PIB 15th June

Contents

1. India joins Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)
2. Distribution of assistive aids & devices to Divyangjan
3. Webinar on Connecting Agroforestry Farmers to Industry Held

INDIA JOINS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (GPAI)

Focus: GS-II International Relations, GS-III Science and Technology

Why in news?

India became one of the founding members and joined the league of leading economies including USA, UK, EU, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore to launch the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI or Gee-Pay).

Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI)

• GPAI is an international and multi-stakeholder initiative to guide the responsible development and use of AI, grounded in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation, and economic growth.
• This is also a first initiative of its type for evolving better understanding of the challenges and opportunities around AI using the experience and diversity of participating countries.
• In order to achieve this goal, the initiative will look to bridge the gap between theory and practice on AI by supporting cutting-edge research and applied activities on AI-related priorities.
• In collaboration with partners and international organizations, GPAI will bring together leading experts from industry, civil society, governments, and academia to collaborate to promote responsible evolution of AI and will also evolve methodologies to show how AI can be leveraged to better respond to the present global crisis around COVID-19.

India’s developments in the AI field

• India has recently launched National AI Strategy and National AI Portal and have also started leveraging AI across various sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, e-commerce, finance, telecommunications, etc. with inclusion and empowerment of human being approach by supplementing growth and development. By joining GPAI as a founding member, India will actively participate in the global development of Artificial Intelligence, leveraging upon its experience around use of digital technologies for inclusive growth.

National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI)

NITI Aayog had published the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in 2019, wherein it identified five core areas for application of artificial intelligence.

1. Healthcare: for increased access and affordability of quality healthcare.
2. Agriculture: for enhanced farmers’ income, increased farm productivity and reduction of wastage.
3. Education: For improved access and quality of education.
4. Smart Cities and Infrastructure: For efficient and connectivity for the burgeoning urban population.
5. Smart Mobility and Transportation: For smarter and safer modes of transportation and better traffic and congestion problems.

What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)?

• Artificial intelligence is the branch of computer science concerned with making computers behave like humans.
• AI refers to the ability of machines to perform cognitive tasks like thinking, perceiving, learning, problem solving and decision making.

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSISTIVE AIDS & DEVICES TO DIVYANGJAN

Focus: GS-II Social Justice

Why in news?

• A Virtual ADIP Camp for free distribution of assistive aids and devices at Block level for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) under the Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances (ADIP) scheme of Government of India was organized.
• Divyangjan and their family members were urged to get enrolled for Unique ID Cards for Divyangjan which are valid all-over India.

ADIP Scheme

• The Assistance to Disabled persons for purchasing / fitting of aids / appliances (ADIP) scheme is one of the major initiatives of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India.
• The main objective of the Scheme is to assist the needy disabled persons in procuring durable, sophisticated and scientifically manufactured, modern, standard aids and appliances.
• The aim is to promote physical, social, psychological rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities by reducing the effects of disabilities and at the same time enhance their economic potential.
• The scheme is implemented through implementing agencies such as the NGOs, National Institutes under this Ministry and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO), a PSU.
• Grant-in-aid under the Scheme will Not be given for commercial supply of aids/appliances.

WEBINAR ON CONNECTING AGROFORESTRY FARMERS TO INDUSTRY HELD

Focus: GS-III Agriculture

Why in news?

• A webinar was organized to discuss ways and means to connect agroforestry farmers to industry and sensitise implementing States to assist farmers in making the correct choice of species.
• Agroforestry is of great importance for the implementation for ‘Vocal for Local’ call as well.

Highlights

• States were advised to encourage contract farming on similar lines as crops right from pre planting, planting and harvest.
• Industry, both existing and potential, should be taken as the hub and activities planned around that.
• Multipurpose species should be encouraged so that returns start flowing at the earliest. This would enable fulfilment of the vision of an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

India’s developments in Agroforestry

• India became the first country in the world to formulate a National Agroforestry Policy in 2014.
• As a follow up, the Sub Mission for Agroforestry was launched in 2015 to assist the States in encouraging farmers to adopt tree planting along with crops.
• Agro climatic zone wise agroforestry models have been developed by research institutions, including ICAR and ICFRE.
• Major policy initiatives, include the National Forest Policy 1988, the National Agriculture Policy 2000, Planning Commission Task Force on Greening India 2001, National Bamboo Mission 2002, National Policy on Farmers, 2007 and Green India Mission 2010.

National Agroforestry Policy

National Agroforestry Policy talks of coordination, convergence and synergy between various elements of agroforestry, scattered across various existing missions, programme and schemes under different ministries—agriculture, rural development and environment.

Emphasize the role of agroforestry for efficient nutrient cycling, organic matter addition for sustainable agriculture and for improving vegetation cover.

Strategy of National Agroforestry Policy

1. Establishment of Institutional Setup at National level to promote Agroforestry
2. Simple mechanisms / procedures to regulate the harvesting and transit of agroforestry produce
3. Development of a sound database & information system
4. Investing in research, extension and capacity building and related services
5. Improving famers’ access to quality planting material
6. Providing institutional credit and insurance cover for agroforestry

What is Agroforestry?

• Agroforestry is a collective name for land-use systems and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are deliberately used on the same land-management units as agricultural crops and/or animals, in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence.
• Agroforestry can also be defined as a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resource management system that, through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels.

There are three main types of agroforestry systems:

1. Agrisilvicultural systems are a combination of crops and trees, such as alley cropping or homegardens.
2. Silvopastoral systems combine forestry and grazing of domesticated animals on pastures, rangelands or on-farm.
3. The three elements, namely trees, animals and crops, can be integrated in what are called agrosylvopastoral systems and are illustrated by homegardens involving animals as well as scattered trees on croplands used for grazing after harvests.