Integrated farming system refers to the integration of multiple components of agriculture in a single farm unit to enhance productivity, sustainability and resilience while optimising resource use.

Resource Use Efficiency by recycling farm by-products into inputs.

Improved Soil Health through addition of organic matter. Eg- Vermi-composting + green manuring in rice-vegetable-livestock systems.

Water use efficiency – Eg- .

Reduction in Pests & Diseases due to practices like crop rotation, intercropping, and mixed cropping.

Higher Productivity per Unit Area compared to monocropping due to synergistic systems.

Income Security – Multiple income sources reduce climate and market vulnerability. Eg- crop loss can be offset by milk/poultry/fish income.

Doubling Farmers income – Eg- paddy cultivation + fish farming + poultry in Tamil Nadu saw income rise by over 100%. (ICAR study)

Employment Generation – Labour demand increases year-round due to diversified activities

Enhanced Biodiversity by offering homes for a variety of plant and animal species. Eg- Agroforestry

Challenges in IFS

Small and Marginal Land Holdings (86%) restricts integration of enterprises like ponds or livestock.

High Initial Investment requirement in biogas units, sheds and fish ponds require capital.

Limited Knowledge & Skills at village level – IFS demands multi-disciplinary expertise.

Lack of Market Linkages and assured procurement channels for surplus milk, fish, vegetables

Policy Gaps – Schemes operate in silos rather than landscape-based integrated planning.

Way Forward

Promote climate and region-wise IFS models (dryland, coastal, hill).

Financial Support – low-interest loans + integrated crop-livestock insurance.

Rural Agri-Logistics Nodes under Gati Shakti Framework to develop cold chains, aggregation centers

Extension Support through Krishi Sakhis, FPOs and Agri-Startups for training and backward-forward linkages.

Raising R&D Investment to 1% of GDP

Budget 2025-26 emphasised Agriculture as the ‘first engine’ for India’s development journey. IFS can be the backbone of this journey.

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

PDS

Agriculture › PDS

2019

India’s Public Distribution System is the world’s largest food transfer programme and India’s most far-reaching social safety net, accounting for around 50% of the overall social assistance budget.

Objectives of PDS

Food security

Stabilise foodgrain prices

Prevent hunger and malnutrition

Safety net during emergencies

Reformative Steps to Strengthen India’s Food-Grain Distribution System

National Food Security Act, 2013 – Expanded the PDS coverage to 67% of population

End-to-End Digitalisation of PDS

All 20.4 Cr household ration cards digitised

Aadhaar seeding – over 47 million bogus ration cards removed (2013-21).

Implementation of Warehouse Inventory Network and Governing System (WINGS) application to automate tagging of mills

5.33 lakh e-PoS devices installed in all Fair Price Shops.

One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) – Ensures nationwide portability of PDS benefits.

Doorstep Delivery of Foodgrains in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi etc.

Strengthening Storage & Supply Chain

GPS-based tracking of trucks. Eg- Chhatisgarh

Expansion of warehouses under PEG Scheme (Private Entrepreneurs Guarantee).

Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in Chandigarh, Puducherry, Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

Decentralised Procurement in states like Punjab, Haryana, MP, Chhattisgarh, Telangana.

Nutritional Improvements in PDS

Introduction of fortified rice under NFSA, ICDS and PM-POSHAN.

Some states (Tamil Nadu, Odisha) supply pulses, millets, oil and eggs through PDS.

However, despite these steps there are few challenges

As per study by Crisil using a ‘thali index’, up to 50% of rural and 20% of urban Indians cannot afford two balanced meals a day

Even with PDS support, food deprivation remained 40% in rural and 10% in urban areas

Weak supply chain management – Storage Losses due to poor warehousing and handling. Eg- 40% of the food wasted (1.5 lakh crore or 1% of the GDP)

Open ended procurement leads to overflowing of FCI godowns

Diversion – Eg- 28% of allocated foodgrains fail to reach beneficiaries as per HCES 2022-23.

Inclusion and exclusion errors due to faulty beneficiary identification.

Corruption and ghost beneficiaries – Over 47 million bogus ration cards cancelled between 2013-2021

Corruption at Fair Price Shops (FPS) – Issues of under-weighing, overcharging etc

Fiscal Burden – Food subsidy budget @ 2.1 lakh cr in 2025-26

Way Forward

Shanta Kumar Committee Recommendations on Revamping of PDS

Direct Procurement by States

Private Sector Involvement in procurement, storage, and distribution

Diversify the food basket – Include millets, pulses, edible oil and iodised salt for nutritional security.

Strengthen grievance redressal – Set up toll-free helplines, social audits and citizen charters at FPS level.

Community monitoring – Involve self-help groups, local bodies and civil society in supervision.

Universal PDS similar to Tamil Nadu’s model.

Optimise buffer stock norms to reduce food grain wastage.

The PDS remains a vital tool for India’s food security and realise SDG 1,2,3,and 12

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Water Storage and Conservation

Agriculture › Water Storage and Conservation

2019

The NWP is a World Bank-assisted initiative that supports the watershed development component of India’s Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana (PMKSY).

Project Objectives

Strengthen Institutions – for better planning, implementation, and monitoring

Use Technology for Efficiency – using scientific tools like GIS, remote sensing etc

Improve Water & Soil Management

Support Rural Livelihoods

Positive Impact on Agricultural Production in Water-Stressed Areas

Improved Water Availability – Groundwater levels increased by 0.5-1.2 metres on average in treated watersheds (CWC evaluation).

Increase in Cropping Intensity

by 35-60% in many watershed districts (ICAR-NAAS study).

Higher Crop Yields – Yield increased by 25-40% in millets, 30-60% in pulses, 20-35% in oilseeds (NRSC 2021).

Diversification to High-Value Crops due to reliable water.

Reduced Soil Erosion by 40-60% – enhancing long-term soil productivity.

Growth in Livestock Productivity – Fodder production increased 3-5 times, boosting dairy income in dryland regions.

Improved Household Income by 27-45%, poverty reduced 12-20% in watershed villages. (World Bank)

Climate Resilience Strengthened – Enhanced capacity to withstand dry spells, delayed rainfall, and drought cycles.

Limitations

Uneven Implementation Across States

Delays in Planning & Fund Release

Weak Community Participation

Poor Post-Project Maintenance

Limited Integration With Micro-Irrigation

Fragmented Convergence With Schemes like MGNREGA, PMKSY

To scale its impact nationally, watershed programmes must be linked with micro-irrigation, FPOs, and market access.

Answer

Introduction: Briefly define the key concept in the question and set the context with a relevant fact, report or constitutional provision.

Body: Examine the issue across 3–4 dimensions — constitutional, political, administrative and social. Support each point with an example, a committee recommendation or a Supreme Court judgment.

Challenges: Highlight the main gaps or criticisms, with data where possible.

Way forward: Suggest practical, specific reforms drawn from expert committees and best practices.

Conclusion: Close with a balanced, forward-looking statement that links back to the question.

Agriculture

Integrated Farming System

Challenges in IFS

Way Forward

Answer

PDS

Objectives of PDS

Reformative Steps to Strengthen India’s Food-Grain Distribution System

However, despite these steps there are few challenges

Way Forward

Answer

Water Storage and Conservation

Project Objectives

Positive Impact on Agricultural Production in Water-Stressed Areas

Limitations

Answer