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GS Paper: Agriculture and related issues

  • Cabinet extends Agri Infra Fund loans to APMCs

    The Centre has decided to allow state-run market yards to access financing facilities through its Agricultural Infrastructure Fund to calm the fears of protesting farmers that such market yards are being weakened.

    Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Schemes

    • It is a Central Sector Scheme meant for setting up storage and processing facilities, which will help farmers, get higher prices for their crops.
    • The Union Cabinet approved this scheme in July 2020 for a period of 10 years.
    • It will support farmers, PACS, FPOs, Agri-entrepreneurs, etc. in building community farming assets and post-harvest agriculture infrastructure.
    • These assets will enable farmers to get greater value for their produce as they will be able to store and sell at higher prices, reduce wastage and increase processing and value addition.

        Note the following things about AIF:

        1) It is a Central Sector Scheme

        2) Duration of the scheme

        3)Target beneficiaries

    What exactly is the AIF?

    • The AIF is a medium – long term debt financing facility for investment in viable projects for post-harvest management infrastructure and community farming assets through interest subvention and credit guarantee.
    • Under the scheme, Rs. 1 Lakh Crore will be provided by banks and financial institutions as loans with an interest subvention of 3% per annum.
    • It will provide credit guarantee coverage under Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) for loans up to Rs. 2 Crore.

    Target beneficiaries

    The beneficiaries will include farmers:

    • PACS, Marketing Cooperative Societies, FPOs, SHGs, Joint Liability Groups (JLG), Multipurpose Cooperative Societies, Agri-entrepreneurs, Startups, and Central/State agency or Local Body sponsored Public-Private Partnership Projects

    What are the new changes?

    • The Union Cabinet decided to extend the AIF to State agencies and Agricultural Produce Marketing Committees (APMCs), as well as federations of cooperative organizations, Farmers Producers Organizations and self-help groups.
    • They will now be eligible for interest subvention for loans up to ₹2 crores, with APMCs allowed to access separate loans for different kinds of infrastructure projects to build cold storage, silos, sorting, grading and assaying units in their market yards.
    • The scheme has also been extended to 2032-33.

    Why such a move?

    • The modifications in the Scheme will help to achieve a multiplier effect in generating investments while ensuring that the benefits reach small and marginal farmers.
    • The APMC markets are set up to provide market linkages and create an ecosystem of post-harvest public infrastructure open to all farmers.
    • This is also proof that APMC will not end as the farmers’ concern since the three farm laws.

  • Fighting hunger needs fighting climate change

    The article suggests pathways to achieve SDG-2 by the adoption of climate-friendly agriculture practices.

    Food and SDG

    • Food is a common thread linking all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and critical to achieving overall goals within the timeframe.
    • NITI Aayog recently released the SDG India Index 2020-21, highlighting the national and states’ progress on SDGs.
    • The report states that 34.7% children aged under five in India are stunted.
    • 40.5% of children between 6-59 months are anaemic.
    • 50.3% of pregnant women between 15-49 years are anaemic.
    • India shares a quarter of the global hunger burden.
    • Four out of 10 children in India are not meeting their full human potential because of chronic undernutrition or stunting.
    • NFHS-5 shows many states have not fared well on nutrition indicators.
    • In addition to the malnutrition challenges, India’s food system faces negative consequences of the Green Revolution technologies.

    Pathways to follow in meeting the targets under SDG-2 (Zero Hunger)

    • Crop diversification especially in those areas where the existing practices are ecologically unsustainable should be promoted.
    • While Indian agriculture is a significant contributor to GHG emissions.
    • As per third Biennial Update Report submitted by Government of India to UNFCCC, agriculture sector contributes 14% of the total emissions.
    • Some of the climate-smart interventions like conservation agriculture, organic farming and agro-ecological approaches can effectively address the environmental concerns while ensuring food security and nutrition.
    • Crop-residue burning has become a huge problem in parts of the country.
    • This is mainly propelled by monoculture and a package of subsidies.
    • Conservation agriculture offers solutions to such problems with good agronomy and soil management such as zero-tillage or no-till farming, crop rotation, in-situ crop harvest residue management/mulching, etc, and industrial uses like baling and bio-fuel production.
    • Use of botanical pesticides, green-manuring, biological pest control, etc. are nature-friendly and such practices lead to eco-conservation.
    • The organic movement, fortunately, is catching up in Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and a few other states.
    • Modifying consumer behaviour forms an essential ingredient to transform Indian food systems and correlate positively with crop and diet diversity.
    • POSHAN Abhiyaan, India’s national nutrition mission, can play an effective role in addressing the issues of persistent malnutrition.
    • According to FAO estimates, 40% of the food produced in India is either lost or wasted in every stage of supply chain.
    • Winning the fight against food loss and waste can save India $61 billion in 2050 through increased industry profitability and reduced food insecurity, as well as reduced GHG emissions, water usage, and environmental degradation.
    • Shifting towards a circular economy can enable India progress towards the SDGs including halving food waste by 2030 and improving resource efficiency.

    Conclusion

    India’s success is essential to achieve the planetary goal of Zero Hunger. There is a need for transformation towards sustainable, nutritious and resilient food systems to achieve the goal of zero hunger.

    Source:-

    https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/fighting-hunger-needs-fighting-climate-change/2279369/

  • Significance and History of National Farmers’ Day

    National Farmers’ Day, or Kisan Diwas, is celebrated across the country on December 23 to honour India’s farmers.

    Do you think that the extraordinary haste with which the farm bills were pushed through both the Houses has created the present crisis?

    National Farmers’ Day

    • It marks the birth anniversary of the nation’s fifth PM Choudhary Charan Singh.
    • In 2001, the government decided to recognise Choudhary Charan Singh’s contribution to the agriculture sector and welfare of farmers by celebrating his birth anniversary as Kisan Diwas.
    • Since then, December 23 has been observed as National Farmers’ Day.
    • Generally, awareness campaigns and drives are organised across the country to educate people on the role of farmers and their contribution to the economy.

    Who was CCS and what was his connection with farmers?

    • Chaudhary Charan Singh, who briefly served as PM between 1979 and 1980, is widely regarded as one of the country’s most famous peasant leaders.
    • He was known for his pioneering work to promote the welfare of farmers and the agricultural sector.
    • Charan Singh was no stranger to the struggles faced by the Indian farmer. He was born into a middle-class peasant family in Uttar Pradesh on December 23, 1902.
    • Greatly influenced by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, he took an active part in the fight for independence.
    • After that, his political career largely focused on socialism in rural India.

    Major legislations

    • He was behind several major farmer-forward Bills, including the Land Utilization Bill of 1939 and the Debt Redemption Bill in 1939.
    • While serving as agriculture minister in 1952, he led UP in its efforts to abolish the Zamindari system.
    • In fact, he went on to draft the UP Zamindari and Land Reforms Bill himself.
    • On 23 December 1978, he founded the Kisan Trust — a non-political, non-profit making body — with the aim of educating India’s rural masses against injustice, and fostering solidarity among them.