Concerns over mandatory fortification of food items
Context: In a pushback against the Centre’s plan to mandatorily fortify rice and edible oils with vitamins and minerals, a group of scientists and activists have written to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), warning of the adverse impacts on health and livelihoods. Relevance: GS-II: Social Justice (Issues Relating to Poverty & […]
Innovative farming methods and social media
Context: Farmers make time for social media to network, share and solve problems by discovering innovative farming methods. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agricultural Resources, E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers), GS-III: Science and Technology Dimensions of the Article: Penetration of Social Media and its impact Examples of Farmers using social media positively Other benefits of Social […]
No landless farmers in new database
Context: The Centre’s new National Farmers Database will only include land-owning farmers for now as it will be linked to digitised land records. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Use of Technology to aid farmers and agriculture), GS-III: Science and Technology (Use of Developments in Science and Technology) Dimensions of the Article: About India’s National Farmers Database in […]
Lessons from India’s food security response
Context: With a reduction in COVID-19 infections as the second wave weakens in India, it is important to focus on the pandemic’s disruptive impact on the food security and livelihoods of the poor and marginalised. Relevance: GS Paper 3: Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology […]
Monsoon Deficit problem for oilseed farmers
Context: The easing of the monsoon post June 2021 has resulted in a 32% rainfall deficit during that period, and is likely to push farmers into changing their kharif crop patterns. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Cropping patterns), GS-I: Geography (Important geophysical phenomena) Dimensions of the Article: What is cropping pattern? Rabi Crops Kharif Crops Zaid Crops […]
Digital Platform Kisan Sarathi launched
Context: In order to facilitate farmers to get ‘right information at right time’ in their desired language, a digital platform namely ‘KisanSarathi’ was launched in July 2021 during the occasion of the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) celebrating its 93rd foundation day. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agricultural Marketing, E-Technology in the Aid of Farmers) Dimensions […]
Livestock schemes to be merged
Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) decided that the Central government will spend ₹9,800 crore on livestock development over the next five years in a bid to leverage almost ₹55,000 crore of outside investment into the sector. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Agriculture and allied industries, Economics of Animal-Rearing) Dimensions of the Article: Role of […]
Centralised farmer database under ‘AgriStack’
Context: The Union government’s new exercise to give agriculture a shot of technology — by creating a centralised farmer database under ‘AgriStack’— may not run a smooth course. Relevance: GS-III: Science and Technology (Use of Developments in Science and Technology), GS-III: Agriculture (Use of Technology to aid farmers and agriculture) Dimensions of the Article: About […]
The rural economy can jump-start a revival
Context: The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could be slowly receding with the economy also very gradually getting back to normal. However, the challenge of an economic recovery is far more serious than the health pandemic despite official claims of there being an economic recovery. Relevance: GS-III: Indian Economy (Growth and Development of Indian […]
Conference on water: Water security in India
Context: An e-conference on water source sustainability was jointly organised by the Indian Water Resources Society and the department of water resources development and management in June 2021. The main agenda was the demand and supply of water. Relevance: GS-III: Agriculture (Issues related to Irrigation), GS-III: Environment and Ecology (Sustainable use of water) Dimensions of […]