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Subject: Agriculture

  • Sikkim is the first ‘Organic State’ in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State?

    Sikkim became the world’s first fully organic state in 2016, eliminating synthetic chemical fertilisers and pesticides across all cultivated land.

    Ecological benefits of an Organic State

    Use of compost, green manure and bio-fertilisers increases soil organic carbon, microbial activity and soil structure.

    Biodiversity conservation – Absence of chemicals protects pollinators and native flora.

    No nitrate and phosphate runoff – improve river and groundwater quality.

    Low carbon footprint – Cuts GHG emissions linked to synthetic fertiliser production and use.

    Climate resilience – Better soil moisture retention enhance tolerance to droughts

    Natural pest control through Crop rotation, intercropping and biological agents

    Erosion control in hills – Mulching, agroforestry and contour cultivation reduce topsoil loss

    Prevents bioaccumulation of harmful chemicals in food chains.

    Economic benefits of an Organic State

    Premium price – Organic certification gives higher market value in domestic and export markets

    Reduced input costs on chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

    Higher net income despite moderate yields due to Lower production cost + premium price.

    Boost to agri-tourism and eco-tourism creating secondary income– Eg- ‘Sikkim Organic’ brand attracts green tourists and researchers

    Export potential – High-demand products like large cardamom, ginger, turmeric, kiwi, vegetables and orchids.

    Employment generation in composting, certification, packaging, processing and value-addition

    Long-term productivity stability – Healthy soil ensures sustained yields over time, avoiding chemical dependency traps.

    Budget 2025-26 emphasised Agriculture as the ‘first engine’ for India’s development journey. Organic Farming can be the ‘sustainability pillar’ of this journey.

  • Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?

    The NHM was a centrally sponsored scheme launched in 2005-06 to promote the holistic development of the horticulture sector through area-based, regionally differentiated strategies.

    Key Pillars of NHM

    Cluster based approach

    Supply of quality planting material through nurseries and tissue culture units.

    Improving production and productivity through area expansion and rejuvenation.

    Promoting and spreading modern technologies.

    Focussing on training and skill development.

    Infrastructure for post-harvest management and marketing.

    Role of NHM in boosting

    Production

    Horticulture production increased from 280.70 MT (2013-14) to 367.72 MT (2024-25) (Fruits: 114.51 MT, Vegetables: 219.67 MT)

    Fruit production increased by ~30%, and vegetable production increased by ~22%.

    Establishment of nurseries and tissue culture units ensured healthy, disease-free plants.

    Area-focused interventions increased scale and concentration of production.

    Crop diversification – Promotion of high-value and short-duration crops.

    Boost in Productivity

    The productivity has risen from 12.10 MT per hectare in 2019 to 12.56 MT per hectare in 2024

    Distribution of high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties increased output per unit area.

    Technology dissemination – Promotion of drip irrigation, mulching, protected cultivation (polyhouse, net house).

    Farmers trained in scientific cultivation, pest control and nutrient management – improved efficiency.

    Reduced crop loss through improved plant health and management practices.

    Boost in Farmer Income

    Horticulture now contributes about 33% to Agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA) in Agriculture.

    High-value crops – Fruits, spices and flowers generate more income per hectare than cereals.

    Multiple cropping cycles of Vegetables and floriculture ensure regular cash flow.

    Post-harvest infrastructure – Cold storage, pack houses, grading and processing units reduce wastage and increase price realisation.

    Export potential –

    Employment generation – Jobs in nurseries, processing, transport and storage supplement household income.

    Challenges

    Uneven regional performance – Benefits concentrated in better-developed states/regions

    Low Exports – India ranks 14th in vegetables and 23rd in fruits, and its share in the global horticultural market is a mere 1%.

    Input issues –

    less than 5% of Indian soils have sufficient nitrogen

    Only 55% area irrigated.

    Seed replacement rate is 35-45% (over 90% in USA)

    Inadequate cold-chain and logistics – Around 15-20% of the fruits and vegetables in India are wasted

    Climate vulnerability – Sensitive to droughts, floods, heat waves, pests. Eg- Locust Attack

    Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) barriers – Eg- rejection of consignments by EU due to pesticide residue detection.

    Way Forward

    Agro-ecological approach – District-Level Climate-Contingent Crop Planning Cells

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

    Strengthening FPOs to enhance collective bargaining and direct market access for farmers. Eg- Sahyadri FPO in Maharashtra – increased incomes by 30%

    Raising R&D Investment to 1% of GDP

    Legal Reforms – Simplify land leasing laws, Adopt model contract farming Act

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

    Farm Subsidy and Minimum Support Prices

  • Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries?

    Supermarkets are organised retail chains that procure, store and distribute fruits, vegetables and other food items through integrated, modern supply chains.

    Role of Supermarkets in supply chain management

    Direct Procurement from Farmers – Eg- Big Basket & Reliance Retail procure directly from FPOs.

    Standardisation, Grading & Sorting improves quality consistency. Eg- Walmart trains farmers on GAP (Good Agricultural Practices).

    Efficient Logistics & Inventory Management – Eg- use of real-time inventory tracking, forecasting tools, barcoding/RFID

    Cold Chain infrastructure reduces losses of perishable goods like fruits

    Contract Farming, buy-back arrangements ensure stable demand and price security for farmers. Eg- PepsiCo in Punjab (Potato farming)

    Value Addition – Supermarkets invest in cut vegetables, ready-to-cook items etc – increases shelf-life of products.

    Diverse products– Gives greater choice for consumers and promotes crop diversification.

    Challenges faced by supermarkets

    Lack of infrastructure – Eg- cold storage can only accommodate about 11% of the country’s total produce.

    Poor forward and backward linkages – Eg- Only 13% mandis digital.

    Fragmented landholdings – 86% farmers are small and marginal – prevents economy of scale

    Regulatory Hurdles – APMC monopoly and interstate movement regulations complicate direct buying from farmers.

    Organised retail remains concentrated in metro and Tier-1 cities, with limited rural coverage

    Low investment – Private investment <1% Agri-GDP.

    Supermarkets eliminating intermediaries

    Enhancing efficiency of supply chain and doubling farmers income requires FPO strengthening, cold-chain expansion and adoption of Model contract Farming Act.

  • How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption.

    A cropping pattern is the distribution of various crops within a specific area at a given time. Though the rice-wheat system became the backbone of Indian agriculture after the Green Revolution, in recent years India’s cropping pattern has moved towards diversification and high-value crops.

    Emphasis on certain crops – changing cropping pattern

    Dominance of rice-wheat in Green Revolution regions – account for over 75% of GCA in Punjab & Haryana

    Shift from food crops to commercial crops- Area under commercial crops increased from 30.4 million ha (2000-01) to 41.2 million ha (2022-23)

    Expansion of sugarcane due to ethanol policy- increased from 285 MT (2010-11) to 405 MT (2022-23)

    Rise in horticulture crops – Eg- In 2022-23, fruits and vegetables accounted for 28.3% of the Gross Value Output, surpassing cereals

    Expansion of oilseeds under National Mission on Edible Oils- increased from 25 MT (2010-11) to 41 MT (2022-23)

    Growth of organic farming- 2.9 million hectares under organic farming, highest globally. Eg- Sikkim fully organic

    Climate change impact on crop choice- Eg- 14% decline in sugarcane area in Marathwada (2015-2023) due to water stress

    Commercialisation and mechanisation- BT cotton covers 95% of cotton area, promoting

    Emphasis on millet production

    Total millet production: 180.15 lakh tonnes in 2024-25 (Increase of 4.43 lakh tonnes)

    Millet exports (2024-25): 89,164.96 tonnes worth $37 million

    MSP for Ragi (2025-26): Second highest absolute MSP increase among crops

    Policy focus

    National Millet Mission

    NFSM – Nutri Cereals

    International Year of Millets 2023 (India-led)

    Branding as Shree Anna

    Increase in millet exports

    1.5 million tonnes exported in 2023

    50% increase over 2022

    Climate-resilient nature – Drought resistant, low water, heat tolerant

    Expansion in dryland states – Increased area in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, MP, Maharashtra

    Emphasis on millet consumption

    Rising health consciousness

    High in iron, calcium, fibre and protein

    Helpful against diabetes & malnutrition

    Improvement in nutrition security – Reduces hidden hunger and micronutrient deficiency

    Inclusion in government schemes – PDS, Mid-Day Meal, ICDS, Anganwadi

    Urban & processed food demand – Used in biscuits, noodles, bakery & breakfast foods

    MSME & startup growth – Eg- “Millet Challenge” for startups,, with a seed grant of Rs 1 crore each to three winners.

    Policy and market-driven emphasis on selected crops is transforming India’s cropping pattern, with millets emerging as a sustainable pillar of nutrition and livelihood security.

  • What do you mean by Minimum Support Price (MSP)? How will MSP rescue the farmers from the low-income trap?

    MSP is the government-declared assured floor price at which the government procures specific agricultural crops from farmers, through agencies like FCI, NAFED and state procurement bodies.

    Announced before the sowing season based on recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)

    Intended to cover the cost of production + reasonable margin (50% over A2+FL cost)

    Notified for 23 crops (22 mandated crops andFRP for sugarcane)

    Role of MSP in rescuing farmers from the Low-Income Trap

    Predictability – Assured pricing helps farmers plan crop investments, buy better inputs and adopt new technologies.

    Crop diversification through higher MSPs for nutri-cereals and oilseeds. Eg- higher MSP hikes for millets in recent years

    Improved creditworthiness of farmers due to MSP-backed income – Reduce dependence on moneylenders.

    Enhances Food Security through the Public Distribution System (PDS)

    Strengthens Rural Economy – higher rural demandmultiplier effect on rural economy

    Benchmark for private buyers: If traders offer prices below MSP, farmers can opt to sell to government agencies instead.

    Limitations of MSP

    Effective mainly for wheat and rice in states like Punjab, Haryana, MP, UP

    MSP growth has not kept pace with rising production costs. (CRISIL Report)

    Limited Reach – only 6% farmers benefitted (Shanta Kumar committee)

    94% of the total agri and allied sector output is outside MSP support.

    Limited storage capacity has resulted in huge piling of stocks in FCI warehouses.

    Way Forward

    Shift towards Regenerative Agriculture Incentives – Eg- DBT for farmers adopting soil-friendly inputs, micro-irrigation, and low-carbon practices

    Price Deficiency Payment (MP’s Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana)

    MSP 2.0 based on 3 D’s – Decentralisation, Diversification and Digital Procurement.

    MSP can act as a meaningful income stabiliser only when it is complemented by efficient procurement, strong market linkages, and inclusive access

  • Elaborate the impact of National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas.

    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.

  • What are the reformative steps taken by the Government to make food grain distribution system more effective?

    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

  • How far is Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production?

    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.

  • What are the salient features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan launched by the Government of India for water conservation and water security?

    Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a time-bound, mission-mode campaign launched in 2019 to promote water conservation, recharge, and water security in stressed districts.

    Salient Features of the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)

    Targets blocks with critical or over-exploited groundwater across India, prioritising arid and semi-arid regions.

    Five Key Intervention Areas

    Water Conservation & Rainwater Harvesting

    Renovation of Traditional & Existing Water Bodies

    Reuse & Recharge of Borewells/Watershed Structures

    Watershed Development

    Intensive Afforestation

    Convergence of Multiple Departments – Brings together Rural Development, Water Resources, Agriculture, Forest, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj under a unified water conservation plan.

    Block-Level Water Conservation Plans and a scientific water budget for area-specific interventions.

    Central nodal officers monitor implementation through field visits and performance reviews.

    Jan Andolan – Engages panchayats, SHGs, NGOs, youth groups, schools, and citizens for mass awareness and behavioural change.

    Integration With MGNREGA & PMKSY for creation of check-dams, percolation tanks, ponds, trenches, recharge pits etc.

    Urban Water Conservation Measures (JSA – 2021 onwards)

    Ensuring mandatory Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) as per Model Building By-Law (MBBL) 2016.

    reuse of treated wastewater,

    Setting Up RWH Cells in Urban Local Bodies

    “Catch the Rain – Where it Falls, When it Falls” campaign

    Its integrated approach has strengthened water conservation practices and laid the groundwork for long-term water security.

  • What are the main constraints in transport and marketing of agricultural produce in India?

    Efficient transport and marketing are critical components of the agriculture value chain. However, gaps in logistics and markets hinder farmers’ ability to access markets, realise fair prices, and reduce post-harvest losses.

    Main Constraints in Transport of Agricultural Produce

    FCI transit loss stands at Rs 300 crore/annum

    Poor Rural Road Connectivity– About 25% rural habitations lack pucca road connectivity .

    Lack of Multi-Model connectivity – heavy dependence on roads for transport

    Inadequate First-Mile Logistics – Scarcity of tractors, mini-trucks, and affordable transport

    High Post-Harvest Losses in Transit due to improper packaging, rough handling, and delays. 6-18% losses in fruits & vegetables (NABARD/FAO).

    Cold storage capacity in India can only accommodate about 11% of the country’s total produce.

    Fragmented Landholdings – 86% farmers are small/marginal – increase per-unit transport cost

    High Logistics Cost of 14% of GDP – raise farm-to-market cost.

    Main Constraints in Marketing of Agricultural Produce

    63% of agricultural households sold their crops to local markets and only 7.2% sold to APMCs.

    Dominance of Intermediaries leads to low price realisation. Eg- Farmers get only 25-30% of final price in perishables.

    Inadequate Market Infrastructure – Mandis lack grading, sorting, storage, and drying yards. Only 10% of mandis meet required norms (Dalwai Committee).

    APMC operating in monopolised silos limit free inter-state movement and competition.

    Poor Access to real-time price and demand Information – weakens bargaining power of farmers

    Low Digital Integration – Only about 1500 mandis integrated with e-NAM (2024).

    Quality & SPS Compliance Gaps – Inadequate testing infrastructure impacts domestic sales and exports. Eg- EU rejecting Mango consignment

    Way Forward

    Strengthening FPOs to enhance collective bargaining and direct market access for farmers. Eg- Sahyadri FPO in Maharashtra – increased incomes by 30%

    Cold-Chain-as-a-Service (CCaaS) – IoT-based cold storage + logistics integration reduces post-harvest losses

    MSP 2.0 based on 3 D’s – Decentralisation, Diversification and Digital Procurement. Eg- instant payments through e-RUPI.

    Rural Agri-Logistics Nodes under Gati Shakti Framework to develop cold chains, aggregation centers, and packhouses near farm gates.

    Strengthening supply chain management is key to ‘Doubling Farmers Income’.