Daily Answer Writing

Model Answer

Key Challenges Faced by India’s Livestock Sector

1. Low Productivity: Indigenous breeds have significantly lower productivity compared to foreign varieties, making them less beneficial for farmers .
2. High Incidence of Diseases: Cross-breeding programs have improved livestock quality but have also increased susceptibility to diseases like haemorrhagic septicaemia and swine fever, leading to economic losses for farmers .
3. Inadequate Infrastructure: There is a shortage of veterinary institutions, vaccines, cold storage facilities, and extension services, which hampers livestock health and productivity .
4. Lack of Institutional Credit: Farmers often struggle to access credit, which limits their ability to invest in better livestock management practices .
5. Informal Livestock Markets: The livestock market remains largely informal, making it difficult for farmers to get fair prices for their animals .
6. Shortage of Feed and Fodder: Only 5% of cropped area is used for fodder production, and the area under permanent pastures is decreasing, leading to feed shortages .
7. Lack of Inclusivity: Unconventional milk sources like camel and yak are not adequately included in policies and programs .
8. Globalization Challenges: Unfavorable food safety and quality norms hinder the potential for export growth in the livestock sector .

Proposed Measures to Overcome Challenges

1. Strengthening Market Linkages: Establish cooperatives and producers’ associations to improve connections between production and markets.
2. Promoting Automation: Implement livestock farm automation systems to enhance efficiency and product quality.
3. Increased Funding: Explore additional funding under schemes like Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to improve veterinary health services.
4. Mobile Veterinary Clinics: Establish a network of Mobile Veterinary Clinics (MVC) to provide services in remote areas.
5. Increase Veterinary Colleges: Expand the number of veterinary colleges to address the shortage of trained professionals.
6. Private Sector Investments: Encourage investments from private companies and cooperatives to enhance veterinary infrastructure.
7. One-Stop Centre for Livestock Issues: Create a centralized hub for information and solutions to livestock-related problems, aiding in disease eradication.

By addressing these challenges through the proposed measures, the livestock sector can significantly contribute to rural livelihoods and help achieve the goal of doubling farmers’ income.

Model Answer

1. Definition and Significance

Backward and forward linkages are critical in the food processing industry as they enhance the industry’s ability to generate demand for products from other sectors.

• Backward Linkages: These connect food processors with raw material suppliers, ensuring timely access to quality inputs. For instance, a ketchup manufacturer relies on a steady supply of tomatoes.
• Forward Linkages: These link processors to markets through distribution networks, which include storage facilities and transportation infrastructure.

Benefits:

• Direct connections between farmers and processors encourage the cultivation of high-quality produce, benefiting both parties.
• Reducing intermediaries allows farmers, particularly marginal and medium ones, to receive better returns on their crops.
• Cold storage facilities minimize food wastage, especially for perishables like fruits and dairy products.
• Efficient distribution networks ensure timely delivery of food products to consumers, maintaining product quality and reducing costs.

Challenges in Developing Strong Linkages in India

1. Fragmented Land Holdings

Due to small and dispersed land holdings, the marketable surplus is limited, complicating the procurement of quality raw materials for processors.

2. Seasonality of Production

The high seasonality of raw material production restricts the effective utilization of established linkages, affecting consistency in supply.

3. Poor Infrastructure

Insufficient infrastructure, such as inadequate cold storage and transportation facilities, hinders both backward and forward integration.

4. Fragmented Industry Structure

The unorganized nature of the food processing industry limits efficient supply chain management and coordination among stakeholders.

5. Information Gaps

Farmers and small processors often lack access to vital market information, leading to substandard processing and compromised product quality.

6. Regulatory Challenges

Conflicting legislation and lack of coordination among various regulatory bodies create administrative delays and confusion, impacting the efficiency of the sector.

Conclusion

To address these issues, the Indian government has initiated the “Scheme for Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages,” which provides financial assistance for setting up processing and collection centers. Additionally, events like the Mega International Food Summit aim to leverage technology to find solutions for challenges in the food processing sector. Strengthening these linkages is essential for enhancing competitiveness and ensuring food safety standards, ultimately benefiting farmers, processors, and consumers alike.

Model Answer

1. Institutional Issues

• Licensing Barriers: The requirement for new entrepreneurs to own a shop or godown to obtain a license as commission agents poses a significant entry barrier to existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs).
• High Market Charges: APMCs can collect market fees ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% of the sale value. Additional charges, such as purchase tax and weighment charges, can total as high as 15% in some states.
• Lack of Standardized Grading: The absence of a standardized grading mechanism before sale prevents farmers from obtaining prices that reflect the quality of their produce.

2. Infrastructural Issues

• Poor Market Infrastructure: Studies show that only two-thirds of regulated markets have covered auction platforms, and less than one-tenth have cold storage facilities. Grading facilities are available in less than one-third of the markets.
• Economic Viability: Agricultural marketing infrastructure projects often have long gestation periods, and the seasonal nature of agricultural produce affects their economic viability, deterring investments.

3. Market Information System Issues

• Lag in Demand Signals: Inefficient real-time information channels lead to delays in demand signals, causing farmers to rely on outdated price trends.
• Limited Information Channels: Existing information dissemination methods primarily cover major commodities and are often not available in local languages, limiting accessibility for farmers.

Steps Taken to Address These Issues

1. Model APMC Act, 2003

This act aimed to amend existing rules to tackle the aforementioned issues; however, only sixteen states have amended their acts, and only six states have notified the amended rules.

2. Direct Marketing Initiatives

Programs like Apni Mandi in Punjab and Rythu Bazaars in Andhra Pradesh allow farmers to sell directly to consumers, bypassing intermediaries.

3. AGMARKNET

This e-governance portal provides agricultural marketing information to stakeholders, facilitating better decision-making.

4. Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs)

Efforts are underway to upgrade 22,000 rural haats into GrAMs, which will feature improved infrastructure and better road linkages, remaining outside APMC regulations.

5. Kisan Rail

This initiative aims to ensure safe and fast transportation of perishables, aiding in better price realization for farmers.

6. Farmer Produce Organizations (FPOs)

A scheme to create 10,000 FPOs by 2024 provides handholding support, enhancing farmers’ bargaining power in the market.

Conclusion

Improving agricultural marketing infrastructure and systems is crucial for better price realization for farmers. The steps taken by the government aim to address the existing challenges, promoting competitive trade and enhancing the efficiency of the agricultural marketing process.

Introduction

The Swiss Challenge Model is a method of public procurement that allows public authorities to receive unsolicited proposals for unique projects involving specialized design, technology, and intellectual property rights. Following the evaluation of these proposals, if they align with public priorities, authorities may invite competing bids from other parties. The original proponent can then revise their proposal in light of the competition, ultimately awarding the contract to the best submission. This approach was endorsed by the Supreme Court in 2009, prompting state governments like Maharashtra and Karnataka to develop their guidelines for its implementation.

Benefits of the Swiss Challenge Model

1. Promotes Competition: By inviting counter-proposals, this model fosters competitive bidding, which can lead to optimal project costs (Source: Supreme Court ruling, 2009).
2. Enhances Efficiency: It streamlines pre-project activities and feasibility studies, saving time and costs compared to other Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models (Source: Expert analyses on PPP).
3. Professionalism: The structured nature of the model means better risk management and project preparation, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays (Source: Procurement guidelines).
4. Encourages Creativity: Competitors can analyze and improve upon the original designs, leading to innovative project execution (Source: Industry reports on design competition).
5. Equitability: It provides a pathway for governments with limited resources to develop projects effectively (Source: Public policy evaluations).

Challenges of the Swiss Challenge Model

1. Transparency Issues: The model can suffer from a lack of transparency, making accountability difficult when dealing with unsolicited proposals.
2. Crony Capitalism Risks: There is potential for favoritism, allowing companies to manipulate processes to win contracts.
3. Bidding Asymmetry: Disparities in preparation time between original proponents and counter-bidders can create unfair advantages.
4. Legal Validity Concerns: The absence of robust regulatory frameworks raises questions about the legality of counter-proposals differing from originals.
5. Valuation Difficulties: Assessing the monetary value of unsolicited proposals can be problematic, particularly when the original proponent is not awarded the contract.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the Swiss Challenge Model offers significant advantages in enhancing competition and efficiency, addressing its inherent challenges is vital for its successful implementation. A national policy framework could mitigate these issues, fostering innovation and greater fairness in public procurement.

Model Answer

Introduction

In India, women face a disproportionately heavier burden of poverty compared to men due to various systemic issues. Understanding the causes of poverty among women and the measures taken to address it is crucial for promoting gender equality and economic empowerment.

Causes of Poverty Among Women

1. Unpaid Care Work: Women are primarily responsible for unpaid household work, spending approximately five hours daily on caregiving, while men spend only about half an hour. This imbalance leads to time poverty and limits women’s opportunities for paid employment.
2. Low Female Labour Force Participation Rate: Social stigma, violence, and unsafe working conditions deter women from entering the labor market. The Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has declined from 30.3% in 1990 to just 20.5% in 2019.
3. Gender Gaps in Nutrition, Education, and Health: Women, especially in poorer households, face significant disparities in access to nutrition, education, and healthcare, further entrenching their poverty.
4. Low Wages: Women earn 34% less than men for the same work, which discourages them from seeking employment and perpetuates economic dependency.
5. Lack of Decent Work Conditions: A majority of women work in the informal sector, lacking employment contracts, legal rights, and social protections, which keeps them trapped in poverty.

Measures Taken to Address Poverty Among Women

1. Legislative Measures: The government has enacted laws such as the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013, to promote women’s rights and workplace safety.
2. Government Schemes: Initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the One Stop Centre Scheme aim to address gender inequality and empower women.
3. National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): This mission focuses on the overall development of women through various empowerment processes.
4. Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK): This initiative provides micro-finance services to uplift poor women socio-economically.
5. Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP): This program aims to ensure sustainable employment for marginalized women.
6. Working Women Hostels: These hostels provide safe accommodation for working women, facilitating their employment opportunities.

Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction (50-75 words)

• Context: Introduce the issue of poverty among women in India and the significance of addressing gender disparities.
• Thesis Statement: State that the answer will explore the causes of poverty among women and the measures taken to mitigate this issue.

2. Causes of Poverty Among Women (100-125 words)

• Unpaid Care Work: Explain how women’s responsibility for unpaid domestic work limits their opportunities for paid employment.
  • Fact: Women spend around five hours daily on unpaid care work, while men spend only half an hour.
• Low Female Labour Force Participation Rate: Discuss the decline in women’s participation in the workforce due to social stigma and unsafe working conditions.
  • Fact: FLFPR decreased from 30.3% in 1990 to 20.5% in 2019.
• Gender Gaps in Nutrition, Education, and Health: Highlight disparities that affect women’s socio-economic status, particularly in poorer households.
• Low Wages: Address the wage gap where women earn 34% less than their male counterparts for the same work.
• Lack of Decent Work Conditions: Mention the prevalence of informal employment and its associated vulnerabilities.

3. Measures Taken to Address Poverty Among Women (100-125 words)

• Legislative Measures: Describe key laws aimed at empowering women.
  • Fact: Equal Remuneration Act, 1976, and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
• Government Schemes: Outline initiatives aimed at reducing gender inequality.
  • Fact: Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and One Stop Centre Scheme focus on empowerment.
• National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW): Discuss its role in promoting women’s development.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK): Explain how this micro-finance initiative helps uplift poor women.
• Support to Training and Employment Program for Women (STEP): Mention efforts to ensure sustainable employment for marginalized women.
• Working Women Hostels: Discuss how these hostels facilitate safe accommodation for working women.

4. Conclusion (50-75 words)

• Summary: Recap the causes of poverty among women and the various measures taken to address these issues.
• Call for Action: Emphasize the importance of continued efforts and policies to empower women and reduce poverty effectively.