Crops and Cropping Patterns (DAMP)

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Contents

• Examine the major challenges faced by oilseeds farmers in India. Analyze the scope of increasing oilseed   production through research and development, technological advancements, and agronomic practices. (10 Marks, 150 words)
• What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? How can it be made effective and transparent? (10 marks, 150 words)

19-06-2023

Q: Examine the major challenges faced by oilseeds farmers in India. Analyze the scope of increasing oilseed   production through research and development, technological advancements, and agronomic practices. (10 Marks, 150 words)

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Answer :

The production of Oilseeds has also increased to 36.1 million tonnes in 2020-21. But, even now, India imports majority of its edible oil consumption. As of 2019-20, India produced 7.9 million tonnes of oil and imported 13.4 million tonnes of oil. This makes India the largest importer and second largest consumer of edible oil in the world.

• More Focus on Wheat and Rice because of Green Revolution.
• Productivity and yield of oilseeds crop is low. Lack of access to improved variety of seeds (for e.g. GM varieties like DMH-11 are still not allowed to be grown commercially.
• Specialized inputs like specific fertilizers, pesticides etc. are not easily available.
• Poor Infrastructure: Inadequate irrigation facilities

• National Mission on Edible Oils – Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) aimed at increasing availability of edible oil in the country by harnessing area expansion and through price incentives.
• National Food Security Mission – Oil Seeds (NFSM-Oilseeds): Focused on production of foundation and certified seeds and distribution of certified seeds and seeds mini kits of latest high yielding varieties.
• Incentivization of oilseeds through MSP regime.
• Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA): 5 Major Palm Oil Importers from Asia form alliance (Sep 2022) to safeguard the economic and business interests of the palm-oil consuming countries.
• Other steps like Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojna, MSP for Oil seeds, subsidies for inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, Training and extension programs for farmers etc. also help oil seed sector.

Research and Development: To develop newer, high yielding varieties of oil seeds.

• Example: Researchers at International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) have developed a new variety of groundnut that is resistant to ground nut rosette virus.

Technological advancements:

• Advancements like precision agriculture, data analytics etc. can improve our understanding of crop requirements and regions where oilseeds will be more suitable.
• Improved techniques of irrigation like drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation can allow efficient use of water and makes it possible to grow oilseeds in areas with limited water resources.

Better Agronomic Practices:

• Techniques like inter-cropping, crop rotation etc. can help in increasing area under cultivation to produce oilseeds and improve the overall oilseed yields.
• These improvements together can also help in making agriculture climate resilient.

These methods, along with policy support like NMEO-OP and extension services can help farmers move towards increased oilseed production and can help India become Atmanirbhar vegetable oil.

19-06-2023

Q: What are the major challenges of Public Distribution System (PDS) in India? How can it be made effective and transparent? (10 marks, 150 words)

Answer :

Crops diversification refers to shift in cropping pattern from one or a few crops to other crops which are more profitable, sustainable, or less resource intensive.

• The Minimum Support Price mechanism distorts the Agri-production towards wheat and rice as they have consistently seen MSP increase and procurement.
• Lack of awareness among farmers about the possibility of other crops creates situation of monoculture.
• Limited Input Availability: Diversification is constrained by availability of quality seeds, planting materials, and other input required for diversification.
• Risk Perception and Market Volatility: Farmers often perceive diversification as a risky endeavor, particularly when they are unfamiliar with new crop types or have limited knowledge about market demand and pricing fluctuations.

• Precision Agriculture: IoT and Sensor Technologies facilitate real-time monitoring of various parameters, such as soil moisture, temperature etc. This allows farmers to optimize crop management practices and make informed decisions regarding crop diversification.
• Crop Modelling and Data Analytics: These tools enable farmers to analyze historical weather patterns, soil data, and crop performance data. By using predictive models and data-driven insights, farmers can identify crops that are best suited for specific environmental conditions, thereby promoting crop diversification.
• Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology: They offer opportunities to develop new crop varieties with enhanced traits, such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and improved nutritional content.
• Indoor and Vertical Farming: These allow for the cultivation of a variety of crops in controlled environments. By providing optimal conditions such as light, temperature, and nutrient supply, these systems offer the flexibility to grow diverse crops regardless of geographic or climatic limitations.
• Hydroponics and Aeroponics: They provide an alternative to traditional soil-based agriculture. These soil-less cultivation methods allow for the precise control of nutrient delivery to plants, enabling the production of a wide range of crops in a limited space. This promotes diversification and year-round cultivation.
• Mobile Applications and Farm Management Systems: These can be used to increase awareness and provide information about market prices, best practices etc. All this can nudge farmers towards diversification.

By leveraging these emerging technologies, farmers can overcome traditional limitations, make data-driven decisions, and explore diverse crop options that were previously unviable or challenging.