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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 Resources
El Niño & Drought

Why in News In a recent study by Indian Institute of Science’s (IISc) Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (CAOS), it has been found...

14 Dec 2020 Agricultural Resources
Lakshadweep Declared an Organic Union Territory

Why in News Entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an organic agricultural area under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of...

09 Dec 2020 Agricultural Resources
Evaluation of National Monsoon Mission

Why in News Recently, the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) has evaluated the economic benefits of the National Monsoon Mission...

04 Nov 2020 Agricultural Resources
Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging

Why in News Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved that 100% of the foodgrains and 20% of...

30 Oct 2020 Agricultural Resources
Report on Food Consumption: WWF

Why in News Recently, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has published the report “Bending the Curve: The Restorative Power of Planet-Based...

17 Oct 2020 Agricultural Resources
World Food Day

Why in News World Food Day is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on 16th...

17 Oct 2020 Agricultural Resources
Wheat Variety MACS 6478

Why in News The wheat variety called MACS 6478 has doubled the crop yield for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra. Key...

16 Oct 2020 Agricultural Resources
Session on Precision Agriculture

Why in News Recently, a session on “Sensors and Sensing for Precision Agriculture” was organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural...

07 Oct 2020 Agricultural Resources
World Bamboo Day

Why in News World Bamboo Day is celebrated every year on 18th September. Theme of 2020: Bamboo Now Key Points World Bamboo Day : It was...

19 Sep 2020 Agricultural Resources
Organic Farming in India

Why in News India ranks 1st in number of organic farmers and 9th in terms of area under organic farming. Key Points Indian Scenario Regarding...

21 Aug 2020 Agricultural Resources
Flood Resistant Paddy: Assam

Why in News Recently, farmers from Golaghat district in Assam have cultivated new flood resistant paddy varieties to shift from the traditional...

13 Jul 2020 Agricultural Resources
Nuclear Power Plants in India

Why in News Recently, the government provided details related to various nuclear power plants in the country. Presently, India has 22 operating...

13 Mar 2020 Agricultural Resources
Pesticide Management In India

This article is based on “Pesticide Management Bill 2020 must address important concerns” which was published in Down To Earth on...

17 Feb 2020 Agricultural Resources
Pesticides Management Bill, 2020

Why in News The Pesticides Management Bill, 2020 has been approved by the Union Cabinet. The Bill will regulate the business of pesticides and...

13 Feb 2020 Agricultural Resources
Cauvery Delta Declared as a Protected Special Agriculture Zone

Why in News The Tamil Nadu government has declared the Cauvery delta region as a Protected Special Agriculture Zone. The protected zone includes...

12 Feb 2020 Agricultural Resources
Soil Health Card Scheme

Why in News According to the National Productivity Council (NPC), the Soil Health Card scheme has led to a decline of 8-10% in the use of chemical...

06 Feb 2020 Agricultural Resources
Yellow Rust

Why in News In sub-mountainous parts of Punjab and Haryana, yellow rust disease has been detected in the wheat crop which has raised concerns among...

30 Jan 2020 Agricultural Resources
India’s Cotton Story

This article is based on “The flawed spin to India’s cotton story” which was published in The Hindu on 23/01/2020. It highlights...

24 Jan 2020 Agricultural Resources
Organic Turmeric to Weed Out Marijuana in Malkangiri

Why in News Recently, the Malkangiri district administration, Odisha has initiated a project to divert the region’s tribals from illegal...

14 Jan 2020 Agricultural Resources

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		'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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		'title' => 'El Niño & Drought',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>In a recent study by<strong> Indian Institute of Science&rsquo;s</strong> (IISc) <strong>Centre for Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences</strong> (CAOS), it has been found that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/el-nino-forecast-for-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong></a> was <strong>not the only cause for droughts</strong> during the Summer <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Monsoon</strong></a> in the Indian Subcontinent.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o</strong> is a recurring climate event during which<strong> abnormally warm equatorial Pacific waters pull moisture-laden clouds</strong> away from the <strong>Indian subcontinent.</strong></li>
<li>It is the usual <strong>suspect</strong> for <strong>failing Indian summer monsoons</strong> between <strong>June and September.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of the Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>43% of the droughts that occurred during the Indian summer monsoon season in the past century may have been driven by <strong>atmospheric disturbances</strong> from the <strong>North Atlantic region.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These<strong> droughts</strong> that India faced occurred during years <strong>when El Ni&ntilde;o was absent.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cause of these Drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sudden and steep drop in rainfall in late August that was linked to an <strong>atmospheric disturbance in the mid-latitude region over the North Atlantic Ocean,</strong> creating a <strong>pattern of atmospheric currents</strong> that move over the indian subcontinent and <strong>&ldquo;derail&rdquo; the monsoon.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Change in Drought Pattern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>El Ni&ntilde;o year drought:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> rainfall deficit</strong> begins <strong>mid-June</strong> and spreads throughout the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Normal year Drought Condition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is normal rainfall during the monsoon season but a <strong>sudden and steep decline was observed in August.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Causes for this August decline:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An unusual <strong>atmospheric disturbance</strong> in the<strong> mid-latitudes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The middle latitudes are spatial regions on Earth <strong>located between the latitudes 23&deg; and 66&deg; north.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The disturbance emerges from<strong> winds in the upper atmosphere</strong> interacting with a <strong>cyclonic circulation</strong> above abnormally<strong> cold North Atlantic waters.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The resulting wave of air currents, called<strong> a Rossby wave, moves from the North Atlantic</strong> towards the<strong> Tibetan plateau</strong> and <strong>hits the Indian subcontinent </strong>around<strong> mid-August, suppressing rainfall and causing drought-like conditions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Atmospheric Circulations that Impact Monsoon</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the<strong> difference in sea surface temperature between two areas</strong> (or poles, hence a dipole) &ndash; a western pole in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean) and an <strong>eastern pole</strong> in the eastern Indian Ocean <strong>south of Indonesia.</strong></li>
<li>IOD develops in the equatorial region of Indian Ocean<strong> from April to May</strong> peaking in October.</li>
<li>With a <strong>positive IOD</strong> winds over the Indian Ocean blow from east to west (from Bay of Bengal towards Arabian Sea). This results in the <strong>Arabian Sea</strong> (western Indian Ocean near African Coast) being much <strong>warmer and eastern Indian Ocean around Indonesia becoming colder and dry.</strong></li>
<li>In the <strong>negative dipole</strong> year (negative IOD), <strong>reverse happens</strong> making Indonesia much warmer and rainier.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930138_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Dipole effect:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was demonstrated that a <strong>positive IOD index</strong> often negated the effect of El Nino, resulting in increased Monsoon rains in several El Nino years like the 1983, 1994 and 1997.</li>
<li>Two poles of the IOD &ndash; the<strong> eastern pole</strong> (around Indonesia) and the <strong>western pole</strong> (off the African coast) were independently and cumulatively affecting the quantity of rains for the Monsoon in the Indian subcontinent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Impact of IOD on<strong> Cyclogenesis</strong> in Northern Indian Ocean:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Positive IOD (Arabian Sea warmer than Bay of Bengal) results in <strong>more cyclones than usual in Arabian Sea.</strong></li>
<li>Negative IOD results in<strong> stronger than usual <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tropical Cyclones</a></strong> in the Bay of Bengal. Cyclonic activity in Arabian Sea is <strong>suppressed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Madden&ndash;Julian Oscillation (MJO), is an eastward <strong>moving band of rain clouds</strong> that travels around the globe spanning 12,000&ndash;20,000 km across the tropical oceans returning to its initial starting point in 30 to 60 days.</li>
<li>In its journey, it interacts with<strong> surface waters</strong> of the Indo-Pacific ocean, the <strong>largest pool of warm water in the globe.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607930099_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>The MJO consists of two parts, or phases: one is the <strong>enhanced rainfall</strong> (or convective) phase and the other is the <strong>suppressed rainfall phase.</strong></li>
<li>Strong MJO activity often<strong> dissects the planet into halves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One half within the<strong> enhanced convective phase</strong> and the other half in <strong>the suppressed convective phase.</strong> These two phases produce opposite changes in clouds and rainfall and this entire dipole propagates eastward.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Effects of MJO on global weather phenomenon:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can modulate the<strong> timing and strength of monsoons.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> Influences tropical cyclone</strong> numbers and strength in nearly all ocean basins.</li>
<li>It can result in <strong>jet stream changes</strong> that can lead to cold air outbreaks, extreme heat events, and flooding rains over the United States and North America.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/43-indian-droughts-influenced-by-north-atlantic-air-currents/articleshow/79673081.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TOI</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'Lakshadweep Declared an Organic Union Territory',
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<p>Entire Lakshadweep group of islands has been declared as an<strong> organic agricultural area</strong> under the <strong>Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) of India.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Participatory Guarantee System</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PGS is a process of <strong>certifying organic products,</strong> which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with <strong>laid-down quality standards.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The certification is in the form of a<strong> documented logo or a statement.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is implemented by the<strong> Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare.</strong></li>
<li>It is <strong>only for farmers or communities</strong> that can <strong>organise and perform as a group within a village or a cluster of contiguous villages,</strong> and is applicable only to farm activities such as crop production, processing, and livestock rearing, and off-farm processing &ldquo;by PGS farmers of their direct products&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lakshadweep is the <strong>first Union Territory</strong> to become <strong>100%</strong> organic as all farming is carried out <strong>without the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, providing access to safer food choices</strong> and making agriculture a more environmentally-friendly activity.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Earlier in 2016, <strong>Sikkim</strong> became India&rsquo;s first<strong> &ldquo;100 percent organic&rdquo;</strong> State.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The entire 32 square kilometre geographical land area of the UT was declared as organic after receiving required certifications and declarations under Centre&rsquo;s <strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (organic farming improvement programme).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Background:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Earlier, the UT administration had imposed a formal <strong>uniform ban on sale, use and entry of synthetic chemicals for agriculture purposes</strong> from October 2017 onwards to make the islands a<strong> chemical-free zone.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Better marketing of <strong>organic products</strong> such as desiccated coconut and coconut milk.</li>
<li>The organic tag will allow farmers to realize a premium for the farm produce.</li>
<li>The island&rsquo;s coconut farmers are also expected to benefit from the Union government&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;One District One Product&rsquo;</strong></a> programme of food processing. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under it the entire island is being considered as a<strong> single district</strong> and coconut oil has been identified as the <strong>product.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cropping Pattern:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Coconut is the <strong>only major crop</strong> on the islands and remains <strong>idle for six months.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The coconut processing industry works only for about six months. The period between <strong>May and December sees the industry come to a standstill.</strong></li>
<li>The island administration plans to <strong>introduce dryers and other machinery to utilise the nuts</strong> even during this standstill period.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Organic Farming</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to FSSAI, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-farming-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&rsquo;organic farming&rsquo;</strong></a> is a<strong> system of farm design</strong> and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production <strong>without the use of synthetic external inputs such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Various Government Initiatives to promote Organic Farming:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme promotes cluster based organic farming with certification. Cluster formation, training, certification and marketing are supported under the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region (MOVCDNER):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme promotes <strong>3<sup>rd</sup> party certified organic farming</strong> of niche crops of the north east region <strong>through Farmers Producer organizations (FPOs)</strong> with focus on exports.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Capital investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) under Soil Health Management Scheme:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>100% assistance is provided to State Government/Government agencies for setting up of mechanized fruit/vegetable market waste/agro waste compost production unit.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial [email protected] 50% subsidy to the tune of Rs. 300/ha is being provided for different components including <strong>bio-fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Food Security Mission (NFSM):</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Financial assistance is provided <strong>for promotion of Bio-Fertilizer.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Lakshadweep</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s <strong>smallest Union Territory,</strong> Lakshadweep is an archipelago consisting of<strong> 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.</strong></li>
<li><strong>There are three main group of islands:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Amindivi Islands</li>
<li>Laccadive Islands</li>
<li>Minicoy Island.</li>
<li>Amindivi Islands are the northernmost while the Minicoy island is the southernmost.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>All are tiny islands of<strong> coral origin (Atoll)</strong> and are surrounded by fringing reefs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Capital is <strong>Kavaratti</strong> and it is also the principal town of the UT.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607499711_image%200.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1607499711_image 0.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/lakshadweep-to-augment-value-addition-to-expand-coconut-business/article33272052.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6917,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Evaluation of National Monsoon Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Council of Applied Economic Research</strong> (NCAER) has <strong>evaluated the economic benefits</strong> of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/monsoon-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong> </a>(NMM).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Established in <strong>1956,</strong> NCAER is India&rsquo;s <strong>oldest and largest independent, non-profit, economic policy research institute,</strong> based in <strong>New Delhi.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The study spanned<strong> across 173 rain-fed districts </strong>in <strong>16 states</strong> which appropriately represented agro-climatic zones, rain-fed areas, coverage of major crops, and incidence of extreme weather events in the country. It was conducted on behalf of the<strong> Ministry of Earth Sciences</strong> (MoES).</li>
<li>The study refers to <strong>economic benefits as direct monetary gains to crop farmers, livestock rearers, and fishermen</strong> in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s investment of nearly <strong>Rs. 1,000 crore</strong> in the NMM and <strong>High-Performance Computing</strong> (HPC)<strong> facilities</strong> would provide benefits worth Rs. 50,000 crore to nearly 1.07 crore <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/poverty-9#:~:text=Poverty%20Estimation%20in%20India&amp;text=A%20poor%20household%20is%20defined,below%20a%20specific%20poverty%20line.&amp;text=As%20per%20the%20Rangarajan%20committee,972%20in%20rural%20areas." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Below Poverty Line</strong> </a>(BPL) agricultural households and 53 lakh BPL fisherfolk households in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The<strong> total annual economic benefits</strong> to agricultural households, farmers and livestock owners taken together, has been calculated at<strong> Rs. 13,331 crore</strong> and the<strong> incremental benefits over the next five years</strong> are estimated to be about<strong> Rs. 48,056 crore.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The benefits are from accurate weather forecasting by the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-warming-trends" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> India Meteorological Department</strong> </a>(IMD) and other agencies working under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Agro-meteorological services</strong> for farmers is one of the most prominent weather services of IMD.</li>
<li>Every day Ocean <strong>State Forecast</strong> (OSF) and <strong>warnings</strong> to fishermen going out to the sea by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-national-centre-for-ocean-information-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services</strong> </a>(INCOIS) helped in<strong> elimination of less or not so productive trips</strong> to the ocean.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/isro-s-assistance-in-fishing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories</strong> </a>resulted in successful trips generating additional catches.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Analysis of the Benefits:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on weather advisories, <strong>98% farmers made modifications</strong> such as changing variety/breed of the crop, arranging storage of harvest, early/delayed harvesting, changed crop, early/delayed sowing, changed the schedule of ploughing/land preparation, changed pesticide application schedule, changed fertiliser application schedule and changed scheduled irrigation.</li>
<li><strong>94% of farmers</strong> were able to<strong> avoid losses and increase income</strong> because of services provided through NMM.</li>
<li><strong>82% of fishermen</strong> surveyed, reported <strong>using OSF advisories</strong> before they venture into the sea every time.</li>
<li>A total of approximately Rs 1.92 crore additional income was generated from<strong> 1,079 successful fishing expeditions made using PFZ advisories.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Monsoon Mission</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched by the <strong>Ministry of Earth Sciences in 2012.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To improve the forecasting skills by setting up a state-of-the-art dynamic prediction system for monsoon rainfall different time scales.</li>
<li>NMM builds a<strong> working partnership between the academic and research and development</strong> (R&amp;D) <strong>organisations,</strong> both<strong> national and international.</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>augmentation with the HPC facilities</strong> has helped the country in achieving a paradigm shift in weather and climate modelling for operational weather forecasts.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/accurate-forecast-helps-farmers-fishermen-save-crores-survey-6932971/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6882,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs,</strong> chaired by the Prime Minister, has approved that <strong>100% of the foodgrains and 20% of the sugar</strong> shall be <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/packaging-in-jute-bags-made-mandatory" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>mandatorily packed</strong></a> <strong>in jute bags.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The decision will give an impetus to the diversification of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>jute</strong></a> industry.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Extended Norms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision mandates that<strong> initially 10% of the orders of jute bags</strong> for packing food grains would be placed through a reverse auction on the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/country-of-origin-made-mandatory-on-gem" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GeM portal</strong></a>, which will gradually help in a regime of price discovery.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In a <strong>reverse auction,</strong> the sellers compete to obtain business from the buyer and prices will typically decrease as the sellers underbid each other.</li>
<li><strong>Price discovery</strong> is the process of determining the price of an asset in the marketplace through the interactions of buyers and sellers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Statutory Provision:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Government has expanded the scope of mandatory packaging norms under the<strong> Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act, 1987, </strong>also known as the<strong> JPM Act.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under it, the Government is <strong>required to consider and provide for the compulsory use of jute packaging material</strong> in the supply and distribution of certain commodities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Dependent Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The jute industry is <strong>predominantly dependent on the Government sector</strong> which purchases jute bags of value of more than Rs. 7,500 crore every year for packing foodgrains.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is done in order <strong>to sustain the core demand</strong> for the jute sector and to <strong>support the livelihood of the workers and farmers</strong> dependent on the sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nearly 3.7 lakh workers and several lakh farm families are dependent</strong> for their livelihood on the jute sectors so the government has been making <strong>concerted efforts for the development of the jute sector by:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increasing the quality and productivity of raw jute.</li>
<li>Diversifying the jute sector.</li>
<li>Boosting and sustaining demand for jute products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The move will benefit farmers and workers located in the <strong>Eastern and North-Eastern regions</strong> of the country particularly in the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya and Tripura.</li>
<li>The reservation norms in the present proposal would <strong>further the interest of domestic production</strong> of raw jute and jute packaging material in India, thereby, making India self-reliant in consonance with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Government Initiatives for Promoting Jute Industry</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Jute-Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting Exercise:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Jute ICARE aims to<strong> improve the productivity and quality of raw jute.</strong></li>
<li>Under it, the Government is <strong>disseminating improved agronomic practices</strong> such as line sowing using seed drills, distribution of quality certified seeds, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jute SMART:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>e-govt initiative</strong> which was launched in <strong>December 2016 to promote transparency</strong> in the jute sector.</li>
<li>It provides an integrated platform for procurement of sacking by Government agencies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Definitive Anti-Dumping Duty:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been<strong> imposed on import of jute goods from Bangladesh and Nepal</strong> with effect from 5<sup>th</sup> January 2017 to protect the domestic sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plants and Machinery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Launched in<strong> 2013,</strong> it aims to<strong> facilitate modernisation in existing and new jute mills</strong> and up- gradation of technology in existing jute mills.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Collaboration between the National Jute Board and the National Institute of Design:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It aims to support the diversification of the jute sector through a<strong> Jute Design Cell.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Jute Board under the Ministry of Textiles, acts as the apex body</strong> for the promotion of the products in India and abroad.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Jute is included</strong> in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-raised-for-rabi-crops" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></a> (MSP) regime of the country.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Jute</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604050944_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1604050944_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="550" caption="false" /></strong></a></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>Top Jute Producing States:</strong> West Bengal &gt; Bihar &gt; Assam &gt; Andhra Pradesh &gt; Odisha.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is mainly concentrated in eastern India because of the rich alluvial soil of Ganga-Brahmaputra delta.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The world's <strong>largest jute producing countries </strong>are <strong>India, Bangladesh, China and Thailand.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>India is the world's largest producer</strong> of raw jute and jute goods, contributing to over 50% and 40% respectively of global production.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is known as the <strong>golden fibre</strong> because it is one of the longest and most used natural fibre for various textile applications.</li>
<li>It is<strong> used in making</strong> gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.</li>
<li>Due to its high cost, it is<strong> losing market to synthetic fibres and packing materials,</strong> particularly nylon.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1668402" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 5 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6771,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Report on Food Consumption: WWF',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Wildlife Fund</strong></a> (WWF) has published the report<strong> &ldquo;Bending the Curve: The Restorative Power of Planet-Based Diets&rdquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report offered a <strong>detailed analysis of food consumption patterns</strong> in 147 countries and six regions and the <strong>national dietary guidelines</strong> (NDGs) across 75 countries. For each country and region, the impacts of diets were <strong>assessed on various environmental and health indicators.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Food consumption patterns vary widely</strong> and can best be characterised by <strong>massive inequality.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Different consumption patterns are observed in the richest and poorest countries,</strong> with European countries consuming approximately 600 grams per day more food (1,800 g/day) than African countries (1,200 g/day).</li>
<li>Although <strong>under-nutrition and obesity affect almost all countries,</strong> the rate of underweight people is up to 10 times higher in the poorest countries as compared to other countries.</li>
<li>The rate of overweight/obese people is up to five times higher in the richest countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Premature deaths</strong> in low- and middle-income countries <strong>due to unhealthy diets, under-consumption</strong> as well as<strong> over-consumption.</strong></li>
<li>India needs to be extra careful in figuring out the changes in the diet because there could be an <strong>increase in biodiversity loss</strong> due to a shift to a healthier and planet-friendly diet and <strong>extensively increased consumption.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The country has to<strong> first increase consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy</strong> to meet its nutritional requirements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggestions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a need to strike a <strong>balance in how countries consume their food as well as a shift to a plant-based diet</strong> which is the need of the hour.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this dietary <strong>shift will impact different countries differently.</strong> While some countries will need to reduce their consumption of animal-source foods, others may need to increase them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The shift will not only<strong> improve human health by preventing over-consumption</strong> of any food but will also<strong> reverse the biological loss</strong> that has occurred until now and improve environmental health.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The shift to more plant-based diets will <strong>cut down carbon emissions</strong> by 30%, wildlife loss by 46%, agriculture land use by 41% and premature deaths by 20%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>sustainable environment and human health can be achieved</strong> by following a few<strong> lifestyle changes</strong> that include <strong>eating foods which are:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More sustainable.</li>
<li>More plant-based food and less animal-based.</li>
<li>Healthy and locally grown and minimally processed.</li>
<li>More diverse instead of just one kind.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Countries <strong>should not solely depend on the domestic production and biodiversity-rich countries,</strong> including India, <strong>should import</strong> food from higher-yielding and less biodiverse nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>New Launch:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The WWF has launched a new platform known as <strong>Planet-Based Diets Impact and Action Calculator.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>One can calculate their consumption and <strong>find out the impact caused by their diet on the environment.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The platform <strong>also shows national level impacts.</strong> This will <strong>help people living anywhere in the world to make a conscious decision</strong> by finding out if their diet is good for them as well as their environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/food/world-food-day-plant-based-diet-can-fix-food-inequality-cut-premature-deaths-says-report-73831#:~:text=But%20by%20just%20shifting%20the,environmental%20loss%2C%20the%20report%20added" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6770,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Food Day',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-food-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Day</strong></a> is celebrated to commemorate the establishment of the United Nation's <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-22nd-march-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food and Agriculture Organisation</strong></a> (FAO) on<strong> 16<sup>th</sup> October 1945.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Prime Minister of India released a <strong>commemorative coin of Rs. 75 denomination</strong> to mark the<strong> 75<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of the FAO.</strong></li>
<li>FAO is a <strong>specialised agency of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong> that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About World Food Day:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is observed <strong>annually on 16<sup>th</sup> October</strong> to address the problem of global hunger.</li>
<li>It emphasises on the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal 2</strong></a> (SDG 2) i.e. <strong>Zero Hunger.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2020:</strong> &ldquo;Grow, Nourish, Sustain. Together.&rdquo;<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There has been a renewed focus on food, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-nutrition-problem" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nutrition</strong></a>, health, immunity and sustainability due to the unprecedented challenges posed by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coronavirus-disease-named-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Covid-19 </strong></a><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/covid-19-now-pandemic-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pandemic</a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>75<sup>th</sup> Anniversary of FAO:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Over the years, FAO has <strong>helped to increase agricultural production and eradicate hunger all over the world,</strong> including India and has played an important role in increasing nutrition.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nobel-prize-for-peace-2020#:~:text=The%202020%20Nobel%20Peace%20Prize,weapon%20of%20war%20and%20conflict." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>2020's Nobel Peace Prize</strong> </a>to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-crisis-amid-covid-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Food Programme</strong></a> is also a major achievement for the FAO as the programme was started by FAO.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Context:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FAO has closely watched <strong>India's fight against <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malnutrition</a></strong> in the past decades but its scope had many constraints.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Due to reasons such as</strong> pregnancy at a young age, lack of education and information, inadequate access to drinking water, lack of cleanliness, etc. <strong>India is lagging behind in achieving the expected results</strong> of <strong>&ldquo;malnutrition free India&rdquo;</strong> by <strong>2022,</strong> envisaged under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/challenges-in-national-nutrition-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Nutrition Mission</strong></a> (POSHAN Abhiyaan).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>FAO <strong>supported India's proposal to declare 2023</strong> as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2023-is-the-international-year-of-millets-fao" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Year of Millets.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The move will <strong>encourage intake of nutritious food, increase their availability</strong> further and <strong>benefit small and medium farmers</strong> who mostly grow coarse grains on their land where there is a problem of water and the land is not so fertile.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Highlighted Indian Initiatives</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/food-safety-mitra-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Eat Right India</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/fit-india-movement#:~:text=The%20Prime%20Minister%20on%20the,player%20Major%20Dhyan%20Chand%20Singh." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Fit India Movement</strong></a> along with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/jal-jeevan-mission-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Jal Jeevan Mission</strong></a> and other efforts will improve the health of Indians and heal the environment.</li>
<li><strong>Introduction of 17 new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/an-innovative-method-for-boosting-nutrition" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biofortified varieties</a> of crops</strong> to overcome the shortcomings of the common variety of crops which lacks important micronutrients.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Example: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macs-4028-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>MACS 4028 Wheat</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/madhuban-gajar-biofortified-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Madhuban Gajar</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased ambit and effective implementation</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/inclusion-of-the-disabled-in-national-food-security-act-2013" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Security Act, 2013.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agricultural-sector-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amendments</strong> </a>to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>APMC (agricultural produce market committee) Acts</strong> </a>to make them more competitive.</li>
<li>Steps to ensure that farmers get one and a half times the cost as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price</strong></a> (MSP), which along with the government procurement, is an important part of ensuring the country's food security.</li>
<li>Development of a large network of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations</strong> </a>(FPOs).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/essential-commodities-amendment-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Amendments in the Essential Commodities Act, 1955</strong> </a>to deal with the issue of grain wastage in India.</li>
<li>Government is making efforts to <strong>make India Trans Fat free by 2022,</strong> a year ahead of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Health Organisation</strong></a> (WHO) target, in synergy with the vision of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/strategy-for-new-india-75" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> New India @75</strong></a> (75 years of India&rsquo;s independence).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/guidelines-for-reduction-of-trans-fatty-acids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Trans Fat</strong></a> is a <strong>food toxin</strong> present in <strong>Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils</strong> (PHVOs) (e.g. vanaspati, shortening, margarine, etc.), baked and fried foods.</li>
<li>It is a major <strong>contributor to the rise in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/non-communicable-diseases-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">non-communicable diseases</a></strong> in India and also a modifiable risk factor for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/higher-mortality-from-cardio-vascular-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cardiovascular diseases</strong></a> (CVD). Eliminating CVD risk factor is especially relevant during Covid-19 as <strong>people with CVD are predisposed to have serious conditions having</strong> an impact on mortality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1665119" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6753,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Wheat Variety MACS 6478',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>wheat variety</strong> called <strong>MACS 6478</strong> has <strong>doubled the crop yield</strong> for farmers in Karanjkhop, a village in Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Developed By:</strong> Scientists from <strong>Agharkar Research Institute (ARI), Pune-</strong> an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).</li>
<li><strong>Features:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1602831584_image1.png" style="float: right;" caption="false" width="256" height="254" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>common wheat or bread wheat</strong> <em>(Triticum aestivum).</em><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Other popular wheat varieties are<strong> durum wheat</strong> <em>(T. durum)</em> and <strong>club wheat</strong> <em>(T. compactum).</em></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hybrid Crop,</strong> i.e. produced by the cross-breeding of two genetically different varieties or species. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties (not genetically modified).</li>
<li><strong>Matures in 110 days</strong> and is <strong>resistant to</strong> most races of<strong> leaf and stem rust.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is <strong>against the normal maturing attained after 140 to 150 days,</strong> required for wheat varieties cultivated commonly in northern India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This<strong> amber colored medium sized grain</strong> contains <strong>14% protein, 44.1 ppm (parts per million) zinc</strong> and<strong> 42.8 ppm iron</strong> which is higher than other cultivated varieties.</li>
<li>Farmers get a <strong>yield of 45-60 quintal per hectare</strong> with the new variety as against earlier average yield ranging 25-30 quintal per hectare when they cultivated Lok 1, HD 2189 and other old varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other ARI Wheat Variety (MACS 4028):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/macs-4028-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-fortified durum variety</strong></a> has very high protein (14.7%), iron (46.1 ppm) and zinc (40.3 ppm) content, compared to the corresponding levels of 8-10%, 28-32 ppm and 30-32 ppm in normally-grown varieties. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Biofortification</strong> is the process by which the nutritional quality of food crops is improved through agronomic practices, conventional plant breeding, or modern biotechnology.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Maturing in just over<strong> 100 days,</strong> it is <strong>suitable for cultivation in rainfed </strong>and<strong> low fertility conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka.</strong></li>
<li>It was <strong>chosen for a UNICEF-funded Farming System for Nutrition project,</strong> operated through the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research&rsquo;s (ICAR) Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK)</strong></a>, as part of the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/poshan-abhiyaan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> National Nutrition Strategy.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>ARI has also bred <strong>MACS 2971,</strong> a high-yielding variety of the traditionally cultivated dicoccum (also known as &lsquo;khapli&rsquo;) wheat that is rich in dietary fibre.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/karan-vandana-a-new-hybrid-wheat-variety" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Karan Vandana</strong></a> (DBW 187) wheat variety, developed by the <strong>Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research (IIWBR)</strong> under the <strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),</strong> is used for cultivation in North Eastern Plains Zones.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Other Recent Activities by ARI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Found the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/development-of-synthetic-flavonoids" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> first synthetic route for producing flavonoids molecules</strong> </a>related to the treatment of tuberculosis and chikungunya.</li>
<li>Found that the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-behind-pink-water-of-lonar-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>colour of Lonar lake water</strong></a> in Maharashtra&rsquo;s Buldhana district turned pink due to a large presence of the <strong>salt-loving &lsquo;Haloarchaea&rsquo; microbes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/alternative-dwarfing-genes-in-wheat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mapped two alternative dwarfing genes Rht14 and Rht18</strong></a> in wheat that can help in reducing rice crop residue burning i.e. stubble burning.</li>
<li>Isolated and cultivated <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methanotrophic-bacteria-for-methane-mitigation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>45 different strains of methanotrophs</strong></a> (methane-utilising bacteria) and created the first indigenous methanotroph culture.</li>
<li>A <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/methane-hydrates-in-krishna-godavari-basin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study on biogenic methane hydrate in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin.</a> </strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1664266" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6670,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Session on Precision Agriculture',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a session on<strong> &ldquo;Sensors and Sensing for Precision Agriculture&rdquo;</strong> was organised by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a>-<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iari-breeds-nutrient-rich-hybrid-maize" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Agricultural Research Institute</a></strong> (ICAR-IARI).</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Precision Agriculture</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Precision agriculture (PA) is an <strong>approach where inputs are utilised in precise amounts to get increased average yields,</strong> compared to traditional cultivation techniques such as <a href="/mains-practice-question/question-212" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agroforestry</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/multi-cropping" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>intercropping</strong></a>, crop rotation, etc.</li>
<li>Sustainable PA is this century&rsquo;s most valuable innovation in farm management that is based on using <strong>Information and Communication Technologies</strong> (ICTs).</li>
<li>It is <strong>based on sustainable agriculture and healthy food production</strong> and it consists of profitability and increasing production, economic efficiency and the reduction of side effects on the environment.</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Increases agriculture productivity.</li>
<li>Prevents soil degradation.</li>
<li>Reduces chemical application in crop production.</li>
<li>Efficient use of water resources.</li>
<li>Disseminates modern farm practices to improve the quality, quantity and reduced cost of production.</li>
<li>Changes the socio-economic status of farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Research suggests <strong>educational and economic challenges</strong> as the two most important in the application of precision agriculture.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Among the <strong>variables that contribute to educational challenges,</strong> lack of local experts, funds, knowledgeable research and extension personnel have more of an impact compared to others.</li>
<li>PA and initial costs have more of an impact among the<strong> economic challenges</strong> compared to the other issues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Discussions at the Session:</strong> Recent <strong>advances in the field of sensors, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cartosat-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remote sensing</a>, deep learning, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-artificial-intelligence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">artificial intelligence</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-must-get-on-the-iot-highway-fast#:~:text=Internet%20Of%20Things%20(IoT)%20is%20a%20computing%20concept%20that%20describes,than%20the%20object%20by%20itself." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Internet of Things</a></strong> (IoT)<strong> for monitoring and quantification</strong> of soil, plant and environment to enhance farm productivity with increased input use efficiency and environmental <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainability</strong></a>.</li>
<li><strong>Part of VAIBHAV Summit:</strong> The session is a part of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vaibhav-summit" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vaishwik Bhartiya Vaigyanik (VAIBHAV) Summit 2020.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>VAIBHAV is a<strong> Government of India initiative</strong> to bring together the thought process, practices, research and development (R&amp;D) culture of overseas and Indian scientists/academicians.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Research Gaps Identified:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Development of indigenous low-cost sensors</strong> with integrated platforms, robotics, IoT for high throughput field phenotyping and soil and crop health monitoring and management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Phenotyping is the process</strong> of determining, analysing or predicting all or part of an organism's phenotype (observable physical properties of an organism).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Big data analytics and modelling</strong> for sensor-based early detection of stresses, discrimination in the agriculture sector.</li>
<li><strong>Standardized protocols for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-anti-drone-guidelines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Unmanned Aerial Vehicle</a></strong> (UAV) based imaging using different sensors, inter sensor calibration and data analytics for near real-time crop condition monitoring and management.</li>
<li><strong>Development of affordable scale neutral precision agricultural technologies</strong> suitable to the ecosystem of Indian agriculture.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Scale neutrality means, if other things remain the same, one small plot of land gives the same proportion of output as a large land holding.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Keeping in view the research gaps, a specific objective-driven collaboration needs to be proposed.</li>
<li>More R&amp;D in the field and on the concept is needed. For that, collaborations with global universities can be done for further excelling in education and research and capacity building.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1662115" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 6521,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Bamboo Day',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/greening-india-by-planting-bamboo" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Bamboo Day</strong></a> is celebrated every year on 18<sup>th</sup> September.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Theme of 2020: <strong>Bamboo Now</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Bamboo Day :</strong> It was officially established by the <strong>World Bamboo organization</strong> at the<strong> 8<sup>th</sup> World Bamboo Congress</strong> held in Bangkok in 2009.</li>
<li><strong>World Bamboo Organization :</strong> It was set up at the <strong>1992 International Bamboo Congress in Japan.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an international coordinating body for bamboo practitioners dedicated to promoting the use of bamboo and bamboo products for the sake of the environment and economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Properties of Bamboo</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Versatile Uses:</strong> Bamboo can be used in 1,500 different ways including as food, a substitute for wood, building and construction material, for handicrafts and paper. Due to its versatile nature and multiple uses, it is also called<strong> &lsquo;poor man&rsquo;s timber&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Environmental Benefits:</strong> It can be planted to <strong>reclaim severely degraded sites and wastelands.</strong> It is a good<strong> soil binder</strong> owing to its peculiar clump formation and fibrous root system and hence also plays an important role in soil and water conservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is the fastest growing canopy, <strong>releasing 35% more oxygen than trees</strong> and can sequester 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide from per hectare.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use in Covid-19 :</strong> Bamboo has been a key ingredient in new antimicrobial soaps and hand mists developed by scientists from the Philippines to fight the novel <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/covid-19-and-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>coronavirus.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Nutraceutical Bamboo Shoot:</strong> Bamboo shoots have nutraceutical properties, according to experts. <a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600498104_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1600498104_image1.jpg" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The term &lsquo;nutraceutical&rsquo; is used to describe <strong>medicinally or nutritionally functional foods.</strong></li>
<li>Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible newly sprouted canes of bamboo that form just under the soil and have a firm, crisp texture.</li>
<li>Bamboo shoots are emerging as <strong>high-value and safe edibles</strong> and are also among the<strong> cheapest immunity boosters</strong> for increasing the human body&rsquo;s resistance to viral attacks.</li>
<li>The<strong> protein</strong> content in fresh bamboo shoots can range between 1.49-4.04%. They also contain<strong> 17 amino acids,</strong> eight of which are essential for the human body.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Market:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The present global market of bamboo shoots is around <strong>1,700 million USD.</strong></li>
<li>More than <strong>3 million tonnes</strong> of bamboo shoots are consumed across the earth annually.</li>
<li>According to the <strong>International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR),</strong> China exports 68% of the world&rsquo;s bamboo and rattan (a type of Palm Fibre) products valued at 1,112 million USD. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>INBAR is a multilateral development organisation, founded in 1997 which promotes environmentally sustainable development using bamboo and rattan.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to the <strong>National Bamboo Mission,</strong> India has the highest area (13.96 million hectares) under bamboo.</li>
<li>It is the <strong>second richest country after China</strong> in terms of bamboo diversity with 136 species.</li>
<li>The annual production of bamboo in India is <strong>14.6 million tonnes</strong> and the bamboo-rattan industry in the country was worth Rs. 28,005 crore in 2017.</li>
<li>Bamboo shoot production and consumption in India are <strong>confined mostly to the north-eastern States.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Initiatives to Promote Bamboo</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Bamboo Clusters:</strong> Recently, the Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare has virtually inaugurated 22 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/launch-of-bamboo-clusters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bamboo clusters</strong></a> in 9 states viz. Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.</li>
<li><strong>MSP Hike:</strong> Recently, the Central government has revised the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/msp-hiked-for-minor-forest-produce" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Minor Forest Produce (MFP).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>MFP includes all non-timber forest produce of plant origin and includes bamboo, canes, fodder, leaves, waxes, resins and many forms of food including nuts, wild fruits, lac, tusser etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Bamboo Mission:</strong> The restructured NBM was <strong>launched in 2018-19</strong> for the holistic development of the complete value chain of the bamboo sector and is being implemented in a<strong> hub (industry) and spoke model.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It supports local artisans through locally grown bamboo species, which will actualise the goal of <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-editorials/09-06-2020#:~:text=Promoting%20Local%3A%20Being%20vocal%20for,Glocal%E2%80%9D%20India%20will%20be%20possible." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Vocal for Local</strong></a> and help increase the income of farmers, reducing dependency on imports of raw material.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Removal of Bamboo from &lsquo;Tree&rsquo; Category:</strong> The <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-forest-act-1927#:~:text=The%20Indian%20Forest%20Act%2C1927,and%20duty%20leviable%20forest%20produce.&amp;text=This%20act%20has%20details%20of,the%20provisions%20of%20the%20Act." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Forest Act 1927</strong></a> was <strong>amended in 2017 to remove bamboo for the category of trees.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As a result, anyone can undertake cultivation and business in bamboo and its products without the need of a felling and transit permission.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations </strong>(FPOs)<strong>:</strong> <strong>10,000 new <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FPOs</a> will be formed in 5 years.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>FPOs engage in providing a range of assistance to farmers like <strong>imparting better farm practices, collectivisation of input purchases, transportation, linkage with markets, and better price realisation</strong> as they do away with the intermediaries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India needs to promote Bamboo Shoots as a<strong> super-food.</strong> It will help in alleviation of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>malnutrition</strong></a> and hunger.</li>
<li><strong>Value-addition in Bamboo shoots</strong> which enhances storage and diversification in new-age food products like vegetable protein concentrates can enhance its market potential and consumer acceptability.</li>
<li>States need to take forward the objectives of the National Bamboo Mission which would contribute to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/atma-nirbhar-bharat-abhiyan-challenges" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan</strong></a> through Aatmanirbhar Krishi (self-reliant farming).</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bamboo-shoots-can-be-among-cheapest-immunity-boosters/article32644025.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 6243,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Organic Farming in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>India ranks 1<sup>st</sup> in number of organic farmers</strong> and 9<sup>th</sup> in terms of area under organic farming.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indian Scenario Regarding Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Sikkim</strong> became the first State in the <strong>world</strong> to become <strong>fully organic in 2016.</strong></li>
<li><strong>North East India</strong> has traditionally been organic and the consumption of chemicals is far less than the rest of the country.</li>
<li>Similarly the tribal and island territories have been traditionally practicing organic farming.</li>
<li>The major organic exports from India have been <strong>flax seeds, sesame, soybean, tea, medicinal plants, rice and pulses.</strong></li>
<li>There was an increase of nearly 50% in organic exports in 2018-19, touching Rs. 5151 crore.</li>
<li>Commencement of exports from Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland to UK, USA, Eswatini and Italy have proved the potential by increasing volumes and expanding to new destinations as the demand for <strong>health foods</strong> increases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Promote Organic Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER) is a <strong>Central Sector Scheme,</strong> a sub-mission under <strong>National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)</strong></li>
<li>It was launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare in 2015 for implementation in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.</li>
<li>The scheme aims to develop certified organic production in a value chain mode to link growers with consumers and to support the development of the entire value chain.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, launched in 2015 is an elaborated component of <strong>Soil Health Management (SHM)</strong> of major project <strong>National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).</strong></li>
<li>Under PKVY, Organic farming is promoted through adoption of organic villages by cluster approach and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Certification Schemes</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/food-safety-and-standards-authority-of-india-fssai" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)</strong> </a>is the food regulator in the country and is also responsible for regulating organic food in the domestic market and imports.</li>
<li><strong>Participatory Guarantee System (PGS):</strong> PGS is a process of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>certifying organic products</strong></a>, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards. <strong>PGS Green</strong> is given to chemical free produce under transition to &lsquo;organic&rsquo; which takes 3 years. It is mainly for <strong>domestic purpose.</strong></li>
<li><strong>National Program for Organic Production (NPOP):</strong> NPOP grants organic farming certification through a process of third party certification for<strong> export purposes.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></a> has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> in the use of chemical fertilizers</a></strong> and also raised productivity by 5-6%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Agri-export Policy 2018</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Focus on clusters</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agriculture-export-policy-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Marketing and promotion of &ldquo;Produce of India&rdquo;</strong> </a>have positively impacted the organic farming in India</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>One District - One Product (ODOP)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The programme aims to encourage more<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-11th-august-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> visibility and sale of indigenous and specialized products/crafts of Uttar Pradesh</strong></a>, generating employment at the district level.</li>
<li>The presence of aggregators is imperative to bring about economies of scale for the small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PM FME)</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)</strong> launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM FME scheme</strong> </a>as a part of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/atmanirbhar-bharat-and-economic-stimulus" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan&rsquo;.</strong></a></li>
<li>It aims to bring in new technology, apart from affordable credit to help small entrepreneurs penetrate new markets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Zero Budget Natural Farming</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pm-formalization-of-micro-food-processing-enterprises-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zero budget natural farming</strong></a> is a method of chemical-free agriculture drawing from traditional Indian practices.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Organic Farming</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>According to FSSAI,&rsquo;organic farming&rsquo; is a system of farm design and management to create an ecosystem of agriculture production <strong>without the use of synthetic external inputs</strong> such as chemical fertilisers, pesticides and synthetic hormones or genetically modified organisms.</li>
<li><strong>Organic farm produce</strong> means the produce obtained from <strong>organic agriculture,</strong> while <strong>organic food</strong> means food products that have been produced in accordance with <strong>specified standards for organic production.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Natural farming is not a new concept in India, with farmers having tilled their land without the use of chemicals - largely relying on organic residues, cow dung, composts, etc. since time immemorial. This is also in sync with the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goal</strong></a> 2 targeting &lsquo;end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture&rsquo;.</li>
<li>Hence with <strong>greater awareness</strong> and<strong> capacity building</strong> of the producers in compliance with international standards, Indian organic farmers will soon be reinforcing their rightful place in global agri trade.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1645497" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 5884,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Flood Resistant Paddy: Assam',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, farmers from <strong>Golaghat district in Assam</strong> have cultivated new <strong>flood resistant <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restriction-on-paddy-cultivation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paddy</a> varieties</strong> to shift from the traditional ones.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The varieties called <strong>Ranjit Sub1, Swarna Sub1 and Bahadur Sub1</strong> have been used by about 60% farmers of the <strong>West Brahmaputra area.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farmers in flood-prone areas of Assam have been harvesting the water-resistant Swarna Sub1, developed by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/icar-to-set-up-farmers-innovation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Council of Agricultural Research</a></strong> <strong>and the Manila-based <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/golden-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">International Rice Research Institute</a></strong>, since 2009.</li>
<li>But the switchover from traditional varieties of paddy has been slow.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The flood-resistant varieties including Ranjit Sub-1 were reintroduced in 2018.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Resist Submergence:</strong> The new <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/direct-seeding-of-rice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rice</a></strong> varieties can resist submergence for <strong>up to two weeks, a</strong>nd significantly do not get damaged by the heavy flood. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, comparison with the traditional varieties is difficult as they get damaged in the flood.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Greater Yield:</strong> Enriched with the <strong>&lsquo;submergence&rsquo;</strong> (sub in short) <strong>gene,</strong> the varieties can yield up to <strong>five tonnes per hectare</strong> on an average.</li>
<li><strong>Reduction in Crop Loss:</strong> Some 1,500 farmers cultivate on about 950 hectares in crop-yielding areas which have been impacted by the regular flood. Therefore, rice varieties can reduce<strong> flood-caused crop loss substantially.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Regeneration:</strong> These varieties<strong> can get regenerated again</strong> in case damaged by the flood, hence ensure maximum productivity.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Rice</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a <strong>kharif crop</strong> which requires<strong> high temperature, (above 25&deg;C)</strong> and <strong>high humidity</strong> with annual <strong>rainfall above 100 cm.</strong></li>
<li>About one-fourth of the total cropped area in India is under rice cultivation.</li>
<li><strong>Leading Producer States:</strong> West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.</li>
<li><strong>High Yielding States:</strong> Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Kerala.</li>
<li>In West Bengal, farmers grow three crops of rice called <strong>&lsquo;aus&rsquo;, &lsquo;aman&rsquo; and &lsquo;boro&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>India contributes <strong>21.6% of rice production in the world</strong> and ranks second after China.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/amid-deluge-assam-farmer-stands-out-with-flood-resistant-paddy/article32060811.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4686,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Nuclear Power Plants in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the government provided details related to various nuclear power plants in the country.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Presently, <strong>India has 22 operating nuclear power reactors</strong>, with an installed capacity of 6780 MegaWatt electric (MWe). Among these eighteen reactors are <strong>Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)</strong> and four are <strong>Light Water Reactors (LWRs).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nuclear-energy-conclave" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>nuclear energy programme</strong></a> in India was launched around the time of independence under the leadership of Homi J Bhabha.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR)</strong> is being implemented by the <strong>Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI)</strong>, a wholly owned Enterprise of the Government of India under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>PHWR is a nuclear power reactor, commonly using<strong> unenriched natural uranium</strong> as its fuel. It uses <strong>heavy water (Deuterium oxide D<sub>2</sub>O)</strong> as its coolant and moderator.</li>
<li>The <strong>heavy water coolant is kept under pressure</strong>, allowing it to be heated to higher temperatures without boiling, much as in a typical pressurized water reactor.</li>
<li>While heavy water is significantly more expensive than ordinary light water, it yields<strong> greatly enhanced neutron economy,</strong> allowing the reactor to operate without fuel enrichment facilities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Light Water Reactor</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The light water reactor is a type of <strong>thermal- neutron reactor</strong> that <strong>utilizes normal water</strong> as opposed to heavy water.</li>
<li>It is fuelled by<strong> Low Enriched Uranium.</strong></li>
<li>It uses water as both a coolant method and a neutron moderator.</li>
<li>It <strong>produces heat by controlled nuclear fission.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A breeder reactor is a nuclear reactor that <strong>generates more fissile material than it consumes</strong>. These are designed to <strong>extend the nuclear fuel supply</strong> for electric power generation.</li>
<li>Breeder reactors achieve this because their neutron economy is high enough to create more fissile fuel than they use, by irradiation of a fertile material, such as <strong>Uranium-238</strong> or <strong>Thorium-232</strong> that is loaded into the reactor along with fissile fuel.</li>
<li><strong>PFBR is a 500 MWe fast breeder nuclear reactor</strong> presently being constructed at the <strong>Madras Atomic Power Station in Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu).</strong></li>
<li>It is fuelled by <strong>Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>MOX fuel is <strong>manufactured from plutonium recovered from used reactor fuel,</strong> <strong>mixed with depleted uranium.</strong><strong></strong></li>
<li>Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel provides almost 5% of the new nuclear fuel used today.</li>
<li>MOX fuel also provides a means of burning weapons-grade plutonium (from military sources) to produce electricity.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Depleted Uranium</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In order to produce fuel for certain types of nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons, uranium has to be "enriched" in the U-235 isotope, which is responsible for nuclear fission.</li>
<li>During the enrichment process the fraction of U-235 is increased from its natural level (0.72% by mass) to between 2% and 94% by mass.</li>
<li>The <strong>by-product uranium mixture (after the enriched uranium is removed)</strong> has reduced concentrations of U-235 and U-234. This by-product of the enrichment process is known as depleted uranium (DU).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1605939" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 4458,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Pesticide Management In India',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/agriculture/pesticide-management-bill-2020-must-address-important-concerns-69303" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Pesticide Management Bill 2020 must address important concerns&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in Down To Earth on 14/02/2020. It talks about pesticide management in India.</p>
</div>
<p>Agriculture in India is largely dependent on chemicals including pesticides and their usage has a huge impact on the health of humans, animals, biodiversity and the environment. In 2015, the National Crimes Records Bureau recorded 7,672 cases of poisoning due to accidental intake of insecticides/pesticides, out of which 7,060 died.</p>
<p>Pesticides are regulated in India through the <strong>Insecticides Act, 1968 and Insecticides Rules, 1971,</strong> the experiences in administering this Act over the last five decades has exposed certain gaps. In this context, the union cabinet has recently approved the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticides-management-bill-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pesticides Management Bill, 2020.</strong> </a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p>The Insecticides Act, 1968 was brought with a view of regulating the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides and pesticides in order to prevent risk to human beings and animals.</p>
<p>Use of insecticides and pesticides increased exponentially after the green revolution.</p>
</div>
<h3>Pesticides Usage in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is the fourth-largest producer of pesticides in the world. According to a report by database Research and Markets, the Indian pesticides market was worth Rs 197 billion in 2018.</li>
<li>Pesticide market is further projected to reach a value of Rs 316 billion by 2024, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 8.1% during 2019-2024.</li>
<li>The total as well as per hectare consumption of pesticides in India shows a significant increase after 2009-10.</li>
<li>As the cost of manual weed control has risen due to an increase in agricultural wages, this is one of the reasons for the recent increase in pesticide use.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Related to Pesticides in India</h3>
<p>Pesticides pose a potential risk to humans and other life forms and unwanted side effects on the environment. No segment of the population is completely protected against exposure to pesticides and the potentially serious health effects.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harmful Effects on Farmers:</strong> Experts believe that chronic low-level pesticide exposure is associated with a broad range of nervous system symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, tension, anger, depression, and impaired memory, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, among others.</li>
<li><strong>Harmful Effect on Consumers:</strong> Pesticides go up the food chain by working their way through the environment and into the soil or the water systems after which they <strong>are</strong> eaten by aquatic animals or plants and ultimately humans. This process is called <strong>Biomagnification.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Biomagnification:</strong> The process by which a compound (such as a pollutant or pesticide) increases its concentration in the tissues of organisms as it travels up the food chain.</p>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Harmful Effect on Agriculture:</strong> Continued use of pesticides for decades has contributed significantly to the current ecological, economic and existential crisis of the Indian agriculture sector.</li>
<li><strong>Regulatory Issues:</strong> Although agriculture is a state subject producing, education and research are governed under the Insecticides Act, 1968 which is a central Act, and hence state governments have no direct role in amending it.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is due to this that an estimated 104 pesticides that are still produced/ used in India, that have been banned in two or more countries in the world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Pesticides are chemicals that may be used to kill fungus, bacteria, insects, plant disease, etc., whereas an insecticide is used to specifically target and kill insects.</li>
<li><strong>Other categories of chemicals used:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Molluscicides control snails, slugs and similar molluscs.</li>
<li>Fungicides control fungi that are harmful to plants, preventing fungi spores from invading plant tissue.</li>
<li>Herbicides control weeds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>There are 292 pesticides registered in India.</li>
<li>Pesticides in India are registered with <strong>Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine &amp; Storage</strong> which is an attached office under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture &amp; Farmers Welfare.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Why there is a need for amendment in the Insecticides Act, 1968?</h3>
<p><strong>Issues in the Insecticides Act, 1968:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The larger pesticide companies generally outsource production to smaller manufacturers. It is at the outsourcing stage that the quality degradation occurs. However, the <strong>Insecticides Act, 1968</strong> only stipulates the prosecution of the manufacturers.</li>
<li>Further, until now, only 23 products (pesticide) have been phased out on the grounds of safety, persistence, poor efficiency etc.</li>
<li>Licensing Officer can arbitrarily stop the sale of a pesticide for 30 days. Such action is bound to increase an already corrupt practice.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Steps To Be Taken</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>The issues emanating from the Insecticides Act, 1968 are administrative in nature.</strong> However, to ensure sustainable food production systems and to implement resilient agricultural practices (as envisaged<strong> under target 2.4 of Sustainable Development Goal</strong>), any legislation pertaining to pesticide management In India should incorporate the following provisions:</li>
<li><strong>Focus on Minimal Use of Pesticides:</strong> Pesticides should be treated as a temporary stop-gap arrangement wherein the aim should be to use it as a last resort.</li>
<li><strong>Strict Regulation of Pesticides:</strong> Necessary provisions should be made in the Bill to ban sale and use of Class I pesticides.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Based on acute toxicity, the World Health Organization classifies certain pesticides as extremely hazardous (Class Ia) and highly hazardous (Class Ib).</li>
<li>The Bill should incorporate a provision which makes it illegal to sell a pesticide by a pesticide company without personal protective equipment or safety gear.</li>
<li>Provision of systems and standard operating procedures for acute medical emergencies should also be made.</li>
<li>Registration-related provisions of a pesticide should clearly include a Need and Alternatives Assessment before a pesticide registration application is processed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developing a &lsquo;Code of Conduct&rsquo; for Pesticide Companies:</strong> Advertisements are by design suited to the commercial interest of the advertiser and aimed at influencing the buying behaviour of farmers, who are often uneducated and unaware of the marketing tactics.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Just like pharmaceutical drugs, pesticides due to their hazardous nature, must not be allowed to be promoted through advertisements. Thus, all kinds of advertisements for pesticides must be banned in India.</li>
<li>The<strong> Polluter Pays&rsquo; principle</strong> should be the basis for fixing liability and compensation from the company. The Pesticide industry should be brought under a regulatory regime that makes it accountable for the entire product cycle including disposal.</li>
<li>In the event of a violation of regulation by a pesticide company, financial penalties should be proportional to the value of total sales of the concerned pesticide in India. A small financial penalty would not be big enough a deterrence for a big company selling pesticides worth crores of rupees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Capacity Building of Farmers:</strong> Over the counter, availability and dealer influence has caused severe overuses and misuses. Farmers must be made aware of judicious usage, pesticides must be sold and used cautiously under supervision like drugs. Like drugs, target, dosing, mode of application and unbiased advice for the usage of pesticide is critical.</li>
<li><strong>Greater say to State Governments:</strong> State governments should have the power to regulate pesticides as they have a better idea about the agro-ecological aspects of their state.</li>
<li><strong>Green Alternatives:</strong> Today, there are enough well-proven, successful alternative agro-ecological methods of pest management without using any chemical pesticide in India and globally.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, research and innovations must be made to phase out the usage of chemical pesticides completely as soon as possible.</li>
<li>Pesticide should be replaced with Biopesticides.</li>
<li>Apart from it, Government is promoting organic farming through various schemes/ programmes like Paramapragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) etc.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)</strong> aims to <strong>increase the area under organic farming as it ensures higher income to farmers</strong> due to comparatively lower cost of cultivation and premium price of organic.</p>
<p><strong>Biopesticides are biologically based agents used for the control of plant pests.</strong> They can be living organisms (nematodes or micro-organisms) or naturally occurring substances, such as plant extracts or insect pheromones.</p>
</div>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 508px; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f5e6ce;">
<p><span style="color: #003366;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Pesticide management in India requires broad based reforms in order to ensure sustainable agricultural practices. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 4423,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Pesticides Management Bill, 2020',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Pesticides Management Bill,</strong> <strong>2020</strong> has been approved by the Union Cabinet.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Bill will regulate the business of pesticides and compensate farmers in case of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/agrochemical-spraying-through-drones-illegal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>losses from the use of agrochemicals.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-agrochemicals-congress" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agrochemicals</strong></a> imply chemicals used in agriculture, such as a pesticide or fertilizer.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Currently, the <strong>pesticide</strong> business is regulated by rules under the <strong>Insecticides Act 1968.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Features of the Bill</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Pesticide Data:</strong> It will empower farmers by providing them with all the information about the strength and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pesticide-ban" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>weakness of pesticides</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wake-up-to-childrens-exposure-to-pesticides" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the risk</strong></a> and alternatives. All information will be available openly as data in digital format and in all languages.</li>
<li><strong>Compensation:</strong> The Bill has a <strong>unique feature</strong> in the form of a <strong>provision for compensations in case there is any loss because of the spurious or low quality of pesticides.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If required, a central fund will be formed to take care of the compensations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Organic Pesticides:</strong> The Bill also intends to promote organic pesticides.</li>
<li><strong>Registration of Pesticide Manufacturers:</strong> All pesticide manufacturers have to be registered and bound by the new Act, once it is passed. The advertisements of pesticides will be regulated so there should be no confusion or no cheating by the manufacturers.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Use of Pesticides in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is<strong> among the leading producers</strong> of pesticides in <strong>Asia.</strong></li>
<li>In the domestic market,<strong> Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana</strong> are among the states with the highest recorded consumption.</li>
<li><strong>Spurious Pesticides:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They harm crop, soil fertility and the environment.</li>
<li>Spurious agrochemicals are responsible for the losses of not just farmers but also producers of genuine agrochemicals and the government, which loses revenue from the sales of the counterfeit versions of the real farm inputs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Insecticides Act, 1968</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was brought into force with effect from August 1971 with a view of regulating the import, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and use of insecticides in order to prevent risk to human beings and animals.</li>
<li><strong>Central Insecticides Board</strong> was established under Section 4 of the Act and it works under the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The board <strong>advises the central government and state governments</strong> on technical matters arising out of the administration of the act and to carry out the other functions assigned to it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-cabinet-clears-bill-to-regulate-pesticide-business/article30803307.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4408,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Cauvery Delta Declared as a Protected Special Agriculture Zone',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Tamil Nadu government has declared the <strong>Cauvery delta region</strong> as a <strong>Protected Special Agriculture Zone.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The protected zone <strong>includes eight districts</strong> namely<strong> Thanjavur (Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu),</strong> Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Cuddalore, Ariyalur, Karur and Tiruchirapalli.</li>
<li>Such a declaration<strong> will prevent non-agrarian projects</strong> in the region.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Government has emphasised that <strong>central projects on hydrocarbon exploration</strong> in the delta region <strong>cannot be implemented without No Objection Certificate (NOC)</strong> from the State government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Cauvery delta region is an<strong> important agricultural region in Tamil Nadu.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has been seen that in the last four decades, Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s <strong>food dependence on the delta has fallen from 65% to 40%. Hydrocarbon wells are one of the major reasons</strong> behind the same.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/cauvery-delta-protected-zone-no-hydrocarbon-project-tamil-nadu-6259595/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4362,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Soil Health Card Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-productivity-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Productivity Council</strong> </a><strong>(NPC),</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/to-the-point-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>the Soil Health Card</strong></a> scheme has led to a <strong>decline of 8-10% in the use of chemical fertilizers</strong> and also<strong> raised productivity by 5-6%.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Issuance of the Soil Health Cards has enabled the farmers to understand the soil health parameters and improve the productivity by judicious application of soil nutrients.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under the <strong>Phase-I (2015-17)</strong> of the scheme, <strong>10.74 crore cards</strong> were distributed, while under the <strong>Phase-II (2017-19), 11.69 crore cards</strong> have been distributed.</li>
<li>A pilot project, <strong>&lsquo;Development of Model Villages&rsquo;</strong> is also being implemented by the <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare in the financial year 2019-20.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is to be noted that, this project is different from the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/saansad-adarsh-gram-yojana-sagy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY)</strong></a> which was launched in <strong>October 2014</strong> with the goal of <strong>developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of villages.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Development of Model Villages</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Under this project, a Model Village is selected for aggregation of soil samples and analysis of each agricultural holding.</li>
<li>The programme promotes farm holding based soil sample collection and testing with farmers&rsquo; participation.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Soil Health Card Scheme along with other projects</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>(National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture)</strong></a> for soil health management has created jobs for the agrarian youth.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Under these, village youth and farmers<strong> up to 40 years of age</strong> are eligible to set up <strong>Soil Health Laboratories</strong> and undertake testing.</li>
<li><strong>75% of laboratory</strong> costs are proposed to be<strong> funded by the Central and State Governments.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The same provision applies to <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/self-help-groups-shgs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Self Help Groups</strong></a>, <strong>Farmers&rsquo; Cooperative Societies, Farmers Groups and Agricultural Producing Organisations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers&rsquo; Welfare</strong> introduced the scheme on <strong>December 5, 2015.</strong></li>
<li>Soil Health Card (SHC) is a <strong>printed report</strong> which <strong>contains nutrient status of soil with respect to 12 nutrients:</strong> pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Carbon (OC), Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), Sulphur (S), Zinc (Zn), Boron (B), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu) of farm holdings.</li>
<li>SHC is provided to all farmers in the country at<strong> an interval of 3 years</strong> to enable the farmers to apply recommended doses of nutrients based on soil test values to realize improved and sustainable soil health and fertility, low costs and higher profits. Farmers can track their soil samples and also obtain their<strong> Soil Health Card report.</strong></li>
<li>It is a field-specific <strong>detailed report</strong> of soil fertility status and other important soil parameters that affect crop productivity.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Productivity Council</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a national-level organization to promote productivity culture in India.</li>
<li>Established by the <strong>Ministry of Commerce and Industry,</strong> Government of India in<strong> 1958,</strong> it is an <strong>autonomous, multipartite, non-profit organization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1601990" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4296,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Yellow Rust',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376252_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="200" caption="false" /></a></h3>
<p>In sub-mountainous parts of Punjab and Haryana, yellow rust disease has been detected in the wheat crop which has raised concerns among farmers about a drop in the crop's yield.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Yellow rust or stripe rust</strong> is a<strong> fungal disease</strong> which attacks the leaves of <strong>wheat crop</strong> by forming <strong>yellow stripes</strong> and <strong>affects their photosynthesis</strong> that causes <strong>shrivelling of grain size.</strong></li>
<li>It is a disease of <strong>cool weather in the northern hills</strong> and <strong>north-western plains zone.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> recent rains</strong> in the region coupled with a slight <strong>increase in the temperature</strong> and <strong>humid conditions</strong> are <strong>favourable</strong> for yellow rust.</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Wheat</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1580376225_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 10-15&deg;C (Sowing time) and 21-26&deg;C (Ripening &amp; Harvesting) with bright sunlight.</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 75-100 cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy (Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan)</li>
<li><strong>Top Wheat Producing States:</strong> Uttar Pradesh &gt; Punjab &gt; Madhya Pradesh &gt; Haryana &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>rabi (winter) crop,</strong> is sown between late October till December while the harvesting of the crop starts from April onwards.</li>
<li>India is the <strong>second-largest producer after</strong> China.</li>
<li>This is the <strong>second most important cereal crop</strong> and the main food crop, in the north and north-western India.</li>
<li>The <strong>success of Green Revolution</strong> contributed to the growth of Rabi crops especially wheat.</li>
<li><strong>Government initiatives to support wheat cultivation:</strong> Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/yellow-rust-in-wheat-crop-causes-alarm-in-punjab-and-haryana/article30686820.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 4255,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'India’s Cotton Story',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-flawed-spin-to-indias-cotton-story/article30627778.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;The flawed spin to India&rsquo;s cotton story&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 23/01/2020. It highlights the problems faced by the Indian farmers due to the use of hybrid seed model for cotton production.</p>
</div>
<p>The<strong> pest-resistant Genetically Modified (GM) Bt cotton hybrids</strong> have captured the Indian market (covering over <strong>95%</strong> of the area under cotton) since their <strong>introduction in 2002.</strong> Their role in increasing India&rsquo;s cotton production has been instrumental, however, at the same time, it is argued that Bt cotton hybrids have negatively impacted the livelihoods of the farmers (especially the resource-poor farmers) and has contributed to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-distress-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>agrarian distress.</strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<p><strong>Cotton-</strong> fibre, oil and protein yielding crop of global significance.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Temperature:</strong> Between 21-30&deg;C</li>
<li><strong>Rainfall:</strong> Around 50-100cm.</li>
<li><strong>Soil Type:</strong> Well-drained black cotton soil of Deccan Plateau.</li>
<li><strong>Top Cotton Producing States:</strong> Gujarat &gt; Maharashtra &gt; Telangana &gt; Andhra Pradesh &gt; Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Hybrid Cotton:</strong> Cotton made by crossing <strong>two parent strains</strong> that have different genetic characters. Hybrids are often spontaneously and randomly created in nature when open-pollinated plants naturally cross-pollinate with other related varieties.</p>
<p><strong>Varieties Cotton:</strong> Cotton produced by <strong>process of self-fertilization/autogamy</strong> (fusion of two gametes that come from one individual).</p>
<p><strong>Bt Cotton:</strong> It is a<strong> genetically modified organism</strong> or genetically modified pest-resistant variety of cotton.</p>
</div>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton: Experience &amp; Performance so far</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India is expected to be the<strong> world&rsquo;s largest <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-cotton-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cotton</a> producer</strong> in terms of the produced output surpassing China (in 2019). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s cotton production in 2019 is projected at <strong>354 lakh bales</strong> (the highest ever) because of which it has been argued for extending <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/geac-seeks-information-from-bangladesh-on-bt-brinjal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GM technology</strong></a> to other areas so as to increase food crop yield.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is the<strong> only country</strong> that <strong>grows cotton in the form of hybrids.</strong> Also, India was the <strong>first to develop hybrid cotton</strong> back in 1970. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>However, India&rsquo;s <strong>productivity (yield per unit area)</strong> is <strong>much lower</strong> (around <strong>one-third</strong>) than other major cotton-producing countries. This implies that in order to be the largest producer, a much<strong> larger area is used for cotton production</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Hybrid Cotton Versus Varieties Cotton</h3>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Sr. No.</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 13.2856%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Parameter</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 38.8226%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Hybrid Cotton</strong></span></td>
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #5d00ff; width: 42.2434%; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffffff;"><strong>Varieties Cotton</strong></span></td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 67px;">
<td style="height: 67px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">1.</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Formation Technology</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Made by crossing<strong> two parent</strong> strains having different genetic characters.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 67px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Seeds for this type of cotton are produced by <strong>self-fertilization.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 83px;">
<td style="height: 83px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">2.</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Sowing Area</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids in India are planted at ten-fold <strong>lower plantation density</strong> (0.5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 83px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>High-Density Planting (HDP):</strong> These plants are planted at high density (5 kg seeds/acre).</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 131px;">
<td style="height: 131px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">3.</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Reusability</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrid seeds have to be <strong>remade for each planting season</strong> by crossing the parents. Hence, farmers must <strong>purchase seeds for each planting.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 131px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Varieties can be <strong>propagated over successive generations</strong> by collecting seeds from one <strong>planting and using them for the next planting</strong> season.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 99px;">
<td style="height: 99px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">4.</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Productivity</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These plants have <strong>more biomass</strong> than both parents and hence have the capacity <strong>for greater yields.&nbsp;</strong>But their plantation in per acre area is less (due to its size) as compared to the Varieties Cotton.</li>
<li>The lower <strong>boll production</strong> by compact varieties (5-10 bolls per plant) as compared to hybrids (20-100 bolls/plant) is compensated by their ten-fold greater planting density.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 99px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Using <strong>HDP technique,</strong> compact varieties have been found to outperform hybrids at the field level.</li>
<li>Their productivity is <strong>more than twice</strong> the productivity of hybrid cotton.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">5.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Production Duration</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Bushy and<strong> long duration</strong> (i.e. take more time to grow).</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Compact</strong> and <strong>short duration.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">6.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Manufacturing Unit &amp; Price Control</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Hybrids give pricing control to the <strong>seed company</strong> thereby ensuring a continuous market. These seeds are <strong>produced entirely</strong> by the <strong>private sector.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There lies <strong>no concept of pricing control</strong> by any seed company.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 19px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">7.</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Irrigation/Water requirement</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more water.</strong> As <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/cropping-patterns-and-major-crops-of-india-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cotton</strong></a> is a dryland crop, around 65% of the area under cotton in India is <strong>rain-fed.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 19px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Less water</strong> requirement.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 51px;">
<td style="height: 51px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">8.</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Fertilizer requirement</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>more fertilizers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 51px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>They require <strong>half the fertilizer as compared to hybrids.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 300px;">
<td style="height: 130px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">9.</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">Risks Involved</td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">Farmers with&nbsp;<strong>insufficient access to groundwater&nbsp;</strong>in the growing areas are entirely dependent on the rain. Also, its&nbsp;<strong>longer duration</strong> makes it <strong>more prone to pest attacks</strong> and thus involves <strong>high risks.</strong></td>
<td style="height: 130px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Their <strong>shorter duration</strong> reduces dependence on irrigation (particularly late in the growing season when soil moisture drops following the <strong>monsoon&rsquo;s withdrawal,</strong> as this is the period when bolls develop and water requirement is the highest).</li>
<li>Also, it faces less vulnerability to damage from insect pests due to a shorter field duration. Hence,<strong> low risks are there.</strong></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 19px;">
<td style="height: 10px; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 5.56881%; text-align: center;">10.</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 13.2856%;">
<p>Economic Cost</p>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 38.8226%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Expensive,</strong> requiring manual crossing. In India, low cost of manual labour makes it economically sustainable.</li>
<li>Also, <strong>increased yield from a hybrid</strong> is supposed to justify the high cost of hybrid seeds in India.</li>
</ul>
</td>
<td style="height: 10px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top; background-color: #cfd2ff; width: 42.2434%;">
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Low-cost</strong> solution.</li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>India&rsquo;s Policy for Hybrid Cotton</h3>
<p>There have been two phases of policy:</p>
<p><strong>Phase-1: Pre-GM cotton:</strong> This phase of the policy ranges from <strong>1980-2002</strong> when India persisted with hybrids while other countries shifted to HDP (High-density Planting).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Cotton research centres &amp; Public sector institutions ignored such a significant innovation (in the form of HDP) in cotton breeding in India.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Phase-2: Post-GM:</strong> This phase began post-2002 when Bt cotton was being considered for <strong>introduction</strong> into India. In this phase, the deliberation of hybrids versus compact varieties could have been undertaken which could have led to the introduction of the HDP technology in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>However, the <strong>scope of evaluation</strong> by the GM regulatory process in India was<strong> narrow</strong> and did not take the <strong>agro-economic conditions</strong> prevalent in India into account.</li>
<li>Therefore, the hybrid seed model for cotton in India persisted for many years even after benefits of compact varieties became clear from global experience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>For example, there was a steep increase in<strong> productivity for Brazil,</strong> from 400 to 1,000 kg/hectare <strong>lint</strong> (yield of cotton fibre after <strong>ginning,</strong> i.e, after separating cotton fibres from their seeds) between 1994 and 2000- the period which coincides with large-scale shift of the world to a <strong>non-GM compact variety.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Impact of Policy</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Market Capture:</strong> Commercial Bt hybrids have<strong> overshadowed the market,</strong> accompanied by the <strong>rollback of public sector cottonseed production.</strong> Hence, the Indian cotton farmers are left with little choice but to use Bt hybrid seed produced by <strong>private seed</strong> companies.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers Distress:</strong> Due to the combination of high input and high risk, agricultural distress is <strong>extremely high</strong> among hybrid cotton cultivating farmers. Compact varieties would have significantly reduced this distress as well as increased yield.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Impact Assessment:</strong> Before extending GM technology to increase food crop yield it is mandatory to <strong>assess its impact</strong> on livelihood, agrarian distress, etc. Hence, the outcome of deploying a technology must be evaluated in a particular context. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>If the technology does not <strong>prioritize the needs</strong> of the principal stakeholders (farmers), it can have significant negative fallouts, especially in India which has a high proportion of marginal and subsistence farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Integrated Policy-framing:</strong> There is a <strong>need for better consultation</strong> in policy, be it agriculture as a whole or crop-wise. For e.g., the policy-framers in India could have deliberated upon the <strong>inclusion of socio-economic considerations</strong> being a signatory to international treaties on GMO regulation (the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Biological Diversity</strong></a>, and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety). These treaties specifically provide for such considerations in GMO risk assessment.</li>
<li>It is important to recognise that the adoption of any new technology (such as Bt Cotton) is a <strong>choice and not an imperative.</strong> Lessons could be learnt from <strong>Brazil and Turkey</strong> which achieved high productivity without using GM cotton but by using alternative pest-management approaches.</li>
</ul>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fffbdb;">
<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>How can compact varieties of seed model help sustain cotton production in India.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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		'title' => 'Organic Turmeric to Weed Out Marijuana in Malkangiri',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Malkangiri district</strong> administration, <strong>Odisha</strong> has initiated a project to divert the region&rsquo;s tribals from <strong>illegal <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cannabis-debate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana</a> cultivation</strong> by promoting organic turmeric as a profitable cash crop.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Organic turmeric will weed out the marijuana cultivation in remote areas of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/balimela-reservoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swabhiman Anchal</strong></a> in Malkangiri.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reasons for Illegal Marijuana Cultivation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Lack of communication.</li>
<li>Poverty.</li>
<li>Financed by the Drug mafias from outside, allegedly.</li>
<li>Source of easy money.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>This move comes after a <strong>survey,</strong> conducted in <strong>2019</strong> by the Malkangiri district administration.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It revealed that almost all tribal families grow turmeric for their consumption but not for commercial purposes.</li>
<li>The district has a <strong>suitable climate and geographical conditions</strong> so organic turmeric can become the tool of economic development for poor tribals as well as cash crop alternative of marijuana.</li>
<li>It is estimated that each acre of organic turmeric can provide ₹70,000 to 80,000 income to the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The project has been implemented by the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/horticulture-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Horticulture</strong> </a>and <strong>Agriculture</strong> Departments. Interested farmers have been registered for <strong>scientific training.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Marijuana or Hemp</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is part of the <strong>cannabis super-family,</strong> is illegal for commercial cultivation though it grows as a weed in several parts of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Uttarakhand, Jammu and Uttar Pradesh have <strong>allowed restricted cultivation</strong> of the plant for medical research.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It has two components <strong>CBD (cannabidiol) </strong>and<strong> THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>CBD does not cause intoxication or euphoria and has been successfully proven to provide <strong>relief to chronic pain</strong> without causing psychoactive side effects.</li>
<li>It is <strong>THC which is the primary psychoactive components</strong> of Marijuana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Narcotic Drugs and Psychoactive Substances Act, 1985</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It <strong>bans the commercial cultivation of cannabis.</strong></li>
<li>The bar <strong>does not apply to an edible preparation called bhang,</strong> which is allowed in some States.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>United Nations Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs, 1961</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>international treaty to prohibit production and supply of specific</strong> (nominally narcotic) <strong>drugs</strong> and of drugs with similar effects except under licence for specific purposes, such as medical treatment and research.</li>
<li>The convention refers to drug addiction as <strong>&ldquo;a serious evil for the individual [that] is fraught with social and economic danger to mankind&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/organic-turmeric-to-weed-out-marijuana-in-malkangiri/article30562573.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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