Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

   • Briefly introduce the concept of agricultural subsidies in India.
   • State the significance of evaluating their environmental effects.

2. Evaluation of Environmental Effects

   • Soil Degradation: Discuss how subsidies promote intensive farming and monocropping, leading to soil health deterioration. Mention the excessive use of chemical fertilizers as a contributing factor.
   • Air Pollution: Highlight the contribution of the fertilizer industry to air pollution, including specific pollutants released and their classification by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Note that agriculture contributes approximately 10-12% of total greenhouse gas emissions in India.
   • Water Pollution: Explain how fertilizer production and runoff lead to groundwater and surface water contamination, including the effects of harmful algal blooms.
   • Overexploitation of Groundwater: Provide statistics on groundwater depletion in key states, such as Punjab (79% over-exploitation) and others like Delhi and Rajasthan.

3. Proposed Strategies to Mitigate Impact

   • Efficient Fertilizer Use: Suggest promoting balanced fertilization and the use of Neem-coated urea to reduce chemical inputs.
   • Drip Irrigation: Advocate for the adoption of drip irrigation systems to enhance water efficiency and reduce wastage.
   • Conditional Funding: Recommend implementing funding mechanisms that reward environmentally friendly practices among farmers.
   • Organic Farming: Encourage the transition to organic farming to minimize chemical inputs and improve soil health.
   • Precision Agriculture: Propose the use of technologies like GPS and remote sensing to optimize resource use and reduce environmental impacts.
   • Integrated Projects: Support collaborative projects that involve farmers and scientists to innovate sustainable agricultural practices.

4. Conclusion

   • Summarize the key points discussed.
   • Emphasize the need for sustainable agricultural practices to balance productivity and environmental integrity.

Relevant Facts

• Agricultural subsidies in India include input subsidies (fertilizers, power, irrigation) and MSPs, which incentivize intensive farming practices.
• The fertilizer industry is classified as a “red category” polluting sector by the CPCB, contributing to significant air pollution.
• Agriculture contributes around 10-12% of India’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with low nitrogen use efficiency leading to nitrous oxide emissions.
• Over 79% of groundwater reservoirs in Punjab are over-exploited, highlighting the critical issue of groundwater depletion due to power subsidies for irrigation.