Digital Transformation of Indian Agriculture
Government Initiative: Agriculture Integrated Command and Control Center
- Aims to empower farmers with information, services, and facilities using digital technologies.
- A multifunctional center showcasing digital innovations in agriculture by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
Digital Agriculture: Integrating Technology into Farming
- Uses AI, robotics, drones, sensors, and communication networks.
- Increases returns, improves irrigation efficiency, and enhances input use.
Role of Digital Public Infrastructure
- Assess Soil Health:Sensors, remote sensing, and market insights help assess crop and soil health.
- Improve Crop Yield:AI/ML algorithms provide real-time insights for better yields, pest control, soil screening, and data-driven decision-making.
- Blockchain Technology:Offers tamper-proof farm data, facilitates secure transactions, and enables food tracking.
Benefits of Digital Agriculture
- Increased productivity and lower production costs
- Reduced soil degradation and chemical use
- Efficient water resource management
- Uplifted socio-economic status of farmers
- Reduced environmental impact
- Improved worker safety
Challenges
- Limited Digital Infrastructure:Poor internet connectivity and electricity in rural areas hinder technology adoption.
- Digital Divide:Urban-rural gap creates challenges for access and use.
- Cost of Technology:Unaffordable for smallholder farmers with limited resources.
- Fragmented Agriculture Sector:Diverse crops and regions make developing solutions challenging.
- Capacity Building:Training farmers to use digital tools and interpret data is crucial.
Suggestions
- Portable Hardware:Cater to the practice of agricultural land leasing by providing portable digital tools.
- Renting/Sharing Platforms:Facilitate equipment sharing and renting for small farms with limited resources.
- Academic Support:Training programs by institutes and agricultural organizations can improve digital adoption.
Government Initiatives
- IDEA (India Digital Ecosystem of Agriculture):Lays the groundwork for a federated farmers’ database and innovative agri-focused solutions.
- NeGP-A (National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture):Funds projects using AI, ML, robotics, drones, data analytics, and blockchain in agriculture.
- e-NAM (National Agriculture Market):Connects agricultural mandis to create a unified national market and provides digital services.
- PM KISAN Scheme:Offers direct cash transfers to eligible farmers through digital platforms.
- AGMARKNET:Supports agricultural marketing infrastructure and provides online services to stakeholders.
- Mobile Apps by ICAR:Over 100 mobile apps offer valuable information to farmers on various agricultural topics.
Conclusion
Digital technologies can revolutionize Indian agriculture, boosting farmer incomes, ensuring food security, and promoting environmental sustainability. However, an inclusive approach is necessary to bridge the digital divide and empower all farmers.
India’s Rise to Upper-Middle-Income Status
- Crisil report predicts India’s GDP will double to $7 trillion by 2031.
- This growth trajectory positions India to become upper-middle-income by 2031.
- Real GDP growth is expected to moderate to 6.8% in fiscal 2025.
- The economy will cross the $5 trillion mark by 2025 and reach $7 trillion by 2031.
- This average 6.7% expansion will make India the world’s 3rd largest economy.
- Per capita income will rise to $4,500 by 2031, entering the upper-middle-income category (World Bank definition: $4,000-$12,000).
Drivers of Growth:
- Traditional:Young population, rising disposable income, and agriculture.
- Emerging:Digitalization, manufacturing push, strong services sector, and infrastructure development.
- Additional Factors:Surge in private consumption and a gradual rise in investment.
Challenges:
- Macroeconomic:Unemployment, inflation, high fiscal deficit, and balance of payments concerns.
- Structural:Infrastructure bottlenecks, skill gaps, agricultural distress, inequality, red tape & corruption, and global events.
Measures Needed:
- Investment & Infrastructure:Increase public & private investment, improve ease of doing business.
- Human Capital Development:Focus on education, skill development, and healthcare.
- Boosting Manufacturing & Exports:Expand PLI schemes, negotiate strategic FTAs.
- Rural & Agricultural Development:Implement agricultural reforms, develop rural infrastructure.
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation:Foster a vibrant startup ecosystem, promote R&D in key sectors.
- Fiscal Consolidation & Sustainability:Maintain fiscal discipline, consider tax reforms.
- Digital Economy:Invest in digital infrastructure and enhance digital literacy.
Way Forward:
- Continuous reforms, enhanced global competitiveness, and moving up the value chain are crucial to achieve India’s goals.
Human Development Report 2023-24
Human Development Index (HDI)
- Composite index based on life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita.
Major Findings:
- Rising Global Inequality:Gap widening between richest and poorest countries since 2020.
- Rich nations experiencing record high HDI, while half of poorest countries below pre-covid levels.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Off Track:World not on track for “very high” average HDI by 2030.
- Every region performing below pre-pandemic projections.
India’s Performance:
- Ranked 134th (up 1 position) in the “medium human development” category.
- Improvements across all HDI indicators: life expectancy, education, and GNI per capita.
- Progress in reducing gender inequality (GII value better than global & South Asian averages).
- Large gender gap in labor force participation (47.8% difference between women & men).
- Significant progress since 1990:
- Life expectancy +9.1 years.
- Expected years of schooling +4.6 years.
- Mean years of schooling +3.8 years.
- GNI per capita +287%.
- Compared to Neighbors:
- Sri Lanka (78th), China (75th) – High HDI.
- Bhutan (125th), Bangladesh (129th).
- Nepal (146th), Pakistan (164th) ranked lower.
Top Ranked Countries:
- Switzerland (1st), Norway (2nd), Iceland (3rd).
Bottom Ranked Countries:
- Central African Republic (191st), South Sudan (192nd), Somalia (193rd).
Recommendations for Improvement:
- Invest in planetary public goods for climate stability.
- Bridge digital divide for equitable access to technology.
- Develop new financial mechanisms for low-income countries.
- Reduce political polarization and enhance citizen participation.
Kovind Panel submitted Report on Simultaneous Election
Simultaneous Elections Report
- A committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind submitted a report on holding Lok Sabha and state assembly elections together.
- This “One Nation One Election” initiative aims to reduce election frequency and cost.
- The panel suggests a two-step process: Lok Sabha & state assemblies first, then local body polls within 100 days.
- Amending Articles 83 (House of Parliament duration) and 172 (State legislatures duration) is recommended.
- Further amendments requiring state ratification are proposed for:
- Article 324A (allowing simultaneous panchayat & municipality elections)
- Article 325 (Election Commission preparing a common electoral roll)
Arguments For:
- Reduced expenditure on separate elections.
- Less disruption due to Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
- Frees up manpower deployed for elections.
- Increased focus on governance.
Arguments Against:
- Logistical challenges in coordinating schedules and resources.
- May favor national party/incumbent at the Centre.
- Regional issues may be overshadowed by national issues.
Way Forward:
- Synchronized polls can improve governance and voter participation.
- The 22nd Law Commission is expected to recommend simultaneous polls from 2029.
Bengaluru’s Water Crisis
Causes
- Insufficient Rainfall (2023 deficit) led to declining groundwater levels.
- Rising Freshwater Demand exceeding available supply from Cauvery River and groundwater.
- Degradation of Lakes and Tanks:
- Urbanization causing encroachment and drying.
- Sewage dumping polluting lakes and hindering rainwater harvesting.
- Untreated Wastewater: Most flows into lakes/rivers, worsening pollution.
- Arkavathi Reservoir Depletion: Uncontrolled development, pollution, borewell usage, and eucalyptus cultivation severely impacted this water source.
National Context
- India: Water-stressed with 18% of global population but only 4% of water resources.
- NITI Aayog report (2018): Over 600 million people face acute water shortage.
Solutions
- Rainwater Harvesting Incentives: Encourage individuals and businesses to adopt rainwater harvesting.
- Protect Water Bodies: Strict regulations to prevent encroachment and pollution of lakes, rivers.
- Restore Water Bodies: Desilting, dredging, and water quality improvement measures for lakes and tanks.
- Buffer Zones & Green Spaces: Protect water bodies’ ecological integrity by creating buffer zones.
- Decentralized Wastewater Treatment: Treat and reuse wastewater for irrigation, industrial processes, and groundwater recharge.
Government Initiatives
- Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA): Improve water availability including groundwater in stressed blocks.
- Amrit Sarovar Mission: Develop and rejuvenate water bodies in each district.
- National Aquifer Mapping Programme (NAQUIM): Delineate and characterize aquifer systems.
- Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM): Provide functional tap connections to rural households by 2024.
The Way Forward
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate people on water conservation and sanitation.
- Technological Solutions: Explore desalination, wastewater treatment, and rainwater harvesting technologies.
- Circular Water Economy: Maximize water utility and reduce dependence on external sources.
PM-SURAJ Portal Launched
- Launched by: Prime Minister of India
- Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
- Aim: Economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities
- Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Safai Karamcharis
- Objective: Streamlined application process for Ministry schemes
- Direct Benefit Transfer for financial assistance
- Reduced hassle through online platform
- Economic & Social Upliftment
Adopt a Heritage 2.0 Initiative
- Launched by: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- Goal: Collaboration with corporates for monument preservation
- 3696 monuments across India under ASI protection
- Selected stakeholders to:
- Develop & maintain hygiene, accessibility, safety & knowledge amenities
- Term: 5 years, extendable by 5 years
Svalbard Global Seed Vault
- Location: Permafrost caverns on a European island near the North Pole
- Purpose: Preserve global crops from extinction
- Established by: Partnership between Nordic Genetic Resource Center, Norway & Crop Trust (16 years ago)
- Capacity: Designed to store over 2 billion seeds
- Current Storage: Over 930,000 varieties of food crops (world’s largest collection)
- Significance: “Safety deposit box” for agricultural biodiversity