several steps to promote FPOs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Structural Issues:</strong> Many FPOs lack technical skills, inadequate professional management, weak financials, inadequate access to credit, lack of risk mitigation mechanism, and inadequate access to market and infrastructure.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The above issues such as working capital, marketing, infrastructure have to be addressed while scaling up FPOs.</li>
<li>Getting credit is the biggest problem. Banks must have structured products for lending to FPOs.</li>
<li>They have to be linked with input companies, technical service providers, marketing/processing companies, retailers, etc.</li>
<li>They need a lot of data on markets and prices and other information and competency in information technology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Government&rsquo;s Effort For Promotion of FPO</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Since 2011, it has intensively promoted FPOs under the Small Farmers&rsquo; Agri-Business Consortium (SFAC), NABARD, state governments and NGOs.</li>
<li>The ongoing support for FPOs is mainly in the form of, one, a grant of matching equity (cash infusion of up to Rs 10 lakh) to registered FPOs, and two, a credit guarantee cover to lending institutions (maximum guarantee cover 85 per cent of loans not exceeding Rs 100 lakh).</li>
<li>The budget for 2018-19 announced supporting measures for FPOs including a five-year tax exemption while the budget for 2019-20 talked of setting up 10,000 more FPOs in the next five years.</li>
<li><strong>One District One Product Cluster:</strong> The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on Tuesday reiterated the importance of FPOs which are to be developed in production clusters, wherein agricultural and horticultural produces are grown/cultivated for leveraging economies of scale and improving market access for members.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>&ldquo;One District One Product&rdquo; cluster will promote specialisation and better processing, marketing, branding and export.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Collective Farming:</strong> FPOs can be used to augment the size of the land by focusing on grouping contiguous tracts of land as far as possible.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More focus should be on creating a supply chain and find new markets. Women farmers will play a major role in collective farming.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>In the last decade, the Centre has encouraged farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to help farmers. While incomes will rise because of the benefits flowing from FPOs, they may not still be adequate to give a reasonable income to small and marginal farmers.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Farmer producer organizations could be a solution to the agrarian distress if they are helped to access credit and markets. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_ZGtBAfhdqY" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/fire-wise-the-hindu-editorial-on-safety-training-and-technological-fixes-to-cut-massive-death-toll-from-fires/article34030678.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Fire wise: On safety training and technological fixes&rdquo;</strong></a> published in The Hindu on March 10<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7907,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)</strong></a> received the prestigious International <strong>&ldquo;King Bhumibol World Soil Day - 2020 Award&rdquo; conferred by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)</a>, Rome.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The award was announced on the eve of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-soil-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Soil Day - 2020</strong></a> <strong>(5<sup>th</sup> December 2020)</strong> in view of the <strong>ICAR&rsquo;s excellent contributions in &ldquo;Soil Health Awareness&rdquo;</strong> on the theme<strong> &ldquo;Stop soil erosion, save our future&rdquo;</strong> (2019 theme).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Launched in 2018, the King Bhumibol World Soil Day Award <strong>acknowledges individuals or institutions</strong> that<strong> raise public awareness of soils</strong> by organising successful and influential World Soil Day celebrations.</li>
<li>The award, <strong>sponsored by the Kingdom of Thailand, </strong>is named after<strong> King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand</strong> for his lifelong commitment to raising awareness of the importance of sustainable soil management and rehabilitation for food security, poverty alleviation and more.</li>
<li>The former winners of the Award include <strong>Practical Action in Bangladesh in 2018 </strong>and the<strong> Costa Rican Soil Science Society (AACS) in 2019.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an autonomous organisation under the <strong>Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE),</strong> Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</li>
<li>It was established on<strong> 16<sup>th</sup> July 1929</strong> and was formerly known as the <strong>Imperial Council of Agricultural Research.</strong></li>
<li>It is headquartered at <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>ICAR is the organisation responsible for the coordination, guidance and management of agricultural research and education in India.</li>
<li>In this capacity, ICAR <strong>oversees one of the largest networks of agricultural research and education institutes</strong> in the world, covering the whole country in the fields of horticulture, soil science, fisheries and animal sciences among others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Soil Degradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Soil degradation is the <strong>physical, chemical and biological decline in soil condition</strong> caused by its <strong>improper use or poor management,</strong> usually for agricultural, industrial or urban purposes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It can be the <strong>loss of organic matter, decline in soil fertility,</strong> and structural condition, <strong>erosion, adverse changes in salinity, acidity or alkalinity,</strong> and the effects of toxic chemicals, pollutants or excessive flooding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The soil degradation is <strong>caused by excessive pressure on land to meet the competing demands of the growing population</strong> for food, fodder and fibre.</li>
<li>These processes, in turn, <strong>reduce agricultural productivity leading</strong> to social insecurity.</li>
<li>Emission of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greenhouse-gas-levels-reach-record-highs-un-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gases</strong></a> to the atmosphere resulting in<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-change-knowledge-portal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> climate change</strong> </a>and <strong>global warming</strong> could be the major reason for soil degradation.</li>
<li>Various human activities, such as the introduction of <strong>large scale irrigation canals </strong>and <strong>faulty land use lead</strong> to accelerated soil degradation through salinization, flooding, drought, erosion and waterlogging.</li>
<li>The other causes of degradation due to <strong>direct/indirect human interventions</strong> are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Deforestation and removal of natural vegetation</li>
<li>Overgrazing</li>
<li>Agriculture-related activities</li>
<li>Over exploitation of the vegetation for domestic purpose</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Glinka World Soil Prize</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is also conferred by FAO in line with soil. It is an annual award for dynamic change-makers dedicated to solving one of our world&rsquo;s most pressing environmental issues, i.e.<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-degradation#:~:text=India%20is%20facing%20a%20severe,(between%202021%20and%202030)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> soil degradation.</strong></a></li>
<li>It honours individuals and organizations whose leadership and activities have contributed, or are still contributing to the promotion of sustainable soil management and the protection of soil resources.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615462610_soils-of-india-1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1615462610_soils-of-india-1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="473" height="600" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1703913#:~:text=Ms.%20Suchitra%20Durai%2C%20Ambassador%20of,Kingdom%20of%20Thailand%20conferred%20the" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7875,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare </strong>signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) with the <strong>Central Silk Board</strong> on <strong>a convergence model</strong> for the implementation of <strong>Agroforestry in the silk sector.</strong> It is a part of the ongoing <strong>Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Government of India allocated Rs. 2161.68 crores for three years i.e. 2017-2020 to its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/silk-samagra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme &lsquo;Silk Samagra&rsquo;</strong></a> for the development of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sericulture-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sericulture</strong></a> in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Convergence Model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>incentivize the farmers to take up sericulture based Agroforestry</strong> models thereby contributing to the Make in India and Make for the World vision of the Prime Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This linkage will add another dimension to agroforestry for<strong> faster returns</strong> to the growers as well as <strong>support the production</strong> of the range of silks that India is famous for.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Silk Board (CSB - under the Ministry of Textiles)</strong> will act as a catalyst to promote Agroforestry in the silk sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>CSB</strong> is a statutory body established in the year <strong>1948 by an Act of Parliament.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The initiative of formalizing the collaboration in the sericulture sector is especially targeted for augmentation of sericulture host plants e.g.<strong> Mulberry, Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Kesseru, BadaKesseru, Phanat, etc.</strong> to be cultivated both as block plantations and border or peripheral plantations on farmlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Planting sericulture based tree species on the farm bunds and rearing silkworms will help in <strong>creating additional income opportunities for farmers besides their regular source of income</strong> from agriculture activities.</li>
<li>It will contribute to the Prime Minister's vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/doubling-farmers-income-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farmers' income by 2022.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare</strong> (DAC &amp; FW) has been implementing the SMAF since <strong>2016-17</strong> as part of the recommendation of the <strong>National Agroforestry Policy 2014.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India was the <strong>first country to have such a comprehensive policy</strong> which was launched at the World Agroforestry Congress held in Delhi in February 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme is implemented <strong>only in the states having liberalized transit regulations for the transport of timber</strong> and will be extended to other states as and when such relaxations are notified by them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At present, the scheme is being implemented in<strong> 20 States and 2 UTs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme <strong>promotes endemic species or tree species that come with medicinal value.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exotic species are not promoted by the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To encourage farmers to <strong>plant multi-purpose trees</strong> together<strong> with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income</strong> to the farmers, as well as <strong>enhanced feedstock</strong> to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is operational under the funding pattern<strong> 60:40 (Central government: State government)</strong> basis for all states except for 8 states of North East Region, the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where it would be<strong> 90:10</strong> fund sharing. For Union Territories (UTs), the assistance will be 100% from the Central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers would be supported financially to the extent of<strong> 50% of the actual cost of the interventions</strong> (limited to 50% of the estimated cost as indicated in the Cost norms) for the respective interventions.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers groups/Cooperatives</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producers Organization (FPO)</strong></a> can also avail the benefit of the programme but the assistance can be accessed as per norms and provisions applicable to the individual farmers.</li>
<li>At least <strong>50% of the allocation is to be utilized for small, marginal farmers</strong> of which at least <strong>30% should be women beneficiaries/farmers.</strong> Further <strong>16% &amp; 8%</strong> of the total allocation or in proportion of SC/ST population in the district will be utilized for <strong>Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)</strong> respectively.</li>
<li>Farmers <strong>must have a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soil health card</a></strong> to get the benefit under the programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/green-revolution-krishonnati-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Food Security Mission</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/horticulture-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojana (PMKSY)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime#:~:text=Under%20NBS%2C%20the%20fertilizers%20are,zinc%20are%20given%20additional%20subsidy." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-gokul-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashtriya Gokul Mission</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-farming-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Agroforestry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agroforestry is defined as a <strong>land use system which integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and ecosystem sustainability.</strong></li>
<li>It is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that, through <strong>integration of woody perennials on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production and builds social institutions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sericulture</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>agro-based industry.</strong></li>
<li>It involves <strong>rearing of silkworms</strong> for the production of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of cocoons spun by certain species of insects.</li>
<li>The<strong> major activities</strong> of sericulture consist of <strong>food-plant cultivation</strong> to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and<strong> reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament</strong> for value-added benefits such as processing and weaving.</li>
<li>Domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) are raised for the purpose of sericulture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Silk Production in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are<strong> five major types of silk</strong> of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are <strong>Mulberry, Oak Tasar &amp; Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Except for mulberry, other <strong>non-mulberry varieties of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks.</strong></li>
<li>India has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk.</li>
<li><strong>South India is the leading silk producing area of the country</strong> and is also known for its famous silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Arni, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1703050" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7859,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'CSIR Floriculture Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>CSIR Floriculture Mission</strong> has been approved for implementation in 21 States and Union Territories of India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>CSIR&rsquo;s Societal Portal</strong> has also been launched along with the Android App.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the MIssion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Floriculture is a branch of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/horticulture-sector-in-india#:~:text=Mission%20for%20Integrated%20Development%20of,and%20reducing%20post%2Dharvest%20losses." target="_blank" rel="noopener">horticulture</a> that deals with the cultivation, processing and marketing of ornamental plants</strong> vis-&agrave;-vis landscaping of small or large areas, and <strong>maintenance of gardens</strong> so that the surroundings may appear aesthetically pleasant.</li>
<li>The mission will <strong>focus on commercial floral crops, seasonal/annual crops, wild ornaments and cultivation of flower crops for honey bee rearing.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some of the popular crops include Gladiolus, Canna, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gerbera, Lilium, Marigold, Rose, Tuberose etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the mission, available knowledge base in <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a> Institutes will be utilized and leveraged to help Indian farmers and industry.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Indian floriculture market was worth Rs. 15,700 crore in 2018. The market is projected to reach Rs. 47,200 crore by 2024 during 2019-24.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Along with <strong>CSIR, other implementing agencies</strong> involved are:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-7th-may-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC)</a>,</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">APEDA and TRIFED</a>,</strong></li>
<li>Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), Kannauj, and</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-commerce-industry" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Commerce</strong></a> and <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-micro-small-and-medium-enterprises" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Raising Income:</strong> Floriculture has the potential to <strong>provide employment</strong> to a large number of people through nursery raising, floriculture farming, <strong>entrepreneurship development</strong> for nursery trade, value addition and export.</li>
<li><strong>Agro Climatic diversity:</strong> India has diverse agro-climatic and edaphic conditions (physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil), and rich plant diversity, still it shares only 0.6% of the global floriculture market.</li>
<li><strong>Import Substitution: At least 1200 million USD worth of floriculture products are being imported by India every year</strong> from different countries.</li>
<li>The <strong>convergence</strong> of Floriculture with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/beekeeping-development-committee" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Apiculture (beekeeping)</strong></a> as envisaged in the mission will yield even greater benefits.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Related Initiative (Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) is a <strong>Centrally Sponsored Scheme</strong> for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root &amp; tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About CSIR&rsquo;s Societal Portal:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This Portal has been developed by CSIR Team with the help of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Aim-&amp;-mygov-launches-innovate-india-platform" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MyGov Team</strong></a>.</li>
<li>The Portal is to <strong>facilitate the public to submit the societal problems</strong> that can be resolved using S&amp;T interventions.</li>
<li>This is the first step in terms of seeking inputs on challenges and problems being faced by different stakeholders in society.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Council of Scientific &amp; Industrial Research</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was established by the Government of India in September 1942 as an autonomous body. It comes under the <strong>Ministry of Science &amp; Technology.</strong></li>
<li>It is known for its cutting edge research and development knowledge base in diverse science and technology areas.</li>
<li>It has been<strong> ranked first in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nature-index-2020-index-of-scientific-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature Ranking Index-2020</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Nature Index provides close to a real-time proxy of high-quality research output and collaboration at the institutional, national and regional level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1702516" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7831,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Around 500 farmers across villages in Doda district in Jammu <strong>had their incomes quadrupled after shifting from maize to lavender cultivation</strong> which is being called <strong>purple revolution.</strong> It was possible due to initiatives taken under <strong>Aroma Mission.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Purple Revolution (Under Aroma Mission):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First-time farmers were given free lavender saplings and those who have cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>support domestic aromatic crop based agro economy</strong> by moving from imported aromatic oils to homegrown varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Products:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Main product is <strong>Lavender oil</strong> which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre</li>
<li><strong>Lavender water</strong>, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hydrogels-with-tunable-bactericidal-activities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrosol</strong></a>, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Agencies Involved:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a> and <strong>Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (IIIM Jammu)</strong>, the two bodies are mainly responsible for making purple revolution under the Aroma Mission a success.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from being in sync with government policy of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/doubling-farmers-income-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farm incomes</strong></a> by 2022, lavender cultivation also provided employment to the district&rsquo;s women farmers thus gave impetus to inclusive growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aroma Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to <strong>bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions</strong> in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural employment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The mission will promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.</li>
<li>It is expected to enable Indian farmers and aroma industry <strong>to become global leaders in the production and export</strong> of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint.</li>
<li>It aims to provide <strong>substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits</strong>, utilization of waste lands and protection of their crops from wild and grazing animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Agencies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow. The participating laboratories are CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scientific interventions made under the mission project would provide assured benefits to the growers of <strong>Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha</strong> and other states where farmers are exposed to frequent episodes of weather extremes and account for maximum suicides.</li>
<li>Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, mushk bala, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intended Outcomes:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bring about 5500 ha of additional area under captive cultivation aromatic cash crops particularly targeting rain-fed /degraded land across the country.</li>
<li>Provide <strong>technical and infrastructural support for distillation</strong> and values-addition to farmers/growers all over the country.</li>
<li>Enabling <strong>effective buy-back mechanisms</strong> to assure remunerative prices to the farmers/growers.</li>
<li>Value-addition to essential oils and aroma ingredients for their integration in global trade and economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/jammu-s-purple-revolution-lavender-brings-in-scent-of-profit-for-doda-farmers-75714" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7821,
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		'title' => 'Formation & Promotion of 10,000 FPOs',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare celebrated the first anniversary of the <strong>Central Sector Scheme titled 'Formation &amp; Promotion of 10,000 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)</a>&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Launch:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In <strong>February 2020,</strong> at Chitrakoot (Uttar Pradesh) with a <strong>budgetary provision of Rs. 6865 crore.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More than <strong>2200 FPOs</strong> produce clusters have been allocated for the formation of FPOs in 2020-21.</li>
<li>Implementing Agencies (IAs) are engaging <strong>Cluster-Based Business Organizations (CBBOs)</strong> to aggregate, register &amp; provide professional handholding support to each FPO for a period of <strong>5 years.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CBBOs will be the platform for an end to end knowledge for all issues related to FPO promotion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Up to <strong>Rs. 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of 3 years.</strong></li>
<li>Provision has also been made for matching<strong> equity grant up to Rs. 2,000 per farmer</strong> member of FPO with a limit of <strong>Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO.</strong></li>
<li>Provision of a credit guarantee facility up to <strong>Rs. 2 crores of project loan per FPO</strong> from the eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increase Farmers Income:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will promote the selling of farmers' produce from the farm gate of farmers thereby <strong>enhancing farmers&rsquo; income.</strong></li>
<li>This will shorten the supply chain and accordingly marketing costs will get reduced resulting in better income for farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Create Employment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will accelerate more investment in marketing and value addition infrastructure near to farm gates creating more employment opportunities for rural youth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Make Farming Viable:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will make farming more viable by aggregating land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/green-revolution-krishonnati-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/issues-with-agriculture-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime#:~:text=Under%20NBS%2C%20the%20fertilizers%20are,zinc%20are%20given%20additional%20subsidy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-gokul-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Gokul Mission.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-farming-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Farmer Producer Organization</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A <strong>Producer Organisation (PO) is a legal entity</strong> formed <strong>by primary producers,</strong> viz. farmers, milk producers, fishermen, weavers, rural artisans, craftsmen. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>PO is a<strong> generic name</strong> for an organization of producers of any produce, e.g., agricultural, non-farm products, artisan products, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A PO can be a <strong>production company, a cooperative society or any other legal form</strong> which <strong>provides for sharing of profits/benefits among the members.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In some forms like producer companies, institutions of primary producers can also become a member of PO.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The concept of <strong>'Farmer Producer Organizations, (FPO)'</strong> consists of <strong>collectivization of producers especially small and marginal farmers</strong> so as to form an effective alliance to collectively <strong>address many challenges of agriculture</strong> such as improved access to investment, technology, inputs, and markets. FPO is one type of PO where the members are farmers.</li>
<li>FPOs are generally<strong> mobilized by promoting institutions/resource agencies (RAs).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/small-farmers-agribusiness-consortium" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Small Farmers&rsquo; Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC)</strong></a> is providing support for the promotion of FPOs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The resource agencies leverage the support available from governments and agencies like <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-bank-for-agriculture-and-rural-development-nabard" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)</strong></a> to promote and nurture FPOs.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1701767" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7815,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Operation Green & Flood',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/nirmala-sitharaman-union-budget-milk-production-dairy-products-7208925/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A project of slow motion&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Indian Express on 01/03/2021. It talks about what operation green can learn from the success story of operation flood.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the Government of India, while presenting the Union budget 2021, announced that <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/operation-greens-ttp-1-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Green</strong></a> (OG) will be expanded beyond tomatoes, onions, and potatoes (TOP) to 22 perishable commodities.</p>
<p>Operation Green was originally launched in 2018. The idea was to build value chains of TOP on the lines of &ldquo;Operation Flood&rdquo; (AMUL model) for milk in such a way that will ensure a higher share of consumer&rsquo;s rupee goes to farmers and stabilizes their prices.</p>
<p>There were three basic objectives when OG was launched viz. containing the wide price volatility, building efficient value chains, and reducing the post-harvest losses.</p>
<p>However, a closer examination of the scheme in terms of achieving its objectives reveals that the progress of OG is in slow motion. Therefore, in order to replicate the success story of the White revolution, there is a lot to learn from the operation flood.</p>
<h3>Objectives of Operation Green</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Containing Price Volatility:</strong> It should contain the wide price volatility in the three largest vegetables of India (TOP)<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tomatoes-onions-potatoes (TOP) are the three basic vegetables that face extreme price volatility and the government often finds itself on the edge in fulfilling its dual objectives of ensuring remunerative prices for farmers and affordable prices for consumers.</li>
<li>For price stabilization, NAFED has to intervene in the market wherever prices crashed due to a glut, to procure some excess arrivals from the surplus regions to store them near major consuming centers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Building Efficient Value Chains:</strong> It envisages building efficient value chains of these from fresh to value-added products with a view to give a larger share of the consumers&rsquo; rupee to the farmers. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to fulfill this target, there is a provision of providing subsidy to the Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reducing the Post-Harvest Losses:</strong> It should reduce the post-harvest losses by building modern warehouses, cold storage wherever needed, and food processing clusters.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues in Operation Green Replicating Operation Flood</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Heterogenous TOP:</strong> Each commodity under OG has its own specificity, production and consumption cycle, unlike the homogeneity of milk as a single commodity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are so many varieties of TOP vegetables, grown in different climatic conditions and in different seasons, making marketing intervention (processing and storage) all the more complex.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>APMC Barrier:</strong> Milk does not pass through any APMC, involves no commissions, and farmers normally get 75-80% of the consumer&rsquo;s rupee.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, TOP are mostly traded in APMC markets, with layers of mandi fees and commissions, and farmers get less than one-third of the consumer&rsquo;s rupee.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>In contrast to this situation in the horticulture sector, in the milk sector. Operation Flood (OF) transformed India&rsquo;s milk sector, making the country the world&rsquo;s largest milk producer, crossing almost 200 million tonnes of production by now. In order to replicate the success of Operation flood following steps can be taken:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Separate Regulating Bodies:</strong> There has to be a separate board to strategize and implement the OG scheme, more on the lines of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for milk, which keeps itself at arm&rsquo;s length from government control.</li>
<li><strong>Planned Strategy:</strong> First and foremost is that results are not going to come in three to four years. Operation Flood lasted for almost 20 years before milk value chains were put on the track of efficiency and inclusiveness. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, the need is to give at least a five-year term, ample resources, and be made accountable for delivering results.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Higher Processing-to-Production Share:</strong> Milk is the least volatile because of the higher processing-to-production share.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The AMUL model is based on large procurement of milk from farmers&rsquo; cooperatives, processing, storing of excess milk in skimmed milk powder form during the flush season and using it during the lean season, and distributing milk through an organized retail network.</li>
<li>Thus, the government needs to promote the food processing units in horticulture. In this context, the announcement in the budget, to create an additional 10,000 FPOs along with the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund is all promising but needs to be implemented fast.</li>
<li>Further, to propagate the use of processed products (tomato puree, onion flakes, powder) among urban and bulk consumers, the government should run campaigns in association with industry organizations, as was done for eggs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Market Reforms:</strong> The success of operation flood shows that there is a need for market reforms in APMC, overhauling the infrastructure of existing APMC mandis contract farming, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new farm laws intend to carry out market reforms. However, it needs to take into account the most important stakeholder i.e. farmers in the policy formation process.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The idea behind Operation Greens is to double the income of farmers by the end of 2022. However, the main challenge is to carry out marketing reforms to enable operation green to flourish on the lines of operation flood.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fafaff;">
<p><span style="color: #800000;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Analyze the roadblocks in the path of operation green to achieve the same feat as operation revolution had.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7715,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Certified Jute Seeds',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Textiles</strong> has launched a <strong>Certified Jute Seed Distribution Plan</strong> under <strong>Jute ICARE Program.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jute Corporation of</strong> <strong>India (JCI)</strong> had in 2019, <strong>signed an MoU</strong> (Memorandum of Understanding) with <strong>National Seeds Corporation</strong> for <strong>commercial distribution of 1,000 Metric Tonne certified jute seeds</strong> for the year 2021-22.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Certified Jute Seed Distribution Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It will <strong>expand usage of certified seeds to over 55% area</strong> under Jute Cultivation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Certified seed</strong> shall be the progeny of foundation seed and its production shall be so handled as to maintain specific genetic identity and purity according to the standards prescribed for the crop being certified.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will extend the benefit of certified seeds to nearly <strong>5 lakh farmers.</strong></li>
<li>Usage of certified jute seeds has <strong>resulted in improved quality of jute by 1 grade</strong> and <strong>enhanced productivity by 15%</strong> thereby <strong>increasing income of jute farmers by about Rs. 10,000/hectare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jute ICARE Program:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Launch: Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise for Jute (Jute ICARE)</strong> was launched in <strong>2015.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The programme was <strong>initiated by the National Jute Board (NJB)</strong> in association with <strong>Central Research Institute for Research in Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF)</strong> &amp; J<strong>ute Corporation of India (JCI).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aims:</strong> At <strong>mechanization</strong> in jute farming in a farmer-friendly way and <strong>accelerated retting using microbial consortium</strong> for improved income for jute farmers.</li>
<li><strong>Following Inputs are Provided:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>100% <strong>Certified Seeds</strong> at subsidized rate.</li>
<li>Demonstration of <strong>scientific jute cultivation practices</strong> for adoption at farmers' fields with mechanical intervention distribution of seed drill / Nail Weeder/Cycle Weeder.</li>
<li>Demonstration of <strong>Microbial retting using CRIJAF SONA</strong>, a microbial consortium and also distribution to the farmers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Retting</strong> is the process of extracting fiber from the stem of the plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>So far, Government has <strong>supported 2.60 lakhs farmers</strong> under ICARE Program.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Steps Taken to Promote Jute Industry:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Increased in MSP:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></a> (MSP) for Jute has been increased from Rs. 2400 in 2014-15 to Rs. 4225 in 2020-21.</li>
<li><strong>Retting Tanks:</strong> Construction of 46000 Retting Tanks has been approved for increasing productivity, quality and income of Jute Farmers, which will be done by the convergence of Central Government Schemes like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mgnrega-and-migrant-crisis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MNREGA</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scheme-for-creation-of-infrastructure-for-agro-processing-cluster-pmksy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PMKSY</strong></a>, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RKVY</strong></a> and ICARE. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This will <strong>reduce retting time by 7 days</strong> and <strong>generate 46 lakh man-days of employment</strong> for the rural mass of Jute Growing States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>J<strong>ute Packaging Materials Act, 1987:</strong> Through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mandatory-jute-bag-packaging" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jute Packaging Materials</strong></a> (JPM) Act, the Government is protecting the interests of about 4 lakh workers and 40 lakh farm families.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Act provides for the compulsory use of jute packaging material in the supply and distribution of certain commodities in the interests of production of raw jute and jute packaging material, and of persons engaged in the production thereof, and for matters connected therewith.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jute Geo-Textiles (JGT):</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cabinet-approves-nutrient-based-subsidy-rates" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs</strong></a> (CCEA) has approved a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-technical-textiles-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Technical Textiles Mission</strong></a> which includes Jute <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coir-geo-textile" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Geo-Textiles.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>JGT is one of the most important diversified jute products. It can be applied in many fields like <strong>civil engineering, soil erosion control, road pavement construction and protection of river banks.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jute SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is an <strong>e-government initiative</strong> which was launched in December 2016 to promote transparency in the jute sector.</li>
<li>It provides an integrated platform for <strong>procurement of sacking by Government agencies.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration between the National Jute Board and the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>Jute Design Cell</strong> for development of Jute Shopping Bags and Lifestyle Accessories has been set up at the Innovative Centre for Natural Fibres (ICNF) of National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jute<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613629665_Image%201.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613629665_Image 1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 25-35&deg;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 150-250 cm</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well drained alluvial soil.</li>
<li><strong>Production:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is the <strong>largest producer of jute.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>mainly concentrated in eastern India</strong> because of the <strong>rich alluvial soil of Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.</strong></li>
<li>Major jute producing states include <strong>West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Uses:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is known as the <strong>golden fibre.</strong> It is used in making <strong>gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Golden Fibre Revolution and Technology Mission on Jute and Mesta</strong> are two of the government initiatives to boost jute production in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to its <strong>high cost</strong>, it is <strong>losing market to synthetic fibres and packing materials, particularly nylon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1698178#:~:text=Program%20To%20Benefit%20Over%205%20Lakh%20Farmers&amp;text=Union%20Minister%20for%20Textiles%20and,diversified%20and%20Technical%20textile%20products." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7433,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Issues with Agriculture in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>protest by thousands of farmers</strong></a> at Delhi&rsquo;s borders have brought to focus a range of<strong> issues in agriculture in India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The protests are against the three farm bills that seek to replace <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ordinances issued in june 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns of Protesting Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These laws signal the beginning of the <strong>end of open-ended procurement of wheat and paddy.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>success of states (Punjab and Haryana)</strong> in creating the infrastructure for procurement may now<strong> become the reason for withdrawal of support of the Centre.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Stocking by corporates,</strong> especially those which are in modern retail and e-commerce</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Decreasing Area:</strong> Area under agriculture has been shrinking, it reduced from <strong>159.5</strong> million hectares <strong>(mn ha) in 2010-11 to 157 mn ha in 2015-16.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Increase in Land Holdings:</strong> The number of<strong> operational holdings has been rising</strong> (increased from 138.3 million to about 146 million) owing to increasing population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This<strong> leads to falling average landholdings&rsquo; size</strong> of farmers, which has come down from 1.2 ha to about 1.08 ha.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forced Selling: Smaller landholdings produce smaller pockets of produce,</strong> aggregation of which becomes essential for even a trolley-load to be carried to an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)</strong> </a>mandi or a nearby market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to small holdings caused by fragmentation, small and marginal farmers are <strong>forced to sell their produce at the farm gate itself.</strong></li>
<li>This is especially so in states that have a weak network of APMC mandis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Access to Modern Technology:</strong> Bringing new technologies and practices to such a large number of smallholders scattered over a vast countryside and integrating them with the modern input and output markets is a <strong>huge challenge for Indian agriculture.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Farm Labourers than Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>farmer</strong> is usually a<strong> farm owner,</strong> while <strong>employees</strong> of the farm are farm labourers, farmhands, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Employment in Agri-sector:</strong> As per recent estimates from the<strong> Labour Bureau, 45%</strong> of India&rsquo;s workforce is employed in agriculture. .</li>
<li><strong>Labours in Agri-sector:</strong> According to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2011-census-data-on-migration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Census 2011</strong></a>, <strong>55%</strong> of the agri-workforce comprises agri-labourers.</li>
<li><strong>No support for Labours:</strong> It is tough to drive or sustain growth in agriculture since farm labourers get no policy support or incentive to invest in farming.</li>
<li><strong>Owners Getting the Benefit:</strong> All benefits like seed kit, fertilisers, pesticides, farm machinery, micro-irrigation, land development assistance etc. are meant only for those who can prove land ownership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Falling Investment in Agriculture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Gross Capital Formation (GCF)</strong> in agriculture as a percentage of the total GCF in the economy has<strong> fallen from 8.5 % in Financial Year 2011-12 to 6.5 % in Financial Year 2018-19.</strong> This is because the share of private investment has shrunk.</li>
<li>Though public investment has gone up it is not sufficient to check the slide or keep the GCF at FY12 level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy and Related Issues:.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Flowing to Businesses:</strong> A number of subsidies meant for agriculture also flow to businesses, e.g <strong>grants given to food processing units and cold chain projects.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Net Loss of Farmers:</strong> As per the <strong>Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations- <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development</a> (ICRIER-OECD)</strong> report, despite the plethora of schemes run to support and subsidise Indian farmers, because of <strong>regressive policies on the marketing side</strong> (both domestic and international trade policies) and the <strong>deficit of basic infrastructure for storage, transportation</strong> etc., <strong>Indian farmers suffered net losses</strong> and thus emerged to be net taxed despite receiving subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Related Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Selective Procurement:</strong> The government<strong> declares <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price-for-crops#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20major%20demands,of%20the%20cost%20of%20production." target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSP</a> for 23 crops,</strong> only wheat and paddy (rice) are procured in large quantities as they are required to meet the requirement of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(PDS), which is about 65 million tonnes.</li>
<li><strong>Stagnant Rates of MSP:</strong> The government declaration of Minimum support prices do not increase at par with increase in cost of production.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Access:</strong> The benefits of this scheme do not reach all farmers and for all crops. There are many regions of the country like the north-eastern region where the implementation is too weak.</li>
<li><strong>Non Scientific Practices:</strong> MSP leads to non-scientific agricultural practices whereby the soil, water are stressed to an extent of degrading ground water table and salinisation of soil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If India has to move away from procurement-based support, at present restricted to certain crops only, a <strong>more attractive income support scheme has to be conceived coupled with much higher investment, both public and private,</strong> in agri-infrastructure.</li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)</strong> </a>incentivised the states, which increased their expenditure on agriculture. The <strong>Centre&rsquo;s assistance for such states should be higher.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Focused research on crops grown in low-productivity states can deliver better seeds,</strong> which can withstand the challenge of higher temperature due to climate change.</li>
<li>Democratic norms and processes like <strong>open public debate, dialogue with stakeholders and detailed Parliamentary scrutiny</strong> to ensure every aspect and implication of a public policy goes through meticulous examination before being adopted and implemented is crucial to fix the issues with agriculture.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/issues-in-indian-agriculture-7141148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7377,
		'category_id' => (int) 15,
		'title' => 'The Big Picture: The Demands of Farmers',
		'description' => '<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TM_cpDR0S90" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<h3>Why in News?</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers have been protesting for over months and have congregated on the periphery of the National Capital.</li>
<li>They have blocked roads to Delhi and remain firm on their demand to repeal the recently passed <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-reforms#:~:text=The%20Government%20with%20the%20aim,three%20important%20legislation%20from%20Parliament.&amp;text=The%20Farmers%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farm laws</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Despite the government&rsquo;s assurance given to the farmers that the new laws are for their benefit, they still fear that their livelihood will be severely affected.</li>
<li>The major demands of farmers include completely rolling back the three farm laws along with ensuring Minimum Support Price (MSP) on the crop products.</li>
<li>Farmer unions had also intensified their agitation against the farm laws by calling for 'Bharat Bandh' to show their discontentment with amendments to the agricultural legislations being proposed by the government.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Farmers&rsquo; Demands</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Repealing the farm laws:</strong> The first and foremost demand of the protesting farmers&rsquo; organisations is the repeal of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-reforms#:~:text=The%20Government%20with%20the%20aim,three%20important%20legislation%20from%20Parliament.&amp;text=The%20Farmers%20" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three new agricultural laws</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Minimum support price:</strong> The second demand of farmers is the guarantee of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price-for-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP)</strong></a> to ensure procurement of crops at a suitable price.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Farmers are also demanding to get a written assurance in the form of a Bill for the continuation MSP and conventional food grain procurement system.</li>
<li>The Farmers&rsquo; organisations want the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketinghttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>APMC</strong></a> or the Mandi System to be protected.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Electricity (Amendment) Bill:</strong> The third demand of farmers is the withdrawal of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electricity-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Electricity (Amendment) Bill</strong></a>, as they feel that they won&rsquo;t get free electricity due to this.</li>
<li><strong>Stubble burning:</strong> The farmers&rsquo; fourth demand is to end the fine and jail sentence for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Swaminathan Commission:</strong> The Farmers are demanding MSP as recommended by the Swaminathan Commission.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Swaminathan Commission Report states that the government should raise the MSP to at least 50% more than the weighted average cost of production. <strong>It is also known as the C2+ 50% formula.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It includes the imputed cost of capital and the rent on the land (called &lsquo;C2&rsquo; ) to give farmers 50% returns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Are the Demands Justified?</h3>
<p><strong>Arguments in Against</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MSP is an incentive not a right:</strong> Even though the MSP might be beneficial for a section of the farmers only, the cost of MSP itself is very high for the country as a whole.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MSP was given to the farmers as an incentive to prevent them from exploitation, it cannot be mandated as a right.</li>
<li>It is an artificially high price which hurts the population who does not cultivate these crops but is poor; e.g. landless labourers, small &amp; marginal farmers in villages who are also the net buyers of the food grains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The law does not dismantle the APMC system:</strong> The APMCs are not going to shut down and will continue to be available as an alternate option for the sale of farmers&rsquo; produce.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The government has only given the farmers the freedom to sell out of the APMCs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Contract farming:</strong> Contract farming already exists in parts of the country. Large scale informal contract farming is already happening in West Bengal and around Delhi.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The law simply recognises contract farming, makes it legal and provides mechanism protection for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Allowing stubble burning:</strong> The farmers, who burn stubble, are conscious of going to jail if they continue burning the stubble as the law provides for a fine up to Rs. 1 crore or jail of up to five years or both.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Despite the raging need for laws against pollution, this demand of the farmers is utterly saddening.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Arguments in Favour</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Corporatisation of agriculture is against the farmers&rsquo; welfare:</strong> The global experience across agricultural markets demonstrates that corporatisation of agriculture without a concomitant security net in the form of an assured payment guarantee to the farmers results in the exploitation of farmers at the hands of big business.</li>
<li><strong>Threat for small and marginal farmers:</strong> This poses a significant challenge to Small and Marginal Farmers which constitute 86% of our agricultural class.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The present laws alter the bargaining landscape in favour of the corporate players.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dispute resolution mechanism:</strong> The new farm laws expressly exclude the jurisdiction of the civil court, leaving the farmers remediless and with no independent medium of dispute redressal mechanism.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The farmers shall be given the right to take their stand to the court.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Gradual decline of APMC mandis:</strong> The farm laws open the field to an alternate set of markets/private yards, where the buyer will have no statutory obligation to pay the MSP.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Since the markets/private yards will not be charged any market fee/levy and the agricultural sector will see the gradual shifting of trade from the APMC mandis to these private yards.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agriculture is a state subject:</strong> The Union Government has by-passed the federal structure by legislating on subjects that exclusively fall within the domain of the state government under the state list of the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/30-09-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seventh Schedule of the Constitution</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Choosing a middle ground:</strong> The government is not going to repeal all the three laws while the farmers are adamant about their protest for repealing the laws. The need here is to adopt a middle path.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There must be some negotiations between the two, while the government is accepting the genuine demands, the farmers should also agree to some of the former&rsquo;s terms.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Complete information about the rights:</strong> What farmers need is complete information of their rights and duties and connectivity which needs to be provided by central as well as state governments.</li>
<li><strong>Landless labourers:</strong> The landless labourers are often left out of welfare policies, while they are the majority of rural areas. More policies should be more focussed upon the landless labourers.</li>
<li><strong>People&rsquo;s suggestion:</strong> It is important to take the suggestions of all the stakeholders before passing a new bill especially in the world's largest democratic country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The farmers are an integral part in the formation of the country, their interests must be preserved and their issues must be looked and worked upon. In this case, adopting a middle path is the best and wisest way forward.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7393,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Moringa Powder',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/apeda-trifed" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)</strong> </a>has been supporting private entities in creating necessary infrastructure to promote <strong>Moringa products exports</strong> from India.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Globally, the demand for Moringa products, such as <strong>Moringa Leaf Powder and Moringa Oil, Moringa as a nutritional supplement and in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/extension-of-food-fortification-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">food fortification</a></strong> has been witnessing healthy growth.</li>
<li>Its usage has been well received among the global consumers for its nutritional, medicinal, culinary uses.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Moringa</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Botanical name:<em><strong> Moringa oleifera</strong></em></li>
<li>It is a <strong>fast-growing, drought-resistant tree native to the Indian subcontinent.</strong></li>
<li>Common names include moringa, drumstick tree, horseradish tree etc.</li>
<li>It is widely cultivated for its <strong>young seed pods and leaves,</strong> used as vegetables and <strong>for traditional herbal medicine.</strong> It is also used for <strong>water purification.</strong></li>
<li>It has various healthy compounds such as <strong>various vitamins,</strong> important elements such as <strong>Iron, Magnesium</strong> etc. and is extremely low on fats and contains<strong> no cholesterol.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) was established by the Government of India under the <strong>Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985.</strong></li>
<li>It functions under the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry.</strong></li>
<li>The Authority has its <strong>headquarters in New Delhi.</strong></li>
<li>APEDA is mandated with the<strong> responsibility of export promotion and development</strong> of the scheduled products like fruits, vegetables and their products, meat and meat products, etc.</li>
<li>APEDA has been entrusted with the<strong> responsibility to monitor import of sugar.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1685065" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7335,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '100th Kisan Rail',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Recently, the Prime Minister has flagged off the <strong>100<sup>th</sup> &ldquo;Kisan Rail&rdquo;</strong> service from <strong>Sangola in Solapur district of Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal</strong> via video-conferencing.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In <strong>August 2020,</strong> the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-kisan-rail" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>first</strong> </a><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/first-kisan-rail" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Kisan Rail&rsquo;</a> dedicated to agriculture and farmers</strong> was begun to connect farmers and markets across the country.</li>
<li>The government has invested crores of rupees in <strong>modernising the country&rsquo;s supply chain,</strong> of which the Kisan Rail service is a new experiment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Announcements regarding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/union-budget-2020-21-social-sector-and-infrastructure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>modernising agriculture</strong> </a>were made in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/union-budget-2020-21-highlights" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Budget 2020-21</strong></a> which had envisaged the<strong> Kisan Rail service</strong> and the <strong>Krishi Udaan scheme.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Krishi Udaan</strong> was launched by the<strong> Ministry of Civil Aviation on international and national routes</strong> to assist farmers in<strong> transporting agricultural products</strong> so that it<strong> improves their value realisation.</strong></li>
<li>Under the scheme, financial incentives in terms of concessions from the Centre, state governments and airport operators are extended to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports, and keep airfares affordable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Despite the challenges posed by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Covid-19 pandemic</strong></a>, the &lsquo;Kisan Rail&rsquo; network has expanded in the past four months.</li>
<li>Earlier, the Kisan Rail was <strong>being run only once a week</strong> but now, due to increased demand, it is <strong>being run thrice a week</strong> currently.</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This experiment will prove especially <strong>beneficent for the country&rsquo;s 80% small and marginal farmers.</strong></li>
<li>The service would<strong> transform the economics of Indian agriculture</strong> while <strong>strengthening the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-processing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">country&rsquo;s cold supply chain.</a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The lack of cold storage facilities had often resulted in losses for farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Indian farmers can now <strong>transport their produce to far-flung places</strong> within the country as well as <strong>gain access to international markets.</strong></li>
<li>According to the government, the <strong>Kisan Rail service</strong> along with the<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> amended farm laws</strong> </a>would help protect farmers against the fluctuations in demand and supply.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/centre-trying-to-expand-markets-for-farmers-pm/article33441310.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7312,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Next Instalment of PM-KISAN',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Prime Minister has virtually released the <strong>next instalment of financial benefit</strong> under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/one-year-of-pm-kisan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi</strong></a> (PM-KISAN).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Rs. 18000 crores</strong> have been deposited in the bank account of <strong>more than 9 crore farmers</strong> through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rbi-advisory-on-direct-benefit-transfer" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Direct Benefit Transfer</strong></a> (DBT).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>More than 1 lakh 10 thousand crore rupees have reached the account of farmers, since this scheme started in February 2019.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Launched in<strong> February 2019,</strong> it is a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/proposal-to-hike-monthly-pensions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme</strong></a>, which is being implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>On its first anniversary, the <strong>PM-KISAN Mobile App</strong> developed and designed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nic-and-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Informatics Centre</strong> </a>(NIC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was launched.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount of<strong> Rs. 6,000 per year,</strong> in <strong>three equal instalments,</strong> directly into the bank accounts of the all landholding farmers irrespective of the size of their landholdings.</li>
<li>The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiary farmer families <strong>rests with the State/UT Governments.</strong></li>
<li><strong>It aims to:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Reduce the input cost</strong> of the farmers.</li>
<li><strong>Ensure a fair price</strong> for the crop.</li>
<li><strong>Open new markets</strong> for the farmers to sell their crop.</li>
<li><strong>Supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers</strong> (SMFs).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmer Centric Improvements:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Fixed <strong>one and a half times the production cost as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price-for-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minimum Support Price</a></strong> (MSP) for the farmers as per the recommendations of the long-standing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swaminathan Committee report</strong></a> and has also increased the number of crops for which MSP is available.</li>
<li>Added more than a thousand<strong> online <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/mandi-system-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">agricultural mandis.</a></strong></li>
<li>Worked towards <strong>forming groups of small farmers</strong> so that they can work as a collective force in their region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A campaign is underway to <strong>form more than 10,000</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmers Producer Organizations</strong></a> (FPOs) which are being given financial help.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh under <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/ayushmanbharat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ayushman Bharat</a></strong> scheme has reduced the major concern of the lives of farmers.</li>
<li><strong>Better options are provided to farmers</strong> through the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agricultural reforms</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soil Health Card Scheme</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-chemicals-fertilizers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neem Coating of Urea</a>.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/annadata-to-urjadata" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan</strong></a> (KUSUM) scheme to harness solar energy.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revamp-of-the-crop-insurance-schemes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana</strong></a> (PMFBY).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1683571" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7111,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Mandi System In India',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-perils-of-deregulated-imperfect-agrimarkets/article33216046.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The perils of deregulated imperfect agrimarkets&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 01/12/2020. It talks about the recent farmers&rsquo; protest in New Delhi.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest#:~:text=Three%20Farm%20Bills%20that%20are,(Amendment)%20Bill%2C%202020." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>massive farmers&rsquo; protests</strong> </a>erupted in New Delhi and adjoining areas against the newly introduced Farm Acts. According to the government, these <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest#:~:text=Three%20Farm%20Bills%20that%20are,(Amendment)%20Bill%2C%202020." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>new farm laws</strong></a> (particularly Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020- FPTC Act) are intended to benefit farmers by establishing private markets, elimination of middlemen and farmers would be free to sell to any buyer.</p>
<p>However, the protesting farmers do not accept these claims. They believe that if mandis weaken and private markets with no commitment to MSPs expand, this would lead to a gradual erosion of the guaranteed pricing i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/need-for-msp-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP) system.</strong></a></p>
<p>Therefore, these farmer&rsquo;s protest demand for a deeper analysis of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mandi system in India and associated reforms</strong></a> to ensure the viability of agriculture for Aanadata (Farmers) of India.</p>
<h3>Intended Benefits of Liberalising Mandis</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level playing field:</strong> The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Transfers the risk:</strong> It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs.</li>
<li><strong>Attracts private sector:</strong> This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminates intermediaries:</strong> Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why Replacing the Mandi System May Not Help?</h3>
<p>An important assumption behind the FPTC Act is that mandis controlled by Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMC) are monopsonies in rural areas and liberalising agricultural markets will provide higher pricing for farmers. <strong>However, the organizational structure of Indian agriculture forces farmers to sell outside the mandis.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Large Proportion of Produce Sold Outside Mandi:</strong> Official data show that for paddy and wheat, respectively, only 29% and 44% of the harvest is sold in a mandi, while 49% and 36% is sold to either a local private trader or an input dealer.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In other words, de facto, a large proportion of Indian harvest is not directly sold in a mandi.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Number of Mandis:</strong> The National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) had recommended that every Indian farmer should be able to reach a mandi in one hour by a cart. Thus, the average area served by a mandi was to be reduced to 80 square kilometres.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there were only 6,630 mandis in 2019 with an average area served of 463 square kilometres.</li>
<li>Therefore, India needs not less but more mandis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Marginal Farmers Domination:</strong> In India, nearly 86% of landholding are owned by small &amp; marginal farmers. These farmers, given their small marketable surplus, do not find it economical to bear the transport costs to take their harvests to mandis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Thus, they end up selling their harvest to a village trader even if at a lower price.</li>
<li>Even if private markets replace mandis, small and marginal farmers will continue to sell to traders in the village itself.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Poor Private Investment In Liberalised Agricultural Markets:</strong> The freedom to sell outside mandis already exists in many States.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Already, 18 States have allowed the establishment of private markets outside the APMC and have allowed the direct purchase of agricultural produce from farmers.</li>
<li>Despite such legislative changes, no significant private investment has flowed in to establish private markets in these States.</li>
<li>The reason for poor private investment in markets is the presence of high transaction costs in product collection and aggregation. Moreover, due to a large number of small and marginal farmers, this cost will be higher.</li>
<li>This is why many retail chains prefer purchasing bulk quantities of fruits and vegetables from mandis rather than directly from farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Evidence of Higher Prices:</strong> In the existing private markets too, there is no evidence of farmers receiving higher prices than in the mandis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In fact, if transaction costs exceed mandi taxes, the costs would be transferred to the farmers at a lower price.</li>
<li>This, then, would imply a stronger squeeze on the farmer than at present.</li>
<li>Further, if mandis weaken and private markets do not sufficiently replace them, there are fears that the void would be filled by unscrupulous and unregulated traders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Quantitatively Improving Mandi Infrastructure:</strong> At the current stage of agricultural marketing in India, there is a need to increase in the density of mandis, expansion of investment in mandi infrastructure and a spread of the MSP system to more regions and crops.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For this to happen much of the mandi taxes should be properly reinvested by APMCs to improve market infrastructure.</li>
<li>In this context, the Punjab Mandi Board example is worth emulating, whereby it uses these revenues to construct rural roads, run medical and veterinary dispensaries, supply drinking water, improve sanitation, expand rural electrification and provide relief to farmers during calamities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Qualitative Improving Mandi Infrastructure:</strong> There is a need for not just more mandis, but also better mandis.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>APMCs need internal reform to ease the entry of new players, reduce trader collusion and link them up with national e-trading platforms.</li>
<li>The introduction of unified national licences for traders and a single point levy of market fees are also steps in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improving Economies of Scale:</strong> The bargaining power of Indian Farmer&rsquo;s vis-a-vis corporates will change only if economies of scale rise substantially at the farm-level.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to achieve this, there is a need to strengthen <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-76#:~:text=Farmer%20Producer%20Organisation%20(FPO)%20is,profits%2Fbenefits%20among%20the%20members." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Indian agricultural marketing reforms should derive inspiration from Barbara Harriss-White, a scholar of India&rsquo;s agricultural markets, who once observed, &ldquo;deregulated imperfect markets may become more, not less, imperfect than regulated imperfect markets&rdquo;.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606825691_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1606825691_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="635" height="925" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffef0;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Recent farmer&rsquo;s protest demand for a deeper analysis of the mandi system in India and associated reforms. Analyse.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bXAp7UzbR5E" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/reaping-the-whirlwind-the-hindu-editorial-on-farmer-protests/article33207268.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Reaping the whirlwind: On farmer protests&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on November 30<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7019,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Rural Non-Farm Sector',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/agriculture-gdp-growth-economy-7055240/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Spot the seeds of growth&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 18/11/2020. It talks about the importance &amp; challenges of the rural non-farm sector in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Due to the economic downturn caused by Covid-19 pandemic, India&rsquo;s GDP contracted by 23.9 %. in the first quarter. However, a silver lining in this degrowth scenario can be noted as agriculture grew by 3.4%.</p>
<p>Despite green shoots, agriculture in India is ailing for a long time. It has been grappling with issues like fast depleting groundwater, soil degradation, fragmented markets, barely functioning agricultural extension services and speeding up of climate change.</p>
<p>It is due to these factors agriculture cannot overturn contraction in other sectors, but along with the non-farm rural sector, it could jump-start the economy. Apart from this, Non-Farm rural activities (livestock, fisheries and food processing, etc.) are advantageous in lifting the poor above the poverty line.</p>
<p>Therefore, it becomes imperative to identify the issues of the non-farm rural sector in India to focus on building strong growth links between the non-farm rural economy and agriculture.</p>
<h3>Importance of Rural Non-Farm Sector</h3>
<p>The non-farm sector, particularly in rural areas is being accorded wide recognition in recent years for the following reasons:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Check on Unregulated Migration:</strong> A planned strategy of rural non-farm development may prevent many rural people from migrating to urban industrial and commercial centres.</li>
<li><strong>Bridging Rural-Urban Divide:</strong> When the economic base of the rural economy extends beyond agriculture, rural-urban economic gaps are bound to get narrower along with salutary effects in many other aspects associated with the life and aspirations of the people.</li>
<li><strong>Employment Generation:</strong> Non-farm rural industries are generally less capital-intensive and more labour absorbing. Thus, they can play a critical role in employment growth in rural areas.</li>
<li><strong>Reducing Inequalities:</strong> Rural income distribution is much less unequal in areas where a wide network of non-farm avenues of employment exists.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As the lower strata of rural societies participate much more intensely in non-farm activities, it helps in increasing social mobility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Associated Challenges</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Weak Institutional Structure:</strong> There are many institutions (KVIC, SIDBI, etc.) which were established for the development of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, these institutions are marred by issues like administrative inefficiency, lack of financial autonomy, overlapping jurisdiction, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Quality of Manpower:</strong> High levels of illiteracy in rural India have hampered the growth of the rural non-farm sector.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In the rural areas, lack of education leads to labour being stagnant in agriculture or moving to casual work occupations in the non-farm sector, and not to salaried employment with higher wages and benefits.</li>
<li>Together with a lack of technical skills, there is little incentive for rural firms to invest in technology, leading to low levels of labour productivity in the rural manufacturing sector compared to urban manufacturing.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forward and Backward Linkages:</strong> The gaps in the integration of the production linkages brought about by low accessibility of market, support service weaknesses and intervention of middlemen have constrained the development of non-farm enterprises in India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the most significant bottleneck in generating higher levels of rural non-farm activity in India is the quantity, quality and reliability of infrastructure.</li>
<li>Although corrective steps are now being taken, increased infrastructure remains the most important priority for the future.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<p>Efforts are needed to identify appropriate and effective institutional vehicles for the development of non-farm sector policy and interventions for creating employment opportunities. In this context, the following policy interventions can be taken by the government.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>China&rsquo;s TVEs Model:</strong> China&rsquo;s labour-intensive township and village enterprises (TVEs), are often described as the &ldquo;engine of growth&rdquo; behind China&rsquo;s remarkable growth.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The TVEs are hybrid institutions, generally unusual alliances between entrepreneurs and local government officials (acting in the capacity of "owners" of TVE enterprises).</li>
<li>In this regard, the role of government is crucial, especially in the provision of necessary infrastructure and other support services.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supply Chain Integration:</strong> It is also vital to improve the marketing links between the village entrepreneurs and the larger business firms located in the towns/cities.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Such strategic alliances or partnerships can contribute to the sustainability of small villages and tiny enterprises in rural areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Addressing Structural Issues:</strong> Other important considerations that need to be focused on may include human resource development, financial/credit facilities, research and development and women&rsquo;s participation with a view to making the activities self-sustaining in the changing competitive environment.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The non-farm rural sector is increasingly playing an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Specifically, as agriculture&rsquo;s contribution to the economy is declining, the non-farm sector will need to become more and more a major provider of employment and income to many people in rural areas.</p>
<p>However, it should be noted that the non-farm rural sector is not a substitute for employment in agriculture but rather as a supplementary measure. Agricultural development is still important and should be pursued as a necessary precondition for inclusive development.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1605698357_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="635" height="603" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f8fff5;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The non-farm rural sector can increasingly play an important role in the development of rural areas of India. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPEcutiiT-4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/threat-or-treat/article33110441.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Threat or treat: on RCEP trade deal&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Hindu on November 17<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6859,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Stubble Waste Management',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/wealth-from-stubble-burning-farmers-farmers-air-pollution-delhi-punjab-haryana-6884982/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Wealth from stubble&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 27/10/2020. It talks about the issue of stubble burning and suggests actionable programmes to address the same.</p>
</div>
<p>Every winter in northern India starts with the precarious news of dangerous levels of air pollution resulting from the Paddy <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/stubble-burning-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>stubble burning</strong></a>. This is because the quantity of the farm waste is humongous and the window for disposing of it is too small.</p>
<p>The regularity of air pollution from stubble burning led the state and central government to develop business models to discourage stubble burning and promote farm <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/waste-to-energy-plants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>waste to energy</strong> </a>projects.</p>
<p>However, despite these interventions the farmers have less incentive to collect the stubble and subsequently the stubble burning issue largely remains unsolved. Therefore, stubble management should be broadly focussed on-field management, alternate cropping, processing to biofuels and proper implementation of existing schemes.</p>
<h3>Reason For Stubble Burning</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Stubble burning is the act of setting fire to crop residue to remove them from the field to sow the next crop.</li>
<li>In order to plant next winter crop (Rabi crop), farmers in Northern India have to move in a very short interval and if they are late, due to short winters these days, they might face considerable losses.</li>
<li>Therefore, burning is the cheapest and fastest way to get rid of the stubble.</li>
<li>Further, if stubble is left in the field, pests like termites may attack the upcoming crop.</li>
<li>Also, the precarious economic condition of farmers doesn&rsquo;t allow them to use expensive mechanised methods to remove stubble.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues in Stubble Waste to Energy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lax Implementation:</strong> In 2019, the governments of Punjab and Haryana announced Rs 2,500/acre as a bonus to small farmers who avoid burning stubble but there has been the negligible implementation of this scheme.</li>
<li><strong>Adverse Impact of Laws:</strong> Implementation of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/punjab-water-law-responsible-for-air-pollution-in-delhi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act (2009)</strong> </a>made the time period of stubble burning coincident with the onset of winter in Northern India.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Late transplanting of paddy during Kharif season to prevent water loss as directed by PPSW Act (2009) had left farmers with little time between harvesting and preparing the field for the next crop and hence farmers are resorting to the burning of stubble.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inadequate Supply as Raw Material:</strong> The costs of establishing a year-round &ldquo;bankable&rdquo; supply chain for paddy straw bales is another deterrent.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Albeit with limitations related to offtake agreements, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/biofuel-day-2#:~:text=The%20Policy%20allows%20use%20of,of%20National%20Biofuel%20Coordination%20Committee.&amp;text=5000%20crore%20in%206%20years,as%20compared%20to%201G%20biofuels." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Policy on Biofuels</strong></a> was not able to achieve intended targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Competition With Solar &amp; Wind Energy:</strong> The government has actively supported the biomass power sector by provisioning for a high feed-in tariff.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, tariff orders for biomass gasifier/biogas power became inconsequential with solar and wind power tariffs declining to 33% of that of biomass power.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>On-field Management:</strong> It involves mulching the stubble into fields by customised machinery. In order to promote mulching there is a need for:
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Providing subsidy for purchasing equipment.</li>
<li>Establishing Farm Machinery Banks for custom hiring of in-situ crop residue management machinery.</li>
<li>Furthermore, Co-operative societies of farmers, <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>self-help groups</strong></a>, registered farmers societies/farmers groups, private entrepreneurs for establishment of farm machinery banks or custom hiring centres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Alternate Cropping:</strong> There is a need to promote alternatives to wheat and rice, which could be the cultivation of silage crops (hybrid sorghum, hybrid napier grass, maize).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These alternatives have a high yield, enabling farmers to meet the feedstock needs of cattle, can also be used to produce biofuels plants and the cultivated area can be interspersed with horticulture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring Adequate Supply with Biomass Depots:</strong> It is essential to undertake on-field baling of stubble, aggregate bales in a depot and enter into &ldquo;bankable&rdquo; agreements for supplies to Bio-Energy Plants.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In order to establish a biomass depot, there should be fiscal incentives for enabling green entrepreneurship.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Turning Stubble to Advanced Biofuels:</strong> Stubble should be used for production of gaseous <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biofuels</strong></a> like producer gas, biogas and green hydrogen.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/satat-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SATAT scheme</strong></a> is a step in the right direction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Stubble burning poses a challenge to public health. However, by processing agriculture residues to biofuels and compost will benefit many more farmer households, with manifold collateral benefits that accrue from assured availability of sustainable energy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603801502_image3.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1603801502_image3.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="550" height="515" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fefff2;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Effective stubble management can convert the crisis of public health into an opportunity of sustainable energy. Comment.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_mO76JsnMB0" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/an-indian-spacex-policy-to-tap-private-sector-talent-for-space-taking-shape/2113451/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;An Indian SpaceX&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Financial Express on October 23<sup>th</sup>, 2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6745,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pulse Release from Buffer Stocks',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Union government<strong> plans to release 40,000 tonnes of tur dal</strong> from its buffer stock into the retail market in small lots, in a bid to cool down the recent hike in pulses prices.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Hiking Prices:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Major <strong>consuming centres</strong> (Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu) <strong>of urad and tur dal</strong> have seen a <strong>20% <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-food-prices-and-nutrition-security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spike</a> in prices</strong> over the last two weeks alone.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These states have <strong>expressed an interest in buying one lakh tonnes of pulses</strong> from the Central buffer stock at the MSP rates to sell at subsidised prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>At an all-India level, the<strong> average retail prices of urad</strong> have shot up <strong>almost 40% in comparison to 2019</strong>, while the <strong>average retail prices of tur dal</strong> have <strong>increased by almost 24%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Retail Intervention:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Consumer Affairs</strong> (DoCA) has introduced retail intervention, a mechanism to use the buffer stock of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bihar-to-sell-kashmiri-apples" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></a> (NAFED).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NAFED procures pulses from farmers at <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Minimum Support Price</a></strong> (MSP) rates to moderate retail prices by supplying pulses to the States and the Union Territories.</li>
<li>The States are supplied pulses either in bulk or in retail packs for supply through the ration shops of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(PDS), or through milk and vegetable outlets run by the government or cooperatives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>For such retail intervention, <strong>offer prices are fixed on the basis of MSP itself</strong>.</li>
<li>This move will also help clear NAFED&rsquo;s existing stock to make way for procurement from this season&rsquo;s harvest, due to arrive in markets soon.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Using Open Market Sale:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from the retail intervention, the DoCA has also<strong> decided to release 40,000 metric tonnes of tur from the buffer stock in Open Market Sale</strong> (OMS) Scheme in small lots so that the releases may reach the retail market at a faster pace and help in cooling off rising prices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Earlier Measures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Centre extended the procurement window for its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-annadata-aay-anrakshan-abhiyan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Price Support Scheme (PSS)</strong></a> <strong>up to 90 days from the date of commencement</strong> of the scheme in each State.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The PSS is <strong>operationalised on the State governments&rsquo; request</strong> when the prices fall below the MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Centre promised to provide <strong>one kg of pulses per month to all families with ration cards for the three months</strong> as part of a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-economic-relief-package" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19 relief package</a> (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana)</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is registered under the <strong>Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002</strong>.</li>
<li>It was <strong>set up in 1958</strong> with the objective to <strong>promote cooperative marketing of agricultural produce to benefit the farmers</strong>.</li>
<li><strong>Agricultural farmers are the members</strong> of the General Body of NAFED, who participate in the decision-making process.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the <strong>rate at which the government buys grains from farmers</strong>.</li>
<li>The reason behind the idea is to <strong>counter the price volatility</strong> of agricultural commodities <strong>due to the factors like</strong> variations in the supply, lack of market integration and information asymmetry.</li>
<li>It is fixed on the recommendations of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Open Market Sale Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-corporation-of-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Corporation of India</strong></a> (FCI) sells surplus stocks of wheat and rice at <strong>predetermined prices through e-auction in the open market</strong> from time to time to <strong>enhance the supply</strong> of food grains.</li>
<li>It is done especially <strong>during the lean season to moderate the open market prices</strong> in the deficit regions.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Food and nutrition security is ensured if all of the citizens of a nation have enough nutritious food available, all of them have the capacity to buy food of acceptable quality and there is no barrier on access to food.</li>
<li>The right to nutritious food is a well-established principle of international human rights law. It has evolved to include an obligation for state parties to respect, protect and fulfil their citizens&rsquo; right to food and nutrition security.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/as-prices-rise-centre-to-release-14-lakh-tonnes-of-pulses-from-buffer-stock/article32853962.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6726,
		'category_id' => (int) 28,
		'title' => 'Agricultural Reforms',
		'description' => '<h3>Introduction</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government with the aim of transforming agriculture in the country and raising farmers&rsquo; income have passed three important legislation from Parliament. </li>
<li>These legislations sought to bring much needed reforms in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agricultural marketing system</strong></a> such as removing restrictions of private stock holding of agricultural produce or creating trading areas free of middlemen and take the market to the farmer.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020,</li>
<li>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020,</li>
<li>Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Features</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Freedom to the Farmers:</strong> The Act provides the farmers the freedom of choice related to sale and purchase of produce.</li>
<li><strong>Liberation from the Cess:</strong> The farmers will not be charged any cess or levy for sale of their produce under this Act. Further there will be a separate dispute resolution mechanism for the farmers.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Promotes trade:</strong> It promotes barrier-free inter-state and intra-state trade and commerce outside the physical premises of markets notified under State <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketinghttps://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>APMCs.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Better price:</strong> It will open more choices for the farmer, reduce marketing costs for the farmers and help them in getting better prices</li>
<li><strong>One nation, one market:</strong> The Act will help create <strong>One India, One Agriculture Market</strong> and will lay the foundation for ensuring golden harvests for our hard working farmers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020</h3>
<p><strong>Feature</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Aims to provide for a national framework on farming agreements that protects and empowers farmers to engage with agri-business firms, processors, wholesalers, exporters or large retailers for farm services</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Level playing field:</strong> The new legislation will empower farmers for engaging with <strong>processors, wholesalers, aggregators, wholesalers, large retailers, exporters</strong> etc., on a level playing field without any fear of exploitation.</li>
<li><strong>Transfers the risk:</strong> It will transfer the risk of market unpredictability from the farmer to the sponsor and also enable the farmer to access modern technology and better inputs.</li>
<li><strong>Attracts private sector:</strong> This legislation will act as a catalyst to attract private sector investment for building supply chains for supply of Indian farm produce to national and global markets, and in agricultural infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Eliminates intermediaries:</strong> Farmers will engage in direct marketing thereby eliminating intermediaries resulting in full realization of price.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Amendments to Essential Commodities Act (1955)</h3>
<p><strong>Background</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India has become surplus in most agri-commodities but farmers have been unable to get better prices due to lack of investment in cold storage, processing and export.</li>
<li>The imposition of the curbs on stocking of farm produce and regulation of the prices of commodities, etc. under<a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/14-03-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Essential Commodities Act (ECA)</strong> </a>are some of factors responsible for less entrepreneurial spirit and thus less investment in the farm sector.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Benefits of Amendments</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The amendment would deregulate the commodities such as cereals, edible oils, oilseeds, pulses, onions and potatoes. It will help to lessen the fears of private investors of excessive regulatory interference in their business operations.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Any limits under ECA over these commodities will be imposed only in exceptional circumstances such as war, famine, extraordinary price rise and natural calamity.</li>
<li>The freedom to produce, hold, move, distribute and supply will lead to harnessing economies of scale and attract private sector/foreign direct investment into the agriculture sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will help drive up investment in cold storages and modernization of the food supply chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The amendment is expected to help both farmers and consumers while bringing in price stability.</li>
<li>It will also create a competitive market environment and also prevent wastage of agri-produce that happens due to lack of storage facilities.</li>
<li>It is considered as a step towards transformation of agriculture and raising farmers&rsquo; income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Significance of these Acts</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The reforms are expected to <strong>accelerate growth</strong> in the sector through private sector investment in building infrastructure and supply chains for farm produce in national and global markets.</li>
<li>They are intended to <strong>help small farmers</strong> who don&rsquo;t have means to either bargain for their produce to get a better price or invest in technology to improve the productivity of farms.</li>
<li>The legislation on <strong>contract farming</strong> will allow farmers to enter into a contract with agri-business firms or large retailers on pre-agreed prices of their produce.</li>
<li>It will also help farmers of regions with surplus produce to <strong>get better prices</strong> and consumers of regions with shortages, lower prices.</li>
<li>It will promote the creation of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Farmer Producer Organisations</a> (FPO)</strong> on a large scale and will help in creating a farmer-friendly environment for contract farming where small players can benefit.</li>
<li><strong>Competition</strong> is the best protector of stakeholders whether it is consumer or the farmers. Having a variety of buyers will protect farmers from exploitation and by having more sellers (farmers), consumers can buy better products at better deals.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Farmers Protest and Issues Involved</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Federal Angle:</strong> The provisions in the Farmers&rsquo; Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, provides for unfettered commerce in designated trade areas outside APMC jurisdictions.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, the Act empowers the Centre government to issue orders to States in furtherance of the law&rsquo;s objectives.</li>
<li>However, matters of trade and agriculture being the part of subjects on the State list, have caused resentment in States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Lack of Consultation:</strong> First the ordinance route and now the hastily attempt to pass the Acts without proper consultation adds to the mistrust among various stakeholders including farmers.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Also, by allowing &lsquo;trade zones&rsquo; to come up outside the APMC area, farmers have become apprehensive that the new system would lead to eventual exit from the minimum support price.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis:</strong> Another issue that is raised by the farmers is that it gives the preference for corporate interests at the cost of farmers&rsquo; interests.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>In absence of any regulation in non-APMC mandis, the farmers may find it difficult to deal with Corporates, as they solely operate on the motive of profit seeking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Non-Favourable Market Conditions:</strong> While retail prices have remained high, data from the <a href="/pdf/inflation-in-india.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wholesale Price Index (WPI)</strong> </a>suggest a deceleration in farm gate prices for most agricultural produce.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>With rising input costs, farmers do not see the free market based framework providing them remunerative prices.</li>
<li>These fears gain strength with the experience of States such as Bihar which abolished APMCs in 2006. After the abolition of mandis, farmers in Bihar on average received lower prices compared to the MSP for most crops.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact on Stakeholders</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Farmers:</strong> The farmer is now the producer and the seller of his own produce and will be free to enter into agreement with private trade directly.</li>
<li><strong>Consumers:</strong> The consumers would now get the produce as much lower costs.</li>
<li><strong>Middlemen:</strong> Although the role of middlemen is not going to end completely, their hold on the trade will not be as strong.</li>
<li><strong>State governments:</strong> The state govt. of states such as Punjab and Haryana will be adversely affected as there will be a huge loss in annual revenue collection.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The above mentioned legislation basically aims at creating <strong>additional trading opportunities</strong> outside the APMC market yards to help farmers get remunerative prices due to additional competition.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It proposes an <strong>electronic trading</strong> in transaction platform for ensuring a seamless trade electronically.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>None of the legislation affects the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Minimum Support Price</strong></a> in any way as the MSP is an administrative decision not a law.</li>
<li>Agricultural Produce &amp; Market Committee (APMC) will still be available as a choice to sell their products.</li>
<li>The sale, lease or mortgage of farmers&rsquo; land is totally prohibited and farmers&rsquo; land is also protected against any recovery.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Improve Agricultural Infrastructure to Strengthen Competition:</strong> Government should massively fund the expansion of the APMC market system, make efforts to remove trade cartels, and provide farmers good roads, logistics of scale and real time information.</li>
<li><strong>Empowering State Farmers Commissions:</strong> Rather than opting for heavy centralisation, the emphasis should be on empowering farmers through State Farmers Commissions recommended by the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-agriculture-farmers-welfare" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Commission for Farmers</strong></a>, to bring about a speedy government response to issues.</li>
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	(int) 19 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6713,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Need For MSP Reforms',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/farm-bills-2020-india-farmers-msp-price-coronavirus-modi-govt-6721272/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;MSP in the age of surplus&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Indian Express on 12/10/2020. It talks about the need for reforms in the current MSP regime.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-agriculture-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>three new farm laws were passed by the parliament</strong></a> to increase the relative role of markets without dismantling the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> MSP (Minimum Support Prices) system.</strong> </a>These laws meet widespread protest from the farming community, especially in Punjab and Haryana.</p>
<p>Fearing the government will do away with the MSP is the bone of contention behind these protests. Farmers want higher and assured income through effective MSP, while the government is offering greater choices to farmers through markets, without demolishing the existing MSP system.</p>
<p>Further, Indian agriculture has, since the <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-97#:~:text=A%20large%20increase%20in%20crop,land%20using%20new%20farming%20techniques." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Green Revolution</strong></a>, turned the corner from scarcity to surplus. In a surplus agrarian economy, unless a greater role for markets is allowed, the MSP route will continue to drain public exchequer.</p>
<p>Hence, in order to achieve the target of doubling the farmer&rsquo;s income, there is a need to reform the MSP system, make agriculture demand-driven and invest in agricultural infrastructure.</p>
<h3>Need for Reforms in MSP Regime</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>MSPs in Favour of Paddy and Wheat:</strong> Skewed MSP dominated system of rice and wheat leads to overproduction of these crops. This can be seen in the stocks for wheat and rice with the government are way above the buffer stock norms.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it discourages farmers to grow other crops and horticulture products, which has higher demand and subsequently can lead to increase in farmers income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economically Unsustainable:</strong> The economic cost of procured rice comes to about Rs 37/kg and that of wheat is around Rs 27/kg. However, market prices of rice and wheat are much lower than the economic cost incurred by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/fci-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Corporation of India (FCI).</strong></a>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this, the FCI&rsquo;s economic burden is touching Rs 3 lakh crore.</li>
<li>This amount eventually will have to be borne by the Union government and may subsequently lead to divergence of funds from being invested in agriculture infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Market-Driven System in the Non-Farm Sector:</strong> Milk and poultry don&rsquo;t have MSP and pricing is done by the company in consultation with milk federations, not by the government.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to this, milk farmers do not have to go through the mandi system paying high commissions, market fees and cess.</li>
<li>Further, these cooperatives compete with multinational private companies like Nestle, Hatsun which ultimately benefits in augmenting farmers' income.</li>
<li>Moreover, private companies also invest in rural infrastructure.</li>
<li>Due to combined effects of these factors, the milk sector has been growing at a rate two to three times higher than rice, wheat and sugarcane.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Restriction in Exports:</strong> Even after producing surplus grains, every year a huge portion of these grains gets rotten. This is due to the restrictions under <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-trade-organisation-wto" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WTO norms</strong></a>, that grain stocks with the FCI (being heavily subsidized due to MSP) cannot be exported.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pursuing Cooperative Federalism:</strong> Agriculture is a State subject in the Constitution, listed as Entry 14 in the State List (List II).
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Apart from this, entry 26 in List II refers to &ldquo;trade and commerce within the State&rdquo;; entry 27 refers to &ldquo;production, supply and distribution of goods&rdquo;; and entry 28 refers to &ldquo;markets and fairs&rdquo;.</li>
<li>For these reasons, intra-State marketing in agriculture was always considered a legislative prerogative of States.</li>
<li>However, there is a case to argue that the current three farm legislations, have poor legal validity and may weaken federalism.</li>
<li>Therefore, any reform pertaining to agriculture and farmer&rsquo;s income must come up after consultation with the states.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Changing the Pricing Mix:</strong> Government must come up with a suitable transition to agricultural pricing policy, whereby partial agricultural pricing should be state-supported and partially market-driven.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One way to do this, could be a deficiency payments scheme along the lines of the <strong>Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana (BBY)</strong> initiated by Madhya Pradesh.</li>
<li>In this scheme, the government rather than procuring from farmers, compensates farmers with cash transfers when the market price falls below MSP.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Strengthening FPO:</strong> With the changes brought the recent farm legislation, it is expected that many companies will be encouraged to build efficient supply lines somewhat on the lines of milk.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, there is a genuine demand for protection of farmers from ruthless market orientation for Profit.</li>
<li>Thus, there is a need for strengthening of <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-76#:~:text=Farmer%20Producer%20Organisation%20(FPO)%20is,profits%2Fbenefits%20among%20the%20members." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmers Producer Organisations</strong> </a>(FPOs), this will increase bargaining power of farmers on one hand and provide a suitable investment climate on the other.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Agriculture lies at the backbone of Indian economy. Therefore, more sustainable solutions lie in augmenting productivity, diversifying to high-value crops, and shifting people out of agriculture to the high productivity sector.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602499486_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602499486_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="635" height="603" /></a></p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #ebf3ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>In an agrarian economy, unless a greater role for markets is allowed, the MSP route will continue to drain public exchequer. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sUN2eEpROwg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>
<p>This editorial is based on <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/trouble-in-the-air-120100801708_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Trouble in the air&rdquo;</strong> </a>which was published in The Business Standard on October 8<sup>th</sup>,2020. Now watch this on our Youtube channel.</p>',
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include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/rightsection.ctp, line 115
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Element/articlebox.ctp, line 5
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::_renderElement() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1554
Cake\View\View::element() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 668
include - ROOT/plugins/Drishti/src/Template/Articles/tags.ctp, line 61
Cake\View\View::_evaluate() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1196
Cake\View\View::_render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 1157
Cake\View\View::render() - CORE/src/View/View.php, line 765
Cake\Controller\Controller::render() - CORE/src/Controller/Controller.php, line 623
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 125
Cake\Http\ActionDispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/src/Http/ActionDispatcher.php, line 93

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