Amid protests, Centre hikes MSP for rabi crops
Context: The Centre has increased the minimum support price (MSP) for wheat for the upcoming rabi season. Oilseeds and pulses such as mustard, safflower and masoor dal saw higher MSP increases of up to 8% in a bid to encourage crop diversification. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agriculture Pricing), GS-II: Social Justice (Welfare Schemes) Dimensions of the […]
New initiative in J&K for Pashmina shawls
Context: A rare initiative to double the wages and ensure round-the-year orders by the Centre For Excellence (CFE) is poised to address the significant decline in the number of women associated with hand-spinning of yarns for Pashmina shawls in Kashmir. In the backdrop of this trend, the Directorate of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has announced […]
Centre raises fair price of sugar cane
Context: The Central government has hiked the minimum price that sugar mills must pay to cane farmers setting the fair and remunerative price (FRP) at ₹290 a quintal for the 2021-22 sugar season. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agricultural Pricing and Marketing, Food Security) Dimensions of the Article: Sugar Industry in India and its isssues What is […]
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP)
Context: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (Standing Committee) flagged the only 23 states have implemented the Decentralized Procurement Scheme (DCP) so far — 15 to procure rice and eight to procure wheat — despite the scheme being in place for 23 years. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Public Distribution System PDS, […]
National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP)
Context: The Centre will spend ₹11,000 crore for a new mission – National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP). Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agricultural Resources, Food Security), GS-II: Governance (Government Policies & Interventions) Dimensions of the Article: About India’s Oilseeds Production and Imports About National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) Alternative sources About India’s Oilseeds […]
Climate crisis and emissions from India’s dairy sector
Context: Agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions release by cattle and from animal waste. Relevance: GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Environmental Pollution, Conservation of Environment, Climate Change), GS-III: Agriculture Dimensions of the Article: Dairy Sector and Environmental Damage Other issues with dairy sector according to activists Background to the Dairy Sector in India Dairy […]
Concerns over mandatory fortification of food items
Context: In a pushback against the Centre’s plan to mandatorily fortify rice and edible oils with vitamins and minerals, a group of scientists and activists have written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), warning of the adverse impacts on health and livelihoods. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues Relating to Poverty & […]
Innovative farming methods and social media
Context: Farmers make time for social media to network, share and solve problems by discovering innovative farming methods. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agricultural Resources, E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers), GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: Penetration of Social Media and its impact Examples of Farmers using social media positively Other benefits of Social […]
No landless farmers in new database
Context: The Centre’s new National Farmers Database will only include land-owning farmers for now as it will be linked to digitised land records. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Use of Technology to aid farmers and agriculture), GS-III: Science and Technology (Use of Developments in Science and Technology) Dimensions of the Article: About India’s National Farmers Database in […]
Lessons from India’s food security response
Context: With a reduction in COVID-19 infections as the second wave weakens in India, it is important to focus on the pandemic’s disruptive impact on the food security and livelihoods of the poor and marginalised. Relevance: GS Paper 3: Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology […]