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Agriculture & Food Management
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Can smart irrigation effectively tackle the challenges of India's current irrigation system?(200 Words)
Model Answer Issues with India's Current Irrigation System Low Coverage: Despite progress, only 55% of India's cultivated land has access to assured irrigation, leaving many farmers dependent on unpredictable rainfall. Unequal Distribution: Regional disparities persist in irrigation infrastructure.Read more
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Issues with India’s Current Irrigation System
Role of Smart Irrigation Systems (SIS)
Conclusion
While high costs, power supply issues, and the need for farmer training remain challenges, smart irrigation systems offer a transformative solution for India’s irrigation inefficiencies. Their adoption can pave the way for sustainable water management and improved agricultural productivity.
See lessDespite being the world's largest producer and consumer of pulses, India continues to rely on imports to meet its domestic demand. Analyze the key factors contributing to this imbalance.(200 Words)
Model Answer Introduction India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses, contributing 35% of the global area and 25% of global production. Despite a 50% rise in domestic production over the last decade (from 18.3 million tonnes to 27.5 million tonnes), the country still relies on imports, accRead more
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Introduction
India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses, contributing 35% of the global area and 25% of global production. Despite a 50% rise in domestic production over the last decade (from 18.3 million tonnes to 27.5 million tonnes), the country still relies on imports, accounting for 9% of pulse consumption in 2021-22.
Key Factors Contributing to the Imbalance
1. Inadequate Government Procurement
2. Hoarding and Cartelization
3. Lower Yields
4. Production Disparities
5. Infrastructure Gaps
6. Rising Demand from Dietary Changes
Conclusion
To reduce import dependency, India must focus on improving yields through better technology, incentivizing farmers with assured MSP, reducing wastage via robust infrastructure, and diversifying pulse production. Addressing these issues is critical to ensuring food security and achieving self-sufficiency in pulses.
See lessWhat are operational stocks and strategic reserves in the context of India's foodgrain stocking norms? Evaluate the buffer stocking policy of India critically.(200 Words)
Model Answer Operational Stocks and Strategic Reserves In India, operational stocks refer to the foodgrains maintained for distribution under public welfare schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS). These stocks are intended to meet the daily food requirements of the population, ensuring foRead more
Model Answer
Operational Stocks and Strategic Reserves
In India, operational stocks refer to the foodgrains maintained for distribution under public welfare schemes like the Public Distribution System (PDS). These stocks are intended to meet the daily food requirements of the population, ensuring food security. Strategic reserves, on the other hand, are surplus stocks held beyond the operational needs by the Food Corporation of India (FCI). These reserves help stabilize food prices and are used in case of emergencies such as droughts or unforeseen food shortages.
Buffer Stocking Policy: A Critical Evaluation
The buffer stocking policy in India plays a crucial role in food security by managing food supply, stabilizing prices, and preventing crises. However, there are several concerns with its implementation:
Conclusion
While the buffer stocking policy has successfully contributed to food security, its sustainability needs reassessment. Efficient procurement, better storage facilities, increased private sector involvement, and promoting crop diversification are essential to optimize this policy and reduce its financial and logistical burden on the government.
See lessHow are climate change and the resulting extreme weather events affecting the cropping patterns in different regions of India?(200 Words)
Model Answer Impact of Climate Change on Cropping Patterns in India Climate change and extreme weather events are significantly altering agricultural practices in India, a country highly dependent on rainfed agriculture. These changes are affecting cropping patterns across various regions in the folRead more
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Impact of Climate Change on Cropping Patterns in India
Climate change and extreme weather events are significantly altering agricultural practices in India, a country highly dependent on rainfed agriculture. These changes are affecting cropping patterns across various regions in the following ways:
1. Shifting from Kharif to Rabi Crops Due to Flooding
In flood-prone regions, farmers are adjusting their cropping patterns to avoid the damages caused by unpredictable rainfall and floods. For example, in Assam’s Dhemaji district, farmers are increasingly opting to cultivate Rabi crops such as mustard, potatoes, and peas, instead of traditional Kharif crops like rice, which are more susceptible to flooding.
2. Early Harvesting Due to Rising Temperatures
Rising temperatures are shortening crop cycles, forcing farmers to harvest crops earlier than usual. In North India, for instance, mustard was harvested as early as February 2023, a significant shift from the traditional harvest time of March or April. This change impacts crop yields and overall productivity.
3. Shifting to Higher Altitudes
In regions like Himachal Pradesh, increasing winter temperatures are affecting the farming environment. As a result, apple growers are moving their orchards to higher altitudes or adopting mixed farming by intercropping vegetables and fruits in lower-altitude areas to adapt to changing climatic conditions.
4. Transition to Aquaculture in Coastal Areas
In coastal regions like South Gujarat, saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels has made traditional agriculture unsustainable. As a result, many farmers are transitioning to aquaculture, adjusting their practices to the changing ecosystem.
5. Adopting Less Water-Intensive Crops
Changes in precipitation and increasing evaporation are leading to water scarcity, particularly in drought-prone areas. Farmers in Maharashtra, for example, have shifted from water-intensive crops like grapes to more drought-tolerant crops like pomegranates.
6. Adopting New Techniques
To cope with extreme weather events, many farmers are incorporating new technologies, such as storm-resistant greenhouses, which provide a protective environment for crops against harsh weather.
Conclusion
The impacts of climate change on cropping patterns in India are profound, but adaptation strategies like those promoted by government initiatives, such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA), are crucial to making Indian agriculture more resilient.
See lessWhat are the key challenges associated with the storage of agricultural produce in India, and what steps can be taken to overcome them?(200 Words)
Model Answer Key Challenges in Agricultural Produce Storage in India Insufficient Storage Capacity India’s current food grain storage capacity is 145 million metric tonnes (MMT), which is far less than the total food production of 311 MMT, creating a storage gap of 166 MMT. This shortage limits theRead more
Model Answer
Key Challenges in Agricultural Produce Storage in India
India’s current food grain storage capacity is 145 million metric tonnes (MMT), which is far less than the total food production of 311 MMT, creating a storage gap of 166 MMT. This shortage limits the ability to store surplus grains, especially during peak production seasons, leading to inefficiencies and losses.
Many storage facilities lack proper hygiene and infrastructure, resulting in post-harvest losses due to spoilage and infestation. For example, about 10% of the 1,000 lakh metric tonnes of wheat produced annually are lost due to inadequate storage methods. These practices compromise the quality of food grains.
Storage capacity is unevenly distributed across states. While southern states boast a storage capacity close to 90% of their food production, northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar fall short, with storage capacity below 50%. This regional disparity exacerbates food security concerns in areas with inadequate storage.
Cold storage is crucial for preserving perishable items like fruits and vegetables, but India faces a shortage in this area. Most existing cold storage is allocated for potatoes, leading to significant post-harvest losses for other crops. This lack of infrastructure affects the overall efficiency of the agricultural supply chain.
Measures to Address Storage Challenges
India must scale up the use of metal silos, which provide better and more scientific storage options. This will improve the handling and longevity of grains, reducing losses.
Storage facilities should be decentralized and set up at the village and Panchayat levels. This is particularly beneficial for small farmers who do not have access to large storage units.
Excess agricultural stock should be managed through measures such as exports or selling surplus in open markets. This would reduce pressure on existing storage facilities.
Private investment in agricultural storage, including cold storage and warehouses, should be incentivized. Encouraging competition will reduce costs and improve infrastructure availability.
The government is already implementing measures like the SAMPADA Yojana and Save Grain Campaign to improve storage. The establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Committee for a large grain storage initiative in the cooperative sector further aims to address these gaps
See lessDespite the numerous benefits of cultivating millets, the current state of millet production in India remains unsatisfactory. What are the primary factors contributing to the low adoption of millet cultivation by Indian farmers? Discuss.(200 Words)
Model Answer Despite their numerous benefits, such as being nutritionally rich and climate-resilient, millets have seen a decline in adoption by Indian farmers. Several factors contribute to this low uptake: 1. Low Demand and Consumption Millets were once a staple in Indian diets but their consumptiRead more
Model Answer
Despite their numerous benefits, such as being nutritionally rich and climate-resilient, millets have seen a decline in adoption by Indian farmers. Several factors contribute to this low uptake:
1. Low Demand and Consumption
Millets were once a staple in Indian diets but their consumption has sharply declined. The per capita consumption fell from 32.9 kg in 1962 to just 3.87 kg in 2022. Factors contributing to this include the longer cooking time required for millets compared to rice and wheat, a lack of value-added millet-based products, and diminishing traditional knowledge of millet-based recipes.
These factors have led to reduced consumer interest and demand for millet Productivity and Marginal Land Cultivation Millet productivity averages only 1 to 1.5 tonnes per hectare, which is significantly lower than that of rice and wheat. This low yield results in reduced profitability for farmers, forcing them to grow millets on marginal lands with even lower productivity potential. Consequently, farmers are often discouraged from choosing millets over more profitable crops .
2. Government Procurement
The government’s procurement of millets remains insufficient, which further exacerbates the issue. For example, the procurement rates for pearl millet, sorghum, and finger millet are extremely low, ranging from 1% to 15% of their total production. In contrast, procurement for staple crops like rice and wheat is much higher, ensuring better prices and stability for these crops .
3. Poor Seed Storage Issues
Farmers often face challenges with low-quality seeds, which are either contaminated with weeds or diseases, reducing the chances of a good yield. Additionally, millets have a shorter shelf life and are prone to pest infestation during storage, leading to higher wastage and decreased profitability .
Conclusion
To boost millet cultivation, India needs to focus on improving seed quality, enhancing government procurement, providing better storage solutions, and developing modern processing technologies. These efforts can drive both production and consumption, enabling millets to regain their role in India’s agricultural landscape.
See lessWhat are some of the technology that have helped grow a vegetation in an alien climatic zone?
Few organisms find it easy to grow in other planetary climatic regions. Technology, however, has developed solutions that are new and innovative: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA): Greenhouses: Modern greenhouses have incorporated sophisticated means of climate control, integrated and automatRead more
Few organisms find it easy to grow in other planetary climatic regions. Technology, however, has developed solutions that are new and innovative:
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA):
Greenhouses: Modern greenhouses have incorporated sophisticated means of climate control, integrated and automatic watering systems, and LED supplemental lighting, regardless of the weather outside.
Vertical Farming: This technique involves use of the available space in that the plants are planted in what may be referred to as tiers. It sometimes employs goggled conditions involving hydro or aeroponic systems, which returns little reliance on soil in managing resource exploitation.
Biotechnology:
Genetic Engineering: Through biotechnology scientists are able to apply for instance change ability in the plants in order to increase their ability to withstand temperatures change, drought, high salinity and other stressful conditions. This includes the process of trans placing genes from other organisms, which have such characteristics as desired.
Tissue Culture: By using this method the number of plants with such desirable traits, including disease or stress tolerance can be easily multiplied.
Precision Agriculture:
Sensors and Monitoring: Sophisticated transducers and data acquisition instruments can measure environmental factors, plant status, and resources on as-needed basis. Any such data may be used to enhance the efficiency of irrigation, fertilizing and other practices of crop management.
-Drones and Remote Sensing: To identify stressed areas and enhance the usage of resources, large commercial farm models would be useful to view from aerials and satellites.
Water Management Technologies:
Water-Hardiness Crops: The ability to produce a plant type that is drought-resistant is the first success towards gardening in areas that have limited water supply.
-Efficient Irrigation Systems: Sprinkle irrigation and drip irrigation and micro irrigation are water saving irrigation techniques since water is supplied directly to the root area of the plants.
See lessTo what extent can the newly implemented National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) contribute to the modernization of land records in India? (200 words)
Model Answer Contribution of NGDRS and ULPIN to Modernizing Land Records in India The implementation of the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) represents a significant step in the modernization of land records in India. BothRead more
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Contribution of NGDRS and ULPIN to Modernizing Land Records in India
The implementation of the National Generic Document Registration System (NGDRS) and the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) represents a significant step in the modernization of land records in India. Both initiatives are part of the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP) and aim to streamline land administration processes, improve transparency, and increase efficiency.
Key Benefits of NGDRS
NGDRS is a flexible, configurable platform designed to standardize property and document registration processes across India. This system offers several advantages:
Impact of ULPIN on Land Record Management
ULPIN, also known as Bhu-Aadhaar, assigns a unique 14-digit identification number to every land parcel, making it easier to track and manage land records. The benefits include:
Challenges and Limitations
Despite these advancements, challenges remain:
Conclusion
In conclusion, NGDRS and ULPIN offer substantial potential to modernize land records in India by improving transparency, efficiency, and accessibility. However, addressing legacy issues and ensuring broader digital access are critical to their success.
See lessWhat are the key factors contributing to the degradation of agricultural land in India, and what steps can be taken to address this issue? (200 words)
Model Answer Agricultural land degradation is a significant challenge in India, affecting nearly 30% (97.85 million hectares) of the country’s geographical area, according to ISRO's Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas. The following factors contribute to this issue: Soil Erosion: In rainfed aRead more
Model Answer
Agricultural land degradation is a significant challenge in India, affecting nearly 30% (97.85 million hectares) of the country’s geographical area, according to ISRO’s Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas. The following factors contribute to this issue:
Measures to Alleviate Agricultural Land Degradation
To combat land degradation, several measures can be implemented:
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification aims for a land degradation-neutral world by 2030, with India needing to restore at least 30 million hectares of degraded land to meet this target.
See lessWhat is the significance of agricultural marketing in India, and what initiatives has the government undertaken to improve the agricultural marketing system in the country? (200 words)
Model Answer Significance of Agricultural Marketing in India Agricultural marketing plays a crucial role in the Indian economy by ensuring the smooth movement of agricultural products from farms to consumers. It encompasses various activities such as assembling, grading, storage, transportation, andRead more
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Significance of Agricultural Marketing in India
Agricultural marketing plays a crucial role in the Indian economy by ensuring the smooth movement of agricultural products from farms to consumers. It encompasses various activities such as assembling, grading, storage, transportation, and distribution, impacting both the financial and institutional aspects of agriculture.
Government Initiatives to Improve Agricultural Marketing
Conclusion
The government’s initiatives are transforming the agricultural marketing landscape in India by improving market access, price discovery, and income for farmers. These efforts are expected to create a more efficient and transparent agricultural marketing system, benefiting both producers and consumers.
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