Viksit Bharat Needs Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture
GS-3 Mains
Short Notes or Revision Notes
Question : Analyze the significance of agriculture for Viksit Bharat’s inclusive growth objectives and evaluate the effectiveness of current policies in addressing agricultural challenges.
Climate Change Threatens Food Security for Viksit Bharat
- 2023 was the hottest year on record, and 2024 could be worse.
- This threatens India’s ability to produce enough food for a growing population under the Viksit Bharat vision.
Growth Analysis (1991-2024)
- Overall GDP growth (1991-2024): 6.1% (average annual)
- Agri-GDP growth (1991-2024): 3.3% (average annual)
- Last 10 years (2014-2024):
- Overall GDP growth: 5.9% (Modi government) vs 6.8% (Manmohan Singh government)
- Agri-GDP growth: 3.6% (similar for both governments)
Why Agriculture Matters for Viksit Bharat
- 45% of India’s workforce is in agriculture (2022-23).
- Inclusive growth requires developing agriculture’s full potential.
- Challenges:
- Increase productivity
- Reduce water consumption
- Recharge groundwater
- Prevent soil degradation
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Current Policies Not Enough for Viksit Bharat
- Business as usual won’t achieve inclusive growth by 2047.
- Agriculture’s share of GDP may shrink to 7-8%, but employ over 30% of the workforce.
- People need to move to higher-productivity jobs.
- Skill development for rural youth is crucial.
The Way Forward
- Build on the 7.6% GDP growth expected in 2023-24.
- Address the recent 0.7% agri-GDP growth (due to unseasonal rains).
- Climate change risks require adaptation strategies for agriculture.
Avoiding Policy Failures
- Two successive droughts can derail Viksit Bharat.
- Current measures (export controls, stocking limits) are temporary solutions.
- Viksit Bharat needs sustainable agriculture policies.
Policy Recommendations for Viksit Bharat
- Rationalize food and fertilizer subsidies.
- Invest savings in:
- Agri-research and development
- Innovation
- Extension services
- Soil and water conservation
- Water-saving irrigation techniques
- Shift towards high-value agriculture (e.g., poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables).
- Implement a value chain approach (“plate to plough”).
- Develop farmer access to domestic and export markets through:
- Cooperatives
- Farmer producer organizations (FPOs)
- Digital commerce platforms (E-NAM, ONDC)
- Contract farming
- Promote futures trading in agriculture.
Conclusion
- With a weak agricultural sector, Viksit Bharat cannot be achieved.
- The government needs to empower farmers to participate in domestic and global markets.
Wheat Harvest 2024 and Climate Change Concerns
GS-3 Mains
Short Notes or Revision Notes
Question : Discuss the impact of climate change on India’s wheat production, highlighting vulnerabilities and potential solutions.
India’s Wheat Stock
- Govt godowns have the lowest wheat stock in 7 years (9.7 million tonnes on March 1).
- 2024 harvest expected to be a bumper crop, filling the current shortfall.
2024 Wheat Harvest Outlook
- Positive outlook in major wheat belts (Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar).
- No adverse weather events like previous years (heat spikes, unseasonal rains).
- Favorable March temperatures and grain filling progress in Indo-Gangetic plains.
- Central India (MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra) might see lower yields due to unseasonal warm temperatures in Nov-Dec.
Wheat’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
- Wheat production is increasingly susceptible to climate fluctuations.
- Not just terminal heat stress, but also warm sowing/vegetative growth periods are problematic.
- Climate change disrupts both early and late growing seasons.
- This year, central India’s crop might be affected by delayed winter.
Potential Solutions
- Despite central India’s concerns, a good harvest in the Indo-Gangetic plains could offset the losses.
- Lower global wheat prices offer an opportunity for import if needed.
- The government should remove the 40% import duty on wheat.
Green Revolution 2.0: A Pressing Need
- Long-term solution: invest in breeding climate-resilient wheat varieties.
- Green Revolution 1.0 focused on irrigation and high-fertilizer crops.
- Green Revolution 2.0 needs to prioritize:
- Input use efficiency (more yield with less water, fertilizer, energy)
- Breeding drought-resistant and heat-tolerant varieties
- Germplasm screening and gene identification for desired traits
Conclusion
- India’s food security and poverty reduction depend on sustainable agriculture.
- Green Revolution 2.0 is crucial for adapting to climate change and ensuring future harvests.