June - 2023

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Contents
Agriculture and ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Rural Development............................................................................................................................................... 3
1st to 15th June 2023 ................................................................................................................................. 3
1. Agriculture and agronomy:............................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Desiccation-tolerant vascular plant species ............................................................................................. 4
1.2 Union Cabinet approves Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-
24 4
2. Plantation and horticulture: ............................................................................................................................. 7
2.1 Lavender Festival’ inaugurated in J&K’s Bhaderwah................................................................................ 7
2.2 ADB, India sign $130 million loan to promote horticulture in Himachal Pradesh ................................... 8
3. Animal husbandry:............................................................................................................................................ 9
3.1 mooMark Becomes 1st Indian Private Dairy to offer Heat Index Insurance Plan to Farmers .................. 9
4. Recent development in agriculture and allied sectors: .................................................................................... 9
4.1 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023 ........................................................................... 9
4.2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research signs a MOU with Amazon Kisan to Empower Farmers .......... 10
4.3 FarmersFZ selected for UN's 'Accelerator Programme' for food startups ............................................. 11
Agriculture and ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Rural Development............................................................................................................................................. 13
16th June to 30th June 2023
1. Agriculture and agronomy:............................................................................................................................. 14
1.1 Progress of area coverage under Kharif crops ....................................................................................... 14
2. Soil and water conservation: .......................................................................................................................... 15
2.1 Introduction of Sulphur coated Urea (Urea Gold) .................................................................................. 15
3. Horticulture and plantation crops: ................................................................................................................. 17
3.1 Horticulture output to rise marginally at record 350.87 mn tonne in 2022-23 ..................................... 17
3.2 Workshop on Systems Approach for Management of Fruits Flies on Mango ....................................... 17
3.3 Govt removes extra import duty on US apples ...................................................................................... 18
4. Animal husbandry and fisheries: .................................................................................................................... 20
4.1 Brief note on 9 Years' achievement of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying .......................... 20
4.2 Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile App ......................................................................................................... 21
4.3 Report Fish Disease’ App ........................................................................................................................ 22
4.4 Data on Fisheries sector in India: ........................................................................................................... 23
5. Recent developments in agriculture and allied sectors ................................................................................. 25
5.1 Shri Dharmendra Pradhan flags off Gabon’s first Agri-SEZ Project ........................................................ 25
5.2 BIS Introduces Standard IS 18267: 2023 for Agri By-Product Utensils ................................................... 25

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 Agriculture and

Rural Development

st th
1 to 15 June 2023

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1. Agriculture and agronomy:

1.1 Desiccation-tolerant vascular plant species

In news:

• A recent study by scientists from Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) Pune, an autonomous
institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), has identified 62 Desiccation-
tolerant vascular (DT) plants species in the Western Ghats, many more than the earlier known
nine species.
• In the inventory of 62 species, 16 are Indian endemic, and 12 are exclusive to the Western
Ghats outcrops, highlighting WG’s importance as a global DT hotspot. In addition to rock
outcrops, tree trunks in the partially shaded forests were also found to be crucial habitats for
DT species, as per the study.

So, what are Desiccation-tolerant vascular (DT) plants?

• Desiccation-tolerant vascular (DT) plants can withstand extreme dehydration, losing up to 95%
of their water content, and they revive themselves once water is available again.
• Desiccation-tolerant plants have special adaptations (e.g., mechanisms to prevent cellular
damage during dehydration; thick cuticle on leaves, which reduces water loss through
evaporation etc.,) that allow them to survive extreme dehydration by losing a significant
amount of water content and reviving when water becomes available again.
• This unique ability allows them to survive in harsh, arid environments that would be
uninhabitable for most other plants.
• DT plants have been studied for their possible applications in agriculture, particularly in areas
with limited water resources.
• In tropical regions, they are the predominant occupants of rock outcrops.

1.2 Union Cabinet approves Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Kharif Crops for Marketing
Season 2023-24
In news:

• Recently, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the increase in the
Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24.

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 • Government has increased the MSP of Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24, to ensure
remunerative prices to the growers for their produce and to encourage crop diversification, as
provided in the table below:

(Rs. per quintal)

Crops MSP 2014- MSP 2022- MSP 2023- Cost* KMS Increase in Margin
15 23 24 2023-24 MSP over over cost in
2022-23 per cent
Paddy - 1360 2040 2183 1455 143 50
Common
Paddy- 1400 2060 2203 - 143 -
Grade A^
Jowar- 1530 2970 3180 2120 210 50
Hybrid
Jowar- 1550 2990 3225 - 235 -
Maldandi^
Bajra 1250 2350 2500 1371 150 82
Ragi 1550 3578 3846 2564 268 50
Maize 1310 1962 2090 1394 128 50
Tur /Arhar 4350 6600 7000 4444 400 58
Moong 4600 7755 8558 5705 803 50
Urad 4350 6600 6950 4592 350 51
Groundnut 4000 5850 6377 4251 527 50
Sunflower 3750 6400 6760 4505 360 50
Seed
Soybean 2560 4300 4600 3029 300 52
(Yellow)
Sesamum 4600 7830 8635 5755 805 50
Nigerseed 3600 7287 7734 5156 447 50
Cotton 3750 6080 6620 4411 540 50
(Medium
Staple)
Cotton 4050 6380 7020 - 640 -
(Long
Staple) ^

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Note:

• In terms of percentage, MSP for moong was raised the most among all 14 kharif crops to
₹8,558 per quintal from last year’s ₹7,755 a quintal showing an increase of about 10.35%.
• After moong, the second-highest hike in MSP has been for sesame (in terms of percentage –
10. 28%) to ₹8,635 a quintal from ₹7,830 set for the 2022-23 kharif marketing season.
• Other coarse cereals’ MSP has been hiked by 6.3-7.8%, with that of bajra fixed at ₹2,500, up
from ₹2,350 per quintal fixed in 2022-23.
• Maize MSP has been raised to ₹2,090 for the 2023-24 against ₹1,962 a year ago.
• The Centre has fixed cotton MSP at ₹6,620 a quintal for medium staple variety and ₹7,020 per
quintal for long staple variety. The increase of 8.9% in MSP of cotton is good news.

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Additional information:

• The increase in MSP for Kharif Crops for Marketing Season 2023-24 is in line with the Union
Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing the MSP at a level of at least 1.5 times of the All-India
weighted average Cost of Production, aiming at reasonably fair remuneration for the farmers.
• The expected margin to farmers over their cost of production are estimated to be highest in
case of bajra (82%) followed by tur (58%), soybean (52%) and urad (51%).
• For rest of the crops, margin to farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be at least
50%.

2. Plantation and horticulture:

2.1 Lavender Festival’ inaugurated in J&K’s Bhaderwah

In news:

• Recently, a two-day "Lavender Festival" in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhaderwah Valley has been
inaugurated as the Union Territory has emerged as the “lavender capital of India” and a
prominent agri-startup destination.

About the festival:

• The festival has been organised by the CSIR-IIIM and is part of the institution's 'One Week
One Lab Campaign'.
• It showcases the remarkable progress made in lavender cultivation and its impact on the local
community.

About the CSIR aroma mission:

• The CSIR-aroma Mission has been instrumental in promoting lavender cultivation in the
temperate regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Its primary goal is to increase the income of small and marginal farmers and foster the
development of agriculture-based startups, and the CSIR-IIIM has provided more than 30
lakh free lavender plants to farmers in different districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The institute has also offered end-to-end technology packages for cultivation, processing,
value addition, and marketing of lavender crops, further supporting farmers.

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 • To aid the processing of lavender, the CSIR-IIIM has installed 50 distillation units at various
locations across Jammu and Kashmir.
• The successful adoption of lavender cultivation by small and marginal maize farmers in the
temperate regions of Jammu has led to the establishment of a new industry in the region.
• More than 2,500 farmers are now cultivating lavender in different parts of Jammu and
Kashmir.

2.2 ADB, India sign $130 million loan to promote horticulture in Himachal Pradesh
In news:

• Recently, The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $130
million loan to increase agricultural productivity, improve access to irrigation and promote
horticulture agribusinesses to raise farmers’ income in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
• Aim: The project aims to enhance farmers’ income and resilience to climate change in seven
districts of the state.

Key areas of focus:

❖ Improved infrastructure for irrigation:

• One of the key focuses of the project is to improve on-farm irrigation and water management
in around 6,000 hectares of farmland.
• This will be achieved through the rehabilitation or construction of new irrigation schemes
• . The project will also strengthen the capacity of Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) for micro-
irrigation management.
• The initiative will be a joint effort between the state’s Jal Shakti Vibhag (Water Resources
Department) and the Department of Horticulture (DOH).
❖ Enhancing horticulture agribusinesses:
• The project also aims to create an ecosystem that enhances farmers’ access to subtropical
horticulture markets.
• The farmers will be organized into cluster-wide Community Horticulture Production and
Marketing Associations (CHPMAs) and district-wide CHPMA cooperative societies.
• This approach will facilitate collective marketing and value addition activities, benefiting
farmers by providing better market linkages and improved bargaining power.
❖ Resilience to climate change:

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 • The project also recognizes the challenges posed by climate change and seeks to enhance
farmers’ resilience.
• By improving irrigation facilities and promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, the
project aims to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture.
• This will enable farmers to continue farming and increase their incomes sustainably.

3. Animal husbandry:

3.1 mooMark Becomes 1st Indian Private Dairy to offer Heat Index Insurance Plan to Farmers
In news:

• Recently, mooPay, the fintech arm of Stellapps, has collaborated with IBISA Network, HDFC
ERGO, and Gramcover to introduce an innovative insurance plan for farmers based on the
Heat Index.

How this can be helpful?

• This insurance plan aims to compensate mooMark dairy farmers for income loss resulting from
decreased milk productivity during summer heat waves.
• It provides coverage to farmers if temperatures exceed specified limits for a predetermined
number of days during a 60-day period starting from May 1st 2023, considering region-specific
parameters. The process for filing a claim is simple and straightforward.
• The insurer utilizes temperature data from a pre-agreed public database for the insured period
and compensates the claimant according to the prescribed benefits structure.
• Each insured cattle are eligible for a maximum coverage of Rs. 2000. Currently, the insurance
cover is limited to one cattle per household.
• Initially, mooMark is offering this insurance as part of its loyalty program, covering
approximately 7000 farmers across 5 districts in 4 states, with a total sum assured exceeding
Rs 1.3 crores.

4. Recent development in agriculture and allied sectors:

4.1 National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023

In news:

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 • Recently, Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) New Delhi has topped the inaugural
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the year 2023 under the category of
Agriculture and Allied sectors.
• The “agriculture and allied sectors” category was added this year.
• National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
have grabbed second and third positions in India rankings 2023 in agriculture and allied
category.

About ICAR:

• The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established on 16 July 1929 as a
registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• It is an autonomous organisation under the Department of Agricultural Research and
Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
• It is headquartered at New Delhi and it is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the
world.
• It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing research and education in
agriculture including horticulture, fisheries, and animal sciences in the entire country.

Note: The Full NIRF report has been covered under ReportsTap.

4.2 Indian Council of Agricultural Research signs a MOU with Amazon Kisan to Empower Farmers
In news:

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 • Recently, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi signed a MoU with
Amazon Kisan to combine strengths and create synergy between the two organizations for
guiding the farmers on scientific cultivation of different crops for optimum yield and income.

About the MoU:

• This MoU in farmer’s partnership with Amazon Kisan program will help ensuring access to
high quality fresh produce for consumers across India, including through Amazon Fresh.
• ICAR will provide technological backstopping to the farmers through Amazon’s network. It will
improve farmers’ livelihood and boost crop yield.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendras will strengthen a wider group of farmers by leveraging technological
base through transfer of technology and capacity building programmes.
• ICAR and Amazon will work together on other farmer engagement programs at Krishi Vigyan
Kendras, conducting demonstrations, trials, and capacity building initiatives to enhance
farming practices and farm profitability.
• Furthermore, Amazon will provide training support and assist farmers in marketing their
produce through its online platform, facilitating direct connections with consumers.

Background:

• The outcomes from a pilot project at Pune between ICAR-KVK and Amazon has motivated to
further expand the collaboration to extend the precise agriculture practices developed
through extensive research.

4.3 FarmersFZ selected for UN's 'Accelerator Programme' for food startups
In news:

• Recently, a startup located in Kerala, known as Farmers Fresh Zone (FarmersFZ), has been
selected for the United Nations’ ‘Accelerator Programme’ hosted by the UN’s Food and
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), making the nation proud.
• FarmersFZ has figured in the list of 12 agri-food startups around the world for the UN body to
develop business.

About the start-up:

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 • FarmersFZ, which bridges the gap between rural farmers and urban consumers by providing
healthy, premium-quality and pesticide-free vegetables from fields to the table within 24
hours of harvest, connects more than three lakh consumers and 2,000-plus farmers in Kerala.
• The Kochi-based multichannel marketplace platform, which functions under the Kerala Startup
Mission (KSUM), is one among India's two startups to qualify for the 'Accelerator Programme'.
Its aim is to attain the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• CEO AgriTech D2C P.S. Pradeep will attend the UN function in Rome next month.

Note:

• KSUM is the nodal agency of the Kerala government for entrepreneurship development and
incubation activities in the state.

About SDG Agrifood Accelerator Programme:

• It aims to demonstrate how an enabling support package can help local innovators reach their
own targets while potentially contributing significantly to accelerating SDG implementation.
• It acknowledges that all 17 SDGs are interconnected and addresses challenges across a broad
range of goals, from no poverty and zero hunger to good health, gender equality and climate
action.
• FAO and SEED have identified twelve Agrifood Innovators from SEED's portfolio of 358
enterprises for the first rendition of the SDG Agrifood Accelerator Programme.
• The Programme supports the selected innovators' pathway to scale up and links them with
partners to strengthen their market development and innovation trajectories.
• Operating across eight countries in Africa and Asia, the 12 SMEs who joined the Programme
will be supported in three areas: financial readiness, innovation potential, and market reach.

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 Agriculture and

Rural Development

16th to 30th June 2023

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1. Agriculture and agronomy:

1.1 Progress of area coverage under Kharif crops

In news:

• Recently, The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare has released progress of area
coverage under kharif crops as on 30th June 2023.

Area: In Lakh Hectare

Crops Area Sown

Current Year 2023 Last Year 2022

1 Rice 26.55 36.05

2 Pulses 18.15 18.51

a Arhar 1.11 5.40

b Urd bean 1.72 1.61

c Moongbean 11.23 8.73

d Kulthi 0.09 0.09

e Other Pulses 4.00 2.67

3 Shri Anna -cum - 36.23 22.41

Coarse Cereals

a Jowar 0.98 0.94

b Bajra 25.67 9.25

c Ragi 0.88 0.90

d Small Millets 0.61 0.63

e Maize 8.10 10.70

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 4 Oilseeds 21.55 18.81

a Groundnut 15.77 11.74

b Soybean 4.61 5.57

c Sunflower 0.26 0.76

d Sesamum 0.80 0.69

e Niger 0.00 0.00

f Castor 0.07 0.03

g Other Oilseeds 0.03 0.03

5 Sugarcane 54.40 52.92

6 Jute &Mesta 5.81 6.59

7 Cotton 40.49 47.04

Total 203.18 202.33

2. Soil and water conservation:

2.1 Introduction of Sulphur coated Urea (Urea Gold)

In news:

• Recently, The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a collection of
programmes aims to improve farmers' overall well-being and economic well-being by
encouraging sustainable agriculture.
• One of the key components of the package is the introduction of Sulphur coated Urea (Urea
Gold) in the country for the first time. This is a superior alternative to the Neem coated urea
that is currently used.

About Sulphur-coated Urea (Urea Gold):

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 • Sulphur coated Urea (Urea Gold) is a fertilizer that has a thin layer of Sulphur on each granule
of urea.
• This layer prevents the urea from dissolving quickly in water and thus reduces the loss of
nitrogen due to leaching and volatilization.
• This means that less urea is needed to provide the same amount of nitrogen to the crops,
which saves money for the farmers and reduces the environmental impact of excess nitrogen.
• It provides Sulphur to the soil, which is an essential nutrient for many crops, especially oilseeds
and pulses.

Need for sulphur coated urea:

• Sulphur deficiency is a common problem in Indian soils, which affects crop quality and yield.
• By using Sulphur coated Urea (Urea Gold), the farmers can address this problem and improve
their crop production and income.

Nutrient Based Subsidy:

• In the package, a commitment has been made to allocate Rs 3,68,676.7 crore towards urea
subsidy for three years (2022-23 to 2024-25).
• This package is in addition to the recently approved Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) of Rs 38,000
crore for the Kharif season of 2023-24.
• Farmers will not need to spend extra for procuring urea and this will help in reducing their
input cost.
• At present, the MRP of urea is Rs 266.70 per 45 kg urea bag (excluding neem coating duty and
applicable taxes) while the actual cost of the bag is around Rs 2200.
• The scheme is fully funded by the Government of India through budgetary support. With the
continuation of the urea subsidy scheme, the indigenous production of urea will also be
maximum.

Note: Schemes will be covered under Schemes Tap

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3. Horticulture and plantation crops:

3.1 Horticulture output to rise marginally at record 350.87 mn tonne in 2022-23

In news:

• Recently, the agriculture ministry has released its first advance estimates (2022-23) of area
and production of horticultural crops.
• According to data from the Agriculture Ministry, the area under horticulture has been rising
and reached 28.28 million hectares (mh) in 2022-23 from 28.04 mh last year.

About the estimates:

• India's horticulture production is estimated to rise 1 per cent to record 350.87 million tonnes
in the current crop year (July 2022-June 2023), mainly on the back of higher output of fruits
and vegetables.
• The production stood at 347.18 million tonnes in the previous year.
• Fruits production is estimated to rise to 107.75 million tonnes from 107.51 million tonnes in
2021-22, while the output of vegetables is projected to rise to 212.53 million tonnes as
compared to 209.14 million tonnes.
• Among vegetables, onion production is estimated to fall to 31.01 million tonnes from 31.69
million tonnes in 2021-22.
• The production of potatoes is set to increase to 59.74 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 56.18
million tonnes in the previous year.
• Tomatoes production is estimated to fall slightly to 20.62 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 20.69
million tonnes in the previous year.

3.2 Workshop on Systems Approach for Management of Fruits Flies on Mango

In news:

• Recently, India hosted the APPPC Workshop on Systems Approach for the management of
fruit flies on mango, in Vashi, Navi Mumbai which was jointly organized by Directorate of Plant
Protection and Quarantine, DA&FW, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Asia
pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC-FAO).
• The participants from the Bangladesh, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines, Samoa, Sri
Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan has attended the workshop physically and remaining
countries attending virtually.
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Background:

• The Asia pacific Plant Protection Commission unanimously elected India as chair of the
Standing Committee on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for the biennium 2023-24 during
the 32nd Session of the Asia and Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) held in Bangkok
during November 2022.

About APPPC:

• The Asia-Pacific Plant Protection Commission (APPPC) convened for the first time in 1956. The
Commission administers the Regional Plant Protection Agreement for Asia and the Pacific.
• It reviews the plant protection situation at the national level in member countries, and also at
the regional level.
• Coordinating and promoting development of regional plant protection systems, assisting
member countries to develop effective plant protection regimes, setting standards for
phytosanitary measures, and facilitating information sharing are among its key objectives.
• A total of 25 countries are members and the APPPC meets at least once every two years.

3.3 Govt removes extra import duty on US apples

In news:

• During the recent state visit of Prime Minister of India to United States (US), both countries
decided the termination of Six WTO disputes and the removal of these retaliatory tariffs on
certain US products.

About the move:

India has decided to lift the additional duties on eight American products including:

• Chickpeas (10 per cent), lentils (20 per cent), almonds fresh or dried (Rs.7 per kg), almonds
shelled (Rs.20 per kg), walnuts (20 per cent), apples fresh (20 per cent), boric acid (20 per cent),
and Diagnostic Regents (20 per cent).

Background:

• An additional 20% duty was imposed on US apples in 2019 in response to USA's measure to
increase tariffs on certain steel and aluminium products.

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 • There is no reduction on Most Favoured Nation (MFN) duty on apples which is still applicable
on all imported apples including on USA at 50%.

The apple import story of India:

• The import of apples from the world has been stable in the range of US$ 239 – 305 million
(except in 2021-22 when it was US$ 385 million) in the last five financial years since application
of these additional duties on US apples.
• The import of apples from USA has decreased from US$ 145 million (127,908 Ton) in FY 2018-
19 to only US$ 5.27 million (4,486 Ton) in FY 2022-23.
• The market share of the US apples was taken by other countries due to imposition of additional
retaliatory duty on US apples.
• This is reflected as the import of apples from countries other than the US increased from US$
160 million in FY 2018-19 to US$ 290 million in FY 2022-23.
• Turkey, Italy, Chile, Iran and New Zealand are other top exporters to India of apples which took
the market share of the US.

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4. Animal husbandry and fisheries:

4.1 Brief note on 9 Years' achievement of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying
In news:

Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying has released a brief note on 9
Years' achievement of Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying.

About the achievements:

1. Livestock Sector:
• Livestock Sector is an important subsector of agriculture in the Indian economy. It grew at a
CAGR of 7.93 per cent during 2014-15 to 2020-21 (at constant prices).
• The contribution of livestock in total agriculture and allied sector GVA (at constant prices) has
increased from 24.32per cent (2014-15) to 30.13per cent (2020-21).
• Livestock sector contributed 4.90per cent of total GVA in 2020-21.
2. Livestock Population:
• India has vast resources of livestock and poultry, which play a vital role in improving the socio-
economic conditions of rural masses.
• There are about 303.76 million bovines (cattle, buffalo, mithun and yak), 74.26 million sheep,
148.88 million goats, 9.06 million pigs and about 851.81 million poultry as per 20th Livestock
Census in the country.
3. Dairy Sector:

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 • Dairy is the single largest agricultural commodity contributing 5 per cent of the national
economy and employing more than 8 crore farmers directly.
• India is ranked 1st in milk production contributing 23 percent of global milk production. Milk
production has increased by 51.05% over the past 8 years from 146.3 million tonnes during
2014-15 to 221.06 million tonnes during 2021-22.
• Milk production is growing at the annual growth rate of 6.4% over the past 8 years whereas
world milk production is growing at 1.2% per annum.
• The per capita availability of milk is 444 gram per day in 2021-22 as against the world average
of 394 grams per day during 2021.
4. Egg and Meat Production:
• According to FAOSTAT production data (2020), India ranks 3rd in Egg Production and 8thin meat
production in the world. Egg production in the country has increased from 78.48 billion in
2014-15 to 129.60 billion Nos. in 2021-22.
• Egg production in the country is growing at the rate of 8% per annum.
• The per capita availability of egg is at 95 eggs per annum in 2021-22.
• Meat production in the country has increased from 6.69 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 9.29
million tonnes in 2021-22.

Note: Schemes to be covered under Schemes Tap

4.2 Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile App

In news:

• Recently, in a major boost to the dairy sector in India, the Union Minister of Heavy Industries
has launched the "Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile App" at Mussorie, Uttarakhand.

Designed by: This is designed and developed by Rajasthan Electronics & Instruments Limited (REIL),
a “Mini Ratna” Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Significance of the app:

• The "Dugdh Sankalan Sathi Mobile App" will bring significant benefits for all stakeholders
involved in the milk collection process, including milk producers, cooperative societies, milk
unions, and state federations. Key features and benefits of the app include:
1. Increased transparency among stakeholders
2. Online monitoring of daily milk poured at Milk Cooperative Societies
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 3. Real-time milk price updates from the cloud server, ensuring transparency and
eliminating human errors
4. Direct beneficiary transfers of milk payment and government subsidies to the milk
producers' bank accounts through the app
5. Push notifications for milk collection to the milk producers' app
6. Multilingual app with support for English, Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, and more.

4.3 Report Fish Disease’ App

In news:

• Recently, with a view to strengthen the farmer-based disease reporting system and for
improving the reporting of aquatic animal diseases in the country, Union Minister for
Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala has launched the Report
Fish Disease (RFD) App at Krishi Bhawan.

Developed by: The app has been developed by ICAR-NBFGR under National Surveillance Programme
for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD), funded under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana by
the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of
India.

Intended benefits of the app:

1. The RFD app will help the farmers in reporting incidence of diseases in fin-fish, shrimps, and
molluscs on their farms with the field level-officers and fish health experts.
2. This shall help farmers in getting the scientific advice for efficient management of disease.
3. The data regarding the diseases will be stored on temporal & spatial scale and can be used
for mapping the disease cases.
4. The App would support farmers in improving farmer-based reporting, getting scientific
advice, and reducing losses due to diseases, thereby increasing farmers’ income.
5. Also, Fish Disease Reporting App shall have a massive impact on fish disease management,
promoting early detection, rapid response, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
6. It will contribute to the sustainability and resilience of aquaculture systems by minimizing the
negative impacts of fish diseases on fish population, industry, and ecosystems.

Need for the move:

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 ❖ Aquaculture sector is witnessing an impressive growth over the years and at present, total
exports earnings from the sector are approximately Rs.57586.48 crores (2021-22).
❖ However, the diseases are the major constraint to the growth of the aquaculture.
❖ Surveillance for aquatic animal diseases is essential for early detection of diseases, thereby
minimizing their impacts.
❖ Early detection of diseases is important for eradication and containment.
❖ Many cases of diseases in aquaculture go unreported due to unavailability of the field-level
disease reporting mechanism.
❖ Therefore, there is a necessity of a mechanism that can connect farmers, field-level officers,
and fish health experts.

4.4 Data on Fisheries sector in India:

In news:

• Recently, Union minister for Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Shri
Parshottam Rupala had briefed the media on 9 years’ key achievements of Department of
Fisheries.

About the achievements:

Record National Fish Production:

• Since 1950 and till the end of 2021-22, there has been a 22-fold increase in national fish
production. During the last 9 years, the annual fish production of India has increased from
95.79 lakh tons (at the end of 2013-14) to an all-time record of 162.48 lakh tons (at the end of
2021-22) i.e. an increase of 66.69 lakh tons.
• Further, national fish production for the year 2022-23 is also expected to touch or exceed 174
lakh tons (provisional figures), an 81% increase when compared to 2013-14.

Doubling of Inland and Aquaculture Production:

• The Fish production from inland fisheries and aquaculture increased from mere 2.18 lakh tons
in 1950-51 to 121.12 lakh tons in 2021-22.
• The inland fisheries and aquaculture production has doubled as it increased from 61.36 lakh
tons at the end of 2013-14 to 121.12 lakh tons at the end of 2021-22.

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 • The provisional data compiled for 2022-23 also indicates this sub-sector has added at least 10
lakh tons of fish during the year 2022-23.
• In fact, as per the FAO-State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (SOFIA,2022), India is
the largest inland capture fish producing nation in the world.

Doubling of Seafood Exports:

• While the seafood exports stood at Rs 30,213 crore in 2013-14, the same has increased to Rs.
63,969.14 crore during FY 2022-23 an increase of 111.73% despite pandemic imposed
challenges in global markets.
• In fact, the value of the cumulative exports for the 9-year period of 2014-15 to 2022-23 stood
at Rs. 3.41 lakh crore as against Rs 1.20 lakh crore for the 9-year preceding 2014-15 i.e. the
period 2005-06 to 2013-14.

Doubling of Brackish Water Aquaculture Production:

• In the last 9 years there has been a boom in shrimp cultivation and export especially from the
states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu.
• The shrimp production of the country increased by 267% from 3.22 lakh tons at the end of
2013-14 to a record 11.84 lakh tons (provisional figures) at the end of 2022-23.
• Similarly, the shrimp exports have more than doubled with an increase of 123% from Rs.
19,368 crores at the end of 2013-14 to Rs 43,135 crore at the end of 2022-23.

Sustained Growth Rate and Increased Contribution of Fisheries Sector in National Gross Value Add
(GVA) and Agriculture GVA:

• The fisheries sector in India has shown a sustained annual average growth rate of 8.61% for
the 8-year period from 2014-15 to 2021-22 (at constant prices).
• During eight-year period from 2014-15 to 2021-22, the GVA of Fisheries Sector has increased
from Rs. 76,487 crores in 2013-14 to 1,47,518.87 crore (at constant prices) and from 98,189.64
crore in 2013-14 to 2,88,526.19 crore in 2021-22 (at current prices).
• The sector contributes 1.069% in the National GVA and 6.86% in Agriculture GVA. In fact, the
contribution of fisheries Sector in National GVA has increased from 0.844% at the end of 2013-
14 to 1.069% at the end of 2021-22 (at constant prices) and in Agriculture GVA, the
contribution of fisheries sector has increased by 44.42% from 4.75% at the end of 2013-14 to
6.86% at the end of in 2021-22 (at constant prices).
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5. Recent developments in agriculture and allied sectors:

5.1 Shri Dharmendra Pradhan flags off Gabon’s first Agri-SEZ Project
In news:

• Recently, Union Minister of Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri
Dharmendra Pradhan flagged off Gabon’s first Agri- SEZ project from New Delhi.

About the project:

• The project will be implemented by AOM group (a leading company on promoting agricultural
development and innovation), with Centurion University (state university in odisha) as the
technical and knowledge partner
• In the first phase of the program, 30 farmers and 20 B.Sc./M.Sc. Agriculture and
B.Tech/M.Tech Engineering students from Gajapati district, which is an Aspirational district
of Odisha, will be travelling together as agri-technical and technical consultants for the
agriculture SEZ (Special Economic Zone).

5.2 BIS Introduces Standard IS 18267: 2023 for Agri By-Product Utensils
In news:

• Recently, The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published IS 18267: 2023 "Food Serving
Utensils Made from Agri By-Products – Specification," aimed at reducing plastic pollution and
promoting sustainability.
• The standard provides comprehensive guidelines to manufacturers and consumers, ensuring
uniformity in quality requirements across the country.

About the prescribed standards:

• The standard covers various aspects, including raw materials, manufacturing techniques,
performance, and hygiene requirements to produce biodegradable utensils.
• It specifies the use of agricultural by-products, such as leaves and sheaths, as preferred
materials for making plates, cups, bowls, and more.
• The standard recommends appropriate parts of plants and trees and provides manufacturing
techniques like hot pressing, cold pressing, moulding, and stitching.
• It also emphasizes smooth surfaces, non-sharp edges, and prohibits the use of chemicals,
resins, and adhesives.

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Significance of the move:

• The implementation of this standard has extensive advantages as using biodegradable agri by-
product utensils can contribute towards environmental safety, conserve natural resources,
and promote a circular economy.
• These utensils are free from harmful additives and ensure consumer well-being. The standard
also creates economic opportunities for farmers and supports sustainable agricultural
practices, contributing to rural development.
• Disposable plate’s market size was valued at USD 4.26 Billion in 2020 and is projected to reach
USD 6.73 Billion by 2028, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.94% from
2021 to 2028.

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