National Mission on Edible Oil-Oil Palm

 For self-reliance in edible oil involves investment of over Rs. 11,000 crore (over a five year
period).
 Aims
o Harness domestic edible oil prices that are dictated by expensive palm oil imports.
o Raise the domestic production of palm oil by three times to 11 lakh MT by 2025-
26.
 Special emphasis of the scheme will be in India’s north-eastern states and the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands due to the conducive weather conditions in the regions.
 Oil palm farmers will be provided financial assistance and will get remuneration under a
price and viability formula.
Why this mission is important for India?
 India produces less than half of the roughly 2.4 crore tonnes of edible oil that it
consumes annually. It imports the rest, buying palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia,
soyoil from Brazil and Argentina, and sunflower oil, mainly from Russia and Ukraine.
 In India, 94.1% of its palm oil is used in food products, especially for cooking purposes.
This makes palm oil extremely critical to India’s edible oils economy.
Palm Oil
 Palm oil is the world‟s most consumed edible oil derived from Palm fruits.
 It is used in most packaged food, cosmetics, detergents, chemicals, energy to
pharmaceuticals, and even in animal feed.
 Indonesia and Malaysia are the world‟s largest palm oil producers.

Present Status of Vegetable Oil Production in India

Primary sources of vegetable oil
 Nine oilseeds are the primary source of vegetable oils in the country, which are largely
grown under rainfed condition
 Among oilseeds, soybean (34%), groundnut (27%), rapeseed & mustard (27%)
contributes to more than 88% of total oilseeds production in the country.
 Mustard (35%), soybean (23%) and groundnut (25%) contribute >80% of vegetable oil
production in the country.
 Andhra Pradesh (groundnut) & Gujarat (groundnut), Haryana(Mustard), Karnataka(G.
 nut), M.P(Soybean), Maharashtra(Soybean), Rajasthan (Mustard & Soybean), Tamil
Nadu(G. nut), U.P(Mustard), West Bengal(Mustard) contributing more than 95% of
total oilseed production in the country.
Vegetable oil is being harnessed from secondary sources like cottonseed, rice bran and
coconut.

Black rice (chak-hao)

 Chinese origin and known as „forbidden rice’. In ancient China, it is believed to be
exclusive for royal consumption.
 In India, black rice or chak-hao (delicious rice) is indigenous to Manipur for centuries. It
is Manipur was also awarded the GI tag for black rice.
 Its production across the country is mooted due to better price realization, growing
international demand, and health benefits.
 The Black color of the rice is due to a compound called anthocyanins
 Benefits
o Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties.
o Protein, Iron, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and natural fiber.
o It also contains important carotenoids which are known for improving eye health.
o It is naturally gluten-free.
o It is rich in-
o It promotes weight loss and is a natural detoxifier.
o Its consumption helps in the prevention of ailments such as atherosclerosis, diabetes,
Alzheimer‟s, hypertension, among others.
More reading : https://theprint.in/india/black-rice-the-forbidden-grain-that-earned-ups-chandauli-
big-undp-praise-and-good-profit/680469/

Lavender
 Mediterranean native
 Aromatic and herbal shrub
 Highly perfumed and beautiful flowers + variety of colors
 Perennial and requires a dry and sunny climate
 Cultivated in regions with less rainfall.
 Soil → well-draining and rich in calcium carbonate
 Cultivation is limited to J&K
Note: “Purple Revolution or Lavender Revolution” is covered in Part 1 module.

Village rice
 Enriched with protein, fibre, and a variety of minerals
 Sourced directly from farmers of Thanjavur, Aka. Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu.
 Export promotion: APEDA assisted Udaya Agro Farm plans (Start up) to ↑ exports
 Exports to African and Asian countries

Red Rice
 Iron rich „red rice‟ is grown in Brahmaputra valley of Assam, without the use of any
chemical fertilizer.
 The rice variety is referred as „Bao-dhaan’, which is an integral part of the Assamese food.

Rice fortification
From Indian Ex. Published on August 20, 2021
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/adding-micronutrients-to-rice-how-why-and-how-
much-7460486/
 The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) defines fortification as
“deliberately increasing the content of essential micronutrients in a food so as to
improve the nutritional quality of food and to provide public health benefit with
minimal risk to health”.
 In other words, rice fortification is a process of adding micronutrients to regular rice.
The micronutrients are added keeping in mind dietary requirements.
 Various technologies are available for rice fortification, such as coating and dusting. For
rice fortification in India, ‘extrusion’ is considered to be the best technology. This involves
the production of fortified rice kernels (FRKs) from a mixture using an extruder machine.
 The fortified rice kernels are then blended with regular rice to produce fortified rice.
Why Rice Fortification
 India has very high levels of malnutrition among women and children. According to the
Food Ministry, every second woman in the country is anaemic and every third child is
stunted. India ranks 101st out of 116 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which
puts it in the „serious hunger‟ category.
 Fortification of food is considered to be one of the most suitable methods to combat
malnutrition. Rice is one of India’s staple foods, consumed by about two-thirds of the
population. Therefore, fortifying rice with micronutrients is an option to supplement the
diet of the poor.
Standards For Fortification
  10 g of FRK must be blended with 1 kg of regular rice.
 According to FSSAI norms, 1 kg of fortified rice will contain the following: iron (28 mg-
42.5 mg), folic acid (75-125 microgram), and vitamin B-12 (0.75-1.25 microgram). Rice may
also be fortified with zinc (10 mg-15 mg), vitamin A (500-750 microgram RE), vitamin B-1 (1
mg-1.5 mg), vitamin B-2 (1.25 mg-1.75 mg), vitamin B-3 (12.5 mg-20 mg) and vitamin B-6
(1.5 mg-2.5 mg) per kg. (just remember what minerals we get from FR not Quantity)
Does fortified rice have to be cooked differently?
 After cooking, fortified rice retains the same physical properties and micronutrient
levels as it had before cooking.
How can a beneficiary identify that she is getting fortified rice and not regular rice?
 Fortified rice will be packed in jute bags with the logo (‘+F’) and the line “Fortified with
Iron, Folic Acid, and Vitamin B12” mandatorily printed on the pack.
Has the government distributed fortified rice earlier?
 In 2019-20, a centrally sponsored pilot scheme, ‘Fortification of Rice and its
Distribution under PDS’, for three years with a total budget outlay of Rs 174.64 crore.
 The pilot scheme focuses on 15 districts in 15 states — Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Telangana,
Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
 Six states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat, have started distributing fortified rice as
part of the pilot scheme, with approximately 2.03 lakh tonnes distributed until June 2021.
Four more states are expected to start by September.

Benefit of Use of Drone in Agri sector

Best drone practices/application Benefits of drone technology

Best drone practices/application  Enhanced Production

 Irrigation Monitoring  Greater safety of farmers
 Crop Health Monitoring and Surveillance  Faster data for quick decision making
 Crop Damage Assessment  Less wastage of resources
 Field Soil Analysis  Useful for Insurance claims
 Planting
 Agricultural spraying
 Livestock tracking

Union Finance Minister announced in her Budget speech that the Centre will promote ‘Kisan Drones‘ to help farmers
assess crops, digitize land records as well as spray insecticides and nutrients.
 Biotech-Krishi Innovation Science Application Network
(Biotech-KISAN)
 Biotech-KISAN is a scientist-farmer partnership scheme.
 It was launched in 2017.

 It aims for agriculture innovation.

 Its objective is to connect science laboratories with the farmers to find out innovative
solutions and technologies to be applied at the farm level.
 So far 146 Biotech-KISAN Hubs have been established under the scheme. It covers all 15
agroclimatic zones and 110 aspirational districts in the country.
 Ministry: Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology.

Biotechnology in Agriculture
Agricultural Biotechnology
 Agricultural biotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques,
that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve
plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses.
 Modern biotechnology today includes the tools of genetic engineering.
Examples
 Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO): These are plants, bacteria, fungi and animals
whose genes have been altered by manipulation. GM plants (Bt Cotton) have been useful in
many ways.
 Biopesticide: Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that causes
disease on insect pests. It is accepted in organic farming and is considered ideal for pest
management due to its low cost, ease of application, high virulence and narrow host
specificity.
Benefits

 GMO leads to a number of advantages in the crops which include -there is less loss after
harvest, the crops can be modified to have additional nutrients value for human
welfare.
 The use of some of these crops can simplify work and improve safety for farmers. This
allows farmers to spend less of their time managing their crops and more time on other
profitable activities.
Disadvantages
 Antibiotic Resistance: There is a concern that new antibiotic-resistant bacteria could
emerge which would be difficult to tackle with conventional antibiotics.
  Potential of ‘superweeds’: The transgenic plants could pollinate with the unwanted plants
(weeds) and thereby relay the gene of herbicide-resistance or pesticide-resistance into
them, thereby converting them into ‘superweeds’.
 Loss of Biodiversity in Organisms: The extensive use of agritech varieties of seeds have
made some agriculturists fearful as this may hurt the biodiversity of plant species.

Conclusive Land Titling

Niti Aayog, the country‟s planning body has crafted a new model bill in which states will
guarantee the accuracy of ‘land titles’ and provide compensation in case of disputes
 India currently follows a system of presumptive land titling. This means that land
records are maintained, with information on possession, which is determined through
details of past transactions.
 Ownership, then, is established on the basis of current possession.
 Land titles were now awarded, under the Transfer of Property Act, 1882, and Civil
Procedure Code, 1908, on the basis of documentation and possession of the property.
 Any dispute was fought in a civil court.
 Registration of land is actually a registration of transactions, such as sale deeds, records of
inheritance, mortgage and lease.
 Holding registration papers does not actually involve the government or the legal
framework guaranteeing the ownership title of the land.
Conclusive land titling system
 Under a conclusive land titling system, land records designate actual ownership.
 The title is granted by the government, which takes the responsibility for accuracy.
 Once a title is granted, any other claimant will have to settle disputes with the
government, not the title holder.
 Further, under conclusive land titling, the government may provide compensation to
claimants in case of disputes, but the title holder is not in any danger of losing ownership.

SVAMITVA Scheme
 Central Sector scheme

 Nodal Ministry → Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)

 In the States, the Revenue Department / Land Records Department will be the Nodal
Department and shall carry out the scheme

 Survey of India shall work as the technology partner for implementation.

 Aims: Integrated property validation solution for rural India.

 How: Using Drone Surveying technology.

 Objectives

o To bring financial stability to the citizens in rural India by enabling them to use their
property as a financial asset for taking loans and other financial benefits.

o Creation of accurate land records for rural planning.

o Determination of property tax, which would accrue to the GPs directly in States
where it is devolved or else, add to the State exchequer.

o Creation of survey infrastructure and GIS maps that can be leveraged by any
department for their use.

o To support in preparation of better-quality Gram Panchayat Development Plan

(GPDP) by making use of GIS maps.

o To reduce property related disputes and legal cases

PM-KISAN
 The Central Sector Scheme, PM-KISAN, was created by the government to provide financial
support of up to Rs 6,000 per year to small and marginalised farmers across the country

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY)

 launched in 2016.
 The scheme offers coverage to farmers against financial losses they incur due to
unforeseen events.
 The policy covers the loss of crops because of local risks, post-harvest financial
loss, loss due to natural disasters, unseasonal rains, pests, crop diseases, and more.
 The scheme works mainly under the „One Nation, One Crop, One Premium‟ motto.
 It primarily aims to provide affordable crop insurance to the farmers of our nation.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission

 Rashtriya Gokul Mission (RGM) has been launched in December 2014 with an outlay of Rs
2025 crore for development and conservation of indigenous breeds through selective
breeding in the breeding tract and genetic upgradation of nondescript bovine
population.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

 The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme was introduced in 1998 for issue of Kisan Credit Cards
to farmers on the basis of their holdings for uniform adoption by the banks so that farmers
may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
and draw cash for their production needs.
 National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
 For environmental sustainability, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
(NMSA) has been launched in the year 2014-15 which aims to evolve and implement
strategies to make Indian agriculture more resilient to the changing climate

PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana

 The PM-KMY is a Central Sector Scheme, administered by the Department of Agriculture,
Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare,
Government of India in partnership with the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC)
 For small and marginal farmers by providing them a minimum pension of ₹3000 per
month, who attains the age of 60 years.

PM-KUSUM
 The PM-KUSUM scheme was launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
(MNRE) to support installation of off-grid solar pumps in rural areas and
reduce dependence on grid, in grid-connected areas.

Kisan Rail
 The Kisan Rail initiative allows the movement of perishables such as fruits, vegetables,
poultry, meat, dairy and fishery products from production/surplus regions to
consumption/ deficient region

Krishi UDAN 2.0:

 The Krishi Udan 2.0 scheme is expected to facilitate and incentivize movement of
agri-produce by air transportation

TMA Scheme
 The Government of India came out with Transport and Marketing Assistance
(TMA) scheme to provide financial assistance for transport and marketing of
agriculture products in order to boost agriculture exports

Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) Scheme

 In order to make agriculture less vulnerable to climatic aberrations, Government of India
formulated the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014.
 The policy recommends for setting up of a Mission or Board to address development of
agroforestry sector in an organised manner.
 The Sub-Mission on Agroforestry (SMAF) under NMSA is an initiative to this end.
 The aim of the submission is to expand the tree coverage on farmland in
complementary with agricultural crops.
 Imp Organisations
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
 Founded: 1947
 The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is a branch of the Government of India and
the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws
related to agriculture in India.
 Three constituent Departments of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
o Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW)
o Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DAHD&F)
o Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE)

Indian Council of Agricultural Research

 Founded: 1929
 The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) is the apex body for coordinating,
guiding, and managing research and education in agriculture in the entire country
under the aegis of DARE, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.

TRIFED
 It is a statutory body and was established in August 1987. It has been registered as
a National level Cooperative body by the Government of the country.

 It is under the administrative control of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. It mainly undertakes
two functions viz. Minor Forest Produce (MFP) development and Retail Marketing and
Development.

Van Dhan Vikas Kendra

 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been set up under the program „Van Dhan Yojana‟ which
was launched in 2018, in Chhattisgarh.

 The Van Dhan Vikas Kendra caters to ten Self Help Groups of thirty tribal gatherers each.

 The selection of the tribal beneficiaries and formation of the SHGs has been undertaken by
the Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India (TRIFED).