Agriculture- 4 | Economy for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PART - 4
Page 2


ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PART - 4
ISSUES OF PADDY RESIDUE BURNING
The  Ministry of Power decided that the States of Haryana and Punjab shall issue bids for all coal 
based Thermal Power Plants to use 
minimum 5 percent of biomass pellets and upto10 percent to be co-fired with coal.
Power generation through co-firing in pulverized coal fired boilers.
All coal based thermal power plants (except those having ball and tube mill)
public or private
shall endeavor to use 5-10% blend of biomass pellets 
made, primarily of agro residue along with coal after assessing the technical feasibility viz. safety 
aspects etc.  
Page 3


ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PART - 4
ISSUES OF PADDY RESIDUE BURNING
The  Ministry of Power decided that the States of Haryana and Punjab shall issue bids for all coal 
based Thermal Power Plants to use 
minimum 5 percent of biomass pellets and upto10 percent to be co-fired with coal.
Power generation through co-firing in pulverized coal fired boilers.
All coal based thermal power plants (except those having ball and tube mill)
public or private
shall endeavor to use 5-10% blend of biomass pellets 
made, primarily of agro residue along with coal after assessing the technical feasibility viz. safety 
aspects etc.  
SOIL, WATER AND CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 
THAT REDUCE CARBON EMISSION
(i)         Increasing the area under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternative to transplanted paddy.
(ii)        Deployment of zero tillage drill machines and other residue management equipment which enable 
planting of rabi crop in the standing residue of rice crop to avoid its burning.
(iii)       Alternate wetting and drying, direct seeded rice system of rice cultivation, use of slow release nitrogen 
fertilizers, integrated nutrient management practices, leaf colour chart-based nitrogen application, use of urea 
super granules etc.
(iv)  Mandatory Neem coating of urea.
(v)        Promotion of micro irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY)-Per Drop More Crop.
(vi)       Planting of trees under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern 
India (BGREI), Sub-Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
(vii)      Models of Integrated Farming System (IFS) have been developed for replication in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) and in the States for enabling climate resilient agriculture.
(viii) Climate resilient villages have been developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one in 
each of 151 districts. 
(ix) Climate Vulnerability Atlas has been prepared under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture 
(NICRA).  District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been developed for 633 districts in order to give real 
time agro advisories for overcoming climate risks. 
Page 4


ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PART - 4
ISSUES OF PADDY RESIDUE BURNING
The  Ministry of Power decided that the States of Haryana and Punjab shall issue bids for all coal 
based Thermal Power Plants to use 
minimum 5 percent of biomass pellets and upto10 percent to be co-fired with coal.
Power generation through co-firing in pulverized coal fired boilers.
All coal based thermal power plants (except those having ball and tube mill)
public or private
shall endeavor to use 5-10% blend of biomass pellets 
made, primarily of agro residue along with coal after assessing the technical feasibility viz. safety 
aspects etc.  
SOIL, WATER AND CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 
THAT REDUCE CARBON EMISSION
(i)         Increasing the area under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternative to transplanted paddy.
(ii)        Deployment of zero tillage drill machines and other residue management equipment which enable 
planting of rabi crop in the standing residue of rice crop to avoid its burning.
(iii)       Alternate wetting and drying, direct seeded rice system of rice cultivation, use of slow release nitrogen 
fertilizers, integrated nutrient management practices, leaf colour chart-based nitrogen application, use of urea 
super granules etc.
(iv)  Mandatory Neem coating of urea.
(v)        Promotion of micro irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY)-Per Drop More Crop.
(vi)       Planting of trees under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern 
India (BGREI), Sub-Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
(vii)      Models of Integrated Farming System (IFS) have been developed for replication in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) and in the States for enabling climate resilient agriculture.
(viii) Climate resilient villages have been developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one in 
each of 151 districts. 
(ix) Climate Vulnerability Atlas has been prepared under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture 
(NICRA).  District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been developed for 633 districts in order to give real 
time agro advisories for overcoming climate risks. 
GM CROPS
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops regulated as per 
“Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, 
Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” 
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in the Country.
India ranks 5th in global cultivation of GM crops. 
Bt. cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in the Country. 
The approval of any new genetically modified crop is given on a case to case basis after thorough 
scientific evaluation of health and environment safety as per applicable guidelines made under 
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1989.
Page 5


ECONOMY
AGRICULTURE
PART - 4
ISSUES OF PADDY RESIDUE BURNING
The  Ministry of Power decided that the States of Haryana and Punjab shall issue bids for all coal 
based Thermal Power Plants to use 
minimum 5 percent of biomass pellets and upto10 percent to be co-fired with coal.
Power generation through co-firing in pulverized coal fired boilers.
All coal based thermal power plants (except those having ball and tube mill)
public or private
shall endeavor to use 5-10% blend of biomass pellets 
made, primarily of agro residue along with coal after assessing the technical feasibility viz. safety 
aspects etc.  
SOIL, WATER AND CROP MANAGEMENT PRACTICES 
THAT REDUCE CARBON EMISSION
(i)         Increasing the area under System of Rice Intensification (SRI) as an alternative to transplanted paddy.
(ii)        Deployment of zero tillage drill machines and other residue management equipment which enable 
planting of rabi crop in the standing residue of rice crop to avoid its burning.
(iii)       Alternate wetting and drying, direct seeded rice system of rice cultivation, use of slow release nitrogen 
fertilizers, integrated nutrient management practices, leaf colour chart-based nitrogen application, use of urea 
super granules etc.
(iv)  Mandatory Neem coating of urea.
(v)        Promotion of micro irrigation under Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchaiYojana (PMKSY)-Per Drop More Crop.
(vi)       Planting of trees under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern 
India (BGREI), Sub-Mission on Agro Forestry (SMAF) and National Bamboo Mission (NBM).
(vii)      Models of Integrated Farming System (IFS) have been developed for replication in Krishi Vigyan Kendras
(KVKs) and in the States for enabling climate resilient agriculture.
(viii) Climate resilient villages have been developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), one in 
each of 151 districts. 
(ix) Climate Vulnerability Atlas has been prepared under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture 
(NICRA).  District Agriculture Contingency Plans have been developed for 633 districts in order to give real 
time agro advisories for overcoming climate risks. 
GM CROPS
Genetically Modified (GM) Crops regulated as per 
“Rules for the Manufacture/Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms, 
Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989” 
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 in the Country.
India ranks 5th in global cultivation of GM crops. 
Bt. cotton is the only GM crop approved for commercial cultivation in the Country. 
The approval of any new genetically modified crop is given on a case to case basis after thorough 
scientific evaluation of health and environment safety as per applicable guidelines made under 
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Rules, 1989.
MAHILA KISAN DIWAS
Inspired by the celebration of October 15 as International Rural Women's Day 
by the United Nations Organization.
(Beijing Declaration)