Hindu Editorial Analysis : 12-August-2023
The Indian government, under its G20 presidency, is championing the cause of technology-enabled sustainable farming. This drive encompasses a range of farming practices, including natural, regenerative, and organic systems. As the world’s second-most populous country and a significant player in the global agricultural sector, India’s efforts to enhance its agricultural practices have far-reaching implications.
Agriculture’s Central Role in India’s Economy
Agriculture and its allied sectors constitute a cornerstone of the Indian economy. With approximately 55% of the country’s population relying on it as their primary livelihood, agriculture’s significance cannot be overstated. India’s agricultural achievements are notable:
- Boasts the world’s largest cattle herd, particularly buffaloes.
- Leads in the cultivation of key crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton.
- Holds the top position in global milk, pulses, and spice production.
- Stands as the second-largest producer of fruits, vegetables, tea, farmed fish, cotton, sugarcane, wheat, rice, and sugar.
Notably, India also holds the distinction of having the world’s second-largest agricultural land, providing employment to a substantial portion of the nation’s populace.
Challenges Hindering Agricultural Progress
However, despite these accomplishments, Indian agriculture faces several challenges that necessitate attention and innovation.
- Demand and Affordability: While India has achieved food security in terms of food grain production, there remains an unmet demand for coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and vegetables. Many of these essential food items are not affordable for a considerable segment of the population, leading to malnutrition and child wasting.
- Crop Productivity: India’s crop productivity lags behind other advanced economies due to factors such as fragmented landholdings, inadequate farm mechanization, and insufficient public and private investment in the sector.
- Irrigation: Despite being the world’s second-largest irrigated country after China, only a third of India’s cropped area benefits from irrigation. Given the country’s monsoon-driven climate, irrigation is a critical input for agriculture.
- Conventional Cultivation Methods: While mechanization is prevalent in certain regions, much of India’s agricultural labor is still manual and relies on traditional tools, limiting efficiency and productivity.
- Environmental and Climatic Challenges: Depleting natural resources, a growing population, and the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events, pose significant challenges to smallholder farmers.
Necessary Transformations in Indian Agriculture
To address these challenges and propel Indian agriculture forward, several key transformations are necessary.
- Enhancing Productivity and Affordability:
- Closing the gap between potential and achievable crop productivity.
- Reducing production costs to make essential food items more affordable.
- Promoting the cultivation and consumption of nutrient-rich crops like millets.
- Quality Seeds and Technology:
- Ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds, a critical input in agriculture.
- Leveraging advancements in seed technology to improve seed performance under various conditions.
- Utilizing Available Technology:
- Effectively utilizing a range of available technologies, including traditional knowledge, to achieve food and nutrition security sustainably.
Strategies for Progress
- Promoting Millet Production:
- Leveraging millets’ nutritional richness and adaptability for sustainable agriculture.
- Producing improved millet varieties and capturing the global seed market.
- Maximizing Seed Technology:
- Incorporating genetic advancements, applied technologies, and emerging tools.
- Developing seeds that exhibit high productivity, efficiency, and resilience.
- Public-Private Collaboration:
- Collaborating between public and private sectors to develop environmentally friendly and high-performance seeds at affordable costs.
- Diverse Seed Technologies:
- Employing various seed technologies, including genetic manipulation, coating, seed treatments, and AI-responsive sensors, to enhance seed performance.
- Emerging Solutions:
- Embracing emerging technologies like priming and enhancement techniques to bolster seed performance across diverse conditions.
Why In News
During its G20 presidency, the Indian government is steadfastly championing the advancement of technology-enabled sustainable farming practices, encompassing not only natural, regenerative, and organic systems, but also fostering innovation at the intersection of agriculture and technology. This strategic approach reflects India’s commitment to both ecological harmony and agricultural efficiency on the global stage.
MCQs about India’s Drive for Sustainable Agriculture under its G20 Presidency
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What is the primary focus of the Indian government’s agricultural efforts during its G20 presidency?
A. Promoting industrialized farming methods
B. Encouraging traditional farming techniques
C. Emphasizing technology-enabled sustainable agriculture
D. Advocating for large-scale monoculture farming
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Which of the following is NOT a challenge faced by Indian agriculture?
A. Limited irrigation coverage
B. High crop productivity
C. Fragmented landholdings
D. Climate change impacts
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What is the significance of millets in Indian agriculture?
A. They are mainly used as cattle feed.
B. They are the primary export crop of India.
C. They are nutrient-rich and well-suited for sustainable agriculture.
D. They are primarily grown in regions with abundant water resources.
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What is the key purpose of incorporating AI-responsive sensors in seeds?
A. To increase seed size and weight
B. To decrease the cost of seed production
C. To enhance the efficiency of seed germination
D. To modulate plant responses to external stimuli
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