GS3 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Agriculture | Environment for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?  (UPSC MAINS GS3 )

Ans:-

Crop diversification refers to the addition of new crops or cropping systems to agricultural production on a particular farm taking into account the different returns in socio-economic and environmental terms. Due to diverse set of climates, soil types and cultures, India has diverse range of cropping systems.
The challenges before crop diversification:

• Impact of Green Revolution: There has been shift towards Mono cropping of wheat and rice at cost of coarse grains (Government policy of MSP). 
• Monsoon Dependence: Around 55% of India’s Cultivable Land is Rain-fed with heavy dependence on monsoon. 
• Fragmented land holding: It makes it difficult to use efficient modern technology on large scale, raises cost of land boundary management, land disputes etc. 
• Shift from Food crops to Commercial Crops: This especially includes Cotton in Deccan belt; and Sugarcane in Green revolution belt and Krishna-Godavari basin. 
• Other Factors: 
  • Human factors: Heavy Population Pressure on agriculture and continuation of subsistence farming 
  • Technical Factors: Lack of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of seeds, usage of old implements, lack of weather forecasting usage amongst others. 
  • Institutional factors: It includes defective land tenure system (leading to land fallowing), improper marketing and processing of perishable products (e.g vegetables, fruits). 
  • Infrastructural Factors: Poor basic infrastructure like rural roads, power, transport, communications etc. Along with inadequate post-harvest processing infrastructure.  

Emerging Technologies and opportunities provided by them:

• IT Revolution: It is helping to connect farmers directly with grocery-customers ( farm to fork model) leading to cultivation of high value perishable products (e.g Big Basket, BlinkIt startup platforms) 
• Aquaponics and Urban Farming: To meet the heavy urban demand for Persisahble items, this technique of controlled environment cultivation is helping in crop diversification. 
• Financial Inclusion and Digitization: It has helped small farmers, women SHGs to ensure crop diversification through credit supply. 
• Irrigation: PM Krishi Sinchai Yojna has ensured access to micro irrigation (Per Drop More Crop), drip irrigation, sprinklers etc. 
• Dryland Agriculture: Indo-Israel Agriculture Project has introduced technologies like Urea Deep Placement (UDP), Poly-bag Nursery farming etc in arid areas(e.g Rajasthan has seen cultivation of strawberries and olives). 
• Soil Health Management: It has helped ensuring right Fertilizer usage, developing Organic Framing, providing GIS based thematic mapping for soil.(e.g. Soil Health Card)

Thus, these emerging technologies should be made integral part of Mission to double farmer’s income by 2022 as recommended by Ashok Dalwai Committee.

Topics Covered- Crop Diversification

Q2: What are the major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India? (UPSC MAINS GS3 )

Ans:- 

The rice-wheat rotation is the principal cropping system in south Asian countries that occupies about 13.5 million hectares in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of which 10 million hectares are in India. This system covers about 33% of the total rice area and 42% of the total wheat area and account for one quarter to one third of the total rice and wheat production. This cropping system is dominant in most Indian states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and contributes to 75% of the national food grain production.
Major factors responsible for making rice-wheat system a success: 

• Although this is an irrigated cropping system yet yield are dependent on climatic situation in India mainly on south west monsoon. 
• Green fodder is easily available in rice-wheat cropping system and this in turns helps to support large livestock population. 
• With the introduction of improved high yielding, input responsive, short duration rice and wheat varieties, the rice-wheat pattern became feasible and saw both crops grown in the same year. 
• In this pattern, rice is grown during the summer months followed by wheat in the winter months. It is now found as a major system throughout the IGP. Both crops are grown in one calendar year. 
• The environmental requirements for the growth and development of both rice and wheat crops are contrastingly different. Rice grows best under stagnant water conditions, while wheat requires a well-pulverized soil with a proper balance of moisture, air and thermal regime. 
• A dominating feature of the rice-wheat cropping system is the annual conversion of soil from aerobic to anaerobic and then back to aerobic conditions. 
• This post green revolution technology will depend on farmer adoption and investment. Increasing and improving stakeholder participation in experimentation and fine-tuning of the technology will be a key to success. 
• Irrigation is a common feature of this system either from extensive surface canal systems or from shallow wells and tube wells .Rainfed rice-wheat also exists, but the majority of farmers apply at least one irrigation for wheat and many a full irrigation schedule. Issues related to Rice-wheat cropping system. 
• Declining underground water table: The excessive pumping of ground water for irrigation purposes in intensively cultivated areas of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh has caused lowering down of the ground water table in certain pockets. Declining water tables not only raise production costs due to higher energy requirements for pumping water from greater depths but such rapid rates of decline spark serious questions about the long-term sustainability of rice-wheat system itself in these areas. 
• Diverse weed flora: Diverse weed flora and excessive weed pressure is an important issue in the way to sustainable agriculture. Due to intensive cultivation of rice–wheat sequence, the weed flora simplified with grasses. Weeds compete with the main plants for light, water and nutrients and in turn decrease overall land productivity of the system as a whole. 
• Ground water pollution: Excessive use of the fertilizers/insecticides in RWCs pollutes the underground water quality. Application of this poor quality water to the agricultural and dairy sector leads to emergence of several severe diseases in animals and decreased the grain quality which ultimately affect the human health. 
• Outbreak of diseases and insect-pest: Both wheat and rice crops are grown under lavish environment. The green crops with higher dose of N-fertilizers and wet conditions because of frequent irrigations are the paradise for the outbreak of insect-pest and diseases. 
• Degrading soil structure: Rice is conventionally established through tillage under wet conditions with an aim of reducing percolation losses, ease transplanting and suppress weeds. However, its negative effects through structural degradation on upland crops are of concern. Apart from extensive labour requirement repeated puddling of coarse and medium textured soils in the state has led to the sub-surface compaction which has been proving detrimental for the upland crops like wheat. 
• Unsustainable practices: Slow agricultural growth is emerging as a concern for government and policymakers as two-thirds of India’s people depend on rural employment for a living. The current adopted agricultural practices are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. 
• Residue management: On farm residue management be the major issue in the prevailing RWCS. Among rice and wheat straw residue, wheat residue is used in the animal husbandry sector butthe higher silica content in rice straw make it inappropriate to be used in the dairy sector. Also farmers generally burnt the rice residue on to their fields to get rid of it and to ensure timely sowing of the wheat crop as delayed sowing decreases the final grain yields. 
• Labour shortage: Rice–wheat cropping system is water-, energy-, capital- and most importantly labour intensive as transplanting, spraying and harvesting of paddy require intense labour. Labour shortage is an emerging issue in the prevailing Rice- wheat cropping system(RWCS) due to narrow window period and legal binding to transplant paddy. 
• Rice-wheat cropping system is known for plenty of methane generation and its contribution to global warming. 

Conclusion 
Rice-wheat cropping system in India has contributed immensely to fill the increasing empty stomachs but has consequently led to many sustainability issues. Hence, alternate tillage and establishment methods must be invented, tested and recommended for the sustainable establishment of rice–wheat cropping system as a whole including the intervening period so that land and water productivity, soil health and environment must be improved for overall lifting of the livelihoods of the farmers. 

Topics Covered - Rice Cropping System

Q3: Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting scenario. (UPSC MAINS GS3 )

India is a country whose majority proportion of economy is agriculture based, but the diverse soil and moisture content in the soil makes irrigation as a needed aspect. To minimize dependence on monsoon which is being erratic, development of irrigation becomes essential. For instance, farmers in Odisha, Bihar are poverty stricken due to lack of irrigation in farm fields. Judicious use of irrigation enhances the productivity thus raising the yield per hectare.
Like China in the same plot produces 3 time more crops than India due to its efficient irrigation. Also the country’s economic, social and agricultural background makes it utilize the prospect promised by irrigational practices. This artificial means to fulfil the water and moisture requirement of crops is important for India.
Some important storage systems in India: 

• Wells: Irrigation by wells is present in India from the time immemorial. In 1950-51, there were around five million wells and now, their number has been increased to about 12 million. Uttar Pradesh has the largest area of land under good irrigation, followed by Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. 
• Tube wells: Tube wells are deeper well from which water is lifted through pumping set operated by an electric motor or a diesel engine. Tamil Nadu with around 11 lakh tube wells has the largest number in the country followed by Maharashtra, 
• Tanks: They are commonly used in Andhra Pradesh, Deccan Plateau, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Irrigation through tanks offers a host of benefits such as providing drinking water for rural communities and livestock, replenishing groundwater levels, conserving top-soil and others. 
• Canals: In India, canals are the main source of irrigation. Canals are big water sources or channels derived from rivers to provide water to places far away from the river. Ways to improve water storage. Reduce conveyance losses by lining channels or, preferably, by using closed conduits. Reduce direct evaporation during irrigation by avoiding midday sprinkling. Minimize foliar interception by under-canopy, rather than by overhead sprinkling. Reduce runoff and percolation losses due to over irrigation. Reduce evaporation from bare soil by mulching and by keeping the inter-row strips dry. Reduce transpiration by weeds, keeping the inter-row strips dry and applying weed control measures where needed. 

Some important irrigation system in India: 

• Surface irrigation is the creation and distribution of water in an area by way of the gravity flow of water over the soil surface. 
• The soil acts as the developing medium in which water is saved and the conveyance medium over which water flows as it spreads and infiltrates. 
• Common floor irrigation structures used are rill irrigation, border or furrow irrigation. 
• Subsurface irrigation makes use of a community of polyethylene pipes positioned just beneath the floor’s surface to use disinfected effluent inside the root area of plants, preventing airborne drift and declining runoff. 
• This method of irrigation requires much less protection than surface irrigation, and there may be additionally much less hazard of surface saturation and effluent runoff. 
• By decreasing the threat of human contact, it additionally drastically reduces public health risks. 
• Drip irrigation is the most efficient and recommended water and nutrient delivery system for growing crops. 
• It helps to deliver water and vitamins directly to the plant’s roots region accordingly the right and time, thereby each plant receives precisely what it desires, whilst it wishes it, to grow optimally. 
• With this method of irrigation, farmers can produce higher yields even as saving on the water as well as fertilizers, electricity and even crop protection merchandise. 
• Sprinkler Irrigation is a technique of applying irrigation water that is similar to rainfall. 
• Water is distributed through a gadget of pipes generally by way of pumping. 
• It is then sprayed into the air and irrigated complete soil surface via spray heads so that it splits up into tiny water drops which fall to the floor.

Important measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious use under depleting Scenario: 

• Increase cropping Intensity: The rainfed areas are mostly single cropped with scanty rainfall, prone to frequent droughts, soil erosion, and characterized by fragile pasture lands. Presently 76% of agricultural land in the country remains unused for half of the productive period due to lack of access to meet the crop water requirement. 
• Large public and private investment for expanding the irrigation system to accelerate agricultural growth and to meet the needs of food security. 
• Improvement in the utilization of irrigation potential and expansion of rural electrification in the eastern region and replacement of high-cost diesel pump sets. 
• The original Gadgil formula, which, earmarked 10 per cent of the total resource to the State Plans for major and medium irrigation and power projects should be revived; 
• A major part of saving of fertilizer subsidy be given to States as grant for irrigation expansion. 
• Suitable incentives be extended for advancing hi-tech irrigation systems like the microprocessorbased drip irrigation technology that has proven ability to save 25 per cent chemical fertilizers, halve the water used and nearly double the yields; 
• Sprinkler device is a specific irrigation system, designed to make sure maximum water saving, combining excessive pleasant, affordability and simplicity of installation. 
• Farmers stakes in irrigation work be raised by conferring on them some degree of. Co-ownership the irrigation system; and 
• A comprehensive watershed management plan need to be formulated and effectively implemented. 
• Best Utilization of Rain Water: By having the surface irrigation systems, helps to shape your farm in a way to where natural water flow reliably irrigates your plants. Because of this reason, surface irrigation plots are very effective at making use of rainwater; the land has already been optimized for water flow. 
• The Government has created a dedicated Micro Irrigation Fund with NABARD. This fund aims to facilitate the States in order to mobilize the resources for expanding coverage of Micro Irrigation in the country. 
• Rainfed Area Development Programme (RADP) is an initiative which aims to increase agricultural productivity of rainfed areas in a sustainable manner by adopting appropriate farming system-based approaches. 

Conclusion 
The agriculture being an important of Indian economy and society, so irrigational practices and its element should be utilized and developed wisely keeping in mind long term requirements and sustainability. Community based scheme in the region with less or no irrigation should be indeed targeted to provide irrigation. Drip irrigation or sprinkler system to be promoted. Schemes like per drop more crop are a good step. Also Assured irrigation is important for diversification to high value crops and doubling of farm income by 2022. 

Topics Covered - Water Irrigation and Storage

Q4: Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries. (UPSC MAINS GS3 )

Ans:

Fruits and Vegetable (FFV) are one of the most important components of a retail chain (supermarket). It acts as a strategic product in attracting the customers. Agri-food produces from the farmer’s field reach the end consumer through a long chain of intermediaries such as farmers/growers, cooperatives, wholesalers, retailers, commission agents, etc. As part of supply chain, the retail chains (supermarkets) respond to upstream-side demand and absorb downstream-side risks with the objective to augment, retain, satisfy consumers and gain new revenue opportunities without the creation of excess inventory or capacity.
Role of supermarkets in the supply chain: 

• The concept of agri-supply chain refers to the activities of procurement, order fulfillment, distribution, delivery and customer service executed by two or more separate organizations in the agribusiness industry. Agrisupply chain consists of small and medium enterprises. 
• Supply chain collaboration has become the prerequisite for successful procurement and operational business practices for perishable products with the emerging trends of globalization and competitive marketplace. 
• Supply chain planning in the agri-food industry integrates the complex network of farmers, demand, and supply to end consumers to enhance operational effectiveness. 
• Super markets have eliminated the middleman in the distribution channel which reduces the amount of logistics and transportation required in the movement of goods from manufacturer to consumer. 

This increases efficiency significantly 

• Manufacturers, for instance, can skip wholesalers and more quickly replenish retailers with stock. Additionally, companies can offer products and websites and quickly ship them to consumers following the purchase. Measures for increasing efficient of supply chain 
• There is a need for backward linkage with the farmer via contract farming 
• The retail stores have to be organised in a structured way for an efficient distribution of products. 
• There is a need for more cold storages so as to reduce losses due to spoilage. 
• The APMC Act at the state level needs to be amended. 

Topics Covered- Various Agricultural Markets

Q5: How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption. (UPSC MAINS GS3 )

The concept of minimum support price (MSP) has distorted the market. While MSP is effective for rice and wheat, where there is physical procurement by the Food Corporation of India, it is only indicative for other crops. Increasing the MSP more to suit the interests of farmers rather than linking it with market dynamics has distorted the pricing system. 

• As a result, the production of wheat and rice grew between 2005-2015 at the cost of reduction in area under cultivation of soyabean, millets, pulses and oilseeds. it is only recently that pulses production has also picked up. While this is not good for agricultural diversity, it is bad for environment too. 
• Millets: Millets are coarse grains like Ragi, Bajra and Jowar. They are highly nutritious and are generally used by rural people. Importance: Most of the millets are highly nutritious, non-glutinous, non-acid forming and easily digestible foods. Being gluten free, individuals suffering from celiac disease can easily incorporate various millets in their diets. Millet ingestion helps in a slower release of glucose over a longer period of time; thus, due to low glycaemic index (GI), their habitual intake reduces the risk of diabetes mellitus. 
• Further, millets are rich sources of minerals like iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. Ragi (Finger millet) is very rich in calcium; and bajra in iron. These also contain appreciable amounts of dietary fibre and various vitamins (b- Carotene, niacin, vitamin B6 and folic acid); high amounts of lecithin are useful for strengthening the nervous system. Therefore, a regular consumption can help to overcome malnutrition among majority of our Indian population. 
• These have often been called the coarse grains. Millets can not only grow under harsh circumstances, these drought resistant crops requiring fewer external inputs are termed as the ‘miracle grains’ or ‘crops of the future’. Cultivated as dual-purpose crops (food & fodder), millets contribute to the economic efficiency of farming and provide food/livelihood security to millions of households, particularly the small/marginal farmers and the inhabitants of rain fed/remote tribal regions. 
• Millets production revival: Efforts are being made to promote cultivation of millets to achieve nutritional security because acreage has declined to 14.72 million hectares in 2016-17 crop year from 36.90 million hectares in 1965-66. Millet cultivation has declined due to change in consumption pattern, dietary habits, unavailability of millets, low yield, less demand and conversion of irrigated area for growing rice and wheat. The Government has also decided to declare 2018 as “National Year of Millets”. 
• In case of an emergency, the cultivation of millets is very suitable for small and marginal farmers. In order to promote millets, their prescribed purchases in MSP and inclusion in Mid-day Meal are being done. On the basis of the recommendations of NITI Ayog, it has been decided to create a sub mission on Nutri cereals instead of the existing NFSM-Coarse Cereals. 
• National Food Security Mission (NFSM) -Coarse Cereals are divided into two components: NFSM (Makka and Jau) and Sub Mission on Nutri-Cereals covering Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and little millets like Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni and Cheena. The Millet Mission, under the National Food Security Mission, is expected to be rolled out in 2019, for the next few years. While States such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have already taken steps to promote millets, Odisha announced a 100-crore mission in 2018.

Topics Covered- Recent Changes in Cropping Pattern