PUSA ARHAR-16:-

PUSA ARHAR-16:-

ICAR-IARI, New Delhi has developed extra early maturing (120 days), semi-dwarf (95 cm to 120 cm tall), determinate, high yielding new plant type genetic material viz., Pusa Arhar 16 which is semi-erect compact plant type. This plant type allows dense plant population of 3,30,000 plants/ha when planted with Row X Row spacing of 30 cm and Plant X Plant spacing of 10 cm. High density planting is important to realize higher yield and mechanization. Traditional varieties do not allow high density planting as their plant type is indeterminate and spreading type. Thus, suitability to high population density of this line allows uniform plant density and ultimately uniform plant stand and thereby reduces losses in yield due to seedling mortality. In the form of Pusa Arhar 16 ICAR-IARI has tailored a new plant type arhar in line with semi-dwarf rice and wheat. The NPT arhar requires a modified agronomy for maximizing the productivity with reduced cost of cultivation, which has been developed. All items of farm machinery used for wheat from sowing to harvesting are fully utilizable for cultivation of NPT Arhar. Pusa Arhar 16 allows effective spraying of insecticide even with Knapsack sprayer for effective control of insects due to compactness and dwarfness. This new plant type, with synchronous maturity, is also suitable for combine harvesting and thus does not require manual laborers for harvesting and threshing. Harvesting and threshing in traditional varieties require more manpower and time thereby increasing the cost of cultivation and chances of losses due to damage by untimely rains. This extra early line also allows growing of mustard/potato/wheat in rabi after harvest of pigeonpea successfully. Moreover, as this line is extra early maturing (120 days) it allows flexibility of sowing from onset of monsoon (5th June) to even up to 1st week of July.

PM launches “Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat” initiative

PM inaugurates exhibition on “Uniting India: Sardar Patel”

PM launches “Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat” initiative

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the digital exhibition “Uniting India: Sardar Patel” at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister also launched the “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat” initiative, to promote greater awareness among people of various States about one another, hence promoting the spirit of Unity in Diversity. 6 MoUs between two States each were also signed on the occasion, under this initiative.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister paid tribute to Sardar Patel, for his great contributions to the nation, and said such great individuals can never be forgotten.

Shri Narendra Modi spoke at length about Sardar Patel’s role in integrating the nation, by convincing princely states to join the Union.

The Prime Minister gave several illustrations to explain how the “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative can build bonds between the people of various States of India.

NITI Aayog launches the first ever Agricultural Marketing & Farm Friendly Reforms Index. Maharashtra ranks first.

NITI Aayog launches the first ever Agricultural Marketing & Farm Friendly Reforms Index. Maharashtra ranks first.

The low levels of productivity, growth and incomes ailing the farm sector in India and causing immense agrarian distress is well known. Without undertaking radical reform it is impossible to transform agriculture and double farmers’ income. However, state governments have been extremely lax in implementing much needed reforms to modernize agriculture and create a favourable policy and market environment for farmers.

Addressing the issue, NITI Aayog has identified three key areas for reform and is now persuading states to undertake the reforms. The areas identified for immediate reforms are:

·         Agricultural market reforms

·         Land lease reforms

·         Reforms related to forestry on private land – felling and transit of trees. 

Today, marketing is extremely crucial and almost every sector has embraced marketing principles to ensure best possible outcomes. However, agricultural development in India has entirely ignored the potential of marketing and has continued to follow its old trajectory.  Therefore, the benefits that can be accrued from agriculture are largely untapped. Productivity is some states is regrettably low and there is a vast disconnect between prices received by farmers and the prices paid by consumers.

Moreover, private capital and modernization have completely evaded agriculture, resulting in barely any addition to the value chain. The poor state of reforms in the sector is also the primary reason for the non-performance of agricultural food processing industry in India. This, despite very favourable demand-side factors spread across the country. Much of the potential that post-harvest value addition can bring to agriculture has been ignored. Reforms in this area can bring out an enormous increase in employment by create jobs in cleaning, processing and marketing of grain directly by the farmer. This will also resolve underemployment encountered in agriculture. 

Three crucial reforms pertaining to marketing in agriculture have been recommended by NITI Aayog. First is the immediate need to amend existing regulations in order to liberalize markets. Farmer to should be given the freedom to decide to whom, where and how he wants to sell his produce. Seven indicators have been developed by NITI in this regard. The reforms also suggest special treatment of fruits and vegetables from other farm produce as they are perishable and produced in small quantities. Importantly, the recommended reforms place importance on IT in marketing for the creation of a ‘national market’ for agriculture, so that farmers across the country may benefit from interconnected markets, through the use of appropriate technology. This important reform has so far eluded the country due to strong lobbies of middlemen and the reluctance of political class to take favourable steps.

Taking note of increasing incidents of leasing in and out of land and suboptimal use of land with lesser number of cultivators, NITI has reformed the land leasing law to recognize the tenant and safeguard interest of land owners. The reforms also lay stress on the untapped scope of agro forestry in supplementing farmers’ income.  

That apart, NITI Aayog has launched an index to rank States and UTs that is based on implementation of seven provisions proposed under model APMC Act,  joining eNAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of taxes in mandis. These indicators reveal ease of doing agribusiness as well as opportunities for farmers to benefit from modern trade and commerce and have wider option for sale of her/his produce. These indicators also represent competitiveness, efficiency and transparency in agri markets. The second area of reforms included in the index is relaxation in restrictions related to lease in and lease out agricultural land and change in law to recognise tenant and safeguard land owners liberalisation. The third area included in the index represent freedom given to farmers for felling and transit of trees grown on private land. This represent opportunity to diversify farm business.

The Index is named as “Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index” and it has a score which can have minimum value “0” implying no reforms and maximum value “100” implying complete reforms in the selected areas. States and UTs have been ranked in terms of the score of the index.

The state of Maharashtra achieved first rank in implementation of various reforms. The state has implemented most of the marketing reforms and it offers best environment for doing agribusiness among all the states and UTs.  Gujarat ranks second with a score of 71.5 out of 100, closely followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Almost two third states could not reach even halfway mark of reforms score. Major states like U.P., Punjab, West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and J&K are in this group.

States’ score in terms of Agri Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms

* Some states and UTs either did not adopt APMC Act or revoked it. They include Bihar, Kerala, Manipur, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Andaman and Nicobar. They are not included in the ranking. 

(As on 20 October, 2016)

‘23rd Rehabilitation International World Congress’ at Edinburgh, Scotland

‘23rd Rehabilitation International World Congress’ at Edinburgh, Scotland

Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot, the Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment attended the 23rd Rehabilitation International World Congress at Edinburgh, Scotland, being held from 25-27 October, 2016. The Theme of the Congress is, "Create a More Inclusive World". The Congress is being attended by more than 1000 delegates from 65 countries. Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal is the Patron of this Congress. The First Minister for Scotland, Rt. Hon Nicola Sturgeon, delegates from China, Great Britain, Germany and other countries attended the Congress. The Minister of SJ&E Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot met Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal and briefed her about the initiatives of the Government of India in the disability sector. In the VIP Reception of Ministers, the Minister of SJ&E thanked the Rehabilitation International and Shaw Trust for organizing this Conference.

While addressing the Congress on 25th October, 2016, the Minister for SJ&E enumerated that "the Prime Minister of India has put the issues of Persons with Disabilities in the centre stage of the National Developmental Agenda, since his motto is inclusive development "Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas". It is a matter of great pride for our sector that he spent his birthday this year with a record number of more than 11,000 Persons with Disabilities and their families. He is of the view that the Persons with Disabilities can excel as much as others and can contribute to our society and economy. We believe that persons with disabilities are a great human resource and asset for social and economic development. We also believe our policies and programmes should be proactive so that they can integrate with the mainstream with the financial, educational and skill-based support. Inclusion should also mean beyond access to physical environment i.e. social and psychological, cultural and political. Helping Persons with Disabilities to realise their full potential and to make them live a life of dignity, independence and satisfaction should be our strategy. The Government has renamed Persons with Disabilities as 'Divangjan' for their development."

He further reiterated that, "India remains committed to building an enabling environment for Divyangjan in all possible ways. From this platform, I wish to convey my nation’s strong message to the international community, and especially the Civil Societies that the movement for creating an inclusive world needs to be intensified. The World community should speak in one voice, and strongly too, against all kinds of discrimination. Positive attitude and independent living, education and employment should be considered as the key factors for their empowerment and inclusion. International support should be extended to those nations and societies requiring a big push. I sincerely hope that this Congress will chalk out a clear roadmap with specific policy interventions for making the world more pleasant, fulfilling and enlightening for persons with disabilities. We wish that the aim of Indian saying "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" that is the World is One Family, is achieved through our exercise."

Impacting Farmers’ lives through Science Biotech-Kisan & Cattle Genomics

Impacting Farmers’ lives through Science Biotech-Kisan & Cattle Genomics

As a part of the Government’s focus on the development of programmes that aim to directly and positively impact people’s lives rapidly, the Ministry of Science and Technology has been at the forefront in many of these initiatives. Two Farmer-Centric initiatives of this Ministry are Biotech-KISAN and Cattle Genomics.
The Minister for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan shared details on these new initiatives with the Press in New Delhi today. The two programs are intended to have major impact on rural livelihood through science. The Minister in his address stated that the Prime Minister’s emphasis on the importance to work on the problems faced by our farmers is a great motivation factor for the scientist community.

Biotech- KISAN (Krishi Innovation Science Application Network) Empowering Small- and Women- Farmers with Science Implementation

Biotech-KISAN is a new programme that empowers farmers, especially women farmers. Cash crops and horticulture can be a major source of income but the vagaries of climate, disease and market often prevent this. Farmers are eager to use scientific tools that can mitigate these factors. The Department of Biotechnology is partnering to stimulate these exciting directions.
The Scheme is for farmers, developed by and with farmers, it empowers women, impacts locally, connects globally, is Pan-India, has a hub-and spoke model and stimulates entrepreneurship and innovation in farmers.
Biotech-KISAN is:
· For Farmers: The Biotech-KISAN is a Farmer centric scheme launched by of the Department of Biotechnology, where scientists will work in sync with farmers to understand problems and find solutions.
· By Farmers: Developed in consultation with the farmers. Soil, Water, Seed and Market are some key points that concern small and marginal farmers. Biotech-KISAN aims to link farmers, scientists and science institutions across the country in a network that identifies and helps solve their problems in a cooperative manner.
· Empower women. The woman farmer is often neglected. It is important to empower the women farmer, help her meet her concerns for better seed, storage of seed and protection of the crops from disease and pest. The women farmer is also the prime caretaker of livestock and she is eager to combine traditional wisdom in handling the livestock and with current best practices, especially in the context of emerging livestock disease. The scheme includes the Mahila Biotech- KISAN fellowships, for training and education in farm practices, for women farmers. The Scheme also aims to support the women farmers/ entrepreneur in their small enterprises, making her a grass root innovator.
· Connects Globally. Biotech-KISAN will connect farmers to best global practices; training workshops will be held in India and other countries. Farmers and Scientists will partner across the globe.
· Impacts Locally. The scheme is targeted towards the least educated marginalised farmer; Scientists will spend time on farms and link communication tools to soil, water seed and market. The aim is to understand individual problems of the smallholding farmers and provide ready solutions.
· Across India. Biotech KISAN will connect farmers with science in the 15 agro-climatic zones of the country in a manner, which constantly links problems with available solutions.
· Hubs and Spoke. In each of these 15 regions, a Farmer organisation will be the hub connected to different science labs, Krishi Vigyan Kendra and State Agriculture Universities co-located in the region. The hub will reach out to the farmers in the region and connect them to scientists and institutions.
· Farmers as Innovators. The hub will have tinkering lab, communication cell and will run year-long training, awareness, workshops and which will act as education demonstration units to encourage grass root innovation in the young as well as women farmers.
· Communicating Best Practises There will be a communication set-up to make radio and TV programmes for local stations, as well as daily connectivity through social media.

Cattle Genomics: Taking Indigenous Livestock to Pole Position

Livestock contributes significantly to the livelihood of rural poor in our country and has enormous potential to reduce poverty. There is a predicted increase in demand for animal food products in India by 2020. In the wake of climate change challenges, quality breeding of indigenous livestock is essential. When breeding is selective, the native livestock can transform the lives of small farmers. Genomic selection will ensure high-yielding, disease-resistant, resilient livestock.

Selecting hardy livestock that give high-yields. Better livestock can be genetically, selected which ultimately leads to enhancement of productivity in a sustainable, resilient manner.

Traditional Breeding takes time. Genetic improvement of livestock through traditional selection for increasing livestock productivity has major limitations. To overcome these, genomic selection has played a crucial role in livestock industry globally.

Global best methods for local livestock. Genomic selection will transform local livestock breeding. This uses information on variation in DNA sequences between animals to predict the breeding value of animals more accurately.

Genome sequencing of indigenous cattle breeds from all registered cattle breeds of India by involving various stakeholders is to start soon.

Development of high-density DNA chips. This will reduce the cost and time interval of breeding program in future and productivity of indigenous cattle will be enhanced.

Prime Minister to address Valedictory Session of Assistant Secretaries (IAS Officers of 2014 Batch) tomorrow

Prime Minister to address Valedictory Session of Assistant Secretaries (IAS Officers of 2014 Batch) tomorrow

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address Valedictory Session of the Assistant Secretaries (IAS-2014 batch) here tomorrow. This is the second batch of IAS Officers to have commenced their career with a stint in the Central Government.

All the 172 Officers were designated and posted as Assistant Secretaries by the Government of India in 42 Ministries (58 Departments) of the Central Government for three months w.e.f. August 01, 2016 after their Phase-2 training at the Lal Bahadur Shashtri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie.

The Officers were assigned important desks related to Policy and Flagship Programmes of the concerned Ministries and Departments. They were groomed by Principal Mentors at the level of Secretary.

During their three-month posting with the Central Government, they were provided a holistic overview of the functioning of the Central Government. However, they started their office work from day one and disposed files related to their desk.

The objective of this Initiative is to provide exposure of Government of India functioning to the IAS officers at a very early stage in their career. As primary implementers in the field, this exposure would also facilitate a broader macro perspective even when the officers work in the field.

CAMPA: the fund manager to manage proper Afforestation

CAMPA: the fund manager to manage proper Afforestation

Forests provide livelihood, forests act as catchments for rivers and waterbodies and forests also act as carbon sink. So it is important to have an institutional mechanism to receive and manage funds for compensatory afforestation.

Forests have long been considered very important as they render ecological services that cannot be quantified. Healthy forests add to the wealth and health of a nation but at the same time, there are certain development imperatives that necessitate that forests be cut for a project that is considered as essential for larger good of the society.

According to India State of Forest report 2015, the forest and tree cover extends to 23% of the country’s geographical area. These forests, diverse in types – reserved forests, national parks and sanctuaries, community forests – also act as carbon sinks. India has laid huge emphasis on its forests playing a major role as carbon sinks as part of the mitigation measures as mentioned in its action plan to combat climate change. Government’s long term plan is to bring 33 % of area under forests and tree. As per its action plan to combat climate change submitted to the UN (INDCs), India is expecting to enhance carbon sequestration by about 100 million tonnes CO2 equivalent annually. This was part India's submission ahead of the climate summit at Paris in December 2015. India on October 2, 2016 ratified the landmark Paris climate deal, which aims to keep the global temperature rise in check.

However, at the same time, development for a growing economy like ours is important. In a number of infrastructure projects – roads, thermal plants, mining and even building townships – the government gives permission to divert forest land for non-forest purpose under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. This is given on the condition that the ‘user agency’ will deposit the stipulated amount to undertake compensatory afforestation to mitigate the negative impact of forest land diversion.

These monies are supposed to be collected under the newly formalized structure the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) as against the earlier ad-hoc body that was set up after the Supreme Court order. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on May 8, 2015. But it was soon referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests on May 13, 2015. The Committee submitted its report on February 26, 2016. Based on the Committee’s report, the Centre proposed an amendment to the bill in the Lok Sabha and finally the Bill was passed in the lower house on May 3, 2016. The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on July 28, 2016.

The Bill envisages (i) establishing the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund and a State Compensatory Afforestation Fund for each of the states; (ii) receiving funds (from user agency) in national level and state level Funds for compensatory afforestation, net present value of forest and other project specific payments; (iii) spending the monies thus collected primarily for afforestation to compensate for loss of forest cover, regeneration of forest ecosystem, wildlife protection and infrastructure development and (iv) establishing the national and state level fund management authorities to manage respective Funds.

Institutionalising the Authority:

Rs 40,000 crores. Yes, a whopping Rs 40,000 crore. This is what the data with Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) show as the amount accumulated with the ad-hoc body that was formed in compliance of the order passed by the Supreme Court in absence of any permanent institutional mechanism.

The user agency deposits the money for compensatory afforestation and other charges as stipulated. According to Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, large tracts of forest are routinely cut down or as they say, diverted, for non-forest purposes – according to a study by Centre for Science and Environment, it is approximately 4-to-5 million ha of forestland diverted between 1947 and 1980 – almost 20,000 to 25,000 ha annually, bringing in an approximate Rs 6000 crore accrual per year and totaling to about Rs 40,000 crore till date.

Traditional versus new method:

Indian lifestyle traditionally has been environment friendly. People, communities lived in sync with nature and protecting and conserving natural resources, especially water and forest, were given prime importance. Protection of sacred groves was a revered task even as communities took from the forests only as much as was needed.

After centuries of community-driven forest management came the ‘scientific forest management’ as started by the British. A major difference made was that the forest that belonged to the community was now suddenly a property of the government. It was much later, post-Independence, actually in 1988, when as part of the National Forest Policy, 1988 that the government formally recognised the importance of “associating local people in protection, management and development of forests”. Thus came about the Joint Forest Management (JFM).

Circa 2016, we now have the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) bill finally passed.

Development without destruction:

Even when we hope that the whole process of compensatory afforestation and improvement of degraded wastelands gets a huge boost through the formalisation of CAMPA, we should hope that CAMPA does not hamper the implementation of Forest Rights Act.

We also can hope that the state governments will get their acts consolidated for proper implementation. Among other issues, a problem in proper execution will pertain to availability of land for compensatory afforestation, which in turn, will compete with availability of land for infrastructure and developmental projects.

A major factor in implementation of the provisions of CAMPA is direct participation of the community, which will be of vital importance while actual implementation at ground level. With no dearth of funds, it can also be hoped that the quality of forests will actually improve with compensatory afforestation and it may not end up as monoculture short-life plantation.

The Indian development process is guided by the aspiration of making India prosperous and progress on the path of ‘development without destruction’. Hope the CAMPA actually helps in achieving that: development without destruction.