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Revival of Millet Cultivation

Why in News An International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) supported initiative to revive Kodo and Kutki Millets cultivation, started in...

31 Mar 2021 Agricultural Resources
Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme

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

08 Mar 2021 Agricultural Resources
Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission

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

03 Mar 2021 Agricultural Resources
Animal Husbandry

Why in News A variety of policy concerns and the ongoing discussion over farm laws have fixed the spotlight on infrastructure investments necessary...

23 Feb 2021 Agricultural Resources
Doubling Farmers Income

Why in News Recently, the Central Government admitted that no actual assessment of farm income has been carried out since 2013. The Government of...

15 Feb 2021 Agricultural Resources
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

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		'title' => 'Revival of Millet Cultivation',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>An <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1#:~:text=International%20Fund%20for%20Agricultural%20Development,poverty%2C%20hunger%2C%20and%20malnutrition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)</strong></a> supported initiative to<strong> revive Kodo and Kutki Millets cultivation,</strong> started in the year 2013-14 in Dindori district of Madhya Pradesh, has given new life to the forgotten crops.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>IFAD is a specialized agency of the<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> United Nations</strong></a> and was one of the major outcomes of the <strong>1974 World Food Conference.</strong></li>
<li>Founded in 1977, IFAD<strong> focuses on rural poverty reduction,</strong> working with poor rural populations in developing countries to <strong>eliminate poverty, hunger, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/malnutrition-in-india-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">malnutrition</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Beginning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The project was started with <strong>1,497 women-farmers from 40 villages &ndash;</strong> mostly from the <strong>Gonda and Baiga tribes &ndash;</strong> growing these two minor millets (Kodo and Kutki) on 749 acres.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Seed and Training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The identified farmers were <strong>supplied good-quality seeds and trained by scientists from the Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University</strong> in Jabalpur and the local Krishi Vigyan Kendra &ndash; on field preparation, line-sowing (as opposed to conventional broadcasting by hand) and application of compost, zinc, bavistin fungicide and other specific plant protection chemicals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Self Help Groups:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A federation of the <strong>farmers&rsquo; self-help groups</strong> undertook procurement of the produce and also its mechanical de-hulling (the traditional manual pounding process to remove husk from the grain was time-consuming).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Helped in increasing the <strong>number of farmers growing kodo-kutki</strong> in the project area <strong>to 14,301 in 2019-20.</strong></li>
<li>Helped in increasing the acreage to 14,876 acres.</li>
<li>Helped in <strong>meeting nutritional goals</strong> (fighting malnourishment among children).</li>
<li>Helped in <strong>reviving millet cultivation</strong> (crop yields are 1.5-2 times higher than before).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Millets</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Millets are often referred to as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/millets-superfood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Superfood</strong></a> and its production can be seen as an approach for<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-and-changing-climate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> sustainable agriculture</strong> </a>and a healthy world.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Millets in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The three major millet crops currently grown in India are<strong> jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Along with that, India grows a rich array of bio-genetically diverse and<strong> indigenous varieties of &ldquo;small millets&rdquo; like kodo, kutki, chenna and sanwa.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major producers</strong> include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need for Reviving Millet Cultivation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Nutritional Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Millets are <strong>less expensive and nutritionally superior</strong> to wheat &amp; rice owing to their high protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals like iron content.</li>
<li>Millets are also<strong> rich in calcium and magnesium.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>For example,</strong> Ragi is known to have the highest calcium content among all the food grains.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Its<strong> high iron content can fight high prevalence of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/anaemia-in-women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">anaemia</a></strong> in Indian women of reproductive age and infants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Resilient:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are also harder and <strong>drought-resistant crops,</strong> which has to do with their <strong>short growing season</strong> (70-100 days, as against 120-150 days for paddy/wheat) and<strong> lower water requirement</strong> (350-500 mm versus 600-1,200 mm).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Security:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As low investment is needed for production of millets, these can prove to be a sustainable income source for farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Can Tackle Health Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Millets can help<strong> tackle lifestyle problems and health challenges such as obesity and diabetes</strong> as they are<strong> gluten-free and have a low glycemic index</strong> (a relative ranking of carbohydrates in foods according to how they affect blood glucose levels).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Millets are rich in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/free-radicals-may-not-be-all-bad" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>antioxidants</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Preference for Wheat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Wheat has gluten proteins that swell and form networks on adding water to the flour, making the dough more cohesive and elastic. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The resultant chapattis come out soft, which isn&rsquo;t possible with millets that are gluten-free.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increased Demand for Processed Food:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India has seen a jump in consumer demand for <strong>ultra-processed and ready-to-eat products,</strong> which are high in sodium, sugar, trans-fats and even some carcinogens.</li>
<li>With the <strong>intense marketing of processed foods,</strong> even the rural population started perceiving mill-processed rice and wheat as more aspirational.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Food Security Act Promoting Other Grains:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In rural India, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/revising-national-food-security-act-2013-niti-aayog" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Food Security Act of 2013</strong></a> entitles three-fourths of all households to <strong>5 kg of wheat or rice</strong> per person per month at Rs 2 and Rs 3 per kg, respectively, thus <strong>reducing the demand for millets.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Promoting Millets:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Union Agriculture Ministry, in April 2018,<strong> declared millets as &ldquo;Nutri-Cereals&rdquo;,</strong> considering their &ldquo;high nutritive value&rdquo; and also &ldquo;anti-diabetic properties&rdquo;.</li>
<li>2018 was also observed as <strong>&lsquo;National Year of Millets&rdquo;. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increase in MSP:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has hiked the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP)</strong></a> of Millets, which came as a big price incentive for farmers.</li>
<li>Further, to provide a steady market for the produce, the government has included millets in the public distribution system.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Input Support:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has introduced provision of seed kits and inputs to farmers, building value chains through <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmers-producer-organisation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organisations</strong></a> and supporting the marketability of millets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International Initiative:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>United Nation General Assembly</strong> adopted an India-sponsored resolution to mark 2023 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></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Farming of millets<strong> deserves encouragement</strong> especially in view of their climate resilience, short cropping duration and ability to grow on poor soils, hilly terrains and with little rain.</li>
<li>Because of their accessibility to the poor, they <strong>can play an essential role in providing nourishment to people across all income categories</strong> and supporting climate adaptation of rainfed farming systems.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-madhya-pradeshs-dindoi-a-un-backed-project-aims-to-put-millets-7249608/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Sub-Mission on Agroforestry Scheme',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong>Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare </strong>signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding</strong> (MoU) with the <strong>Central Silk Board</strong> on <strong>a convergence model</strong> for the implementation of <strong>Agroforestry in the silk sector.</strong> It is a part of the ongoing <strong>Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Earlier, the Government of India allocated Rs. 2161.68 crores for three years i.e. 2017-2020 to its <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/silk-samagra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Sector Scheme &lsquo;Silk Samagra&rsquo;</strong></a> for the development of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sericulture-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sericulture</strong></a> in the country.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Convergence Model:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>incentivize the farmers to take up sericulture based Agroforestry</strong> models thereby contributing to the Make in India and Make for the World vision of the Prime Minister.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This linkage will add another dimension to agroforestry for<strong> faster returns</strong> to the growers as well as <strong>support the production</strong> of the range of silks that India is famous for.</li>
<li>The <strong>Central Silk Board (CSB - under the Ministry of Textiles)</strong> will act as a catalyst to promote Agroforestry in the silk sector.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>CSB</strong> is a statutory body established in the year <strong>1948 by an Act of Parliament.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The initiative of formalizing the collaboration in the sericulture sector is especially targeted for augmentation of sericulture host plants e.g.<strong> Mulberry, Asan, Arjuna, Som, Soalu, Kesseru, BadaKesseru, Phanat, etc.</strong> to be cultivated both as block plantations and border or peripheral plantations on farmlands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Planting sericulture based tree species on the farm bunds and rearing silkworms will help in <strong>creating additional income opportunities for farmers besides their regular source of income</strong> from agriculture activities.</li>
<li>It will contribute to the Prime Minister's vision of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/doubling-farmers-income-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farmers' income by 2022.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare</strong> (DAC &amp; FW) has been implementing the SMAF since <strong>2016-17</strong> as part of the recommendation of the <strong>National Agroforestry Policy 2014.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India was the <strong>first country to have such a comprehensive policy</strong> which was launched at the World Agroforestry Congress held in Delhi in February 2014.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme is implemented <strong>only in the states having liberalized transit regulations for the transport of timber</strong> and will be extended to other states as and when such relaxations are notified by them.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At present, the scheme is being implemented in<strong> 20 States and 2 UTs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The scheme <strong>promotes endemic species or tree species that come with medicinal value.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Exotic species are not promoted by the scheme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To encourage farmers to <strong>plant multi-purpose trees</strong> together<strong> with the agriculture crops for climate resilience and an additional source of income</strong> to the farmers, as well as <strong>enhanced feedstock</strong> to inter alia wood-based and herbal industry.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Funding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is operational under the funding pattern<strong> 60:40 (Central government: State government)</strong> basis for all states except for 8 states of North East Region, the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where it would be<strong> 90:10</strong> fund sharing. For Union Territories (UTs), the assistance will be 100% from the Central government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Beneficiaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Farmers would be supported financially to the extent of<strong> 50% of the actual cost of the interventions</strong> (limited to 50% of the estimated cost as indicated in the Cost norms) for the respective interventions.</li>
<li><strong>Farmers groups/Cooperatives</strong> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producers Organization (FPO)</strong></a> can also avail the benefit of the programme but the assistance can be accessed as per norms and provisions applicable to the individual farmers.</li>
<li>At least <strong>50% of the allocation is to be utilized for small, marginal farmers</strong> of which at least <strong>30% should be women beneficiaries/farmers.</strong> Further <strong>16% &amp; 8%</strong> of the total allocation or in proportion of SC/ST population in the district will be utilized for <strong>Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP)</strong> respectively.</li>
<li>Farmers <strong>must have a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">soil health card</a></strong> to get the benefit under the programme.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives for Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/green-revolution-krishonnati-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Food Security Mission</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/horticulture-sector-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayee Yojana (PMKSY)</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/refroming-nutrient-based-subsidy-regime#:~:text=Under%20NBS%2C%20the%20fertilizers%20are,zinc%20are%20given%20additional%20subsidy." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Programme</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-gokul-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashtriya Gokul Mission</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/organic-farming-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Agroforestry</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Agroforestry is defined as a <strong>land use system which integrates trees and shrubs on farmlands and rural landscapes to enhance productivity, profitability, diversity and ecosystem sustainability.</strong></li>
<li>It is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that, through <strong>integration of woody perennials on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production and builds social institutions.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Sericulture</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is an <strong>agro-based industry.</strong></li>
<li>It involves <strong>rearing of silkworms</strong> for the production of raw silk, which is the yarn obtained out of cocoons spun by certain species of insects.</li>
<li>The<strong> major activities</strong> of sericulture consist of <strong>food-plant cultivation</strong> to feed the silkworms which spin silk cocoons and<strong> reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament</strong> for value-added benefits such as processing and weaving.</li>
<li>Domesticated silkworms (Bombyx mori) are raised for the purpose of sericulture.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Silk Production in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are<strong> five major types of silk</strong> of commercial importance, obtained from different species of silkworms. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>These are <strong>Mulberry, Oak Tasar &amp; Tropical Tasar, Muga and Eri.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Except for mulberry, other <strong>non-mulberry varieties of silks are wild silks, known as vanya silks.</strong></li>
<li>India has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk.</li>
<li><strong>South India is the leading silk producing area of the country</strong> and is also known for its famous silk weaving enclaves like Kancheepuram, Dharmavaram, Arni, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1703050" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7831,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Purple Revolution Under Aroma Mission',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Around 500 farmers across villages in Doda district in Jammu <strong>had their incomes quadrupled after shifting from maize to lavender cultivation</strong> which is being called <strong>purple revolution.</strong> It was possible due to initiatives taken under <strong>Aroma Mission.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Purple Revolution (Under Aroma Mission):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>First-time farmers were given free lavender saplings and those who have cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To <strong>support domestic aromatic crop based agro economy</strong> by moving from imported aromatic oils to homegrown varieties.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Products:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Main product is <strong>Lavender oil</strong> which sells for at least Rs. 10,000 per litre</li>
<li><strong>Lavender water</strong>, which separates from lavender oil, is used to make incense sticks.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hydrogels-with-tunable-bactericidal-activities" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hydrosol</strong></a>, which is formed after distillation from the flowers, is used to make soaps and room fresheners.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Main Agencies Involved:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/council-of-scientific-and-industrial-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)</strong></a> and <strong>Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu (IIIM Jammu)</strong>, the two bodies are mainly responsible for making purple revolution under the Aroma Mission a success.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Apart from being in sync with government policy of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/doubling-farmers-income-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farm incomes</strong></a> by 2022, lavender cultivation also provided employment to the district&rsquo;s women farmers thus gave impetus to inclusive growth.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aroma Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Objectives:</strong> The CSIR Aroma Mission is envisaged to <strong>bring transformative change in the aroma sector through desired interventions</strong> in the areas of agriculture, processing and product development for fuelling the growth of aroma industry and rural employment.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The mission will promote the cultivation of aromatic crops for essential oils that are in great demand by the aroma industry.</li>
<li>It is expected to enable Indian farmers and aroma industry <strong>to become global leaders in the production and export</strong> of some other essential oils on the pattern of menthol mint.</li>
<li>It aims to provide <strong>substantial benefits to the farmers in achieving higher profits</strong>, utilization of waste lands and protection of their crops from wild and grazing animals.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Nodal Agencies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The nodal laboratory is CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CSIR-CIMAP), Lucknow. The participating laboratories are CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (CSIR-IHBT), Palampur; CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Jammu etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coverage:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scientific interventions made under the mission project would provide assured benefits to the growers of <strong>Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, Gujarat, Marathwada, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha</strong> and other states where farmers are exposed to frequent episodes of weather extremes and account for maximum suicides.</li>
<li>Aromatic Plants include lavender, damask rose, mushk bala, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Intended Outcomes:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Bring about 5500 ha of additional area under captive cultivation aromatic cash crops particularly targeting rain-fed /degraded land across the country.</li>
<li>Provide <strong>technical and infrastructural support for distillation</strong> and values-addition to farmers/growers all over the country.</li>
<li>Enabling <strong>effective buy-back mechanisms</strong> to assure remunerative prices to the farmers/growers.</li>
<li>Value-addition to essential oils and aroma ingredients for their integration in global trade and economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/agriculture/jammu-s-purple-revolution-lavender-brings-in-scent-of-profit-for-doda-farmers-75714" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7758,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Animal Husbandry',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A variety of policy concerns and the ongoing discussion over <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/agricultural-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>farm laws</strong></a> have fixed the spotlight on <strong>infrastructure investments necessary</strong> to boost productivity levels and fill critical gaps in production especially in the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/animal-rearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Animal Husbandry</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>As the bulk of establishments in this sector is <strong>concentrated in rural India,</strong> the <strong>socio-economic relevance</strong> of this sector cannot be overstated.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Animal husbandry refers to <strong>livestock raising and selective breeding.</strong> It is the management and <strong>care of animals in which the genetic qualities</strong> and behavior of animals are further developed for profit.</li>
<li>A large number of<strong> farmers depend upon animal husbandry for their livelihood.</strong> It supports the livelihood of <strong>almost 55% of the rural population.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Economic Survey-2021</a>,</strong> the <strong>contribution of Livestock</strong> in total agriculture and allied sector <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gross-value-added" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gross Value Added</strong></a> (at Constant Prices) has <strong>increased from 24.32% (2014-15) to 28.63% (2018-19).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is the <strong>highest livestock owner of the world.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As per the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/20th-livestock-census" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>20<sup>th</sup> Livestock Census</strong></a>, the total <strong>Livestock population is 535.78 million in the country</strong> showing an increase of 4.6% over Livestock Census-2012.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Animal rearing has<strong> multidimensional potential.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>For instance, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/operation-greens-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Flood</strong></a>, launched in 1970, <strong>helped dairy farmers direct their own development, increased milk production</strong> ("a flood of milk"), augmented rural incomes and ensured reasonable prices for consumers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It has <strong>contributed significantly to the empowerment of women</strong> and has increased their income and role in society.</li>
<li>It is a <strong>major risk mitigation approach for small and marginal farmers,</strong> particularly across the rain-fed regions of India.</li>
<li>It is at the <strong>centre of poverty alleviation programs</strong> from equity and livelihood standpoints.</li>
<li>Livestock productivity has been identified as <strong>one of the seven sources of income</strong> growth by the <strong>Inter-Ministerial Committee under the government&rsquo;s target of doubling farmers' income by the year 2022.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Non-availability</strong> of superior <strong>quality breeding bulls.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Poor quality of semen</strong> produced by many of the laboratories.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Shortage of <strong>fodder resources and ineffective control of animal diseases.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Absence of field oriented conservation</strong> strategy for indigenous breeds.</li>
<li><strong>Lack of skills and quality services</strong> to farmers for improving productivity and <strong>improper infrastructure</strong> to support the sector.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Boost this Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-stimulus-iii" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund</a> (AHIDF):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> This is the first major fund launched by the government that includes a diverse set of stakeholders such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-producer-bodies-need-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO)</strong></a>, private dairy players, individual entrepreneurs, and non-profits within its ambit.</li>
<li><strong>Launch:</strong> June 2020.</li>
<li><strong>Fund:</strong> It has been set up with an outlay of Rs.15,000 crore.</li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To support private investment in Dairy Processing, value addition and cattle feed infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Incentives</strong> will be given for establishing plants for export of <strong>niche products.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A niche product is a product targeting a specific section of a larger industry and market. Niche products are often (but not always) more expensive than more generic products.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It will also support the establishment of <strong>animal feed plants of varying capacities &ndash;</strong> including setting up <strong>of mineral mixture plants, silage making units, and animal feed testing laboratory.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-animal-disease-control-programme-national-artificial-insemination-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Animal Disease Control Programme</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has been launched for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/schemes-to-control-fmd-and-brucellosis" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis</strong></a> with a total outlay of Rs.13,343 crore to ensure 100% vaccination of cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat and pig population.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rashtriya-gokul-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rashtriya Gokul Mission</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To develop and conserve indegenous breeds of bovine population.</li>
<li>To enhance milk production and to make it more remunerative to the farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Livestock Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Launched in the year 2014-15.</li>
<li>To ensure quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock production systems and capacity building of all stakeholders.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-animal-disease-control-programme-national-artificial-insemination-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Artificial Insemination Programme</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To suggest novel methods of bringing about impregnation in female breeds.</li>
<li>To prevent the spread of certain diseases which are genital in nature, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the breed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If investments are undertaken in a timely manner, even as the country seeks an exit out of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/future-pandemics-and-reduction-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>pandemic</strong></a>-induced economic slowdown, pressure will be reduced across the farm sector with immense benefits for the entire economy.</li>
<li>Macro benefits regarding <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> and employment are linked to the Animal Husbandry sector and <strong>enhanced infrastructure</strong> can make processing units more energy-efficient and help mitigate their carbon footprint.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/new-paradigm-in-animal-husbandry/article33907193.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 4 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 7691,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Doubling Farmers Income',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Central Government admitted that no<strong> actual assessment of farm income</strong> has been carried out since 2013.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Government of India in its <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/government-budgeting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Annual Budget</a> 2016-17</strong> set a policy target of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/doubling-farmers-income-a-promise-to-be-fulfilled-by-2022" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>doubling farmers&rsquo; income by 2022.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Agriculture sustains livelihood for <strong>more than half of India's total population.</strong> Doubling farmers&rsquo; income in such a short period is an overwhelming task for decision makers, scientists and policy makers because of its <strong>continued role in employment, income and most importantly in national food security.</strong></li>
<li>Doubling farmers&rsquo; income is possible through <strong>increasing total output</strong> and <strong>better price realization</strong> in the market, <strong>reduction in production costs,diversification of product, efficient post-harvest management, value addition,</strong> etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Data Related to Indian Farmers:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613381119_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1613381119_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="700" height="635" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Related Steps Taken by Government:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Institutional Reforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/soil-health-card-scheme-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil health card</strong></a>, <strong>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/lakshadweep-declared-an-organic-union-territory" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana</a>:</strong> Aiming to raise output and reduce cost.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana-pmfby" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana</strong></a>: To provide insurance against crop and income loss and to encourage investment in farming.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/challenges-of-river-interlinking" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Interlinking of rivers</strong> </a>- To raise output and farm incomes.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/operation-greens-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Operation Greens</strong></a>: To address price volatility of perishable commodities like Tomato, Onion and Potato (TOP).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-kisan-sampada-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>PM Kisan Sampada Yojana</strong></a>: To promote food processing in a holistic manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Technological Reforms:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Initiating E-NAM:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/new-features-added-to-e-nam" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Agriculture Market (eNAM)</strong></a> is a pan-India electronic trading portal which networks the existing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agriculture-produce-to-agriculture-marketing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs)</strong></a> mandis to create a unified national market for agricultural commodities.</li>
<li><strong>Technology mission on cotton:</strong> It aims to increase the income of the cotton growers by reducing the cost of cultivation as well as by increasing the yield per hectare through proper transfer of technology to the growers.</li>
<li><strong>Technology Mission on Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize (TMOPM):</strong> Few schemes implemented under TMOPM are: Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP), National Pulses Development Project (NPDP), etc.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/horticulture-sector-in-india#:~:text=Mission%20for%20Integrated%20Development%20of,and%20reducing%20post%2Dharvest%20losses." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)</strong></a>: It is a scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables, root &amp; tuber crops, mushrooms, spices, flowers, aromatic plants, coconut, cashew, cocoa and bamboo.</li>
<li><strong>Sugar Technology Mission:</strong> Aimed at reducing the cost of production of sugar and improving sugar quality through steps for improvements in productivity, energy conservation and improvements in capital output ratio.</li>
<li><strong>National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture:</strong> It aims at promoting sustainable agriculture through a series of adaptation measures focusing on ten key dimensions encompassing Indian agriculture namely; &lsquo;Improved crop seeds, livestock and fish cultures&rsquo;, &lsquo;Water Use Efficiency&rsquo;, &lsquo;Pest Management&rsquo;, &lsquo;Improved Farm Practices&rsquo;, &lsquo;Nutrient Management&rsquo;, &lsquo;Agricultural insurance&rsquo;, &lsquo;Credit support&rsquo;, &lsquo;Markets&rsquo;, &lsquo;Access to Information&rsquo; and &lsquo;Livelihood diversification&rsquo;.</li>
<li>In addition, schemes relating to tree plantation <strong>(Har Medh Par Ped),</strong> Bee Keeping, Dairy and Fisheries are also implemented.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need and Challenges:</strong> To achieve the target of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/highlights-of-economic-survey-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Economic Survey 2021</strong> </a>has highlighted few basic challenges which needs to be addressed:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Extension of Irrigation Facilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>coverage of irrigation facilities needs to be extended</strong> while ensuring an effective water conservation mechanism.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improve Agricultural Credit:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>An inclusive approach to provision for agricultural credit has to be undertaken to address the <strong>issue of skewness in its regional distribution,</strong> it said.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Reform:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the proportion of small and marginal holdings is significantly large, <strong>land reform measures like freeing up land markets</strong> can help farmers improve their Income.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Boost to Allied Sectors:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Allied sectors, such as <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/animal-rearing" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>animal husbandry</strong></a>, <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-dairy-industry-fta" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>dairying</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-fisheries-day-1#:~:text=The%20fisheries%20and%20aquaculture%20production,as%20envisioned%20by%20the%20government." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fisheries</strong></a>, need to be given a boost to<strong> provide an assured secondary source of employment and income,</strong> especially for small and marginal farmers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Farm Mechanisation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is also a need to address the<strong> issue of lower farm mechanisation in India</strong> which is only about <strong>40%</strong> as compared to about 60% in China and around 75 % in Brazil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Improving Food Processing Sector:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>More focussed attention" is required to be given to the sector due to its <strong>significant role in reducing post-harvest losses</strong> and creation of an additional market for farm outputs.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/india-s-food-processing-industry-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> food processing sector</strong></a> is growing at an average annual growth rate of more than 5% over the last six years ending 2017-18.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Exploring Global Markets:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is a need to give increased focus on exploring global markets for agricultural commodities to <strong>give an additional source of market for the surplus of agricultural produce</strong> India currently has.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reallocation of Labour:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is also a need to <strong>reallocate labour resources to other sectors.</strong></li>
<li>Though the structural transformations involved a falling share of the agriculture sector and rising share of services sector jobs, more needs to be done to <strong>create manufacturing jobs to absorb the large pool of workers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Issues such as investment in agriculture, <strong>insurance coverage, water conservation, improved yields through better farming practices, access to market, availability of institutional credit, increasing the linkages between agricultural and non-agricultural sectors</strong> need urgent attention.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The low level of farmers' income and year to year fluctuations in it are a <strong>major source of agrarian distress.</strong></li>
<li>To secure the future of agriculture and to improve the livelihood of half of India's population, adequate<strong> attention needs to be given to improve the welfare of farmers</strong> and raise agricultural income.</li>
<li>It is essential to <strong>mobilize States and UTs to own and achieve the goal of doubling farmers' income</strong> with active focus on capacity building (technology adoption and awareness) of farmers that will be the catalyst to boost farmers income.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/restructuring-of-indian-statistical-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Sample Survey Office&rsquo;s</strong></a> last survey on agricultural households was conducted in 2013. There has been no further assessment of the farmers income. Therefore there is an<strong> urgent need to track the progress of farmers.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pandemic-may-impact-goal-to-double-farm-income-by-2022-official/article33836233.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7433,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Issues with Agriculture in India',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/farmer-s-protest" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>protest by thousands of farmers</strong></a> at Delhi&rsquo;s borders have brought to focus a range of<strong> issues in agriculture in India.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The protests are against the three farm bills that seek to replace <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>ordinances issued in june 2020.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Concerns of Protesting Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These laws signal the beginning of the <strong>end of open-ended procurement of wheat and paddy.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>success of states (Punjab and Haryana)</strong> in creating the infrastructure for procurement may now<strong> become the reason for withdrawal of support of the Centre.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Stocking by corporates,</strong> especially those which are in modern retail and e-commerce</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Land Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Decreasing Area:</strong> Area under agriculture has been shrinking, it reduced from <strong>159.5</strong> million hectares <strong>(mn ha) in 2010-11 to 157 mn ha in 2015-16.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Increase in Land Holdings:</strong> The number of<strong> operational holdings has been rising</strong> (increased from 138.3 million to about 146 million) owing to increasing population.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This<strong> leads to falling average landholdings&rsquo; size</strong> of farmers, which has come down from 1.2 ha to about 1.08 ha.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Forced Selling: Smaller landholdings produce smaller pockets of produce,</strong> aggregation of which becomes essential for even a trolley-load to be carried to an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/agricultural-marketing-reforms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC)</strong> </a>mandi or a nearby market. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Due to small holdings caused by fragmentation, small and marginal farmers are <strong>forced to sell their produce at the farm gate itself.</strong></li>
<li>This is especially so in states that have a weak network of APMC mandis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>No Access to Modern Technology:</strong> Bringing new technologies and practices to such a large number of smallholders scattered over a vast countryside and integrating them with the modern input and output markets is a <strong>huge challenge for Indian agriculture.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>More Farm Labourers than Farmers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>farmer</strong> is usually a<strong> farm owner,</strong> while <strong>employees</strong> of the farm are farm labourers, farmhands, etc.</li>
<li><strong>Employment in Agri-sector:</strong> As per recent estimates from the<strong> Labour Bureau, 45%</strong> of India&rsquo;s workforce is employed in agriculture. .</li>
<li><strong>Labours in Agri-sector:</strong> According to<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/2011-census-data-on-migration" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Census 2011</strong></a>, <strong>55%</strong> of the agri-workforce comprises agri-labourers.</li>
<li><strong>No support for Labours:</strong> It is tough to drive or sustain growth in agriculture since farm labourers get no policy support or incentive to invest in farming.</li>
<li><strong>Owners Getting the Benefit:</strong> All benefits like seed kit, fertilisers, pesticides, farm machinery, micro-irrigation, land development assistance etc. are meant only for those who can prove land ownership.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Falling Investment in Agriculture:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Gross Capital Formation (GCF)</strong> in agriculture as a percentage of the total GCF in the economy has<strong> fallen from 8.5 % in Financial Year 2011-12 to 6.5 % in Financial Year 2018-19.</strong> This is because the share of private investment has shrunk.</li>
<li>Though public investment has gone up it is not sufficient to check the slide or keep the GCF at FY12 level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Subsidy and Related Issues:.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Flowing to Businesses:</strong> A number of subsidies meant for agriculture also flow to businesses, e.g <strong>grants given to food processing units and cold chain projects.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Net Loss of Farmers:</strong> As per the <strong>Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations- <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oecds-forecast-for-global-economy-in-2060" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development</a> (ICRIER-OECD)</strong> report, despite the plethora of schemes run to support and subsidise Indian farmers, because of <strong>regressive policies on the marketing side</strong> (both domestic and international trade policies) and the <strong>deficit of basic infrastructure for storage, transportation</strong> etc., <strong>Indian farmers suffered net losses</strong> and thus emerged to be net taxed despite receiving subsidies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Minimum Support Price (MSP) and Related Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Selective Procurement:</strong> The government<strong> declares <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/minimum-support-price-for-crops#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20major%20demands,of%20the%20cost%20of%20production." target="_blank" rel="noopener">MSP</a> for 23 crops,</strong> only wheat and paddy (rice) are procured in large quantities as they are required to meet the requirement of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/public-distribution-system-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Public Distribution System</strong> </a>(PDS), which is about 65 million tonnes.</li>
<li><strong>Stagnant Rates of MSP:</strong> The government declaration of Minimum support prices do not increase at par with increase in cost of production.</li>
<li><strong>Unequal Access:</strong> The benefits of this scheme do not reach all farmers and for all crops. There are many regions of the country like the north-eastern region where the implementation is too weak.</li>
<li><strong>Non Scientific Practices:</strong> MSP leads to non-scientific agricultural practices whereby the soil, water are stressed to an extent of degrading ground water table and salinisation of soil.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If India has to move away from procurement-based support, at present restricted to certain crops only, a <strong>more attractive income support scheme has to be conceived coupled with much higher investment, both public and private,</strong> in agri-infrastructure.</li>
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/food-security-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)</strong> </a>incentivised the states, which increased their expenditure on agriculture. The <strong>Centre&rsquo;s assistance for such states should be higher.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Focused research on crops grown in low-productivity states can deliver better seeds,</strong> which can withstand the challenge of higher temperature due to climate change.</li>
<li>Democratic norms and processes like <strong>open public debate, dialogue with stakeholders and detailed Parliamentary scrutiny</strong> to ensure every aspect and implication of a public policy goes through meticulous examination before being adopted and implemented is crucial to fix the issues with agriculture.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/issues-in-indian-agriculture-7141148/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source:IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 7200,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'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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		'article_id' => (int) 7166,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Lakshadweep Declared an Organic Union Territory',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<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) 8 => 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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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'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) 10 => 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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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'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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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'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) 15 => 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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