Agriculture & GVA: India is witnessing a general decline in share of agriculture in Gross Value Added (GVA). However, growth rate of agriculture & allied sectors have been fluctuating at 1.5% in 2012-13 to (-)0.2% in 2014-15 to 4.9% in 2016-17 primarily due to fact that more than 50% of agriculture in India is rainfall dependent and private Investment has declined.
Crop Production: There is an overall increase in food production on account of good rainfall during 2016-17 and policy initiatives taken by government.
Structural changes in sector: A gradual shift can be seen in Indian Agriculture sector, where the share of Livestock in GVA has increased and share of Crop sector has declined.This also coincided with the change in sources of income of farm households.
Feminisation of Agriculture: Role of Women as cultivators, entrepreneurs, and labourers has increased with growing rural to urban Migration by men. According to Census 2011, out of total female main workers, 55% were agricultural labourers and 24% were cultivators. However, there is a gender disparity in ownership of landholding in agriculture (only 12.8% owned by women) along with concentration of operational holdings (25.7 per cent) by women in the marginal and small holdings categories.
Cropping pattern: India has highest net cropland area (NCA) with 179.8 Mha (9.6% of global NCA). However, according to Index of Crop Diversification, there is a declining inter-temporal behavior in crop diversification among most of States (exception being Himachal Pradesh & Jharkhand). This Monoculture practices has been the reason for declining productivity, lower response to fertilizer, degradation of SoilHealth and declining profitability of cultivation.
Input Management in Agriculture:
A sustainable use of inputs like Irrigation, seeds, fertilizer, credit, machines, extension Services etc. helps in improving the productivity without losing Soil fertility and causing environmental damages. However, lack of educational level of farmers had impacted their capacity to adopt and inculcate new methods of cultivation and input management.
✓Irrigation: Only 34.5% of total cropped area is irrigated in India. To improve irrigation facility Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana was launched by government.
✓Agriculture Mechanization: As 50% of Indian Population would be urban by the year 2050 (World Bank), It is estimated that Percentage of agricultural workers of total work force would drop to 25.7% by 2050 from 58.2% in 2001. Thus, there is a need to cater the increasing food security need by enhancing the level of farm mechanization in the country which has the potential to increase productivity up to 30% and reduce the cost of cultivation up to 20%.
Crop Insurance and crop loss:
According to the NSSO Report (July 2012 – June 2013), very small share of agricultural households engaged in crop production activities was insuring their crops. Government initiated PMFBY which provides comprehensive coverage of risks from pre-sowing to post harvest against natural nonpreventable risks.
Credit is a critical input in achieving high productivity and overall production in the agricultural sector. Institutional Credit helps in delinking the farmers from noninstitutional sources of credit, and increases Financial Inclusion.
Marketing reform has been undertaken to benefit farmers from remunerative prices for their produce in the market like electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM).
Agriculture Research and Development
It is the main source of innovation, which is needed to sustain agricultural productivity growth in the long-term.
There has been an increasing allocation for it which is manifested in development of a total 209 new varieties/hybrids for Cereals, Pulses, Oilseeds, Commercial and Forage Crops, tolerant to various biotic and abiotic stresses with enhanced quality.
SCHEMES
PM FASAL BIMA YOJANA
It replaced all other existing insurance schemes except the Restructured Weather-Based Crop Insurance Scheme (uses weather parameters as proxy for crop yield in compensating the cultivators for deemed crop loses)
A uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for all Kharif Crops and 1.5% for all Rabi Crops.
In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%.
There is no upper limit on Government subsidy so farmers will get claim against full sum insured without any reduction.
The difference between the premium paid by farmers and the actuarial premium charged was paid by the Centre and State Government in the ratio of 50:50.
It is compulsory for loanee farmers availing crop loans for notified crops in notified areas and voluntary for nonloanee farmers.
Yield Losses: due to non-preventable risks, such as Natural Fire and Lightning, Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane, Tornado. Risks due to Flood, Inundation and Landslide, Drought, Dry spells, Pests/ Diseases also will be covered.
Post-harvest losses are also covered.
Mandatory use of technology: Smart phones, drones etc., will be used to capture and upload data of crop cutting to reduce the delays in claim payment to farmers. Remote sensing will be used to reduce the number of crop cutting experiments.
PRADHAN MANTRI KRISHI SINCHAYEE YOJANA
Decentralized State level planning and projectised execution’ structure, in order to allow States to draw up a District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and a State Irrigation Plan (SIP). These plans need to be prepared in order to access PMKSY fund.
It will be supervised and monitored by Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC) under PM with Union Ministers of all concerned Ministries. A National Executive Committee (NEC) is to be constituted under the Chairmanship of the Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog to oversee programme implementation.
PMKSY has been formulated amalgamating ongoing schemes viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP); Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP); and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
Water BUDGETING is done for all sectors namely, household, agriculture and industries.
Investments will happen at farm level. So, farmers know what is happening and can provide valuable feedback.
Recently, Long Term Irrigation Fund has been instituted under PMKSY in NABARD for funding and fast tracking the implementation of incomplete major and medium irrigation projects.
India is the fifth largest seed market across the globe.
It is expected to grow at more than 15% during 2017–2022, and can reach a value of more than US$ 7 Billion by 2022.
The seed market is majorly contributed by non-vegetable seeds such as corn, Cotton, paddy, wheat, sorghum, sunflower and Millets.
Direct contribution of quality seed to the total production can be raised up to 45% with efficient management of other inputs.
Silk industry (Sericulture) in India
India is the second largest producer of silk in the world. It provides EMPLOYMENT to over 8.25million people in the country.
There are four major types of silk produced in India: Mulberry, Tasar, Muga, Eri of which Mulberry accounts for 70% of total raw silk production.
India currently produces all four variety of silk – mulberry, eri, muga and tassar. The silk production is mostly prevalent in Karnataka, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Major Export destination of Indian Silk exports are USA and UAE followed by UK, France, Italy and Germany. Mostly natural silk yarns, fabrics, made-ups, readymade garments, silk carpets and silk waste are exported.
For growth and development of the silk industry Indian Silk Export Promotion Council has also been set up. It organises trade shows and fairs across the world to promote trade with different countries. The council also facilitates meetings between exporters and potential customers.
India’s north eastern region has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk contributes about 21% of the total silk production in the country
Sugar Industry in India
The Money would be credited directly into the bank accounts of farmers, who haven’t received the “Fair and Remunerative Price” (FRP) for sugarcane fixed by the Centre.
The Centre’s Sugarcane (Control) Order mandates mills to pay the FRP within 14 days of cane purchase from farmers, failing which 15% annual interest is charged on the due amount for the period of delay. Considering the large cane price arrear dues to farmers the mills say they cannot pay farmers beyond 75% of their realisations from sugar and thus the amount sanctioned by government is grossly inadequate.
The populist increases in SAP recent years has resulted in excessive production of sugarcane, estimated at 295.07 lakh tone thus triggering a glut of supply of sugar which reached an all-time high of 29.98 million tonne.
Further considering the high cost of production of sugar (partly due to high cane prices in India) in other countries the export prices of sugar are much lower than from domestic sales.
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Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, employing over 50% of the country’s workforce. It is also a major contributor to the country’s GDP. India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. It is also a major producer of milk, meat, and fish.
The history of agriculture in India dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished from around 2600 to 1900 BC. The people of the Indus Valley were skilled farmers who grew a variety of crops, including wheat, barley, rice, and cotton. They also raised livestock, including cattle, sheep, and goats.
The geography of India is diverse, with a wide range of climates and Soil Types. This diversity allows for the cultivation of a wide range of crops. The major agricultural regions in India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Deccan Plateau, and the Himalayas.
The Climate-of-india/”>Climate of India is tropical, with hot, humid summers and mild winters. The monsoon rains, which occur from June to September, are essential for agriculture. The Resources-of-india/”>Water Resources of India are abundant, with a number of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
The crops of India are diverse, with a wide range of cereals, fruits, vegetables, and spices. The major cereal crops are rice, wheat, barley, and millet. The major fruit crops are mango, banana, apple, and citrus fruits. The major Vegetable Crops are potato, tomato, onion, and cabbage. The major spices are turmeric, ginger, chili pepper, and coriander.
The livestock of India is also diverse, with a wide range of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and Poultry. The cattle are used for milk, meat, and draft power. The sheep and goats are raised for meat and wool. The pigs are raised for meat. The poultry are raised for eggs and meat.
The Fisheries-2/”>Fisheries of India are also important, with a wide range of fish, shrimp, and crabs. The fish are caught in the rivers, lakes, and seas. The shrimp are farmed in coastal areas. The crabs are caught in the rivers and seas.
The Forestry of India is also important, with a wide range of trees, including teak, sal, and bamboo. The trees are used for timber, fuelwood, and paper.
The agricultural research in India is well-developed, with a number of research institutes and universities. The research is focused on improving crop yields, developing new varieties of crops, and controlling pests and diseases.
The agricultural Education in India is also well-developed, with a number of agricultural universities and colleges. The education is focused on training farmers, agricultural scientists, and agricultural extension workers.
The agricultural extension in India is well-developed, with a Network of extension workers who provide advice and training to farmers. The extension workers also help farmers to access credit, markets, and other resources.
The Agricultural Marketing in India is well-developed, with a number of markets and cooperatives that help farmers to sell their produce. The markets also provide farmers with information about prices and demand.
The agricultural policy in India is focused on promoting agricultural growth, ensuring food security, and protecting the Environment. The policy also aims to improve the livelihoods of farmers.
The agricultural economics in India is a well-developed field of study. The economists study the production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural products. They also study the policies that affect agriculture.
The agricultural Sociology in India is a well-developed field of study. The sociologists study the social and economic aspects of agriculture. They also study the impact of agriculture on Society.
The agricultural development in India has been rapid in recent years. The government has invested heavily in agriculture, and the sector has responded with strong growth. The agricultural sector is now a major contributor to the country’s GDP.
The agricultural sustainability in India is a major challenge. The sector is facing a number of challenges, including Climate Change, water scarcity, and soil degradation. The government is working to address these challenges, but the future of agriculture in India is uncertain.
The agricultural challenges in India are many. The sector is facing a number of challenges, including climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation. The government is working to address these challenges, but the future of agriculture in India is uncertain.
The agricultural opportunities in India are also many. The sector has the potential to grow rapidly in the coming years. The government is working to promote agricultural growth, and the sector is expected to play a major role in the country’s Economic Development.
The agricultural future in India is bright. The sector has the potential to grow rapidly in the coming years. The government is working to promote agricultural growth, and the sector is expected to play a major role in the country’s economic development.
What is agriculture?
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating Plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to live in cities. The history of agriculture began thousands of years ago. After gathering wild grains beginning at least 105,000 years ago, nascent farmers began to plant them around 11,500 years ago. Pigs, sheep and cattle were domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Plants were independently cultivated in at least 11 regions of the world.
What are the different types of agriculture?
There are many different types of agriculture, but some of the most common include:
Subsistence agriculture: This type of agriculture is used to meet the basic needs of the farmer and their family. It is often practiced in developing countries, where there is a lack of resources and Infrastructure-2/”>INFRASTRUCTURE.
Commercial agriculture: This type of agriculture is used to produce crops or livestock for sale. It is often practiced in developed countries, where there is a large market for agricultural products.
Industrial agriculture: This type of agriculture is characterized by the use of large-scale machinery and technology. It is often used to produce crops or livestock on a large scale.
Organic agriculture: This type of agriculture is based on the principles of sustainability and environmental protection. It does not use synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.
What are the benefits of agriculture?
Agriculture provides many benefits, including:
Food: Agriculture is the primary source of food for humans and animals.
Fiber: Agriculture provides fibers for clothing, paper, and other products.
Fuel: Agriculture provides biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel.
Jobs: Agriculture employs millions of people around the world.
Economic development: Agriculture is a major driver of economic development in many countries.
Environmental protection: Agriculture can be used to protect the environment by restoring degraded land and preventing soil erosion.
What are the challenges of agriculture?
Agriculture faces many challenges, including:
Climate change: Climate change is causing changes in weather patterns, which can make it difficult for farmers to grow crops.
Water scarcity: Water scarcity is a major problem in many parts of the world, and it is becoming more severe due to climate change.
Soil degradation: Soil degradation is a major problem in many parts of the world, and it is caused by a number of factors, including deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable Farming practices.
Pests and diseases: Pests and diseases can cause significant damage to crops and livestock, and they can be difficult to control.
Market volatility: The prices of agricultural products are often volatile, which can make it difficult for farmers to make a profit.
What is the future of agriculture?
The future of agriculture is uncertain, but it is likely that the challenges that agriculture faces will become more severe. Climate change, water scarcity, soil degradation, pests and diseases, and market volatility are all likely to become more serious problems in the future. In order to address these challenges, it is important to develop new technologies and practices that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Sure, here are some MCQs on the topics of agriculture, food security, and climate change:
Which of the following is not a major agricultural product in India? (A) Rice (B) Wheat (C) Cotton (D) Tea
India is the world’s largest producer of which of the following crops? (A) Rice (B) Wheat (C) Cotton (D) Tea
Which of the following is not a major challenge facing agriculture in India? (A) Water scarcity (B) Soil degradation (C) Climate change (D) Overpopulation
Which of the following is not a major goal of the Indian government’s agricultural policy? (A) Increasing food production (B) Reducing poverty (C) Improving environmental sustainability (D) Increasing exports
Which of the following is not a major factor contributing to climate change? (A) Burning fossil fuels (B) Deforestation (C) Agriculture (D) Industrial emissions
Which of the following is not a major Impact Of Climate Change on agriculture? (A) Changes in temperature and Precipitation patterns (B) Increased frequency of extreme weather events (C) Rising sea levels (D) Decreased soil fertility
Which of the following is not a major adaptation strategy for agriculture in the face of climate change? (A) Changing crop varieties (B) Improving irrigation systems (C) Drought-proofing crops (D) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Which of the following is not a major goal of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to agriculture? (A) Halving hunger and Malnutrition by 2030 (B) Doubling agricultural productivity by 2050 (C) Increasing resilience to climate change and extreme weather events (D) Reducing the environmental impact of agriculture
Which of the following is not a major challenge facing food security in the world today? (A) Population Growth (B) Climate change (C) Conflict (D) Poverty
Which of the following is not a major goal of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)? (A) Eradicating hunger and malnutrition (B) Increasing agricultural productivity (C) Improving Nutrition (D) Reducing poverty