INSTA PT 2023 Exclusive Agriculture PDF

INSTA PT 2023
EXCLUSIVE
AGRICULTURE
JUNE 2022 – JANUARY 2023
INSTA PT 2023 EXCLUSIVE (AGRICULTURE)
NOTES
Table of Contents
Government Schemes/ Programmes ............................................................................. 3
1. PRIMARY AGRICULTURAL CREDIT SOCIETY (PACS) ................................................................... 3
2. FERTILIZER SUBSIDY................................................................................................................ 3
3. ONE NATION, ONE FERTILIZER SCHEME .................................................................................. 4
4. PM PRANAM (PROMOTION OF ALTERNATE NUTRIENTS FOR AGRICULTURE MANAGEMENT
YOJANA) ........................................................................................................................................ 5
5. FODDER-CENTRIC FPOS .......................................................................................................... 5
6. PRICE STABILIZATION FUND (PSF) ........................................................................................... 6
7. PM KISAN SCHEME ................................................................................................................. 6
8. JAL JEEVAN MISSION .............................................................................................................. 7
9. CONVERGENCE PORTAL OF GOVT'S 3 FLAGSHIP SCHEMES ...................................................... 7
10. PRADHAN MANTRI FASAL BIMA YOJANA (PMFBY) ............................................................... 9
11. MODIFIED INTEREST SUBVENTION SCHEME (MISS) ............................................................. 9
12. AGRICULTURE CENSUS ..................................................................................................... 10
13. 'JUTE MARK INDIA' LOGO.................................................................................................. 10
14. SAMARTH ......................................................................................................................... 11
15. RYTHU BHAROSA KENDRAS (ANDHRA PRADESH) ............................................................... 11
16. PARVAZ MARKET LINKAGE SCHEME .................................................................................. 11
17. KRITAGYA 3.0 ................................................................................................................... 11
18. SEED TREATY .................................................................................................................... 11
19. NEGOTIABLE WAREHOUSE RECEIPT (NWR) SYSTEM .......................................................... 12
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and Minimum Support Prices ....... 14
1. AGRICULTURE SUBSIDIES ...................................................................................................... 14
2. MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSP) ......................................................................................... 14
3. FAIR AND REMUNERATIVE PRICE (FRP) ................................................................................. 15
Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country .................................... 17

1. MONOCROPPING ................................................................................................................. 17
2. MILLETS ............................................................................................................................... 18
3. CARDAMOM ........................................................................................................................ 20
4. ONION IN INDIA ................................................................................................................... 20
5. ARECANUT ........................................................................................................................... 21
6. BASMATI RICE ...................................................................................................................... 21
7. WHEAT CULTIVATION IN INDIA ............................................................................................. 23
8. COFFEE ................................................................................................................................ 24
9. SUGAR PRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 25
10. GM MUSTARD .................................................................................................................. 26
11. OPIUM OPENED FOR PRIVATE PLAYERS............................................................................. 26
12. COTTON ........................................................................................................................... 27
Recent Developments / Technologies ......................................................................... 28

1. PURSE SEINE FISHING ........................................................................................................... 28
2. ASIAN PALM OIL ALLIANCE ................................................................................................... 28
3. 212 INDIGENOUS LIVESTOCK BREEDS ................................................................................... 30
4. REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE .............................................................................................. 30
5. BLACK SOIL ........................................................................................................................... 32
6. SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION ............................................................................................ 32
7. KRISHI-DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (KRISHI-DSS) .................................................................. 33
8. RICE FORTIFICATION ............................................................................................................. 33
9. DIRECT-SEEDED RICE ............................................................................................................ 34
www.insightsonindia.com 1 InsightsIAS
NOTES
10. SYSTEM OF RICE INTENSIFICATION (SRI) ............................................................................ 34
11. FISHBONE CHANNEL PLANTATION METHOD ..................................................................... 35
12. CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE (CA) .................................................................................. 35
13. PARTIAL STUBBLE BURNING.............................................................................................. 36
14. SHIFTING AGRICULTURE (PODU) ....................................................................................... 36
15. DRIP IRRIGATION .............................................................................................................. 36
16. GREEN MANURING ........................................................................................................... 37
17. PRECISION AGRICULTURE ................................................................................................. 37
18. VARIOUS AGRICULTURE PRACTICES .................................................................................. 37
Departments / Organisations ...................................................................................... 38

1. NATIONAL FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT BOARD........................................................................ 38
2. PESTICIDE ACTION NETWORK ............................................................................................... 38
3. NATIONAL EXPORT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY.......................................................................... 38
4. AGRICULTURAL MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEM .................................................................. 38
Miscellaneous............................................................................................................. 40
1. NATIONAL FARMERS DAY ..................................................................................................... 40
2. NATIONAL MILK DAY ............................................................................................................ 40
3. WORLD MILK DAY................................................................................................................. 40
4. KORONIVIA JOINT WORK ON AGRICULTURE (KJWA) .............................................................. 41
5. ORGANIC FERTILISER ............................................................................................................ 41
6. GLYPHOSATE ........................................................................................................................ 41
7. SANDALWOOD SPIKE DISEASES............................................................................................. 42
8. ECOLOGY WITH AGRICULTURE ............................................................................................. 42
9. LUMPY SKIN DISEASE ............................................................................................................ 43
10. MANURE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................. 43
11. AGRI-TRADE TRENDS IN INDIA .......................................................................................... 44
12. AGRICULTURE’S SHARE IN INDIA’S WORKFORCE ............................................................... 44
13. KURKI ............................................................................................................................... 45
NOTES
Government Schemes/ Programmes
1. Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS)
Primary Agricultural Credit Society (PACS): It is a village-level institution that works directly with
rural residents. It encourages agriculturists to save, accepts deposits from them, makes loans to
deserving borrowers, and collects repayments.
• PACS are village level
cooperative credit
societies that serve as
the last link in a three-
tier cooperative credit
structure headed by the
State Cooperative Banks
(SCB) at the state level.
• Credit from the SCBs is
transferred to the district
central cooperative
banks, or DCCBs, that
operate at the district level. The DCCBs work with PACS, which deal directly with farmers.
• Since these are cooperative bodies, individual farmers are members of the PACS, and office-
bearers are elected from within them. A village can have multiple PACS.
• There are only 65,000 active PACS in the country at present.
• PACS are involved in short term lending — or what is known as crop loan.
• For farmers, timely access to capital is necessary at the start of their agricultural activities.
PACS have the capacity to extend credit with minimal paperwork within a short time.
• Chairpersons of PACS participate in electing the office-bearers of DCCBs.
• PACS will carry out activities like the sale of gas and petrol and the storage and marketing of
dairy and farm products with an aim to alleviate poverty and empower women.
2. Fertilizer Subsidy
Under the Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme (2010), the prices are fixed by companies
(decontrolled) but a fixed amount of subsidy decided on an annual basis is provided on each
grade of subsidized Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilizers, except for Urea, based on the
nutrient content present in them, so as to keep the prices within reasonable level.
Urea Pricing policy: Department of fertilizers has

• Due to natural gas-based feedstock, the MRP of urea instituted a dedicated officer known
is statutorily fixed by the Government of India. as a ‘fertilizer flying squad’ to check
• The Centre pays subsidy on urea to fertiliser any diversion, black marketing or
manufacturers on the basis of cost of production at adulteration of fertilizers.
each plant and the units are required to sell the
fertiliser at the government-set Maximum Retail Price (MRP).
How subsidies are paid?

• The Direct benefit transfer (DBT) system was introduced in 2018.
• The retailer’s point-of-sale (PoS) machine is linked to the Department of Fertilizers’ e-Urvarak
DBT portal.
• Farmers purchasing fertilizers provide identity proof (Aadhar or Kisan Credit Card) to certify
sales.
• Only sales registered on the e-Urvarak portal get DBT for the companies.
NOTES
It may be noted that urea forms around 80 per cent of the total nitrogenous fertilisers
consumed in India and it has recorded exponential increase in consumption over the years.
Around 30-50 per cent of nitrogen from urea is utilised by plants and the rest gets wasted due to
quick chemical transformation as a result of leaching, volatilization and run off, thereby low use
efficiency.
Nano urea:
Urea is chemical nitrogen fertilizer, white in colour, which artificially provides nitrogen, a major
nutrient required by plants.
• Liquid nano urea is essentially urea in the form of a nanoparticle.
• It is a patented chemical nitrogen fertilizer produced by Indian Farmers Fertilizer
Cooperative Limited (IFFCO).
Nano urea vs imported/urea – Which is better?

• Cost: Nano urea is
cheaper (Rs 240 for
half litre without
subsidy; the
International market
price of a bag of urea
is between Rs 3,500
and Rs 4,000. A bottle
of nano urea can
effectively replace at
least one bag of urea.
• Benefits for the
government: Reduces
fertilizer subsidy bill of
government. India is
dependent on imports of the widely used fertilizer.
• The efficiency of Nano urea (nutritional use efficiency) can be as high as 85-90 per cent
(Conventional urea has an efficiency of about 25 per cent).
o As Nano urea has higher surface-mass ratios that help in releasing nutrients to plants
in a controlled manner.
• Nano urea has a shelf life of a year, and farmers need not be worried about “caking” when it
comes in contact with moisture.
Other benefits of Nano urea:

• Fertilizers in nano form provide a targeted supply of nutrients to crops, as they are absorbed
by the stomata, and pores found on the epidermis of leaves.
• Reduces the unbalanced and indiscriminate use of conventional urea.
• Reduces soil, water, and air pollution.
3. One Nation, One fertilizer scheme

Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Urvarak Pariyojana, also known as ‘One Nation One Fertiliser’ was
launched during the two-day event PM Kisan Samman Sammelan 2022.
One Nation, One fertilizer scheme.

• Under it, fertilizer companies must market all subsidised fertilisers under a single
brand ‘Bharat’.
• With the launch of this scheme, India will have a common bag design across the country like
Bharat urea, Bharat DAP, Bharat MOP, Bharat NPK, and so on.
NOTES
• Rationale behind the scheme: The rationale is that since fertilizers of a particular category
must meet the nutrient-content specifications of the Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), there
is no product differentiation among different brands for each type of fertilizer.
o Also, brand preferences by farmers have resulted in fertilizer-supply delays to
farmers and an extra burden on the exchequer due to increased freight
subsidies needing to be paid for the long-distance crisscross movement of
fertilizers.
PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM KSK):

• 600 PMKSK have been launched (under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers) to cater to a
wide variety of input needs of the farmers - Testing needs, extension services, fertilizers,
seeds, equipment etc.
• Government plans to develop more than 3 lakh fertilizer shops across the country as
Samruddhi Kendra. This was launched in the Kisan Sammelan 2022. Apart from Smruddhi
Kendra, the government also launched ‘India Edge’ an e-magazine on fertilizers; inaugurated
Agri Startup Conclave.
4. PM PRANAM (Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture

Management Yojana)
PM PRANAM (Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture Management Yojana) has been
planned to reduce the use of chemical fertilisers by incentivising states
Features of the scheme:

• No separate budget: The scheme will not have a separate budget and will be financed by the
“savings of existing fertiliser subsidy” under schemes run by the Department of fertilisers.
• 50% subsidy savings will be passed on as a grant to the state that saves the money
o 70% of the grant provided under the scheme can be used for asset creation (adoption
of alternate fertilisers at the village, block and district levels)
o 30% grant money can be used for incentivising farmers, panchayats, FPOs and self-
help groups that are involved in the reduction of fertiliser use and awareness
generation.
• Data available on a fertiliser Ministry dashboard, iFMS (Integrated fertilisers Management
System), will be used for this purpose
Status of Fertilizer use and subsidy:

• The total requirement of four fertilisers — Urea, DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate), MOP
(Muriate of potash), and NPKS (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) — increased by 21%
between 2017-2018 and 2021-2022.
• The Kharif season (June-October) accounts for nearly half the year’s production of
foodgrains, one-third of pulses and approximately two-thirds of oilseeds. A sizable amount of
fertiliser is required for this season.
5. Fodder-centric FPOs NDDB is a statutory body, founded by Dr

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has Verghese Kurien, formed with the
decided to promote FPOs, primarily fodder-centric, objective to boost, finance and support
and animal husbandry activities as a secondary producer-owned and controlled
activity (fodder plus model). organisations in the dairy Industry. NDDB
implements National Dairy Plan (NDP)
as a central sector scheme.
NOTES
This will be under the scheme
of formation and promotion
of 10,000 Farmer Producer
Organisations (FPOs) and
implemented by National
Dairy Development Board
(NDDB).
• NDDB will form 100 FPOs
during 2022-23.
Previously, the Wholesale

Price Index-based
fodder inflation soared to a
nine-year high of 25.5 per
cent in August 2022.
6. Price stabilization Fund (PSF)

• PSF was set up in 2014-15 with the aim of moderating extreme price volatility of
commodities such as Pulses, Onion and Potatoes by maintaining a strategic buffer.
• Such goods will be procured directly from farmers or farmers' organisations at the farm
gate/mandi, and made available to consumers at a more affordable price.
• PSF scheme provides interest-free loans to State Governments/Union Territories (UTs) and
Central Agencies for the procurement and distribution of such commodities.
• It is under the Department of Consumer Affairs (Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and
Public Distribution).
7. PM Kisan Scheme
NOTES
8. Jal Jeevan Mission

The Gujarat government has achieved 100% tap water connections in rural areas under the Jal
Jeevan Mission, the state water resources and water supply minister said.
Other States/UTs which have achieved 100 per cent: Haryana, Goa, Telangana, Dadra and Nagar
Haveli, Daman and Diu, Puducherry, and Andaman, and Nicobar Island
Jal Jeevan Mission:

● Launched in 2019
● Supply 55 litres of water per person per day to every rural household through Functional
Household Tap Connections (FHTC) by 2024.
● Implementation: It comes under Jal Shakti Ministry.
● Aims: It ensures functionality of existing water supply systems and water connections, water
quality monitoring and testing as well as sustainable agriculture.
Salient features:
9. Convergence portal of govt's 3 flagship schemes

The convergence portal between the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF), Pradhan Mantri
Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme and Pradhan Mantri Kisan
Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) was recently launched.
Benefits:
• It will allow beneficiaries of these schemes to avail facilities hassle-free
• Beneficiaries will also get an additional benefit of Interest subvention at 3%.
About these schemes:

• AIF (launched in 2020 by the Agriculture ministry) is aimed at creating post-harvest
management infrastructure through credit guarantee support and 3% interest subvention.
• PMFME (launched in 2020 as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and implemented by the
Food Processing Ministry) to enhance the competitiveness of micro-enterprises in the food
processing sector.
• PMKSY (it is a central sector scheme under the Food processing Ministry) aims to create
modern infrastructure from farm gate to retail.
NOTES
NOTES
10. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

● National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP) is the only source of enrolment for Pradhan Mantri
Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), on which farmer applications from various designated sources
including banks/financial institutions are entered.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

● Launched in 2016 and is being administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers
Welfare.
● Replaced the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and Modified National
Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).
● Aim: To provide a comprehensive insurance cover against the failure of the crop thus helping
in stabilizing the income of the farmers.
● Scope: All food & oilseed crops and annual commercial/horticultural crops for which past
yield data is available.
● Premium: The prescribed premium is 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5%
for all rabi crops.
○ In the case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium is 5%.
11. Modified Interest Subvention scheme (MISS)

• The Union Cabinet had approved to restore Interest Subvention on short term agriculture
loans to 1.5% for all financial institutions.
• Thus, Interest Subvention of 1.5% will be provided to lending institutions (Public Sector Banks,
Private Sector Bank, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Cooperative Banks and
Computerized PACS directly ceded with commercial banks) for the financial year 2022-23 to
2024-25 for lending short term agri-loans upto Rs 3 lakh to the farmers.
What is interest subvention:

• It is a form of waiver of some percentage of interest from the total interest that one has to
pay on a loan taken from financial institutions.
• E.g., If banks provide loans on 8.5% interest rate to farmers. And if the government provides
interest subvention of 1.5%. Then farmers have to pay only 7% interest rate to bank. The
difference will be paid by government as subsidy.
About MISS
• Under this, bank provides short term loans upto 3 lakh for all agriculture and allied activities
at 7% per annum.
• For prompt repayment of loans: Farmers repaying loans before due data are given extra 3%
subventions (i.e., they will have to pay just 4% interest rate)
• Funding: 100% by centre
• Nodal agency: NABARD and RBI
NOTES
Other schemes for interest subvention: Kisan Credit Card, Agri Market Infrastructure Fund
(provide subsidized loans to state and UT) and PM Fasal Bima Yojana.
12. Agriculture Census

Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has launched the 11th Agriculture Census (2021-22)
Background: The census is part of the World Census of Agriculture of FAO and has been
conducted every 5 years from 1970-71.
Unique feature of the 11th Census:

• Data collection will be conducted on smartphones and tablets
• Use of digital land records like land title records and survey reports
• Aim: It will provide updated information on number and area of operational holdings, their
size, class-wise distribution, land use, tenancy and cropping pattern, etc.
• Operational holding is defined as "all land which is used wholly or partly for agricultural
production and is operated as one technical unit by one person alone or with others without
regard to title, legal form, size or location". It is taken as a statistical unit for data collection in
Agriculture Census.
• 10th agriculture census (2015-16): As per the census, the land holding was inequitably
distributed, Small and marginal farmers (less than two hectares of land) accounted for 86.2%
of all farmers but owned just 47.3% of the crop area.
• World Census of Agriculture (WCA): Started in 1950 by FAO. Unlike FAO’s definition, Indian
operational holding doesn’t include holdings under livestock, poultry, fishing, etc.
13. 'Jute Mark India' logo

• Government launches 'Jute Mark India' logo to
promote jute products.
• The Jute Mark India (JMI) scheme will provide the
collective identity and assurance of origin and
quality for traditional jute and jute products.
• The JMI would therefore be a hallmark of powerful
creative work that defines the jute product with
quality, distinguishes it from the competition and
connects it with customers.
• The certification is expected to boost the domestic market and exports of jute products from
India.
India is still the largest producer of jute but in terms of acreage, Bangladesh is the largest
cultivator. It also accounts for nearly 75 per cent of the global jute exports, while India’s share is
just 7 per cent.
About Jute:
Known as the ‘golden fibre’, jute is one of the longest and most used natural fibre for various
textile applications.
● It thrives in tropical lowland areas with humidity of 60% to 90%. Jute is a rain-fed crop with
little need for fertilizer or pesticides.
● India is the world's largest producer of raw jute and jute goods.
● The cultivation of jute in India is mainly confined to the eastern region of the country.
● Jute fibers are composed primarily of the plant materials cellulose and lignin.
● The jute plant needs a plain alluvial soil and standing water. The suitable climate for growing
jute (warm and wet) is offered by the monsoon climate, during the monsoon season.
NOTES
● The first jute mill was established at Rishra (Bengal - now in West Bengal), on the river
Hooghly near Calcutta in the year 1855, by Mr. George Aclend.
● In 1959, the first power driven weaving factory was set up.
14. SAMARTH
SAMARTH (Sustainable Agrarian Mission on use of Agro Residue in Thermal Power Plants) and
National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) have collaborated on the utilization of agriculture
residue for co-firing in thermal power plant
• Cofiring is a term used to describe incorporating a secondary fuel with a primary fuel
utilizing the same combustion equipment. A common application of cofiring is used in coal-
fired power plants where coal use is supplemented with biomass.
SAMARTH was launched by the Ministry of power (2021) and mandates all thermal power plants
in India use 5-10% of biomass alongside coal to produce power. Consequently, it promotes
research on modern boilers which can handle a greater amount of silica and alkalis in biomass
pellets.
*Don’t get confused with the SAMARTH Scheme of the Ministry of textile (for capacity building in
the textile sector)
15. Rythu Bharosa Kendras (Andhra Pradesh)

• Set up for the first time in the country, the RBKs are unique seeds-to-sales, single-window
service centres for farmers that have been set up across the state.
• RBKs facilitate interaction between farmers, agriculture scientists, and agriculture extension
officers right at the village level.
• Facilities: sell pre-tested quality seeds, certified fertilisers, and animal feed, can hire farm
equipment, give a sample for soil testing, process crop insurance, support systems of e-
cropping, geo-tagging and even sell their produce at the prevailing MSP in the RBKs.
• RBKs facilitate interaction between farmers, agriculture scientists, and agriculture extension
officers right at the village level. Apart from providing services and items for sale, RBK officials
demonstrate new farm equipment and provide training to farmers.
16. PARVAZ Market Linkage scheme

• The government of Jammu & Kashmir launched the “PARVAZ Market Linkage Scheme”.
• This is an innovative Market Linkage scheme, that has tremendous potential to uplift the
economic conditions of farmers across Jammu and Kashmir.
• Under the scheme, the government will provide a subsidy of 25% on freight charges, in a bid
to carry perishable fruits through Air Cargo. The subsidy will be provided to farmers through
the Direct Benefit Transfer mode.
17. KRITAGYA 3.0

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research with its National Agricultural Higher Education Project
and Crop Science Division organized Hackathon 3.0 ‘’KRITAGYA” on promoting ‘speed
breeding for crop improvement’.
• The definition of KRITAGYA is KRI for Krishi meaning Agriculture, TA for Taknik meaning
Technology and GYA for Gyan meaning Knowledge.
• In this competition, students, faculty and innovators/entrepreneurs from any
university/technical institutions across the country can apply and participate in the program
as a group.
18. Seed treaty

India hosted the 9th session of governing body of the Seed treaty.
NOTES
Seed treaty
• Seed treaty or also known as the International Treaty of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture (ITPGRFA) is a major legally binding international agreement to conserve, use and
manage plant genetic resources.
• It was adopted by FAO in 2001 and came into force in 2004.
• India is a party to it.
The Treaty aims at:

• Recognizes the contribution of farmers to the diversity of crops.
• Provides access to plant genetic materials;
• Ensures sharing of the benefits.
o The treaty enables sharing of 64 of our most important crops through an easily
accessible global pool of genetic resources.
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights (PPV&FR) Act, 2001: It recognizes the
contributions of both commercial plant breeders and farmers in plant breeding activity.
Rights under the Act:

• Breeders’ Rights: exclusive rights to produce, sell, market, distribute, import or export the
protected variety.
• Researchers’ Rights: Researchers can use any of the registered varieties under the Act for
conducting experiments or research.
• Farmers’ Rights: A farmer can save, use, sow, re-sow, exchange, share or sell (but not sell
branded seed) his farm produce including seed of a variety protected under the PPV&FR Act,
2001. A farmer who has evolved or developed a new variety is entitled to registration and
protection in like manner as a breeder of a variety
19. Negotiable warehouse receipt (NWR) system

• The negotiable warehouse receipt (NWR) system was launched in 2011 allowing the transfer
of ownership of a commodity stored in a warehouse without having to deliver it physically.
• These receipts are issued in negotiable form, making them eligible as collateral.
• This has been enabled by enabling the financing of warehouse receipts through the
Warehouse (Development and Regulation) Act, 2007.
• The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) regulates the entire
operation under NWR.
Government launches negotiable warehousing receipts in e-format.

Electronic-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (e-NWR) will help farmers/FPOs to have access to a
large number of buyers across the country.
Salient features of e-NWR

• An e-NWR is available only in electronic form.
• The single source of information for the e-NWR is the repository system where e-NWR is
issued by registered warehouses.
• Confidentiality, integrity and availability of the e-NWR information is provided by the
Repository system.
• An e-NWR has time validity.
• All e-NWRS can be traded through off-market or on-market in Commodity Exchanges
platforms.
• An e-NWR can be auctioned under certain conditions such as loan not repaid, on expiry and
delivery not taken, and on likely damage or spoilage of the commodity in the warehouse.
• e-NWR can be transferred fully or in part.
NOTES
Benefits of e-NWR system:
• Avoidance of forgery/loss/tamper/mutilation of a physical NWR.
• Avoidance of multiple financing against the same NWR.
• Reduction of monitoring costs and building credibility amongst market participants.
• Market participants to have secured accessibility to view and manage their warehouse
receipts via online portal.
• Easy access to finance by enabling multiple transfers without physical movement of goods.
• Splitting of NWRs for partial sale/pledge/withdrawal.
NOTES
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and Minimum
Support Prices
1. Agriculture subsidies
Agriculture subsidies can be direct or indirect farm subsidies taking account the instruments used
in providing them.
Direct Farm subsidies involve giving cash to the farmers. India provides direct subsidies in a
limited form which include giving food subsidy or MSP-based procurement, etc. These are the
kinds of subsidies in which direct cash incentives are paid to the farmers in order to make their
products more competitive in the global markets.
Indirect farm subsidies: These are the farm subsidies which are provided in the form of cheaper
credit facilities, farm loan waivers, reduction in irrigation and electricity bills, fertilizers, seeds and
pesticides subsidy as well as the investments in agricultural research, environmental assistance,
farmer training, etc.
2. Minimum Support Price (MSP)

● The MSP is the rate at which the government purchases crops from farmers, and is based on
a calculation of at least one-and-a-half times the cost of production incurred by the farmers.
● It is a policy decision not

enforceable by law - a sort of
market intervention by the
Government of India to protect
agricultural producers from a
dramatic drop in farm prices
during abundant output years.
● Objectives:
○ It is a price guarantee
for farmer's output
intended to prevent
farmers from selling
their crops in distress
and to buy food grains
for public distribution.
○ For example, if the
market price for a commodity falls below the designated minimum price due to
excessive production and a market imbalance, government agencies will purchase the
whole quantity produced by farmers at the declared minimum price.
• MSP can be anything that the government considers that the farmers should fairly get. This is
to help them get fair remuneration for their produce and to motivate or demotivate them to
produce a particular crop. Hence it can be either lower or higher than the market price. For
e.g. if the government wishes to discourage rice farming, it would lower the MSP of rice.
• The procurement system decentralization was started in 1997 where states play a very
important role in the supply chain. Not all procurements are done by FCI. State cooperative
agencies and other state-level distribution agencies also play a crucial role.
NOTES
The MSP is an indicative price; it does not have statutory backing, and farmers cannot demand
MSP as a matter of right. In most crops grown across much of India, the prices received by
farmers, especially during harvest time, are well below the officially-declared MSPs.
● Announced by: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (chaired by the PM) based on
the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) at the
start of the sowing season for specific crops.
○ CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
The CACP takes into account various factors including demand and supply; cost of production;
market trends; a minimum 50% margin over the cost of production; and likely implications of
MSP on consumers.
The CACP calculates three types of costs — A2, A2+FL and C2 — for each mandated crop for
different states. (based on Swaminathan Committee recommendations)
• A2: is the actual paid-out cost incurred by a farmer
• A2+FL: the actual paid-out cost plus the value of family labour
• C2: it includes A2+FL + Rental Value of Own Land
CACP eventually recommends — and the government announces — MSP on the basis of A2+FL.
Farmers have been demanding MSP based on C2, besides a legal guarantee.
Crops covered:
● The government has announced minimum support prices (MSPs) for 22 specified crops as well
as a fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane (total 23).
● 14 Kharif crops (paddy, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, tur/arhar, moong, urad, groundnut, soya
bean, sunflower, sesamum, nigerseed, cotton)
● Six are rabi crops (wheat, barley, gram, Masur/lentil, rapeseed and mustard, and safflower)
● Two are commercial crops (jute and copra)
The Food Corporation of India (FCI) was constituted in 1965 on the recommendation of the LK
Jha Committee. The government stores the grains procured from the farmers with the FCI and
NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India) from where the grains
are distributed to the poor under the Public Distribution System (PDS).
PDS is operated under the joint responsibility of the Central and State Governments. The Central
Government takes the responsibility for procurement, storage, transportation and bulk
allocation of foodgrains, at subsidised prices. The responsibility of distribution to consumers
including target groups through a network of various fair price shops (FPSs) rests with the State
Governments.
The buffer stock provides the basic and most flexible instrument for moderating short-term
effects of supply or production shortfalls. The concept of a buffer stock was first introduced
during the 4th Five Year Plan (1969-74) and a buffer stock of 5 million tonnes of foodgrains was
envisaged. The buffer stock figures are normally reviewed after every 5 years.
3. Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)

● FRP is the price declared by the government, which mills are legally bound to pay to farmers
for the cane procured from them.
● Delays in payment can attract an interest up to 15% per annum, and the sugar commissioner
can recover unpaid FRP as dues in revenue recovery by attaching properties of the mills.
● The payment of FRP across the country is governed by the Sugarcane Control order, 1966
issued under the Essential Commodities Act (ECA), 1955 which mandates payment within 14
days of the date of delivery of the cane.
NOTES
● It has been determined on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs
and Prices (CACP) and announced by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
○ CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It is
an advisory body whose recommendations are not binding on the Government.
● CCEA is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
● The FRP is based on the Rangarajan Committee report on reorganizing the sugarcane
industry.
However, states determine their own State Agreed Price (SAP) which is generally higher than the
FRP.
NOTES
Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country
1. Monocropping
Impact of Monoculture Rubber Plantation on non-Human Primates and Plant Diversity in South
Tripura.
Major findings:
• The conversion of tropical forests into monoculture plantations has a major effect on non-
human primates and plant species.
o E.g., Turning the forests into natural rubber plantations in Tripura is negatively
impacting non-human primate species and vegetation in the region.
• Humans are overusing the world’s tropical forests:
o A large proportion of primary forest in India has been converted into monoculture
plantations like tea, oil palm, teak and natural rubber
• Impact on animals: The number of monkeys in the rubber plantation area is much lower than
in the nearby forests and the primates spend less time in rubber plantations
o Growing rubber plantations threaten the species and the primates can go extinct.
What is the importance of non-human primates? Primates: They are a member of the
• Non-human primates are of central importance most developed and intelligent group
to tropical biodiversity and various ecosystem of mammals, including humans,
functions. monkeys, and apes.
• They are humans nearest biological relatives and Fourteen species of nonhuman
play a significant role in many societies’ primates occur in India—six species of
livelihoods, cultures and religions, the paper said. macaques, five of langurs, two of
• These primates help in the pollination, seed looses, and one species of gibbon (ape).
dispersion and seed germination of many plants
and they are
essential seed
predators in some
ecosystems.
Other impacts of
Monoculture farming:
• Growing same
species year after
year, can lead to
unsustainable
environments,
disease pressure
and reducing
particular nutrients
in the soil.
• Monocropping can
lead to
deforestation
• It reduces the
availability of
certain nutrients
and degrades the
soil.
• Also lead to soil
exhaustion when the soil becomes depleted of the nutrients.
NOTES
• About 40% of India’s total natural rubber consumption is currently met through imports.
• Kerala accounts for nearly 75% of the total of India’s production.
2. Millets
At India’s led initiative for the UN’s International Year of Millets 2023, India has called “Covid,
conflict, and climate” the world’s main food security challenges, and placed the cultivation and
popularisation of millets in the context of the wider imperative of “de-risking the global
economy”.
• Millets are a group of highly variable small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world
as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food.
Historical background:
Millets were among the first
crops to be domesticated.
There is evidence for the
consumption of millets by
the Indus valley people
(3,000 BC), and several
varieties that are now
grown around the world
were first cultivated in India.
• Millets in India: jowar

(sorghum), bajra (pearl
millet) and ragi (finger
millet) and varities of
small millets like kodo,
kutki, chenna and
sanwa.
• Major producers:
Rajasthan, Andhra
Pradesh, Telangana,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Gujarat
and Haryana.
• Superfood: Millets are
low cost and are rich in
iron, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants (e.g. Ragi is known to have the highest
calcium content) among all the food grains.
• Climate Resilient: They are also harder and drought-resistant crops with a short growing
season and lower water requirement.
• Against Health Issues: Millets are gluten-free and have a low gl ycaemic index (glucose level)
and therefore can help in tackling lifestyle problems and health challenges such as obesity
and diabetes.
Millets are considered to be “powerhouses of nutrition”. On April 10, 2018, the Agriculture
Ministry declared millets as “Nutri Cereals”.
NOTES
The Story of Millets published by the Karnataka State Department of Agriculture in association
with ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad, says, “Millets contain 7-12% protein,
2-5% fat, 65-75% carbohydrates and 15-20% dietary fibre.
Government provides Minimum Support price for selected millets.
Global distribution:
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 United States, China, Australia, India, Argentina, Nigeria, and
Sudan. Bajra is another major millet crop; India and some African countries are major producers.
Initiatives in India:
• Government declared (in 2018) millets as “Nutri-Cereals”, considering their “high nutritive
value” and also “anti-diabetic properties”.
• The 2018 year: ‘National Year of Millets”.
• Increase in MSP for millets
• The government has included millets in the public distribution system (PDS) and POSHAN
Abhiyan.
• Millet Mission (under the National Food Security Mission): It will help develop farm-gate
processing and empower farmers using FPOs.
• Kerala State Agriculture Department: Millet Village scheme
• Millet Startup Innovation Challenge
• A contest for designing a comic story, with the theme ‘India’s Wealth, Millets for Health’
NOTES
3. Cardamom
• Cardamom is a spice made from the seedpods of various plants in the ginger family.
Cardamom pods are spindle-shaped and have a triangular cross-section.
• There are two main types of cardamom: black cardamom and green cardamom, and there is
white cardamom, which is a bleached version of
green cardamom. BHOG – FSSAI
• Species used for cardamom are native throughout Blissful Hygienic Offering to God
tropical and subtropical Asia. The first references (BHOG) encourages places of worship
to cardamom are found in Sumer, and in to adopt and maintain food safety
the Ayurvedic literature of India. and hygiene in the preparation,
• Distribution in India: Kerala (highest), Sikkim, serving and sale of prasad.
Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, WB.
4. Onion in India
● Indian onions are famous for their pungency (sharp White Onion gets GI tag
smell, and taste) and are available round the year. • Alibagh (Maharastra) is known
● There are 3 sowing seasons for the onion crop in for growing white onion using the
India - Kharif (10%), late Kharif (20%) and Rabi traditional method and utilizing
(70%). geo-climatic conditions for a
● The Rabi onion crop is the mainstay of India and unique taste, flavour and shape.
the price of the onion is normally lower during
these months due to greater supply.
● In 2020-21, the major onion-producing states are
Maharashtra (39%), Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh
(17%), Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Haryana and Telangana.
● The major export destinations are Bangladesh,
Malaysia, Sri Lanka, UAE, Nepal and Indonesia.
● As India faces frequent onion demand-supply mismatches, resulting in price fluctuations,
successfully storing rabi onions and scientific management of onion output in all three
seasons is crucial.
Operation Greens - From TOP to TOTAL:
Objectives of Operation Greens:

● Enhancing value realisation of TOP farmers through -
○ Price stabilisation for producers and consumers
○ Reducing post-harvest losses by creation of appropriate storage capacity
● Increasing food processing capacities and value addition in the TOP value chain.
NOTES
5. Arecanut
• Usually referred to as Areca palm, but has also been called yellow palm, butterfly palm,
yellow butterfly palm, cane palm and golden feather palm.
• Stems are many clustered, slender, and sometimes branching.
• May reach 30 feet tall.
• Leaves are ascending, curved at the apex with sheaths and petioles yellow or orange tinged.
• Originated in Madagascar and is widely grown outdoors in the tropics.
• In temperate zones they are popular as specimen plants for indoor use because they can
tolerate relatively low light conditions.
• Arecanut is considered a horticulture crop in the states, a commercial crop at the national
level and a dry fruit in international markets.
Growing Condition: Sirsi Supari” Gets GI Tag

• Temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC. ‘Sirsi Supari’ grown in Uttara Kannada
• Ideal rainfall – 750 mm to 4500 mm/ Irrigation district of Karnataka has received the
• Gravelly laterite soil Geographic Indication (GI) tag.
The arecanut has unique features like a
Issues faced by farmers: round and flattened coin shape,
• Import of cheaper varieties from Bhutan particular texture, taste and has a hard
• Massive crop damage due to excessive rainfall seed. These features are not seen in
• Financial loss due to plant disease like yellow arecanut grown in any other regions.
leaf disease, fruit rot disease and blast disease.
6. Basmati rice
India is known for its Basmati rice, with seven States — Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand — earmarked for geographical
indication (GI).
• Basmati, known for its mouthfeel, aroma, and length of the grain when cooked and tasted,
has a market abroad and brings about ₹30,000 crores in foreign exchange every year.
NOTES
• While 75% of the export is to West Asian countries, European Union countries also import
Indian Basmati.
Basmati rice has its origin in the Indian Paddy is procured by the Union
subcontinent and has a unique fragrance (due to 2- government on MSP for distribution
acetyl-1-pyrroline). under the Public Distribution System.
Basmati is neither procured by the
2-Acetyl-1-pyrroline is an aroma compound and government nor has any fixed price. It is
flavour that gives freshly baked bread, jasmine rice procured by traders and exporters as
and basmati rice, the spice pandan, and bread Indian Basmati has large demand
flowers their customary smell. abroad.
• India produces nearly three-quarters of the Experts say that 4,000 litres of water are
world’s basmati; however, a huge number of required to grow a kilo of paddy.
newly cultivated varieties lack the unique Basmati cultivation, on the other hand,
popcorn-like fragrance that helps to make this is largely dependent on rainwater as it
rice so sought after. takes place during the main monsoon
• So, UK and EU rice associations have introduced season. Even if some early varieties are
new rules that will come into effect at the sown in June, they are harvested at least
beginning of 2023 that aim to take lesser a month before the main basmati and
varieties (sub-standards) of basmati off the paddy varieties, thus saving water.
market.
Basmati cultivation can also reduce
Which rice qualifies as Basmati Rice? stubble burning — farmers use its
• To qualify as basmati, grains must meet certain stubble for fodder.
standards related to things like fragrance (due to
the BADH2 gene), grain length and width, as well as cooked texture. They must also have a
mid-range level of amylose, a part of the starch in the rice.
Gene Modification in Rice:

In recent studies, it has been found that, adding a second copy of one of its own genes has
boosted the yield of a Chinese rice variety by up to 40%.
• It boosts grain yields and shortens the growth duration of rice
The Study:
When the second copy of a single gene (called OsDREB1C) is added to rice, it improves
photosynthesis and nitrogen use, speeds up flowering and absorbs nitrogen more
efficiently — offering larger and more abundant grains.
What is Gene Modulation?

Gene modulation refers to the process of temporarily altering gene expression levels without
making heritable changes to the underlying cellular DNA.
Benefit for India in adopting this practice:
NOTES
• Added the same gene again, and not any Rice is derived from milling of paddy
foreign one (it is genetic modulation and not a grain produced by farmers. Paddy
genetic modification (GM) or transgenic plant typically has 20-21% husk (the inedible
(i.e. carrying elements from another donor): covering of the grain) and 10-11% bran
Thus, it reduces the risk related to GM or (the brown outer layer of the edible
transgenic crops. kernel). What remains after removal of
o For example, BT cotton involves the the husk and bran is the white raw rice
transfer of the gene from the bacterium that constitutes 68-69% of paddy. The
called Bacillus thurigiensis (BT) to be milled rice, in turn, has both whole and
transferred to normal cotton. broken grains.
• No regulation on Gene Modification: India has
exempted crops with certain kinds of genetic Parboiling is a process where the paddy
modifications from the regulations previously is soaked in water, steamed and dried
imposed on the commercialisation of all while retaining its outer husk. It results
genetically modified crops. in the rice becoming harder with less
• Reduce the negative impact of the ‘Green breakage on milling.
Revolution’
7. Wheat cultivation in India

• Wheat cultivation in India traditionally been dominated by the northern region of India. The
northern states of Punjab and Haryana Plains in India have been prolific wheat producers.
• It is a Rabi Crop sown in October-December and harvested during April-June.
• Temperature required: Between 23±3°C and for good tillering temperature should range
between 16-20°C.
• Better variety of wheat is produced in areas having cool, moist weather during the major
portion of the growing period followed by dry, warm weather to enable the grain to ripen
properly.
• Rainfall: 50 cm to 100 cm.
NOTES
• Soil Type: Soils with a clay loam or loam texture, good structure and moderate water holding
capacity are ideal for wheat cultivation.
• Wheat producing states in India: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Bihar and Gujarat.
8. Coffee
• Coffee in India is grown under a canopy of thick natural shade in ecologically sensitive
regions of the Western and Eastern Ghats.
• The two main varieties of coffee viz., Arabica and Robusta are grown in India.
• Traditionally, India has been a noted producer of Arabica coffee but in the last decade
robusta beans are growing substantially due to high yields, which now account for over 60
percent of coffee produced in India.
• Karnataka is the leading producer of coffee in India.
Status of Coffee production in India

• More than 75% of Indian coffee production is exported.
• India’s share in the global coffee market is less than 5%.
• The coffee community in India, comprises close to 4 lakh coffee growers, hundreds of large
planters, and associations.
Erratic weather conditions are helping pests to breed and new diseases to emerge.
• fruit rot, stalk rot, root rot and other irreparable damage due to heavy rainfall and landslides.
NOTES
9. Sugar production
Sugar Season (Oct-Sep) 2021-22, has proven to be a watershed season for the Indian Sugar
Sector and India recorded the highest export of over 109 lakh metric tonnes.
About Sugar production:

• The sugar industry is broadly divided into two major areas of production- Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Haryana and Punjab in the north and Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh in the south.
• Due to the tropical climate in South India, it has higher sucrose content giving a higher yield
per unit area as compared to north India.
• Significance: Labour-intensive sector, has multiple by-products, important for biofuel.
• Issues: Low yield compared to other parts of the world, low sugar recovery rate, high
production cost, and low and delayed remuneration for farmers.
In order to regulate the sugar industry, C Rangarajan Committee (2012) recommended several
reforms such as the abolition of the quantitative controls on the export and import of sugar.
According to the latest National Statistical Office (NSO) report- Between 2011 and 2020 period Six
sugarcane-producing northern Indian states saw a 42 per cent increase in their output value
while that of five states from the south declined 32.4 per cent during the same period.
Reason for production shifting:

This northward shift in sugarcane production is on account of the larger irrigated area in the
region and higher State Advisory Price (SAP) over and above the Centre’s Fair and Remunerative
Price (FRP) being offered in the north, especially by Uttar Pradesh.
• Sugarcane requires hot and humid climate (21-27 °C) with moderate rainfall and deep rich
loamy soil.
NOTES
• Top Sugarcane Producing States: Maharashtra>Uttar Pradesh > Karnataka.
• Scheme for Extending Financial Assistance to Sugar Undertakings (SEFASU) and National
Policy on Biofuels are two of the government initiatives to support sugarcane production and
the sugar industry.
10. GM mustard
GM mustard - Dhara Mustard Hybrid- 11(DMH- 11), was developed by Deepak Pental of Delhi
University, through transgenic technology, in 2002.
The genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

(GEAC), which functions in the Union Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
(MoEFCC) is responsible for giving such
approvals. In 2002, BT Cotton was approved,
and since then no other GM crop has been
approved for commercial cultivation.
Negative of GM:
● It can pose a threat to crop diversity, and
food security and increase tolerance for
use of pesticides, seed market will shift
into the hands of private companies from farmers.
● Threat to the environment as GM mustard is a herbicide tolerant crop, it may pose a threat
to crop diversity, loss to traditional knowledge etc.
Positive of GM:
More productivity, less pesticide use, more investments in agriculture research and
employment creation for agriculture graduates.
11. Opium opened for private players

For 1st time, the central government has allowed a
private company to produce concentrated poppy Opium is a natural substance obtained
straw that is used to derive alkaloids that are the from poppy seeds and its derivatives
active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in pain are mainly used for pain management.
medication (morphine) and cough syrups. “The extracts from opium poppy such
as morphine are potent painkillers and
• The move is also aimed at offsetting the
are mainly prescribed
declining area under cultivation of poppy in
to cancer patients”. The opium product
India.
codeine is helpful in cough suppression.
• Previously the government allowed the
production of - Opium gum and Concentrate of
Poppy Straw (CPS).
Background:
• India has been growing poppy at least since the 15th century. The British East India Company
assumed a monopoly on the cultivation of poppy, and the entire trade was brought under
government control by 1873.
• After India gained independence, the cultivation and trade of opium passed on to the Indian
government, with the activity being controlled by The Opium Act, 1857, The Opium Act, 1878,
and The Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930.
Regulation:
• At present, the cultivation and processing of poppy and opium are controlled by the
provisions of The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Rules.
NOTES
• Due to fear of illegal cropping, Opium is allowed to be sown only in tracts of land notified by
the central government in 22 districts in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and
Rajasthan.
• The government announces the licensing policy for opium cultivation every year
• This entire quantity is bought by the government and processed in its own factories (in Uttar
Pradesh’s Ghazipur and Madhya Pradesh’s Neemuch.)
• Around 12 countries including India allow its cultivation legally for medicinal use.
12. Cotton
Cotton productivity is low in India (450 kg to 500kg/hectare Vs global average of 877 Kg/hectare)
At least 80% of cotton grown in each of the nine cotton-growing states of India is Bt cotton.
NOTES
Recent Developments / Technologies
1. Purse Seine Fishing
Certain coastal states (e.g., TN, Odisha, Kerala, etc.) had imposed a ban on purse seine fishing. But
the central government has criticized the move and said it is unjustified.
A purse seine is made of a long wall of netting framed with floating and leadline and having
purse rings hanging from the lower edge of the gear, through which runs a purse line made from
steel wire or rope which allows the pursing of the net.
Advantages:
• Purse-seine fishing in open water is
generally considered to be an efficient
form of fishing
• It has no contact with the seabed and
can have low levels of bycatch
(accidental catch of unwanted species)
• Purse seines can also be used to catch
fish congregating around fish
aggregating devices
• Expert panel observation: This mode
of fishing has not resulted in any
serious resource depletion so far,
given the available evidence”.
Recommendations of the expert panel:

• It recommended purse seiners fish in
territorial waters and the Indian
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) subject
to certain conditions.
• Framing of a “national management plan on purse seine fisheries”
2. Asian Palm Oil Alliance

Formed by edible oil industry associations of 5 major palm oil importing countries – India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal, with the aim to gain collective bargaining power and
change the negative image of palm oil for various purposes.
About Palm Oil:

• It is an edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocarp (reddish pulp) of the fruit of the oil
palms.
• Uses: As a cooking oil, in cosmetics, processed foods, cakes, chocolates, soaps, spreads,
shampoo, and biofuel (the use of crude palm oil in making biodiesel is being branded
as ‘green diesel’)
• It is inexpensive and produces more oil per hectare as compared to other alternatives such
as soybean.
• India is the biggest importer of palm oil (almost 40% of its need)
• Government initiatives: National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (to boost India’s domestic
palm oil production by 3 times (till 2025-26)); Kharif Strategy 2021 for oilseeds; yellow
revolution.
NOTES
EU’s palm oil row with Malaysia and Indonesia:
NOTES
European Union previously decided to phase out the import of unsustainable palm oil by 2030.
Indonesia and Malaysia say the EU's palm oil restrictions are unfair, "discriminatory", and “crop
apartheid” and challenged the EU in the WTO.
• Indonesia and Malaysia, are the world’s two largest palm oil producers, accounting for 90%
of the global production. However, most of it is produced on the plantation by clearing
rainforests.
• ReFuelEU initiative: EU lawmakers adopted draft rules for the ReFuelEU initiative, which
would mean 85% of all used aviation fuel would have to be “sustainable” by 2050.
3. 212 indigenous livestock breeds

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has registered 10 new breeds of livestock
species, including cattle, buffalo, goat and pig. This has taken the total number of indigenous
breeds to 212.
The 10 new breeds included three new cattle breeds (Kathani, Sanchori, Masilum), one buffalo
breed (Purnathadi), three goat breeds (Sojat, Karauli, Gujari) and three pig breeds (Banda,
Manipuri Black, Wak Chambil)
Distribution:
• Purnathadi buffalo - Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
• Kathani, a dual-purpose cattle, is also distributed in the region. It possesses the good draft
ability and is suited to marshy land for paddy cultivation.
• Masilum is a small-sized but well-built and sturdy cattle of Meghalaya. Well adapted to the
hill ecosystem, it is reared by the Khasi and Jaintia communities for sports, manure and
socio-cultural festivals.
• Sanchori is found in the Jalore district of Rajasthan.
• Among goats, all three new breeds are from different regions of Rajasthan.
• Of the new pig breeds, Manipuri Black is a native of Manipur, Banda is from Jharkhand and
Wak Chambil is from the Garo hills of Meghalaya.
4. Regenerative agriculture
● It is a system of farming principles and practices that seeks to rehabilitate and enhance the
entire ecosystem of the farm by placing a heavy premium on soil health with attention also
paid to water management, fertiliser use, etc.
● It is a method of farming, under which emphasis is placed on looking holistically at the agro-
ecosystem, improving the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them.
NOTES
Key techniques include:
Reversative agriculture (organic or
natural farming) — a low-cost approach
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Organic farming does not use
chemicals, but it does increase
organic matter content,
microorganism population and
plant availability of both micro- and
macro-nutrients.
Benefits: Links between regenerative agriculture, soil health and water saving -
● Maintaining soil health: Chemical-less farming and cultivation practices such as crop rotation
and diversification help improve soil structure and its organic carbon content.
● Water conservation: Healthy soil helps in improving water-use efficiency by better water
storage, transmission, filtering and reduces agricultural run-off.
Efforts in India to promote regenerative agriculture:

● The National Project on Organic Farming.
● Systematic rice intensification, a method in which seeds are spaced at wider distances and
organic manure is applied to improve yields.
● Zero-budget natural farming, now known as Subhash Palekar Natural Farming, emphasises
on preparing and using inputs made from crop residue, cow dung and urine, fruits, among
other things.
Soils help to regulate the planet’s climate by storing carbon and are the second largest carbon
sink after the oceans. They help maintain a landscape that is more resilient to the impacts of
droughts and floods.
The reasons behind soil nutrient loss range from soil erosion, runoff, leaching and the burning
of crop residues.
NOTES
5. Black Soil
6. Soil Carbon Sequestration

Recently ICRISAT (International Crops
Research Institute for The Semi-Arid
Tropics) has published a study revealing
how the right combination of fertilizer,
biochar, and irrigation could
potentially increase soil carbon by as much
as 300 per cent and help mitigate climate
change.
Other Findings:
• Biochar increased carbon value in the
soil by 130-300 per cent over 30
years.
• Optimal use of fertilizers increased the
carbon and output by up to 30 per
cent.
Soil carbon sequestration is a process in which CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored
in the soil carbon pool. This process is primarily mediated by plants through photosynthesis, with
carbon stored in the form of SOC.
NOTES
• Building up soil carbon can help cut greenhouse gas concentrations in the air. It also
improves soil quality
Biochar: It is a charcoal-like substance that burns organic material (biomass) from agricultural and
forestry wastes in a controlled process called pyrolysis.
7. Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-DSS)

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Department of Space signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the Krishi-Decision Support System (Krishi-
DSS) using geospatial technologies and related databases for enhancing evidence-based
decision-making capability of all the stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
8. Rice fortification
Fortification is the practice of deliberately increasing the content of an essential micronutrient,
i.e. vitamins and minerals (including trace elements) in a food, so as to improve the nutritional
quality of the food supply and provide a public health benefit with minimal risk to health.
Government had announced Fortified Rice would be used in every scheme of the Government of
India throughout the country by 2024 in a phased manner.
NOTES
Definition: Rice fortification is the process of
adding fortified rice kernels (FRK) containing
micronutrients such as – Iron, Vitamin B12 and
Folic Acid- in the ratio of 1:100 (i.e. 1-part
micronutrients and 100 parts rice) at the time of
milling.
• As per FSSAI norms: 1 kg fortified rice will
contain iron (28 mg-42.5 mg), folic acid
(75-125 microgram) and Vitamin B-12
(0.75-1.25 microgram).
Benefits:
• fortification of rice is a cost-effective and
complementary strategy to increase vitamin
and mineral content in diets. This will help in
fighting high levels of malnutrition in the
country.
Biofortification:
Biofortification is the process by which the
nutritional quality of food crops is improved
through agronomic practices, conventional plant
breeding, or modern biotechnology.
Biofortification differs from conventional

fortification in that bio fortification aims to
increase nutrient levels in crops during plant
growth rather than through manual means during
processing of the crops.
Examples of bio fortification projects include:

• iron-biofortification of rice, beans, sweet potato, cassava and legumes;
• zinc-biofortification of wheat, rice, beans, sweet potato and maize;
• provitamin A carotenoid-biofortification of sweet potato, maize and cassava; and
• amino acid and protein-biofortification of sourghum and cassava.
9. Direct-seeded rice
• DSR also called the ‘broadcasting seed technique’, is a water-saving method of sowing paddy.
• Seeds are directly drilled into the fields in this method.
• This saves groundwater, as opposed to the traditional water-intensive method, under which
rice seedlings are transplanted from a nursery to waterlogged fields.
10. System of Rice Intensification (SRI)

• It is also called the Madagascar method of rice cultivation as it was first developed there. It
promises to save 15 to 20 per cent of ground water, and improve rice productivity, which is
almost at a stagnant point now.
• Experts said that it gives equal to or more productive than conventional rice cultivation, with
less water, less seed and less chemicals. The net effect is a substantial reduction in the
investments in external inputs.
• SRI is suitable in all types of soil including less fertile soil as in such soil the number of
seedlings can be increased to double.
NOTES
11. Fishbone channel plantation method

• The fishbone channel
plantation method has been
used to revive mangroves in
the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary
in Andhra Pradesh.
• The water from creeks are
being diverted to gaps in
mangroves through fish bone
shaped channels, so that
the saline barren land
becomes fertile to support
planted mangrove species.
The shape allows the water to
reach every nook and corner
of the area.
• This technique is used to
artificially inundate areas that
do not get regular tidal
inundation. By flooding dried-
up wetlands near the intertidal
zones, new mangroves can be
reforested.
12. Conservation Agriculture (CA)

• Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a farming system that can prevent losses of arable land while
regenerating degraded lands.
• It promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance, and
diversification of plant species.
• It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface,
which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and
sustained crop production.
• CA principles are universally applicable to all agricultural landscapes and land uses with locally
adapted practices.
• Soil interventions such as mechanical soil disturbance are reduced to an absolute minimum or
avoided, and external inputs such as agrochemicals and plant nutrients of mineral or organic
origin are applied optimally and in ways and quantities that do not interfere with, or
disrupt, the biological processes.
NOTES
13. Partial stubble burning
After harvesting, farmers opting for partial burning let the loose straw dry for a couple of days
and then they set these dumps on fire to prepare the field for the next crop. In such cases, the
standing stubble, which is mostly green, does not get burnt fully but it gets scorched close to
those places in the field where loose straw is burnt.
Even after having three main machines such as Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder and Super seeder,
many farmers are resorting to partial burning, officials said. The three machines ensure that there
is no need for partial burning even after harvesting as stubble clearing is not required to sow
wheat.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas
(CAQM) had developed a framework and action plan for the effective prevention and control of
stubble burning.
• The framework/action plan includes in-situ management, i.e., incorporation of paddy straw
and stubble in the soil using heavily subsidised machinery (supported by crop residue
management (CRM) Scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare).
• Ex-situ CRM efforts include the use of paddy straw for biomass power projects and co-firing
in thermal power plants, and as feedstock for 2G ethanol plants, feed stock in CBG plants,
fuel in industrial boilers, waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, and in packaging materials, etc.
14. Shifting agriculture (podu)

Podu cultivation is a type of shifting cultivation that employs methods like slash and burns. This
is extensively used by the tribes living in the forests of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
15. Drip irrigation

• Unlike Flood Method of irrigation (FMI), the drip method (DMI) supplies water directly to the
root zone of a crop through a network of pipes and emitters.
• Since it supplies water directly to the crop, rather than the land around, water losses
occurring through evaporation and distribution are significantly reduced.
• The on-farm efficiency of the drip irrigation system is estimated to be over 90 per cent.
• Drip irrigation is most suitable for row crops (vegetables, soft fruit), tree and vine crops where
one or more emitters can be provided for each plant.
In addition, drip irrigation:

• Prevents disease by minimizing water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants.
• Allows the rows between plants to remain dry, improving access and reducing weed growth.
• Saves time, money, and water because the system is so efficient.
• Decreases labor.
NOTES
• Increases effectiveness on uneven ground.
• Reduces leaching of water and nutrients below the root zone.
16. Green Manuring

• Application of green leaves and twigs of trees, shrubs and herbs collected from elsewhere is
known as green leaf manuring.
• Forest tree leaves are the main sources for green leaf manure. Plants growing in wastelands,
field bunds etc., are another source of green leaf manure.
• The important plant species useful for green leaf manure are neem, mahua, wild indigo,
Glyricidia, Karanji (Pongamia glabra) calotropis, avise(Sesbania grandiflora), subabul and other
shrubs.
Advantages:
• Green manuring improves soil structure, increases water holding capacity and decreases
soil loss by erosion.
• Growing of green manure crops in the off season reduces weed proliferation and weed
growth.
• Green manuring helps in reclamation of alkaline soils. Root knot nematodes can be
controlled by green manuring.
17. Precision agriculture

Precision agriculture is basically the ‘right-input’ at the ‘right-time’ in the ‘right-amount’ at the
‘right-place’ and in the ‘right-manner’ for improving productivity, conserving natural resources
and avoiding any ecological or social tribulations.
Today, precision agriculture is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI). IoT, satellite
imagery, drones, Web-GIS frameworks, Big Data, cloud and machine learning are expected to
improve global agricultural productivity in the near future.
But to arrive at these desired results, huge amounts of data collation is required. Environmental
data, through technological intervention, has already fuelled better farming techniques in
developed countries.
Sensors and analysis tools can boost crop yield. In order to do this, environmental data is
collected in the geospatial format to measure quantifiable variables like weather, soil moisture,
volumetric soil temperature, fertiliser rates, water run-off, agrochemicals movement and rain.
18. Various agriculture practices

Zero tillage is the process where the crop seed will be sown through drillers without prior land
preparation and disturbing the soil where previous crop stubbles are present.
Zero tillage not only reduce the cost of cultivation it also reduces the soil erosion, crop duration
and irrigation requirement and weed effect which is better than tillage. Zero Tillage (ZT) also
called No Tillage or Nil Tillage.
Mixed farming is a type of farming which involves both the growing of crops as well as the
raising of livestock.
Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in proximity.
Vertical farming is the practice of growing produce in vertically stacked layers. The practice can
use soil, hydroponic or aeroponic growing methods. Vertical farms attempt to produce food in
challenging environments, like where arable land is rare or unavailable.
NOTES
Departments / Organisations
1. National Fisheries Development Board
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), was one of the organizations to be awarded
the “India Agribusiness Awards 2022” for the best Agribusiness Award under the Fisheries
Sector.
• The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) was established in 2006 as an
autonomous organization under the administrative control of the Department of Fisheries,
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India to enhance fish
production and productivity in the country and to coordinate fishery development in an
integrated and holistic manner.
2. Pesticide Action Network

PAN (Pesticide Action Network) has reported that several states are using above the
recommended amount of certain pesticides
Reported Pesticides are:

• Chlorpyrifos (to control soil-borne insect pests)- It is known to cause brain damage and is
banned in many countries.
• Fipronil (to control ants, beetles, and fleas)
• Atrazine (to control grasses and weeds before they emerge)
• Paraquat (a herbicide to control grasses and weeds)
Previously
• On recommendations of the Anupam Verma Committee report the Union Ministry of
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare had notified Pesticides (Prohibition) Order, 2018 under
which the use of 18 pesticides was banned.
About PAN
Pesticide Action Network is "an international coalition of around 600 NGOs, citizens' groups, and
individuals in about 60 countries." which opposes pesticide use, and advocates what it proposes
as more ecologically sound alternatives.
3. National Export Co-operative Society

• National Export Co-operative Society was approved by the Union Cabinet. It is established
under the Multi State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, 2002.
• Leading cooperatives — Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO), Krishak
Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing
Federation of India (NAFED), Gujrat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), better
known as Amul and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) will be the
promoters of the Society.
• The Society will be different from the Export Promotion Council under the Ministry of
Commerce that only acts as a facilitator and provides information about the potential
markets that can be tapped for a particular product.
• This Society will provide end-to-end services to the cooperatives. It will open foreign bank
accounts and complete all the formalities, including necessary permissions for exporting a
product.
4. Agricultural Market Information System

• The Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) is an inter-agency platform to enhance
food market transparency and policy response for food security.
NOTES
• It was launched in 2011 by the G20 Ministers of Agriculture following the global food price
hikes in 2007/08 and 2010.
• Bringing together the principal trading countries of agricultural commodities, AMIS assesses
global food supplies (focusing on wheat, maize, rice and soybeans) and provides a platform to
coordinate policy action in times of market uncertainty.
NOTES
Miscellaneous
1. National Farmers Day
Why is it celebrated?
• To commemorate and recognise the farmers as the country’s backbone.
• The date was selected as it coincides with the birth anniversary of India’s 5th Prime Minister
Chaudry Charan Singh.
• It is being celebrated since 2001.
About Chaudry Charan Singh:

• Popularly called as Kisan Leader
• His writings not only portrayed the difficulties faced by the farmers, but also contained
solutions to improve their lives.
• Inspired by Lal Bahadur Shastri, Charan Singh saw how the exploitation of farmers at the
hands of zamindars impacted India’s rural economy.
• As Revenue Minister of UP, he designed land reform laws which made the peasants of the
nation look upto him.
• His popular works include – “Abolition of Zamindari”
“Joint Farming X-rayed”
“India’s Poverty and its Solution”
“Peasant Proprietorship
2. National Milk Day

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying celebrated “National Milk Day” on 26th
November to commemorate the 101st birth anniversary of the “Father of the White Revolution
in India”, Dr Verghese Kurien.
Significance of the day

• According to the Economic Survey of India 2021-2022, India is ranked first in milk production
and contributes about 23 per cent of global milk production.
• Dairy is the single largest agricultural commodity that contributes 5 per cent to the national
economy, employing more than 8 crore farmers directly.
Dr Verghese Kurien
• He is credited with industrialising dairy production and founding the Amul brand. Due to Dr
Kurien's work, India surpassed the US to become the world's largest milk producer in 1998.
• Dr Kurien has received numerous awards, including the Krishi Ratna, the Ramon Magsaysay
Award, and the World Food Prize. He has earned the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma
Vibhushan, India's three highest civilian honours.
Operation Flood
Operation Flood started in 1970, has assisted dairy farmers in managing their own development
and taking ownership of the resources they produce.
The goals of Operation Flood included:
1. Increase milk production ('a flood of milk')
2. Augment rural incomes
3. Reasonable prices for consumers
3. World Milk Day

• June 1 is observed as World Milk Day every year.
• The theme of World Milk Day 2022 is to bring attention to the climate change crisis and how
the dairy sector can reduce its impact on the planet.
NOTES
• The aim is to achieve ‘Dairy Net Zero’ by reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30
years and improving waste management in order to make the dairy sector sustainable.
• It was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in
2001 to recognize the importance of milk as a global food.
The top 5 milk-producing states are: Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and
Andhra Pradesh.
4. Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA)

• India has opposed KJWA which sought to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the
agriculture sector.
• India opposed it saying emissions from the agricultural sectors are not “luxury” emissions but
“survival emissions” of the poor
• KJWA is a landmark decision under UNFCCC that works to reduce GHGs emissions from the
Agriculture sector.
• India is the third-largest carbon emitter in the world although our per capita carbon emissions
are low
• The agriculture sector is responsible for 7 per cent of global GHG emissions
5. Organic fertiliser
• Organic fertilisers are derived from animal products and plant residues containing sufficient
nitrogen.
• Organic fertiliser can be categorised into two segments, according to government rules:
o Bio-fertilisers are composed of living microorganisms attached to solid or liquid
carriers and are useful for cultivable land, as these microorganisms help in
increasing the productivity of soil and/or crops.
o Organic manure refers to partially decomposed organic matter like digestate
from a biogas plant, compost and vermicompost, which provides nutrients to the
soil/crops and improves yield.
6. Glyphosate
Government has restricted the use of the Herbicide glyphosate to authorized pest control
operators, attracting criticism from industry bodies.
Glyphosate: Herbicide tolerance (HT) Technology

• It is a non-selective herbicide (kills both ally types of involves the use of herbicide in far
plants). higher amounts than conventional
• It is also used to regulate plant growth and ripen herbicide treatments.
specific crops.
• It is banned in 28 countries, including Australia, Herbicide tolerant crops are
Canada, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Sri designed to tolerate specific broad-
Lanka, as it may be carcinogenic (as per a WHO spectrum herbicides, which kill the
study) and remains as a residue in the environment surrounding weeds, but leave the
for up to 6 months. cultivated crop intact.
Usage of glyphosate in India:

• It is widely used in plantation agriculture.
• It is also used to control weeds in afforestation activities and in areas along irrigation
channels, Railway tracks etc.
• It may also be combined with BT cotton, leading to high usage in Deccan belts.
NOTES
7. Sandalwood spike diseases
Sandalwood spike diseases which hitherto were confined mainly to forest areas, started spreading
to commercial areas.
Sandalwood spike diseases:

• Cause: The disease is caused by phytoplasma — bacterial parasites of plant tissues — which
are transmitted by insect vectors.
• Origin: the disease was first reported in Kodagu in 1899.
• Symptoms: The sandalwood trees dry up once affected by SSD. Leaves turn thin and yellow
and no new leaves will sprout. Within four years, the tree dies.
• Treatment: As of now, no cure exists for the disease. Hence, the infected tree has to be cut to
reduce the spread of the disease.
• Concerns: Every year about 1% to 5% of sandalwood trees are lost due to the disease.
o It could potentially wipe out the entire natural Sandalwood population if
measures are not taken to prevent its spread.
• Measures needed: A study conducted by the Institute of Wood Science and Technology
(IWST), Bangalore and Pune-based National Centre for Cell Sciences has recommended
o accreditation of commercial production of sandalwood seedlings through testing
to ensure that the plants are free from SSD.
o It has also called for a paradigm shift in policies handling sandalwood seedlings.
About Sandalwood:
• Indian Sandalwood is a dry deciduous forest species native to China, India, Indonesia,
Australia, and the Philippines.
• Because it is strong and durable, S. album is mostly harvested for its timber. On IUCN Red List
Status, it is Vulnerable.
• In India, it is also called "Chandan" and "Srigandha".
• Sandalwood has a special place in Indian tradition where it is used from cradle to cremation.
• In India, it is mostly grown in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
8. Ecology with Agriculture

An ecological niche is the right set of environmental conditions under which an animal or plant
species will thrive.
• An example of an ecological niche is that of the dung beetle. The dung beetle consumes dung
both in larval and adult forms.
Dung beetles store dung balls in
burrows, and females lay eggs
within them. This allows
hatched larvae immediate
access to food.
Due to climate change, ecological

Niches are altering and this may
have an impact on Agriculture and
therefore we need ecological niche
modelling (using Big Data and other
computational technology).
Ecological niche modelling is a

predictive tool for identifying new
NOTES
possibilities — new inhabitants for an existing habitat, or new geographical locations where a
desirable plant may grow well.
E.g., the modelling identified 4,200 square kilometres of new areas suitable for saffron cultivation
in places in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, North Sikkim, Imphal, Manipur and
Udagamandalam, Tamil Nadu.
Crocus sativus, the saffron plant, is propagated through underground stems called corms. It is
thought to be a native of Greece and grows best under Mediterranean climate conditions. Today,
Iran grows nearly 90% of the world's saffron (India: 5%). The flower of the plant has three bright
crimson stigmata, which are handpicked when ready and carefully dried for commercial saffron.
9. Lumpy Skin disease

Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, launched the indigenous vaccine Lumpi-
ProVacInd to protect livestock from Lumpy Skin disease.
● The vaccine has been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in
collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly).
Lumpy skin disease (LSD)

● It is an infectious disease in cattle caused by a virus of the family Poxviridae, also known as
the Neethling virus.
● The disease is characterized by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules
(measuring 2–5 centimetres (1–2 in) in diameter) on the skin and mucous membranes
(including those of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts).
● Infected cattle also may develop edematous swelling in their limbs and exhibit lameness.
● The virus has important economic implications since affected animals tend to have
permanent damage to their skin, lowering the commercial value of their hide.
● Additionally, the disease often results in chronic debility, reduced milk production, poor
growth, infertility, abortion, and sometimes death.
10. Manure Management

National Dairy Development Board
(NDDB) (a statutory body under
NDDB Act 1987) has launched a
company (MRIDA ltd.) to work on
manure management.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying
• Definition: Manure management
refers to the capture, storage,
treatment, and utilization of
animal manures in an
environmentally sustainable
manner.
• Benefits of manure
management: lower the cost of
fertilizers (by producing bio-
slurry), increases income from
milch animals, lowers
Greenhouse emissions (by generating biogas which can be a substitute for LPG)
Government scheme for manure management:
NOTES
• Gobar Dhan scheme (energy from cattle waste
• SuDhan (a trademark to provide a common identity to dung-based organic fertilizers)
• Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CISS) of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
(NMSA): production of organic manure from bio-waste.
11. Agri-trade trends in India
Table 1 captures trends in India’s farm products exports over the past decade. The surplus in
agricultural trade matters because this is one sector, apart from software services, where India
has some comparative advantage.
Table 2 shows that almost 60% of India’s total agri imports is accounted for by a single
commodity: vegetable oils.
12. Agriculture’s share in India’s workforce

Overall, between 1993-94 and 2018-19, agriculture’s share in India’s workforce came down from
61.9% to 41.4%.
NOTES
Even the movement of workforce from agriculture that India has witnessed over the past three
decades or more does not qualify as what economists call “structural transformation”. Such
transformation would involve the transfer of labour from farming to sectors – particularly
manufacturing and modern services – where productivity, value-addition and average incomes
are higher.
13. Kurki
• Kurki means attachment of a farmer’s land, already pledged to the money lending
institution or individual, in case of a loan default.
• Apart from banks, private moneylenders, commission agents also get these decrees against
farmers from time to time.
• Kurki orders are executed under Section 60 of Civil Procedure Code, 1908.
• The land which is pledged by the farmer to the bank or money lender gets registered in their
name. In some cases, the land is auctioned as well. The process begins after the money lender
moves court to get kurki orders in case the farmer is unable to pay back his loan. In kurki,
attachment of farmer’s land as well as his tractor can be done as per the Section 60.

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Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country .................................... 17

Recent Developments / Technologies ......................................................................... 28

Departments / Organisations ...................................................................................... 38

Urea Pricing policy: Department of fertilizers has

How subsidies are paid?

Nano urea vs imported/urea – Which is better?

Other benefits of Nano urea:

3. One Nation, One fertilizer scheme

One Nation, One fertilizer scheme.

PM Kisan Samruddhi Kendras (PM KSK):

4. PM PRANAM (Promotion of Alternate Nutrients for Agriculture

Features of the scheme:

Status of Fertilizer use and subsidy:

5. Fodder-centric FPOs NDDB is a statutory body, founded by Dr

Previously, the Wholesale

6. Price stabilization Fund (PSF)

8. Jal Jeevan Mission

Jal Jeevan Mission:

9. Convergence portal of govt's 3 flagship schemes

About these schemes:

10. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY):

11. Modified Interest Subvention scheme (MISS)

What is interest subvention:

12. Agriculture Census

Unique feature of the 11th Census:

13. 'Jute Mark India' logo

15. Rythu Bharosa Kendras (Andhra Pradesh)

16. PARVAZ Market Linkage scheme

17. KRITAGYA 3.0

18. Seed treaty

The Treaty aims at:

Rights under the Act:

19. Negotiable warehouse receipt (NWR) system

Government launches negotiable warehousing receipts in e-format.

Salient features of e-NWR

2. Minimum Support Price (MSP)

● It is a policy decision not

3. Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP)

• Millets in India: jowar

Government provides Minimum Support price for selected millets.

Operation Greens - From TOP to TOTAL:

Objectives of Operation Greens:

Growing Condition: Sirsi Supari” Gets GI Tag

Gene Modification in Rice:

What is Gene Modulation?

Benefit for India in adopting this practice:

7. Wheat cultivation in India

Status of Coffee production in India

About Sugar production:

Reason for production shifting:

The genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee

11. Opium opened for private players

Recommendations of the expert panel:

2. Asian Palm Oil Alliance

About Palm Oil:

EU’s palm oil row with Malaysia and Indonesia:

3. 212 indigenous livestock breeds