4. Major Agricultural Issues In Rajasthan, Rajasthan Economy, Civil Services Examination | RAS RPSC Prelims Preparation - Notes, Study Material & Tests - RPSC RAS (Rajasthan) PDF Download

MAJOR AGRICULTURAL ISSUES IN RAJASTHAN

Major Agricultural Issues of Rajasthan are:-

• To achieve self-sufficiency in food production.
• To increase Agricultural production and income of farmers / farm labours.
• To promote sustainable use of Natural Resources such as Land and Water.
• To promote Soil Health Management and Integrated Nutrient Management.
• Promote Crop Diversification.
• Promote use of agricultural inputs based on recommendation of soil and water testing.
• To ensure availability and quality of agricultural inputs.
• Promote Organic Farming.
• To promote Integrated Pest – Disease Management system.
• To transfer modern agriculture technique developed by technical institutes and scientists.
• To promote agricultural mechanization to carryout agriculture operation timely.
• To promote mixed-intensive farming for increased employment opportunities and income per unit area.
• To develop scientific farming techniques for making agriculture more remunerative for farmers.
• To increase the production of certain agricultural commodities, so that raw material for industries is available for increased exports.
• To reduces cost of cultivation and strive for holistic development of farmer.
• Crop insurance to protect farmer against natural disasters and monsoon failure.
• To initiate programme that help to increase per capita incomes of farmer in back ward areas as well as for SC/ST.
• To promote women empowerment in agriculture.
• Organize training on various aspects of agro techniques for their mass dissemination.
• Quick and effective solutions of day to day problems of farmers

Agricultural Zones of Rajasthan:-

1        National Food Security Mission (NFSM) NFSM in the state of Rajasthan has following sub missions under it

          (i) NFSM - Wheat

          (ii) NFSM - Pulses

          (iii) NFSM - Coarse Cereals

          (iv) NFSM - Commercial Crops (Cotton)

          12th Five Year Plan with new targets of additional production of food grains of 25 million tons of food grains comprising of 10 million tons rice, 8 million tons of wheat, 4 million tons of pulses and 3 million tons of coarse cereals by the end of 12th Five Year Plan.

2        National Mission on Oil Seeds & Oil Palms (NMOOP)

It has following two sub missions:-

          (i) Oil Seed Crops (MM-I)

          (ii) Tree Borne Oil Seed Crops (TBO's) (MM-III)

The mission would help in boosting the production of oilseeds by 6.58 million tonnes and will bring additional area of 1.25 lakh hectares under oil palm cultivation.

In addition to this, it would also lead to an enhancement in productivity of fresh fruit bunches to 15,000 kg/ha from 4927 kg/ha and increase in collection of tree borne oilseeds to 14 lakh tonne.

It would increase production of vegetable oil sources by 2.48 million tonnes from oilseeds (1.70 MT), oil palm (0.60 MT) and tree borne oilseeds (0.18 MT) by the end of the 12th Plan period.

3        National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

Rajasthan has a large tract of Arid region and thus the development of Sustainable Agriculture is of Prime Importance for the agricultural development within the state. NMSA Has the following sub missions:-

          (i) Rain-fed Area Development (RAD) Programme:- The objective of the programme is to improve the quality of life of the farmer, especially that of the small and marginal farmer. This would be done by offering a package that would maximize farm returns by increasing agricultural productivity, minimising adverse impact of crop failure caused by drought, floods etc and restoration of confidence in this form of agriculture by creating sustained employment opportunities through improved on-farm technologies, etc.

The strategy would focus on multi-cropping, rotational cropping, inter-cropping, mixed-cropping along with allied activities that include horticulture, livestock etc. This would not only maximise farm returns but also mitigate impacts of floods, drought etc. To do this the programme will focus on -

• Minimum tillage practice,
• Support of existing income generating activities like fisheries, agriculture, mushroom etc. Conducting complementary activities like construction of ponds, land treatment, wells, supply of pumps etc,
• Adoption of a cluster approach to utilize the potential of available or created common resources,
• Support for value addition and storage structures to facilitate better returns for farm produce.

          (ii) Climate Change & Sustainable Agriculture: Monitoring, Modelling & Net Working (CCSAMMN):- CCSAMMN, a component of NMSA will provide creation and bidirectional (land/farmers to research/scientific establishments and vice versa) dissemination of climate change related information and knowledge by way of piloting climate change adaptation/mitigation research/model projects in the domain of climate smart sustainable management practices and integrated farming system suitable to local agro-climatic conditions.

          (iii) Soil Health Management:-

                (a) Soil Health Card Scheme:- A Soil Health Card is used to assess the current status of soil health and, when used over time, to determine changes in soil health that are affected by land management. A Soil Health Card displays soil health indicators and associated descriptive terms. The indicators are typically based on farmers' practical experience and knowledge of local natural resources. The card lists soil health indicators that can be assessed without the aid of technical or laboratory equipment.

                (b) Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY) - to support and promote organic farming and thereby improving soil health. This will encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly concept of cultivation and reduce their dependence on fertilizers and agricultural chemicals to improve yields.

4        National Mission on Agriculture Extension & Technology (NMAET)

          (i) Sub Mission of Agriculture Extension (SAME)

          (ii) Sub Mission on Seed & Planting Material (SMSP)

          (iii) Sub Mission on Plant Protection & Quarantine (SMPP)

          (iv) Sub Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)

5        Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY): Project Based

6        Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna (PMKSY)

          (i) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP)

          (ii) Har Khet Ko Pani

          (iii) Per Drop More Crop

          (iv) Watershed Development

7        Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) – 20 District

8        Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (MNAIS)

9        State Plan