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Subject: Crop Diversification

  • Matcha Tea: India’s First Commercially Produced Matcha

    Why in News?

    An Assam tea estate, Chota Tingrai Tea Estate in Tinsukia district, has produced and sold India’s first commercially produced matcha tea at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre, marking India’s entry into the premium global matcha market.

    What is Matcha?

    • Matcha is a finely powdered green tea made from specially cultivated shade-grown leaves of Camellia sinensis.
    • Unlike conventional green tea, where leaves are steeped and discarded, the entire powdered leaf is consumed, providing higher nutritional benefits.

    How is Matcha Produced?

    • Tea plants are shaded for 3 to 4 weeks before harvest.
    • Around 90% of sunlight is blocked, resulting in:
      • Increased chlorophyll content (bright green colour).
      • Higher L-theanine (amino acid) levels.
      • Enhanced antioxidants and natural caffeine.
    • Young leaves are Steamed to prevent oxidation, Dried, De-stemmed and de-veined, Stone-ground into a fine green powder.

    How is Matcha Different from Green Tea?

    • Matcha uses shade-grown tea leaves, whereas ordinary green tea is generally grown under normal sunlight.
    • In matcha, the entire powdered leaf is consumed, while in green tea the leaves are steeped in water and then discarded.
    • Matcha contains higher levels of chlorophyll, antioxidants, L-theanine, and natural caffeine.
    • It has a rich umami flavour and vibrant green colour.

    [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 office at Dubai and Moscow.
    Which of the statements given above are correct?

    [A] 1 and 3

    [B] 2 and 4

    [C] 3 and 4

    [D] 1 and 4

  • What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system?

  • 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 are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India?

    The rice-wheat system emerged as the backbone of Indian agriculture after the Green Revolution. It led to food self-sufficiency, but over-time it has become ecologically and economically unsustainable.

    Major Factors Responsible for the Success of the Rice-Wheat System

    Assured Irrigation- Expansion of canal irrigation and tube wells in Punjab and Haryana.

    MSP and Procurement Support through FCI and PDS gave farmers assured income.

    Favourable Agro-climatic Conditions- alluvial soil, flat terrain and suitable climate of the Indo-Gangetic plains favoured rice-wheat double cropping.

    Mechanisation – Availability of tractors, combine harvesters, threshers, storage facilities and rural roads reduced labour costs and increased efficiency.

    Input Subsidies- Heavy subsidies on electricity, fertilisers and water made cultivation economically attractive.

    Institutional Credit Availability- Access to cooperative banks, KCC and PSBs enabled farmers to invest in modern inputs.

    Export potential – Eg- High demand for Indian Basmati Rice in international markets.

    However, this system has become bane for India

    Excess Use of Fertilizers leads to nutrient imbalances and soil degradation. Eg-Punjab uses 244 kg/ha of fertilizers vs the national average of 140 kg/ha.

    Deteriorating Soil Health

    N:P:K imbalance 7.7:3.1:1.

    Over 30% of Indian soils is degraded

    Groundwater Depletion: Eg- Punjab’s water table dropping 50 cm annually (Central Ground Water Board).

    Decreasing Productivity: Wheat yields have stagnated at 3.5-4 tonnes/ha due to resource depletion and climate change (ICAR, 2023).

    Pollution from Residue Burning: over 20 million tonnes of paddy straw burned annually (SAFAR).

    Increased Fiscal Burden due to high MSP and fertilizer subsidies. Eg- fertilizer subsidies exceeding in 2024-25.

    Reducing agro-biodiversity – focus on only two crops has displaced millets, pulses and oilseeds.

    Neglect of nutri-cereals and pulses has contributed to hidden hunger and malnutrition.

    Climate Vulnerability – Rice-wheat system is highly sensitive to heatwaves, erratic rainfall and declining water availability.

    Way Forward

    Diversification to Millets, Pulses & Oilseeds

    Efficient Water Management – Drip irrigation, System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

    Soil Health Restoration – organic fertilizers, bio-compost, and crop rotation

    Stubble Management Alternatives – Happy Seeder, bio-decomposers, and straw recycling

    Climate-Resilient Varieties

    Rationalise MSP to break the monoculture cycle.

    Crop diversification is key for doubling farmers’ income and nutritional security.

  • What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?

    A cropping pattern is the distribution of various crops within a specific area at a given time. Presently, rice and wheat account for 75% of overall foodgrain production and 37% of net-sown area.

    Challenges Before Crop Diversification

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

    Input constraints – Limited HYV seeds, overdependence on chemical fertilizers. Eg- Seed replacement rate is 35-45% (over 90% in USA)

    Input Subsidy Bias – Subsidies for power, urea, canal water favour water-intensive crops, making alternatives less attractive.

    Low income trap limits farmers ability to invest in High Value crops and Technology.

    High monsoon dependence – About 55% of cultivable land is rainfed – increasing risk and limiting diversification.

    Fragmented landholdings – 86% Small and marginal farmers – restrict mechanisation.

    Shift to commercial crops – Expansion of cotton (Deccan belt) and sugarcane (Punjab-Haryana, Krishna-Godavari basin) crowds out food crops.

    Human factors – Population pressure, subsistence farming, and low risk appetite hinder diversification.

    Institutional weaknesses – Defective land tenure, and poor processing for perishables. Eg- Only 13% mandis digital.

    Market Uncertainty – Lack of assured markets for pulses, oilseeds, millets, fruits, and vegetables limits farmers’ ability to shift.

    Infrastructural gaps – Eg- cold storage can accommodate only 11% of total produce.

    Role of Emerging Technologies in promoting Crop Diversification

    Precision Agriculture – Drones, IoT sensors, GIS enable farmers to manage diverse crops with accurate irrigation, nutrition, and pest control.

    Biotechnology – Stress-tolerant and climate-resilient varieties encourage diversification. Eg- Drought Tolerant High-Yielding Chickpea Variety “SAATVIK (NC 9)”

    Micro-Irrigation – Drip and sprinkler systems make cultivation of horticulture, vegetables, and spices viable even in dry regions.

    Protected Cultivation Technologies – Eg- Polyhouses and shade nets allow off-season vegetables, flowers, and exotics.

    Digital Platforms like e-NAM, agritech apps, FPO digital platforms provide real-time prices and reduce market risk for alternative crops.

    Cold-Chain Technologies support high-value horticulture diversification. Eg: Apple packhouses.

    Biofertilisers improve soil health and make pulses, oilseeds, and millets more viable in rainfed regions.

    Climate-Smart Advisory Systems – AI-based weather advisories, satellite-based crop monitoring help farmers shift to climate-resilient crops.

    Financial inclusion under JAM and DBT under PM KISAN increases capital investment and promotes diversification to high value crops

    When science meets scale, when innovation becomes inclusive, when technology drives transformation, the foundation for great achievements is laid – PM Modi


  • Explain the changes in cropping pattern in India in the context of changes in consumption pattern and marketing conditions.

    A cropping pattern is the distribution of various crops within a specific area at a given time. In recent times, cropping patterns have seen visible transformation due to changing dietary habits and market demands.

    Changing Cropping Pattern due to Changing Consumption Pattern

    In 2022-23, fruits and vegetables accounted for 28.3% of the Gross Value Output, surpassing cereals – due to changing diet, health awareness, Middle-class expansion and urbanisation.

    Growth of organic farming due to increasing awareness about the health impacts of chemicals. Eg- organic food market growing @ CAGR 20%

    Higher consumption of chips, juices, and packaged foods has increased cultivation of crops like potato, maize, tomato and sugarcane.

    Rising dairy and meat consumption has led to increased cultivation of fodder crops such as maize, sorghum and green fodder.

    Focus on nutri-cereals under Millet Mission and International Year of Millets (2023) is increasing area under millets. (from 12 million hectares in 2013 to 15 million hectares in 2021)

    Regional Diversification Patterns

    Punjab-Haryana: Slow movement away from rice-wheat monoculture

    Maharashtra, Karnataka, TN: Shift to horticulture & pulses

    Eastern India: Expansion of vegetables + aquaculture

    Changing Cropping Pattern due to Changing Marketing Conditions

    Expansion of e-NAM (1.77Cr farmers registered)- Better price discovery and wider market access are encouraging crop diversification.

    Better price Discovery – Eg- horticulture crops give 3-4 times higher income than cereals.

    Export-oriented agriculture – High demand for basmati rice, spices, tea, coffee, cotton and fruits. Eg- tea Plantations in Assam and WB

    Growth of contract farming -Eg- PepsiCo in potatoes, ITC in maize encourage cultivation of commercial crops through assured buy-back.

    Improved storage and logistics infrastructure like cold storage, Kisan Rail support high-value and perishable crops.

    Demand from industries has increased cultivation of sugarcane (ethanol), oilseeds (biodiesel), cotton and silk.

    Rise of e-commerce and food processing sector- Eg- Platforms like Blinkit, BigBasket, and FPIs have promoted commercial and market-led cropping patterns.

    Shift to high-value crops can be a key driver of doubling farmers’ income and nutritional security.

  • Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.

    In 2022-23, fruits and vegetables accounted for 28.3% of the Gross Value Output, surpassing cereals for the first time, and the horticulture sector contributed about 33% to the agriculture GVA.

    Factors Influencing the Selection of High-Value Crops by Farmers in India

    Policy & Institutional Factors

    Government Incentives – Schemes like MIDH, PMKSY, Operation Greens, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

    Export Promotion Policies- APEDA support, agri-export zones, GI tagging

    Economic Factors

    Higher Profitability- Fruits, spices, floriculture and plantation crops offer greater income per hectare than cereals.

    Availability of Credit & Insurance – Eg-

    Agro-Climatic Factors

    Agro-Climatic Suitability – Eg- grapes in Maharashtra, apples in Himachal.

    Availability of Irrigation- Eg- Sugarcane in western UP and Maharashtra

    Technological Factors

    Availability of HYV Seeds – Eg- GM Seeds, precision farming, tissue culture

    Extension services – e-NAM price signals, Krishi Vigyan Kendras guide crop selection.

    Storage, Processing, and Value Chains – Eg- Mango pulp processing in Andhra Pradesh

    Social Factors

    Agriculture Startups – Educated rural youth adopt commercial high-value crops. Eg- Agroponics near Urban Centers

    Rising urbanisation and changing diets. Eg- organic food market growing @ CAGR 20%

    Environmental & Sustainability Factors

    Climate Resilience- Shift towards drought-resistant crops like millets, medicinal plants.

    Soil Health Consideration – Crop diversification is adopted to restore nutrient balance and reduce dependency on fertilisers.

    Water Efficiency – Crops with lower water requirement and higher value (Eg-, spices, horticulture) are preferred in water-stressed areas.

    Shift to high-value crops can be a key driver of doubling farmers’ income and sustainable agriculture.