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Subject: Agriculture

  • Govt identifies 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts (AADs)

    Why in the News?

    The Centre has announced the identification of 100 Aspirational Agriculture Districts under the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY) to boost farm productivity, sustainability, and rural incomes.

    What are Aspirational Agriculture Districts (AADs)?

    • Overview: The AADs comprise 100 districts across 29 States and Union Territories with low productivity, moderate crop intensity, and limited access to agricultural credit.
    • Selection Basis: Districts were chosen to ensure balanced regional representation, considering each state’s net cropped area and number of operational holdings.
    • Purpose: Designed as focal points for agricultural transformation, akin to the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) model for holistic development.
    • Objective: Accelerate agricultural growth and raise farmers’ income through data-driven governance, technology adoption, and scheme convergence.
    • Leading States: Uttar Pradesh (12), Maharashtra (9), Madhya Pradesh & Rajasthan (8 each), and Bihar (7).
    • Implementation Mechanism: Each district formulates a District Agriculture Development Plan (DADP) integrating existing central and state schemes for productivity enhancement, irrigation, crop diversification, and credit inclusion.
    • Monitoring Framework: Employs a performance-based index with measurable outcome indicators for real-time progress tracking.

    About Prime Minister Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana (PMDDKY):

    • Overview: Introduced in July 2025 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
    • Aim: Transform 100 low-performing agricultural districts into high-productivity, market-linked, and climate-resilient hubs.
    • Design: Modeled on the Aspirational Districts Programme, emphasizing saturation-based development in agriculture.
    • Key Objectives:
      • Boost productivity through modern technology and best practices.
      • Promote crop diversification and climate-resilient farming.
      • Expand irrigation coverage and credit access.
      • Strengthen post-harvest infrastructure, storage, and value addition at grassroots levels.
      • Build market linkages and sustainable practices for inclusive rural growth.
    • Implementation Structure:
      • Convergence of 36 schemes from 11 Ministries/Departments, with no separate budget allocation.
      • District PMDDKY Committees, headed by Collectors, plan and execute projects.
      • 100 Central Nodal Officers (CNOs), mostly Joint Secretaries, monitor implementation.
      • A digital dashboard tracks 117 indicators across agriculture, irrigation, and markets.
    • Budget & Duration: Convergence-based outlay of â‚č24,000 crore annually for six years (FY 2025–31), benefiting 1.7 crore farmers.
    • Expected Outcomes:
      • Improved productivity, resilience, and market efficiency.
      • Enhanced credit systems and localized agri-infrastructure.
      • Contribution toward “Viksit Bharat 2047” through sustainable agricultural transformation.
    [UPSC 2020] Under the Kisan Credit Card scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes?

    1. Working capital for maintenance of farm assets
    2. Purchase of combine harvesters, tractors and mini trucks
    3. Consumption requirements of farm households
    4. Post-harvest expenses
    5. Construction of family house and setting up of village cold storage facility

    Options:

    (a) 1, 2 and 5 only

    (b) 1, 3 and 4 only *

    (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

     

  • [pib] Centre approves National Pulses Mission

    Why in the News?

    The Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development has approved the National Pulses Mission (Mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses).

    About the National Pulses Mission:

    • Launch (2025): Approved by the Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses by 2030–31, improve nutrition, and raise farmer incomes.
    • Targets: Production to rise from 24.2 MT (2024–25) to 35 MT (2030–31); acreage 310 lakh ha, yield 1,130 kg/ha.
    • Coverage: 416 districts, with focus on rice fallows, improved seeds, intercropping, irrigation, and market linkages.
    • MSP Procurement: 100% assured for Tur, Urad, Masoor for four years under PM-AASHA Price Support Scheme, via NAFED/NCCF.
    • Framework: Under National Food Security Mission (NFSM); combines ICAR-led R&D with private sector inputs, processing, and storage.
    • Budget: â‚č11,440 crore outlay up to 2030–31 for multi-year implementation.
    • Outcomes: Improved nutrition, soil fertility (nitrogen-fixing), stable prices, climate resilience, and rural employment.

    Key Features:

    • Cluster-Based Approach: Targets high-potential regions, diversifies beyond traditional belts, reduces risks.
    • Market Infrastructure: 1,000 post-harvest units (dal mills, grading, packaging) with subsidies up to â‚č25 lakh/unit.
    • Research & Extension: New high-yield, climate-resilient varieties; farmer training on nutrient, pest, and water management.
    • Risk Cover: Subsidies, insurance, and credit to reduce cultivation risks.
    • Market Reforms: Direct sales linkages, transparent logistics, MSP-backed procurement.
    [UPSC 2020] With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:

    1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.

    2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.

    3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

    (a) 1 only * (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • More Women employed in agriculture, but half of them are unpaid

    Introduction

    Women-led development is increasingly recognised as a structural game-changer for India’s economic ambitions. Nowhere is this more urgent than in agriculture, which not only sustains livelihoods but also employs the largest share of India’s female workforce. However, while women’s participation in farming has risen sharply due to men shifting to non-farm jobs, their contributions remain largely invisible, unpaid, and undervalued. This contradiction calls for a deeper exploration of systemic inequities and emerging opportunities to turn agriculture into a vehicle for women’s empowerment and national growth.

    The Feminisation of Agriculture: Numbers Behind the Shift

    1. Surge in women workers: Women’s employment in agriculture rose by 135% in a decade, now accounting for 42% of the agricultural workforce.
    2. Unpaid work: The number of women as unpaid family workers increased 2.5 times, from 23.6 million in 2017–18 to 59.1 million in 2023–24 (PLFS).
    3. Regional inequities: In States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, over 80% of women workers are in agriculture, and more than half receive no wages.
    4. National picture: Today, one in three working women in India is unpaid.

    Why Women’s Work in Agriculture Remains Invisible

    1. Lack of recognition: Women are not officially recognised as farmers despite constituting a large share of labour.
    2. Skewed land ownership: Only 13–14% of land holdings are in women’s names, limiting access to credit, insurance, and government support.
    3. Wage gap: Women earn 20–30% less than men for equivalent agricultural tasks.
    4. Concentration in low-value work: Women are locked into subsistence farming and low-margin tasks without decision-making power.
    5. Macro impact: Despite higher participation, agriculture’s share in GVA fell from 15.3% (2017–18) to 14.4% (2024–25), reinforcing inequities instead of enabling empowerment.

    Global Trade Trends as an Opportunity

    1. India–U.K. FTA: Expected to boost agricultural exports by 20% within three years, covering 95% of agricultural and processed food products duty-free.
    2. Export-oriented crops: Women already have strong representation in spices, tea, millets, rice, dairy- sectors poised for expansion.
    3. From labourers to entrepreneurs: With training, credit access, and market linkages, women could transition to income-generating entrepreneurs in value-added exports.

    Technology as a Game-Changer

    1. Digital agriculture: Platforms like e-NAM, mobile advisory services, precision tools connect women to markets and pricing systems.
    2. Language and literacy gap: Women face low digital literacy, language barriers, and lack of devices, restricting adoption.
    3. Promising models:
      1. BHASHINI platform and Microsoft–AI4Bharat’s Jugalbandi provide multilingual, voice-first government access.
      2. L&T Finance’s Digital Sakhi programme has built digital and financial literacy among rural women in seven States.
      3. Odisha’s Swayam Sampurna FPOs and Jhalawari Mahila Kisan Producer Company (Rajasthan) leverage digital tools for branding and exports.

    Structural Reforms Needed

    1. Land reforms: Promote joint or individual land ownership to strengthen women’s eligibility for formal support.
    2. Labour reforms: Recognise women as independent farmers to ensure fair wages, rights, and credit.
    3. Value chain inclusion: Shift women into higher-margin activities like processing, branding, packaging, and exporting.
    4. Institutional support: Scale multi-stakeholder programs (government, NGOs, FPOs) to dismantle structural inequities.

    Conclusion

    The feminisation of agriculture in India highlights a double-edged reality: while women have become indispensable to the sector, their economic contributions remain unrecognised and unpaid. With global trade shifts, digital innovations, and land-labour reforms, India now stands at a crossroads. Whether women remain invisible labourers or emerge as empowered entrepreneurs will depend on how decisively policymakers, private actors, and civil society act to bridge systemic inequities. Women’s empowerment in agriculture is not just a gender issue, it is central to India’s economic transformation.

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2024] Distinguish between gender equality, gender equity and women’s empowerment. Why is it important to take gender concerns into account in programme design and implementation?

    Linkage: The question probes the conceptual clarity between equality, equity, and empowerment while testing their application in real policy frameworks. It aligns with the article as the feminisation of agriculture highlights how ignoring gender concerns in land, labour, and trade programmes perpetuates invisibility of women’s work, whereas equity-driven reforms can transform participation into genuine empowerment.

  • Coffee Board to hold awareness program on EUDR compliance

    Why in the News?

    The Coffee Board of India has launched extensive awareness and capacity-building programmes to help coffee growers register on its mobile application for EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) compliance.

    What are EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)?

    • About: Effective from June 2023; Prevent imported products like coffee, cocoa, palm oil, soy, rubber, cattle, wood (and derivatives) from being linked to deforestation.

    • Requirements:

      • Proof of production on non-deforested land (post-2020).
      • Mandatory due diligence statement with geo-coordinates.
    • Penalties: Non-compliance may attract fines up to 4% of EU turnover, seizure of products, and temporary bans.

    About Coffee Board of India:

    • Establishment: In 1942 under the Coffee Act, Section 4; Functions under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry; Headquartered at Bengaluru, Karnataka.
    • Structure: A statutory organisation comprising 33 members, with the Chairperson/CEO appointed by the Government of India.
    • Focus areas: Research, Extension, Development, Market Intelligence, Export Promotion, Domestic Promotion.
    • Early years: Coffee marketing was under the pooling system until 1995, after which liberalisation shifted marketing to the private sector.
    • Initiatives: Runs promotional campaigns like India Coffee, Walk With Coffee, and awareness on EUDR compliance for exports.

    Back2Basics: Coffee Cultivation in India:

    • Overview: Coffee introduced in 1600 AD by Baba Budan in Chikmagalur, Karnataka.
    • Geographical Spread: Grown in the Western Ghats (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu) and in smaller areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Northeast India.
    • Production Share: Karnataka ~ 70%, Kerala ~ 20%, Tamil Nadu ~ 7%.
    • Agro-climatic Conditions: Requires 16°–28°C temperature, 150–250 cm rainfall, and well-drained slopes; sensitive to frost, dry spells, and harsh sunlight.
    • Soil: Grows best in laterite soils of Karnataka and rich, well-drained loams.

    • Varieties:

      • Arabica: Mild aromatic flavour, high export value, but more susceptible to pests/diseases.
      • Robusta: Hardy, disease-resistant, stronger taste, higher yields.
      • Liberica:  Rare, niche cultivation.
    • Seasonality: Coffee exports peak during March–June.
    • Domestic Consumption: Rising gradually; Coffee Board promoting events like International Coffee Day (October 1) to increase per capita intake.

    Production Statistics (2025-26):

    • India’s coffee production:  It is projected at a record 4.03 lakh tonnes in 2025 up 11% from last year’s 363,000 tonnes.
      • Arabica output forecast: 118,000 tonnes, up 12% year-on-year.
      • Robusta output forecast: 285,000 tonnes, up 9.5%.
    • Karnataka contributes ~70% of output, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
    • India is the world’s 7th largest producer and 5th largest exporter, contributing 3.5% of global production and 5% of global exports.
    • Exports: Reached $1.8 billion in 2024-25, a 125% growth over 11 years (from $800 million in 2014-15).
      • Around 70% of Indian coffee is exported, mainly to Europe (Italy, Germany, Belgium), the Middle East, Japan, and Korea.

     

    [UPSC 2022] With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements :

    1. The Tea Board is a statutory body.

    2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

    3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.

    4. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.

    Which of the statements given above are correct ?

    Options: (a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 4 *

     

  • [pib] Clean Plant Programme (CPP)

    Why in the News?

    The government has announced the establishment of 9 Clean Plant Centres across the country as part of the recently approved Rs 1,765.67 crore Clean Plant Programme (CPP).

    What is Clean Plant Programme (CPP)?

    • Launch: Cleared by the Union Cabinet in August 2024 with an outlay of â‚č1,765.67 crore, supported by a $98 million Asian Development Bank loan.
    • Implementation: Led by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board (NHB), with technical support from ICAR.
    • Objective: Supply virus-free, high-quality planting material to improve crop yield, quality, and farmer incomes in horticulture.
    • Scope: Focus on fruit crops such as grapes, oranges, pomegranates, apples, and citrus.

    Key Features:

    • Centres: Establishment of 9 Clean Plant Centres (CPCs) across India; three in Maharashtra – Pune (grapes), Nagpur (oranges), Solapur (pomegranates).
    • Research Hub: National-level laboratory in Pune for original plant species research.
    • Financial Aid: â‚č3 crore for large nurseries, â‚č1.5 crore for medium nurseries; target of 8 crore disease-free seedlings annually.
    • Certification & Traceability: Strong framework to ensure disease-free mother plants and regulated propagation.
    • Global Cooperation: Collaboration with Israel and the Netherlands for clean plant technologies.
    • Policy Alignment: Supports Mission LiFE, One Health, and Viksit Bharat 2047.

    On-Ground Progress:

    • Dedicated Website: Launched as central hub – cpp-beta.nhb.gov.in.
    • Hazard Analysis:
      • Grapevine: 578 samples tested from multiple states.
      • Apple: 535 samples under testing from Himalayan and northern states.
      • Citrus:  Hazard profiling preparations underway.
    • Assessments: ICAR, NHB, and ADB conducted lab and nursery visits (2024–25) to strengthen diagnostics and bioinformatics using High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS).
    • Propagation Protocol: Negative samples re-tested; positive ones treated with tissue culture, heat, or cryotherapy before propagation.
    • Infrastructure: First Clean Plant Centre underway; design bidding initiated.
    [UPSC 2011] With what purpose is the GoI promoting the concept of “Mega Food Parks”?

    1. To provide good infrastructure facilities for the food processing industry.

    2. To increase the processing of perishable items and reduce wastage.

    3. To provide emerging and eco-friendly food processing technologies to entrepreneurs.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only* (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

  • [pib] Regulation of Biostimulants in India

    Why in the News?

    India now has a comprehensive regulatory framework for biostimulants, placing it among the few countries with such dedicated oversight.

    What are Biostimulants?

    • Definition: Under Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985, Clause 20C, biostimulants are substances or micro-organisms that stimulate plant processes to improve nutrient uptake, growth, yield, crop quality, efficiency, and stress tolerance.
    • Exclusion: They are not pesticides or plant growth regulators, which fall under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
    • Categories (Schedule VI, FCO): Botanical extracts (including seaweed), protein hydrolysates and amino acids, vitamins, biochemicals, antioxidants, anti-transpirants, humic and fulvic acids, cell-free microbial products, and live micro-organisms (excluding biofertilizers/biopesticides).

    Regulation Timeline:

    • Before 2021: Nearly 30,000 unregulated products in Indian markets.
    • Feb 2021: Included under FCO; provisional registration system (G3 certificates) introduced; about 8,000 products approved temporarily.
    • Current Status: Only 146 products formally notified in Schedule VI.

    Key Amendments (2021–2025):

    • 2021: Biostimulants legally recognised under FCO.
    • 2023–24: Provisional validity extended to avoid disruption.
    • 2025:
      • Live micro-organisms (excluding biofertilizers/biopesticides) added as a category.
      • Pesticide residue limit raised from 0.01 ppm to 1 ppm.
      • Stricter quality testing, labelling, and safety standards enforced.
      • Provisional system discontinued.

    Significance:

    • Protects farmers from spurious/unproven products.
    • Encourages validated indigenous products under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
    • Establishes quality, safety, and labelling standards through Gazette notifications.
    • Makes India one of the few countries with a dedicated Biostimulant law, balancing farmer welfare, environmental safety, innovation, and regulation.
    [UPSC 2013] Consider the following organisms:

    1.Agaricus 2.Nostoc 3.Spirogyra

    Which of the above is/are used as biofertilizer/biofertilizers?

    Options: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only* (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only

     

  • [pib] Coconut Development Board (CDB)

    Why in the News?

    The World Coconut Day (2nd September) was recently celebrated by the Coconut Development Board (CDB).

    About Coconut Development Board (CDB):

    • Establishment: Created on 12 January 1981; statutory body under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
    • Headquarters & Offices: HQ at Kochi, Kerala; regional offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Guwahati, and Patna.
    • Mandate: Integrated development of coconut production and utilization with focus on productivity, processing, and product diversification.
    • Functions: Provides technical advice and financial aid to farmers/processors; promotes modern technology adoption, value addition, pricing & marketing measures, and export promotion.
    • Welfare Schemes: Implements farmer-focused programs like Coconut Palm Insurance Mission and Kera Suraksha.

    Back2Basics: Coconut Cultivation in India

    • Global Standing: India is the third-largest coconut producer, contributing about 31.45% of world output.
    • Production: In 2023–24, India produced 153.29 lakh MT from an area of 23.33 lakh ha.
    • Productivity: Average productivity at 9,871 nuts/ha, among the highest globally.
    • Leading States: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh account for ~90% of production. Kerala and TN lead, Karnataka has risen sharply, AP contributes ~8%.
    • Economic Value: Sector contributed â‚č27,199.5 crore GVO and â‚č30,795.6 crore GDP share in 2022–23.
    • Exports: In 2022–23, India exported coconut products worth â‚č3,554.23 crore (US $452 million) including copra, oil, coir, activated carbon, and value-added foods.
    • Employment Impact: Supports 12+ million livelihoods; 15,000+ coir industries employ nearly 6 lakh workers.

     

    [UPSC 2022] With reference to the “Tea Board” in India, consider the following statements:

    1. The Tea Board is a statutory body.

    2. It is a regulatory body attached to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

    3. The Tea Board’s Head Office is situated in Bengaluru.

    4. The Board has overseas offices at Dubai and Moscow.

    Which of the statements given above are correct ?

    Options: (a) 1 and 3 (b) 2 and 4 (c) 3 and 4 (d) 1 and 4*

     

  • Dongar Cultivation of Odisha

    Why in the News?

    The Dongar cultivation, a hill-slope mixed cropping system of the Kondh tribals in Odisha’s Rayagada is now under decline due to eucalyptus monoculture.

    What is Dongar Cultivation?

    • Overview: A traditional shifting/mixed cropping system practised on hill slopes (uplands) by the Kondh tribal community in Odisha.
    • Crops grown: Millets (finger millet, foxtail millet), pulses, oilseeds, and even uncultivated foods like wild tubers.
    • Benefits offered: Provides nutritional diversity, supports birds and biodiversity, and maintains soil fertility without chemical inputs.
    • Cultural practice: Linked to seed conservation, labour exchange, and community-based farming traditions, reflecting a holistic tribal food system.
    • Significance: Its poly-cropping nature makes it more resilient to rainfall variability and climate shocks, unlike monocultures.

    Other Traditional Cultivation Practices in India:

    Type Key Features
    Bewar / Dahiya (Madhya Pradesh Baiga & Gond tribes, Dindori district) Shifting cultivation; mixed cropping of millets, pulses, oilseeds; similar to Dongar; sustainable tribal food system.
    Poonam Krishi (Western Ghats, Maharashtra & Karnataka) Traditional multi-cropping around rice fields; ensures year-round food and fodder security.
    Pamlou (Manipur) Form of jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation; rotational clearing of forests; crops include cereals, pulses, vegetables; supports subsistence farming.
    Kuruma / Podu (Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh) Hill-slope shifting cultivation; millets and pulses dominant; threatened by monoculture plantations and forest restrictions.
    Apatanis’ Wet Rice Cultivation – Arunachal Pradesh Intensive valley wetland system; combines paddy farming with fish rearing; highly sustainable and productive.

     

    [UPSC 2018] With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes significance.  Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture?

    1. Avoiding the monoculture practices

    2. Adopting minimum tillage

    3. Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops

    4. Using crop residues to cover soil surface

    5. Adopting spatial and temporal rop sequencing/crop rotations.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    Options: (a) 1, 3 and 4 (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5 (c) 2, 4 and 5 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5*

     

  • A tribute to M.S. Swaminathan, ‘the man who fed India’

    Introduction

    In the 1960s, India was reeling under the threat of famine, dependent on food aid like PL-480 imports from the U.S. It was during this crisis that M.S. Swaminathan, in collaboration with Norman Borlaug and with strong political support from leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri and C. Subramaniam, spearheaded the Green Revolution. By introducing high-yielding dwarf wheat varieties, India moved from “ship-to-mouth” dependence to food self-sufficiency.

    His story is not just about agricultural science, it is about leadership, political will, and atmanirbharta in its truest sense. Today, as India aspires for Viksit Bharat and faces the challenge of climate change, his legacy offers critical lessons.

    M.S. Swaminathan in the news today:

    • Centenary Year: 2025 marks 100 years since the birth of Swaminathan, celebrated with the release of a biography M.S. Swaminathan: The Man Who Fed India.
    • Historical Significance: His leadership in the 1960s achieved food self-sufficiency, India’s most successful experiment in aatmanirbharta.
    • Relevance Today: India now faces a new agricultural crisis due to climate change, water stress, and soil degradation, making Swaminathan’s lessons critical for the future.
    • Striking Contrast: In the 1960s, India relied on foreign food aid; today, India is a food grain exporter, largely due to the foundation Swaminathan built.

    Collaboration and scientific exchange in shaping the Green Revolution

    • Cross-fertilisation of ideas: Swaminathan’s initial experiments with radiation-induced mutations failed. A Japanese scientist’s input on dwarf wheat and Norman Borlaug’s Mexican varieties changed the course.
    • Networking with global scientists: Swaminathan leveraged his contacts to bring Borlaug’s seeds to India, overcoming bureaucratic hurdles.
    • Lesson: Science thrives on openness, collaboration, and reduced bureaucracy, not isolation.

    The role of political leadership in Swaminathan’s success

    • Direct dialogue with scientists: C. Subramaniam (Agriculture Minister) listened directly to Swaminathan, bypassing bureaucratic resistance.
    • Evidence-based decisions: Lal Bahadur Shastri personally visited fields to see the new wheat varieties before approving large-scale imports.
    • Leadership support: Indira Gandhi carried forward the momentum after Shastri’s death, ensuring continuity.
    • Lesson: Strong political will + scientific advice = transformative policy outcomes.

    Challenges and criticisms of the Green Revolution

    • Opposition from multiple fronts: Finance Ministry resisted spending â‚č5 crore in forex; Planning Commission doubted the seeds; Left parties opposed U.S. connections (Rockefeller Foundation funding).
    • Environmental fallout: Excessive water use, soil degradation, and fertilizer dependence became long-term challenges.
    • Swaminathan’s foresight: He himself warned against unsustainable practices and advocated for “evergreen revolution”, productivity with sustainability.

    Lessons from Swaminathan’s legacy for Viksit Bharat

    • Science-Policy Linkages: Scientists must be given autonomy, direct access to policymakers and freedom from bureaucratic bottlenecks.
    • R&D Investment: India spends 0.43% of agricultural GDP on R&D, half of China’s share; none of India’s agricultural institutes are in the world’s top 200, while China has eight in the top 10.
    • Sustainability: A climate-resilient agriculture strategy is urgent to prevent food insecurity in the era of global warming.
    • Atmanirbharta parallel: Just as Swaminathan made India self-sufficient in food, similar investments are needed in the digital economy, AI and green technologies.

    Conclusion

    M.S. Swaminathan’s work reminds us that nation-building rests on the fusion of science and statesmanship. His Green Revolution made India food-secure, but his vision of an “evergreen revolution”, where productivity meets sustainability, remains unfulfilled. To truly honour him, India must invest in agricultural research, empower scientists, and align policy with long-term sustainability. The man who fed India has left us with not just a legacy but also a roadmap for the future.

    Value Addition

    Key Achievements

    • Food Self-Sufficiency: India moved from being a food-deficit, aid-dependent country (“ship-to-mouth”) to self-sufficiency in food grains by the 1970s.
    • Wheat Production Boom: From 12 million tonnes (1965), 23 million tonnes (1971), over 100 million tonnes (2020s).
    • Avoided Famines: Helped avert large-scale famine during population boom (India’s population doubled between 1950–1980).
    • Global Recognition: M.S. Swaminathan + Norman Borlaug collaboration hailed as a model of science-policy partnership.

    Criticisms & Limitations

    • Regional Imbalance: Benefits concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, Western UP; other states lagged behind.
    • Mono-cropping: Focus on wheat and rice discouraged diversification → vulnerability in nutrition and soil health
    • Environmental Degradation:
      • Over-extraction of groundwater → water table crisis in Punjab & Haryana.
      • Excessive fertilizer/pesticide use → soil toxicity & health hazards.
    • Inequality: Large farmers gained more due to access to credit, irrigation, inputs → widening rural inequality.
    • Neglect of Coarse Grains & Pulses: Led to declining production of millets, crucial for nutrition and climate resilience.

    Reports & Data

    • NITI Aayog (2021): 89% of India’s groundwater used for irrigation → unsustainable.
    • FAO Report (2019): Green Revolution improved calorie sufficiency but failed in ensuring nutrition security.
    • ICAR Data: Only 0.43% of agricultural GDP is spent on R&D in India vs ~0.86% in China.

    Concepts Introduced

    • Evergreen Revolution (Swaminathan): Increasing productivity in perpetuity without ecological harm → focus on sustainability.
    • Second Green Revolution: Emphasis on pulses, oilseeds, and eastern states under the National Food Security Mission (2007).
    • Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Shift towards water-use efficiency, precision farming, and millets revival (2023: International Year of Millets).

    Comparative Perspective

    • China vs India: China diversified faster into horticulture, aquaculture, and biotech crops; India stayed wheat-rice centric.
    • Mexico: Norman Borlaug’s work initially focused there, but India scaled it into a nationwide revolution.
    • Africa: “Green Revolution for Africa” attempts underway, but limited success due to weak infrastructure.

    Mapping Microthemes for GS Papers

    • GS Paper I: Post-independence consolidation, Nehruvian vision, famine & food security history.
    • GS Paper II: Science-policy interface, role of political leadership, bureaucratic hurdles in governance.
    • GS Paper III: Food security, Green Revolution, R&D in agriculture, climate change impact, sustainable agriculture.
    • GS Paper IV: Leadership ethics, scientific integrity, foresight (Swaminathan warning about sustainability).

    PYQ Relevance

    [UPSC 2019] How was India benefited from the contributions of Sir M.Visvesvaraya and Dr. M. S. Swaminathan in the fields of water engineering and agricultural science respectively?

    Linkage: Dr. M.S. Swaminathan’s pioneering role in the Green Revolution transformed India from a food-deficit nation into a self-sufficient one, ensuring food security and laying the foundation for agricultural atmanirbharta.

     

  • How India’s Pesticide Market is Changing

    The Growth is Now Coming Not from Insecticides or Fungicides, but Herbicides.

    Understanding the Three Major Types of Pesticides:

    Pesticides are chemical or biological substances used to protect crops by eliminating or controlling pests, diseases, or weeds. India’s pesticide market primarily consists of:

    • Insecticides: These control insects that damage crops by feeding on them or transmitting diseases.
    • Fungicides: These are used to prevent or eliminate fungal infections like mildew, blight, or rust that affect crop yield and quality.
    • Herbicides: These destroy or inhibit the growth of weeds that compete with crops for nutrients, water, and sunlight.

    Herbicides – The New Growth Driver of India’s Pesticide Market:

    India’s organised crop protection market is valued at approximately â‚č24,500 crore. While insecticides (â‚č10,700 crore) remain the largest segment, herbicides (â‚č8,200 crore) have emerged as the fastest-growing category, with an annual growth rate exceeding 10%. This shift reflects a deeper transformation in India’s rural economy—one driven by labour scarcity, rising wage rates, and the need for mechanisation and efficiency in farm operations.

    Why Herbicides Are Gaining Ground:

    1. Labour Shortages in Agriculture: Manual weeding is time-consuming and labour-intensive. A labourer takes 8–10 hours to weed one acre, and the average daily wage has increased from â‚č326 in 2019 to over â‚č447 in 2024. Moreover, rural youth are increasingly moving away from agricultural work. This has led to a surge in herbicide use as a labour-saving input, similar to how tractors reduced the need for manual ploughing.
    2. Time-Saving and Cost-Effective: Power weeders are limited in closely spaced or deep-rooted crops. Herbicides, on the other hand, can be sprayed easily and reduce both labour dependence and turnaround time between cropping cycles.
    3. Strategic Use Patterns Emerging: Earlier, herbicides were used only after weed emergence (“post-emergent”). Now, farmers increasingly apply “pre-emergent” herbicides at or just after sowing to prevent weed growth from the beginning—reflecting a shift from reactive to preventive agriculture.

    Role of Indian Companies Amidst MNC Dominance:

    India’s crop protection sector remains largely dominated by multinationals like Bayer (Germany), Syngenta (Switzerland), Corteva (USA), and Sumitomo (Japan). However, Indian companies like Crystal Crop Protection Ltd (CCPL) and Dhanuka Agritech are rising players:

    1. CCPL acquired rights for key herbicides like Ethoxysulfuron and Gramoxone from global majors.
    2. It has also developed new products like ‘Sikosa’ in partnership with Battelle (USA) and Mitsui (Japan), showing how Indian firms are strategically expanding through innovation and collaboration.

    Why This Matters for India’s Agricultural Future

    1. Productivity Gains: Weeds reduce crop yield by competing for water and nutrients. Herbicides help ensure better resource absorption by crops.
    2. Supports Mechanisation: Like other farm machinery, herbicides reduce dependence on human labour and enable faster, scalable farming.
    3. Aligns with Climate-Resilient Agriculture: Timely and smart weed control reduces input waste and improves crop resilience.

    Key Concerns

    1. Ecological Impact: Excessive herbicide use can lead to soil degradation, water contamination, and loss of biodiversity.
    2. Labour Displacement: As weeding becomes chemical-driven, demand for rural manual labour might further decline.
    3. MNC Monopoly: Unlike seeds and fertilisers, pesticides remain MNC-dominated, raising questions on strategic autonomy in agri-inputs.

    Conclusion:

    The rise of herbicides in India’s pesticide market marks a significant transformation in agricultural input use. While they offer a timely solution to labour shortages and boost farm efficiency, a cautious, balanced, and indigenously empowered approach is necessary.