The High-Level Group on Agricultural Exports set up by the Fifteenth Finance Commission has submitted its report to the Commission. Why focus on Agri-exports? India’s agricultural export has the potential to grow from USD 40 billion to USD 70 billion in a few years. The estimated investment in agricultural export could be in the tune …
15th Finance Commission on Agri Exports – UPSC GS3 Read More »
Foreign exchange reserve: In the mid-1960s the country had about $400 million. If India had spent all its foreign currency reserves just on wheat imports, it could have imported about seven million tonnes (mt) of wheat. Today, India has foreign exchange reserves of more than $500 billion. Even if the country has to buy 20 …
Purpose of Agriculture Infrastructure Fund Creating post-harvest physical infrastructure is as important as the changes in the legal framework (like the recent ordinances). The recently announced Rs 1 lakh crore Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) will be used over the next four years. This fund will be used to build post-harvest storage and processing facilities. NABARD …
Agriculture post-1991 The priority post-1991 has been given to industry as well as services. Middle-class consumers have been favoured by at the expense of farmers. This neglect of agriculture resulted in an equally unprecedented gap between the standard of living in the rural and urban parts of the country. As a result, the urban/rural ratio, …
MSP system Vs. Market-driven system MSP regime was the creation of the era of scarcity in the mid-1960s. Indian agriculture has, since then, turned the corner from scarcity to surplus. In a surplus economy, unless we make agriculture demand-driven, the MSP route can spell financial disaster. This transition is about changing the pricing mix — …
MSP Issues and Case Study of Milk and Sugarcane – UPSC GS3 Read More »
How a legal guarantee for MSP will violate WTO rules? Price support provided through MSP will be classified as a trade-distorting subsidy because India’s applied administered price for rice is much more than the 1986-88 External Reference Price(ERP). This overshoots India’s de minimis limit. For instance, according to the Centre for WTO Studies, India’s fixed …
MSP violates WTO Agreement on Agriculture – UPSC GS3 Read More »
Context: The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers Rights (PPV&FR) Authority has revoked a PVP (Plant Variety Protection) certificate granted to PepsiCo India Holding (PIH) on a potato variety (FL-2027). History of Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (PPVFRA): The PPVFRA was enacted in 2001 after engaging debates were held in the country …
Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act (Pepsico Issue) – UPSC GS3 Read More »
Differences between Green and White revolutions? Objective: The purpose of the green revolution was to increase the output of agriculture to prevent shortages of food. However, white revolution focussed on increased incomes of small farmers in Gujarat, not the output of milk. Method used: The green revolution was largely a technological exercise, driven by science and the principles of efficiency. …
Right approach for a New Green Revolution – UPSC GS3 Read More »
Context: Sri Lanka’s decision to switch to 100% organic agriculture has backfired with serious consequences which provides a lesson to others. Sri Lanka Case Study: Sri Lanka has banned agro-chemical fertilisers and adopted 100% organic agriculture. It neither had solid scientific information nor a clear action plan to move to organic farming. It was based …
Why switching to Organic Farming completely is difficult? – UPSC GS3 Read More »
Minimum Support Price (MSP) in India: MSPs are the prices at which, the government promises to procure agricultural produce from farmers. At present, the government announces MSPs for 23 crops, but procurement happens only for a few among them. Also, procurement varies quite a lot across states. Till now, the Government is not legally mandated …