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Subject: Agriculture

  • FSSAI sets standards for Basmati Rice

    basmati

    In a bid to promote the business around basmati rice, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified standards for basmati rice. They will be enforced from August 1, 2023.

    Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

    • The FSSAI is an autonomous body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
    • It has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
    • It is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety.
    • It is headed by a non-executive Chairperson, appointed by the Central Government, either holding or has held the position of not below the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

     

    Basmati Rice

    • Basmati, pronounced is a variety of long, slender-grained aromatic rice which is traditionally grown in India, Pakistan, and Nepal.
    • As of 2019, India accounted for 65% of the international trade in basmati rice, while Pakistan accounted for the remaining 35%.
    • Many countries use domestically grown basmati rice crops; however, basmati is geographically exclusive to certain districts of India and Pakistan.
    • India accounts for over 70% of the world’s basmati rice production.
    • The areas which have a geographical indication are in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Western Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

    What are the standards set out by FSSAI?

    • Fragrance: Basmati has the characteristic fragrance identified with this variety and is free from artificial fragrances and colouring.
    • Grain size: The authority has also set standards on parameters such as average size of grains and their elongation ratio after cooking.
    • Vital contents: It has set the maximum limits for moisture, amylose content, uric acid, damaged grains and presence of non-basmati rice.
    • Varieties included: The standards are applicable to brown basmati rice, milled basmati rice, parboiled brown basmati rice and milled parboiled basmati rice.

    Economics of Basmati

    • Basmati rice is exported out of India and had an annual forex earning of Rs 25,053 crore during 2021-22.
    • India accounts for two-thirds of the global supply of basmati rice.

    Significance of the move

    • FSSAI hopes that the standards would protect consumer interest and ensure the quality of basmati rice.
    • In 2020, India’s application for a geographical indication tag recognised in the European Union market was put on hold after Pakistan opposed the move.
    • Before this, in 1997, Texas-based Company RiceTec developed American basmati varieties and patented them.
    • These were introduced in the international market as ‘Kasmati’ and ‘Texmati’.
    • However, the patent was contested in the year 2000 by the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India’s premier science and industry organisation, saying the term ‘basmati’ could be used only for rice grown in India and Pakistan.

     

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  • Centre rules out an increase in MSP for Cotton

    While cotton farmers in several States have demanded an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) of the crop, the Centre has said that it is watching the cotton production scenario and decide accordingly.

    What is MSP?

    • The MSP assures the farmers of a fixed price for their crops, well above their production costs.
    • MSP, by contrast, is devoid of any legal backing. Access to it, unlike subsidized grains through the PDS, isn’t an entitlement for farmers.
    • They cannot demand it as a matter of right. It is only a government policy that is part of administrative decision-making.
    • The Centre currently fixes MSPs for 23 farm commodities based on the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommendations.

    Fixing of MSPs

    • The CACP considered various factors while recommending the MSP for a commodity, including the cost of cultivation.
    • It also takes into account the supply and demand situation for the commodity; market price trends (domestic and global) and parity vis-à-vis other crops; and implications for consumers (inflation), environment (soil and water use) and terms of trade between agriculture and non-agriculture sectors.

    What changed with the 2018 budget?

    • The Budget for 2018-19 announced that MSPs would henceforth be fixed at 1.5 times of the production costs for crops as a “pre-determined principle”.
    • Simply put, the CACP’s job now was only to estimate production costs for a season and recommend the MSPs by applying the 1.5-times formula.

    How was this production cost arrived at?

    • The CACP projects three kinds of production cost for every crop, both at the state and all-India average levels.
    • ‘A2’ covers all paid-out costs directly incurred by the farmer — in cash and kind — on seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, hired labor, leased-in land, fuel, irrigation, etc.
    • ‘A2+FL’ includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labor.
    • ‘C2’ is a more comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital assets, on top of A2+FL.

    How much produce can the government procure at MSP?

    • The MSP value of the total production of the 23 crops worked out to around Rs 10.78 lakh crore in 2019-20.
    • Not all this produce, however, is marketed. Farmers retain part of it for self-consumption, the seed for the next season’s sowing, and also for feeding their animals.
    • The marketed surplus ratio for different crops is estimated to range differently for various crops.
    • It ranges from below 50% for ragi and 65-70% for bajra (pearl millet) and jawar (sorghum) to 75% for wheat, 80% for paddy, 85% for sugarcane, 90% for most pulses, and 95%-plus for cotton, soybean, etc.
    • Taking an average of 75% would yield a number of just over Rs 8 lakh crore.
    • This is the MSP value of production that is the marketable surplus — which farmers actually sell.

    Nature of MSP

    • There is currently no statutory backing for these prices, nor any law mandating their enforcement.

    Farmers demand legalization

    • Legal entitlement: There is a demand that MSP based on a C2+50% formula should be made a legal entitlement for all agricultural produce.
    • Private traders’ responsibility: Some say that most of the cost should be borne by private traders, noting that both middlemen and corporate giants are buying commodities at low rates from farmers.
    • Mandatory purchase at MSP: A left-affiliated farm union has suggested a law that simply stipulates that no one — neither the Government nor private players — will be allowed to buy at a rate lower than MSP.
    • Surplus payment by the govt.: Other unions have said that if private buyers fail to purchase their crops, the Government must be prepared to buy out the entire surplus at MSP rates.
    • Expansion of C2: Farm unions are demanding that C2 must also include capital assets and the rentals and interest forgone on owned land as recommended by the National Commission for Farmers.

    Government’s position

    • The PM has announced the formation of a committee to make MSP more transparent, as well as to change crop patterns — often determined by MSP and procurement.
    • The panel will have representatives from farm groups as well as from the State and Central Governments, along with agricultural scientists and economists.

    Back2Basics: Cotton Cultivation in India

    • Cotton, a semi-xerophyte, is grown in tropical & sub-tropical conditions.
    • A minimum temperature of 15C is required for better germination at field conditions.
    • The optimum temperature for vegetative growth is 21-27C & it can tolerate temperature to the extent of 43C but temperature below 21C is detrimental to the crop.
    • Cotton is grown on a variety of soils ranging from well-drained deep alluvial soils in the north to black clayey soils of varying depth in central region and in black and mixed black and red soils in south zone.
    • It is semi-tolerant to salinity and sensitive to water logging and thus prefers well-drained soils.

    Sowing season

    • The sowing season of cotton varies considerably from tract to tract and is generally early (April-May) in northern India.
    • Sowing is delayed as its proceeds down south (monsoon based in southern zone).

     

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  • Millet-only lunch in Parliament

    millet

    To raise awareness on millets and prepare for 2023, PM Modi, along with fellow parliamentarians across party lines, enjoyed a sumptuous lunch where millets were front and centre.

    Why in news?

    • 2023 has been declared as the “International Year of Millets” by the United Nations, after a proposal from India in 2019.

    What are Millets?

    • Millet are small-grained cereals like sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), foxtail millet (kangni), little millet (kutki), kodo millet, finger millet (ragi/ mandua), proso millet (cheena/ common millet), barnyard millet (sawa/ sanwa/ jhangora), and brown top millet (korale).
    • They were among the first crops to be domesticated.
    • There is evidence for consumption of millets in the Indus-Sarasvati civilisation (3,300 to 1300 BCE).
    • Several varieties that are now grown around the world were first cultivated in India.
    • West Africa, China, and Japan are also home to indigenous varieties of the crop.

    Cultivation of millets

    • Millets are now grown in more than 130 countries, and are the traditional food for more than half a billion people in Asia and Africa.
    • Globally, sorghum (jowar) is the biggest millet crop.
    • The major producers of jowar are the US, China, Australia, India, Argentina, Nigeria, and Sudan.
    • Bajra is another major millet crop; India and some African countries are major producers.

    Millets in India

    millet

    • In India, millets are mainly a kharif crop.
    • During 2018-19, three millet crops — bajra (3.67%), jowar (2.13%), and ragi (0.48%) — accounted for about 7 per cent of the gross cropped area in the country, Agriculture Ministry data show.

    (1) Jowar

    • Jowar is mainly grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Madhya Pradesh.
    • In 2020-21, the area under jowar stood at 4.24 million hectares, while production was 4.78 million tonnes.
    • Maharashtra accounted for the largest area (1.94 mn ha) and production (1.76 million tonnes) of jowar during 2020-21.

    (2) Bajra

    • Bajra is mainly grown in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
    • Of the total 7.75 mn ha under bajra in 2020-21, the highest (4.32 mn ha) was in Rajasthan.
    • The state also produced the most bajra in the country (4.53 million tonnes of the total 10.86 million tonnes) in 2020-21.
    • The consumption of millets was reported mainly from these states: Gujarat (jowar and bajra), Karnataka (jowar and ragi), Maharashtra (jowar and bajra), Rajasthan (bajra), and Uttarakhand (ragi).

    Benefits of Millets

    • Millets are eco-friendly crops: They require much less water than rice and wheat, and can be grown in rainfed areas without additional irrigation.
    • Lesser water footprints: Wheat and rice have the lowest green water footprints but the highest blue water footprints, while millets were exactly opposite. Green water footprint refers to water from precipitation whereas blue water refers to water from land sources.
    • Highly nutritious: Agriculture Ministry declared certain varieties of millets as “Nutri Cereals” for the purposes of production, consumption, and trade.
    • Nutrition security: Millets contain 7-12% protein, 2-5% fat, 65-75% carbohydrates and 15-20% dietary fibre. Small millets are more nutritious compared to fine cereals. They contain higher protein, fat and fibre content.

    Back2Basics: 2023- the Year of Millets

    • On March 3, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution to declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets.
    • The proposal, moved by India, was supported by 72 countries.
    • Several events and activities, including conferences and field activities, and the issuing of stamps and coins, are expected as part of the celebrations.
    • These are aimed at spreading awareness about millets, inspiring stakeholders to improve production and quality, and attracting investments.

     

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  • Species in news: Badri Cow

    badri

    To increase the productivity of its indigenous petite Badri cow that grazes on the medicinal herbs of the Himalayas, Uttarakhand is now planning for its genetic enhancement.

    Badri Cow

    • Badri/Pahari desi cow is a native cow species of Uttarakhand.
    • This cow grazes in the Himalayas on native herbs and shrubs and hence its milk has high medicinal value.
    • These cattle are well adapted to the hilly terrain and the climatic conditions of Uttarakhand.
    • This sturdy and disease-resistant breed is found in hilly regions of the Almora and Pauri Garhwal districts of Uttarakhand.
    • Disease resistance is a very important characteristic of this breed as it rarely gets any disease.

    Medicinal benefits

    • This breed is blessed with strong immunity.
    • The milk of the Badri cow contains almost 90% A2 beta-casein proteins – and is one of the highest in any indigenous varieties.
    • Antioxidants in pure desi ghee help the body better absorb vitamins and minerals, thus boosting immunity.
    • Butyric acid in Badri cow ghee helps strengthen immunity by increasing T-cell production in the gut which helps fight against allergens.

    Why in news?

    • The State authorities proposed to use sex-sorted semen technology to improve production of Badri cattle.
    • They also proposed to opt for the embryo transfer method in order to produce more cattle of high genetic stock.

    Economic significance of Badri cow

    • The Badri ghee is available at the rate of ₹3,000 to ₹5,000 per kg.
    • There is a huge marketing potential for gaumutra ark (distilled cow urine), cow dung, and Panchgavya (the five products of the cow, including milk, curd, ghee, dung and urine).

     

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  • PR23: A perennial rice variety developed by China

    pr23

    Farmers in China are now growing a perennial variety of rice called PR 22 which does not need to be planted every year.

    What is PR23?

    • Researchers at the Yunnan University have developed a variety of perennial rice named PR23 by cross-breeding regular annual rice Oryza sativa with a wild perennial variety from Africa.
    • Unlike regular rice which is planted every season, PR23 can yield eight consecutive harvests across four years (as these plants with stronger roots grow back vigorously after each harvest).
    • PR23 yields, reported at 8 tons per hectare, are comparable to regular irrigated rice.
    • But growing it is much cheaper since it requires less labour, seeds and chemical inputs.

    Benefits of the variety

    • It can result in remarkable environmental benefits such as soils accumulating close to a ton of organic carbon (per hectare per year) along with increases in water available to plants.
    • It is were preferred by farmers since it saved 58% in labour and 49% in other input costs, over each regrowth cycle.
    • The researchers claim it can transform farming by improving livelihoods, enhancing soil quality and by inspiring research on other grains.
    • The invention could transform rice farming by making it climate-friendly, besides using less of labour and other inputs.

    Why is the discovery of the new variety significant?

    • Rice feeds about half of the world, and its farming and consumption are primarily in Asia.
    • Most crops grown today were once perennial, but bred to be annual, short-duration, to make them more productive.
    • Perennial rice could be a transformational innovation if it proves to be economically sustainable.

    Significance for India

    • India is the world’s second largest rice producer, after China, and the largest exporter with a 40% share in global trade.
    • It is grown during both summer and winter crop seasons.
    • Perennial rice can reduce the drudgery of annual trans-plantation, a back-breaking task, and generate savings on seeds and other inputs.
    • China’s early success has another lesson for India: to raise investments in public research and agricultural sciences.
    • This can help counter the impact of climate change on food security and rural incomes.

     

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  • Darjeeling Tea Industry in Crisis

    tea

    Tea Board officials admitted that Indian tea had not been able to establish itself globally, and that one of its key brands, Darjeeling Tea, was under acute stress.

    About Darjeeling Tea

    • Darjeeling Tea, called the ‘Champagne of Teas’, was the first Indian product to get the GI (Geographical Identification) tag in 2004 for its distinctive aroma and flavour.
    • About 87 gardens in Darjeeling which employ about 55,000 workers produce approximately 7 million kg of tea, most of which is exported.

    Why is it under distress?

    • Garden owners are reeling under higher costs of production and other issues.
    • Inferior quality tea from Nepal is being imported, and then sold and re-exported as premium Darjeeling Tea.
    • Nepal shares similar climatic conditions and terrain, produces tea at a lower price because of less input costs, particularly labour, and fewer quality checks.
    • In 2017, the production of Darjeeling Tea hit a low of 3.21 million kg. Since a substantial market of Darjeeling Tea switched to cheaper varieties of tea, including the imported variety from Nepal.
    • Tea planters and industry experts admit that the tea industry in Darjeeling has not recovered from the damage it incurred in 2017.

    Is climate change impacting production?

    • The decline in production is due to multiple factors, which include climate change, declining yields, and high absenteeism among workers.
    • Because of the hilly terrain of Darjeeling, there is no land left for expansion of tea gardens.
    • The tea bushes are older than other parts of the country.
    • Uprooting and planting them is both time and cost-intensive.

     

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  • 67% drop in PM-KISAN pay-out in 3 years

    pm kisan

    The number of farmers who received the 11th installment of funds from the Prime Minister’s Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) had fallen by 67%.

    What is PM-KISAN?

    • The PM-KISAN Yojana is a government scheme through which, all small and marginal farmers will get up to Rs 6,000 per year as minimum income support.
    • It is a Central Sector scheme with 100% funding from GoI. It has become operational since 1st December 2018.
    • Under the PM-KISAN scheme, all landholding farmers’ families shall be provided with the financial benefit of Rs. 6000 per annum per family payable in three equal instalments of Rs. 2000 each, every four months.
    • The definition of the family for the scheme is husband, wife, and minor children.
    • State Government and UT administration will identify the farmer families which are eligible for support as per scheme guidelines.
    • The fund will be directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries.

    Note: Aadhaar was made optional for availing the first instalment (December 2018 – March 2019). But now it is mandatory.

    Who are NOT eligible for PM-KISAN?

    The following categories of beneficiaries of higher economic status shall not be eligible for benefit under the scheme.

    • All Institutional Landholders

    Farmer families that belong to one or more of the following categories:

    • Former and present holders of constitutional posts
    • Former and present Ministers/ State Ministers and former/present Members of Lok Sabha/ Rajya Sabha/ State Legislative Assemblies/ State Legislative Councils, former and present Mayors of Municipal Corporations, former and present Chairpersons of District Panchayats.
    • All serving or retired officers and employees of Central/ State Government Ministries
    • All superannuated/retired pensioners whose monthly pension is Rs.10,000/-or more. (Excluding Multi-Tasking Staff / Class IV/Group D employees) of the above category
    • All Persons who paid Income Tax in the last assessment year
    • Professionals like Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers, Chartered Accountants, and Architects registered with Professional bodies and carrying out the profession by undertaking practices.

    Note: It is not so easy to remember all such exclusions. But one must be able to recognize them by applying pure logic and thumb rule. This can be well understood from the PYQ given.

    Plus, West Bengal is yet to implement the PM-KISAN scheme while the farmers have completed their registrations!

    Why in news?

    Ans. Fall in number of beneficiaries

    • PM Kisan was one of the largest Director Benefits Transfer schemes in the world and certain higher income categories of farmer families were excluded from the benefits.
    • But 67% reduction in overall beneficiaries clearly points to exclusion of eligible beneficiaries too.
    • Only about three crore farmers in India had received all the 11 instalments.

    How are states responsible?

    • The responsibility of maintaining the data of beneficiaries, remained with the States.
    • The Scheme extensively uses digital technologies to verify eligibility of farmers.
    • States/ UTs upload the data of eligible farmers after verification of the farmers, in terms of eligibility and exclusion criterion prescribed under the scheme.
    • The data of farmers so uploaded by States goes through several validations, through the portals of UIDAI, PFMS, Income Tax Portal and NPCI.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Under the Kisan Credit Card Scheme, short-term credit support is given to farmers for which of the following purposes? (CSP 2020)

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

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    (a) 1,2 and 5 only

    (b) 1,3 and 4 only

    (c) 2,3,4 and 5 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

     

    [wpdiscuz-feedback id=”vo5cdcyjfh” question=”Please leave a feedback on this” opened=”1″]Post your answers here.[/wpdiscuz-feedback]

     

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  • Addressing the Leakages in PDS in the light of PMGKAY

    PMGKAY

    Context

    • The government of India extended Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY), a scheme to distribute free food grains to the poor, for another three months. However, issues of food grain leakages remains unaddressed.

    Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY)

    • PM-GKAY: Launched during COVID-19 crisis to provided food security to the poor, needy and the vulnerable households/beneficiaries so that they do not suffer on account of non-availability of adequate foodgrains. Under PMGKAY, effectively it has doubled the quantity of monthly foodgrains entitlements being normally delivered to beneficiaries.
    • Benefits: Under PMGKAY welfare scheme, 5 kg of food grain per person per month is provided free of cost for all the beneficiaries covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) including those covered under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
    • Financial Expenditure: Financial implication for the Government of India has been about 3.45 Lakh Crore for Phase-VI of PMGKAY. With the additional expenditure of about Rs. 44,762 Crore for Phase-VII of this scheme, the overall expenditure of PMGKAY will be about Rs. 3.91 lakh crore for all the phases.
    • Grain Allotment: The total outgo in terms of food grains for PMGKAY Phase VII is likely to be about 122 LMT. Food grain for phases I- VII is about 1121 LMT.
    • Implementation: PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY) has been implemented in the following phases –
    1. Phase I and II (8 months): April’20 to Nov.’20
    2. Phase-III to V (11 months): May’21 to March’22
    3. Phase-VI (6 months): April’22 to Sept.’22

    PMGKAY

    Impact of the PMGKY scheme

    • Ensuring food security and public health: Policymakers and experts concede that the scheme made a difference to food security and public health during the pandemic.
    • IMF commended the scheme: Be it the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food and Public Distribution or the authors of an IMF-published working paper, “Pandemic, Poverty, and Inequality: Evidence from India” (April 2022), the scheme has received commendation.
    • Absorbing the shock in the pandemic: The working paper concluded that “the social safety net provided by the expansion of India’s food subsidy program absorbed a major part of the pandemic shock.”

    Why the experts are suggesting the study of PMGKY?

    • Rationalizing the budget: To keep the budgetary allocation under control, rules on quota for rice or wheat can be changed suitably.
    • Checking the diversion of Funds: While it is all right to provide foodgrains free during the pandemic, the central and State authorities need to ponder over the scheme’s continuance, given the chronic problem of diversion from the Public Distribution System (PDS).
    • Combing the Centre and state subsidy: In many States, including West Bengal, Kerala and Karnataka, the 50 kg is free. In Tamil Nadu, for over 10 years, rice-drawing card holders have been getting rice free.

    PMGKAY

    How the transparent study of PMGKY will help in leakage detection?

    • Updating the database of beneficiary: Study should be the basis for updating the database of foodgrain-drawing card holders, scrutinising the data critically and zeroing in on the needy.
    • Automation of PDS: The task should not be onerous, given the widespread application of technological tools in the PDS such as Aadhaar, automation of fair price shops and capturing of the biometric data of beneficiaries.
    • Estimation of PHH: Using this database, the Centre and States can decide whether the size of the Priority Households (PHH) nearly 71 crores, can be pruned or not.
    • Reasonable price to avoid freebies culture: In addition, if they feel the need to go beyond the mandate of the NFSA, as is being done under the PMGKAY, they can supply the foodgrains at a reasonable price. The culture of providing essential commodities free of cost at the drop of a hat has to go.

    Conclusion

    • PMGKY has helped the needy in people in the dark period of pandemic. However, with good intention of government food grain leakages of PDS couldn’t be stopped. Transparent study of will certainly help in leakage detection and more targeted delivery.

    Mains Question

    Q. Schemes of food security are always with good intentions; However, lack of transparency and leakages disturbs targeted delivery. Discuss the measures to ensure the last mile delivery of food grains.

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  • India’s GM crop revolution and the controversy over GM mustard

    GM

    Context

    • As soon as the government took the decision to release India’s first genetically-modified (GM) food crop Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 (DMH-11) for “environment release”, some activists approached the Supreme Court to ban it for various reasons. The Supreme Court has ordered the status quo to be maintained till the next hearing on the matter on November 17.

    What are Genetically modified organisms (GMO)?

    • Changes in genetic material: GMOs can be defined as organisms (i.e., plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination
    • Transfers of genes: It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between nonrelated species.
    • GM foods: Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods

    GM

    What is the ironic case of opposition to the GM crops?

    • Opposition to GM is not new: The opposition to GM food crops is not new. There has been a global campaign in this regard by many activists. GM crops have spread around the world since 1996.
    • of countries accepted the use of GM crops: More than 70 countries have accepted the use of GM crops. For instance, by 2019, roughly 190 million hectares were under GM crops, led by corn and soyabean in the US, Brazil, Argentina, and canola (rapeseed/mustard) in Canada, even Bangladesh has marched ahead with Bt brinjal.
    • No concrete evidence of harmful impact: There is ample evidence in support of that with no harmful impact on human or animal health or the environment per se.

    India’s journey towards GM crops, specifically “Bt cotton”

    • First GM crop released under Vajpayee government with the slogan of Jai Vigyan:
    • Atal Bihar Vajpayee envisioned that science could transform agriculture
    • India had its first GM crop, Bt cotton, released in 2002 by the Vajpayee government. He extended the original slogan of “jai jawan, jai kisan” (salutation to the soldier and the farmer), given by Lal Bahadur Shastri, to include “jai vigyan” (salutation to science).
    • The case of Historic success of Bt cotton:
    1. Cotton production Increased: With the Bt cotton, Cotton production increased remarkably from a mere 13.6 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2002-03 to 39.8 million bales in 2013-14. Registered an increase of 192 per cent in just 12 years, ushering the famous “gene revolution”.
    2. Area under Cotton cultivation expanded: The area under cotton cultivation expanded by 56 per cent, of which about 95 per cent is under Bt cotton.
    3. Cotton productivity per hectare increased significantly: Cotton productivity increased from 302 kg per hectare in 2002-03 to 566 kg per hectare in 2013-14, an increase of 76 per cent,
    4. More productivity more income to farmers lead to increase in agri- GDP: The gains to cotton farmers whose incomes increased significantly. For instance, Bt cotton led Gujarat’s “agrarian miracle” of very high (above 8 per cent) annual growth rate in agri-GDP during 2002-03 to 2013-14.
    5. Revived the glory to The Indian cotton in the world market: It made India the second-largest producer after China, and the second-largest exporter after the US, of cotton in the world today.

    What are the concerns associated with the cultivation of GM crops?

    • Emergence of Increased pest resistance: Enhanced sucking pest damage in Bt cotton; increase in secondary pests such as mired bugs and Spodoptera; and the emergence of pest resistance.
    • Impact on environment of human health: Environmental and health implications in terms of toxicity and allergenicity that can cause hematotoxin reactions in the human body.
    • Fear of increased mono cropping: Farmers’ exposure to a greater risk of monopoly in the seed business.

    GM

    What is the controversy and debate associated with GM Mustard?

    • Debate on advantages and impacts: There is a raging debate going on advantages and disadvantages of GMOs. For a long time, further study was requested by farmers, environmentalist on GMO crops.
    • Denial goes against the principle of basic rights of farmers: By not allowing GM mustard or for that matter even Bt brinjal for so long, one is denying the basic rights of farmers who want to increase their incomes.
    • Allow with the sustainable practice with the use of science and technology: The best way to do so is by raising productivity in a sustainable manner. The field trials of GM mustard at different locations showed 25-28 per cent higher yield and better disease resistance compared to indigenous varieties. This can go a long way in augmenting domestic mustard oil supplies and farmers’ incomes.
    • Unnecessary debate after the approval by the scientific body: Dissent is a good sign in any democratic society and forms an essential part of checks and balances. But once the safety tests are done and the scientific body (GEAC) has given the green signal, what is needed is political leadership to keep the decision-making science-based.

    GM

    Why GM Mustard is important for India?

    • India’s heavy dependence on Imported edible oils: India heavily depends on imported edible oils (55-60 per cent of India’s domestic requirement is imported). A large portion of this about three-four million tonnes every year comes from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the US, etc, which is all from GM technology (in soybean and canola).
    • Import and GM crops are already in our food chain: We eat plenty of our own cotton seed (binola) oil, and about 95 per cent of our cotton is now GM. Cotton seed is also fed to cattle which gives the milk its fat content. Even poultry feed, such as soya and corn, is being imported. So, one thing is clear GM food is already in our food chain, and has been there for quite some time.
    • A chance to emerge as a major export hub: It was expected that India would be at the forefront of the gene revolution and emerge as a major export hub to other Asian and African countries. What the IT revolution has done in computer science, the Bt revolution could have done in agriculture.

    Conclusion

    • The agriculture of tomorrow is going to be science-based, and the winners will be those who adopt it and develop it further today. Innovation is the name of the game, and “Jai Anusandhan” is a good slogan given by PM Modi. But it will have meaning only when the government goes ahead with not just GM mustard but also fast-tracks Ht Bt cotton, Bt brinjal, and even GM soya and corn.

    Mains Question

    Q. What are GM crops? With policy paralysis in the case of GM mustard, India may not be able to keep pace with the success of Bt cotton. Critically analyse.

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  • In news: Kisan Rail Project

    kisan rail

    Punjab has assured Kerala Government to provide paddy straw for usage as fodder for livestock using the Kisan Rail Project.

    Why such move?

    • Kerala, being a land-stressed coastal state, does not generate enough roughage that can be used as fodder for cattle.
    • It ranks second in milk production after Punjab.
    • The move will help Punjab to deal with the excessive paddy straw which contributes to stubble burning.

    About Kisan Rail Project

    • In the Union Budget 2020-21 an announcement was made by the Union Finance Minister regarding the launch of Kisan Rail.
    • The idea behind running Kisan Rail services is to move perishables including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fishery and dairy products from production or surplus regions to consumption or deficient regions.
    • The speedy rail movement would thus ensure minimum damage during transit.

    How can farmers transport their produce?

    • The farmers have to approach the Chief Parcel Supervisor of the Railway Stations from where the Kisan Rail service is scheduled to originate or to have enroute stoppage, along with their consignment.
    • Due care is taken to ensure that the packing condition is not faulty.
    • The consignment is weighed and charges are levied as per the prescribed parcel rates (P-scale).

    Salient features

    • 50 percent subsidy is given in freight for transportation of fruits and vegetables.
    • The subsidy is being borne by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries under their Operation Greens – TOP to Total scheme.
    • There is no minimum limit on quantity that can be booked, enabling small famers to reach bigger and distant markets.
    • Kisan Rails are based on the concept of multi commodity, multi consignor, multi consignee and multi stoppages – to help small farmers with lesser produce to transport their consignment without any middleman.

    Need for such scheme

    • Farmers, especially small and marginal farmers, often find it difficult to sell their produce in markets beyond a certain distance.
    • This is primarily due to factors such as non-availability of affordable transport, delay in transit resulting in damage/decay to produce, and unwillingness of road transporters to carry small sized consignments.

    Benefits provided

    • Access to markets: Vast network of Indian Railways enables farmers from remote villages to connect to the mainstream market and sell their agricultural produce.
    • Helps prevent food wastage: It saves times and encourages farmers to transport their perishables to greater distances and bigger markets.
    • Getting better deal for farmers: Kisan Rail is a factor enabling improvement in terms of trade for farmers and the real returns received by farmers for their produce.
    • Doubling farmers’ income: Access to such markets will enable farmers to sell their produce at a better price, which will go a long way in fulfilling Government’s vision of ‘doubling farmers’ income.’

     

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