Global Report on Food Crises 2022

For Prelims: Highlights of the Global Report on Food Crises, GNAFC, European Union, FAO, WFP, Initiatives Related to Food Security

For Mains: Reasons for the Rising Food Crisis and related Issue, Health, Government Policies & Interventions

Why in News?

Recently, an annual report named Global Report on Food Crises 2022 was launched by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC).

• The report is the flagship publication of the GNAFC and is facilitated by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN).

What is Food Security Information Network?

• FSIN is a global initiative co-sponsored by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP) and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) to strengthen food and nutrition security information systems for producing reliable and accurate data to guide analysis and decision-making.

What is GNAFC?

• It was Founded by the European Union, FAO and WFP in 2016.
• It is an alliance of humanitarian and development actors working together to prevent, prepare for and respond to food crises and support the Sustainable Development Goal to End Hunger (SDG 2).

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• About:
  • Some 40 million more people globally experienced acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels in 2021 than 2020.
    • Over half a million Ethiopians, southern Madagascar, South Sudanese and Yemenese are suffering from acute food insecurity.
  • Over 193 million people in 53 countries or territories experienced acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels in 2021.
• Main Drivers for Food Insecurity:
  • Conflict:
    • Conflict forced 139 million people in 24 countries / territories into acute food insecurity.
    • This is an increase from 99 million in 23 countries / territories in 2020.
  • Weather Extremes:
    • It forced over 23 million people in eight countries / territories into acute food insecurity, up from 15.7 million in 15 countries / territories in 2020.
  • Economic Shocks:
    • Over 30 million people in 21 countries / territories suffered acute food insecurity in 2021 due to economic shocks, down from over 40 million people in 17 countries / territories in 2020.

What are the Suggestions?

• Need to have an Integrated Approach:
  • There is a need to have an integrated approach to prevention, anticipation, and better targeting to sustainably address the root causes of food crises, including structural rural poverty, marginalization, population growth and fragile food systems.
• Need to Prioritize Smallholder Agriculture:
  • The report demonstrated the need for a greater prioritization of smallholder agriculture as a frontline humanitarian response, to overcome access constraints and as a solution for reverting negative long-term trends.
• Strengthening a Coordinated Approach:
  • The need is to strengthen a coordinated approach to ensure that humanitarian, development and peacekeeping activities are delivered in a holistic and coordinated manner.

What is the State of Food Insecurity in India?

• About:
  • According to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, 2021 India, the country with the largest stock of grain in the world, 120 million tonnes (as of 1^st July 2021) accounts for a quarter of the world’s food-insecure population.
  • Estimates show that, in 2020, over 237 crore people were grappling with food insecurity globally, an increase of about 32 crores from 2019.
    • South Asia alone accounts for 36% of global food insecurity.
• Related Initiatives:
  • PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY)
  • One Nation One Ration Card
  • Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi
  • Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme

Source: DTE

US’ Roe v. Wade Case 1973

For Prelims: US’ Roe v. Wade Case 1973, Abortion Laws in India

For Mains: Debate Regarding Abortion, Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Related to Women, Gender

Why in News?

Recently, a leak by political journalism company Politico has revealed that, the US Supreme Court has decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, 1973 the court’s landmark 1973 judgment that made abortion a constitutional right.

What is Roe v. Wade Judgment?

• In 1973, in the landmark Roe vs Wade judgment, the Supreme Court of the United States made the right to abortion a constitutional right, establishing a benchmark for abortion laws across the world.
• In this case, the US Supreme Court struck down laws that made abortion illegal in several states and ruled that abortion would be allowed up to the point of foetal viability, that is, the time after which a foetus can survive outside the womb.
  • Foetal viability was around 28 weeks (7 months) at the time of the Roe judgment, experts now agree that advances in medicine have brought the threshold down to 23 or 24 weeks (6 months or a little less).
• Foetal viability is often seen as the point at which the rights of the woman can be separated from the rights of the unborn foetus.
• Abortion laws across the world rely on this metric but those opposing abortions argue that this is an arbitrary timeframe that legislation and the court in Roe adopted.

What is the Debate Regarding Abortion?

• The abortion debate is the ongoing controversy surrounding the moral, legal, and religious status of induced abortion.
• In many western countries, the sides involved in the debate are the self-described "pro-choice" and "pro-life" movements.
  • Pro-choice emphasizes the woman's choice whether to terminate a pregnancy.
  • On the contrary, the pro-life position stresses the humanity of both the mother and fetus, arguing that a fetus is a human person deserving of legal protection.
• Each movement has, with varying results, sought to influence public opinion and to attain legal support for its position.
• Many people believe that abortion is essentially a moral issue, concerning the beginning of human personhood, rights of the fetus, and bodily integrity.

What is the Present case?

• The current case pertains to challenging the Mississippi law on abortion.
• In 2018, the state of Mississippi banned most abortions after 15 weeks — much before fetal viability, and sooner than was allowed by Roe — throwing a direct challenge to the 1973 judgment.
• In 2019, “heartbeat” abortion law was passed in Mississippi, an even more restrictive measure that banned most abortions once fetal cardiac activity could be detected — which is about six weeks.
• The heartbeat law said that physicians who performed an abortion after a fetal heartbeat was detected could have their medical licenses revoked.
  • The law made no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
• This law too was blocked by a district judge, and in February 2020, the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans agreed with the decision.

What will be the Impact of the Judgement?

• Since there is no federal law protecting the right to abortion in the US, the overturning of Roe would leave abortion laws entirely up to the states.
• In essence, in overlooking the checks and balances of Roe vs Wade and in disabling personal agency, the matter will no longer be set within the paradigm of women’s rights.
• It is also likely to impact the larger framework of human rights, tilting it away from the poor and the voice-less.

What are Abortion Laws in India?

• Under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, abortion remains a criminal offence under Section 312.
  • However, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (MTP) And its amendment simply provides an exception to the criminalization.
• The MTP Act, 1971 allows abortion until 20 weeks of pregnancy.
• Through an amendment in 2021, the ceiling for abortions was raised to 24 weeks, but only for special categories of pregnant women such as rape or incest survivors, that too, with the approval of two registered doctors.
• In the case of fetal disability, there is no limit to the timeline for abortion, but that is allowed by a medical board of specialist doctors set up by the governments of states and union territories.

Source: IE

J&K Delimitation

For Prelims: Delimitation Commission and Related Constitutional Provisions, Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly, Supreme Court, Article 370

For Mains: Indian Constitution, Elections, Statutory Bodies, Delimitation Process, Delimitation of J&K and Related Issues

Why in News?

Recently, a commission set up by the Centre Government submitted its final report for the delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.

Why was the Commission Set Up?

• Delimitation became necessary when the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 increased the number of seats in the Assembly.
• The erstwhile J&K state had 111 seats — 46 in Kashmir, 37 in Jammu, and 4 in Ladakh — plus 24 seats reserved for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• In the erstwhile state, delimitation of parliamentary constituencies was governed by the Constitution of India and that of Assembly seats was carried out by the then state government under the Jammu and Kashmir Representation of the People Act, 1957.
• After abrogation of J&K’s special status in 2019, the delimitation of both Assembly and parliamentary seats is governed by the Constitution.
• The Delimitation Commission was set up on 6^th March 2020.
• It was headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, it has the Chief Election Commissioner and J&K’s Chief Electoral Officer as members, and J&K’s five MPs as associate members.

What Changes Have Been Made?

• Legislative Assembly: The Commission has increased seven Assembly seats — six in Jammu (now 43 seats) and one in Kashmir (now 47).
  • It has also made massive changes in the structure of the existing Assembly seats.
• Lok Sabha: There are five Parliamentary Constituencies in the region. The Delimitation Commission has seen the Jammu & Kashmir region as one single Union Territory.
  • The Commission has redrawn the boundaries of Anantnag and Jammu seats.
  • Jammu’s Pir Panjal region, comprising Poonch and Rajouri districts and formerly part of Jammu parliamentary seat, has now been added to Anantnag seat in Kashmir.
  • Also, a Shia-dominated region of Srinagar parliamentary constituency has been transferred to Baramulla constituency.
• Kashmiri Pandits: The Commission has recommended provision of at least two members from the community of Kashmiri Migrants (Kashmiri Hindus) in the Legislative Assembly.
  • It has also recommended that Centre should consider giving representation in the J&K Legislative Assembly to the displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, who migrated to Jammu after Partition.
• Scheduled Tribes: Total nine seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes for the first time.

Why has Exercise been Controversial?

• Constituency boundaries are being redrawn only in J&K when delimitation for the rest of the country has been frozen until 2026.
• The last delimitation exercise in J&K was carried out in 1995.
• In 2002, the then J&K government amended the J&K Representation of the People Act to freeze the delimitation exercise until 2026, as in the rest of the country.
• This was challenged in the J&K High Court and then the Supreme Court, both of which upheld the freeze.
• Also, while delimitation as a rule is carried out on the basis of Census population, the Commission said it would take certain other factors into consideration for J&K, including size, remoteness and closeness to the border.

What do the Changes in Assembly Seats Mean?

• While the basis for delimitation is the 2011 Census, the changes mean that 44% of the population (Jammu) will vote in 48% of the seats, while the 56% living in Kashmir will vote in the remaining 52% of the seats.

What is Delimitation?

• Delimitation is the act of fixing or redrawing the limits or boundaries of territorial constituencies (Assembly or Lok Sabha seat) in a country or a province having a legislative body, as per the Election Commission.
• The delimitation exercise is carried out by an independent high-powered panel known as the Delimitation Commission whose orders have the force of law and cannot be questioned by any court.
• The exercise has been carried out over the years to redefine the area of a constituency-based on its population size (based on the last Census).
• Aside from changing the limits of a constituency, the process may result in a change in the number of seats in a state.
• This exercise also involves reservation of Assembly seats for SC & ST in accordance with the Constitution.
• The key aim is to have equal representation to equal segments of the population in order to ensure a fair division of geographical areas so that all political parties or candidates contesting elections have a level playing field in terms of a number of voters.

What is the Constitutional Basis for Delimitation?

• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Once the Act is in force, the Union government sets up a Delimitation Commission.
  • The delimitation commission is an independent body constituted under Article 82 after the Parliament enacted a Delimitation Act after every census.
• However, the first delimitation exercise was carried out by the President (with the help of the Election Commission) in 1950-51.
  • The Delimitation Commission Act was enacted in 1952.
• Delimitation Commissions had been set up four times — 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 under the Acts of 1952, 1962, 1972 and 2002.
  • There was no delimitation after the 1981 and 1991 Censuses.

Who is Included in a Delimitation Commission?

• The Delimitation Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
• Composition:
  • Retired Supreme Court judge
  • Chief Election Commissioner
  • Respective State Election Commissioners.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. With reference to the Delimitation Commission consider the following statements: (2012)

1. The orders of the Delimitation Commission cannot be challenged in a Court of Law.
2. When the orders of the Delimitation Commission are laid before the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly, they cannot effect any modification in the orders.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c)

Source: IE

RBI hikes Repo Rate and CRR

For Prelims: RBI, Repo Rate, Reverse Repo Rate, Monetary Policy, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

For Mains: Monetary Policy, Growth & Development, RBI and its Monetary Policy Tools.

Why in News?

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has increased the policy Repo Rate by 40 basis points to 4.40%, with immediate effect and Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) of banks by 50 basis points to 4.5% of Net Demand and Time Liabilities (NDTL).

This is the first increase in the policy repo rate by RBI since May 2020.

What is the Monetary Policy Committee?

• It is a statutory and institutionalized framework under the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, for maintaining price stability, while keeping in mind the objective of growth.
• The Governor of RBI is ex-officio Chairman of the committee.
• The MPC determines the policy interest rate (repo rate) required to achieve the inflation target (4%).
• An RBI-appointed committee led by the then deputy governor Urjit Patel in 2014 recommended the establishment of the Monetary Policy Committee.

What are the Rates Now?

• Policy Repo Rate: 4.40%
  • Repo rate is the rate at which the central bank of a country (Reserve Bank of India in case of India) lends money to commercial banks in the event of any shortfall of funds. Here, the central bank purchases the security.
• Standing Deposit Facility (SDF): 4.15%
  • The SDF is a liquidity window through which the RBI will give banks an option to park excess liquidity with it.
  • It is different from the reverse repo facility in that it does not require banks to provide collateral while parking funds.
• Marginal Standing Facility Rate: 4.65%
  • MSF is a window for scheduled banks to borrow overnight from the RBI in an emergency situation when interbank liquidity dries up completely.
    • Under interbank lending, banks lend funds to one another for a specified term.
• Bank Rate: 4.65%
  • It is the rate charged by the RBI for lending funds to commercial banks.
• CRR: 4.50% (Effective from 21st May, 2022)
  • Under CRR, the commercial banks have to hold a certain minimum amount of deposit (NDTL) as reserves with the central bank.
• SLR: 18.00%
  • Statutory Liquidity Ratio or SLR is the minimum percentage of deposits that a commercial bank has to maintain in the form of liquid cash, gold or other securities.

Why has RBI hiked Repo Rate and CRR?

• The decision has been taken in view of the global scenario, wherein there has been a sharp rise in inflation due to current geopolitical tensions.
  • Inflation has risen to its highest level in the last 3-4 decades in major economies with global crude oil prices remaining volatile and above USD 100 per barrel.
• The hike in Repo rate and CRR is aimed at reining in elevated inflation amid the global turbulence in the wake of the Ukraine war.
• The RBI aimed to keep inflation – which is already close to 7% — at its desired level and control and monitor money flow into the banking system.
  • There has also been a spike in fertiliser prices and other input costs, which has a direct impact on food prices in India.
  • There was a spike in the headline CPI (Consumer Price Inflation) inflation to 6.95% in March 2022.
• There is the collateral risk if inflation remains elevated at these levels for too long.
  • Collateral Risk: The risk of loss arising from errors in the nature, quantity, pricing, or characteristics of collateral securing a transaction with credit risk.
  • Collateral is an item of value used to secure a loan (credit).

What would be the Impact of Repo Rate and CRR Hike?

• Repo Rate:
  • It is expected to push up interest rates in the banking system. Equated Monthly Installments (EMIs) on home, vehicle and other personal and corporate loans are likely to go up.
  • Deposit rates, mainly fixed term rates, are also set to rise.
  • Consumption and demand can be impacted by the Repo rate hike.
• CRR:
  • The hike in CRR will suck out Rs 87,000 crore from the banking system. The lendable resources of banks will come down accordingly.
  • It also means the cost of funds will go up and banks’ net interest margins could get adversely impacted.
    • Net interest margin (NIM) is a measure of the difference between the interest income earned by a bank or other financial institution and the interest it pays out to its lenders (for example, depositors), relative to the amount of their assets that earn interest.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions

Q. If the RBI decides to adopt an expansionist monetary policy, which of the following would it not do? (2020)

1. Cut and optimize the Statutory Liquidity Ratio

2. Increase the Marginal Standing Facility Rate

3. Cut the Bank Rate and Repo Rate

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

• Expansionary monetary policy, or easy monetary policy, is when a central bank uses its tools to stimulate the economy. It increases the money supply, lowers interest rates and increases demand. It boosts economic growth.
• Raising SLR makes banks park more money in government securities and reduce the level of cash in the economy. Doing the opposite helps maintain cash flow in the economy. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• With the increase of MSF Rate, cost of borrowing increases for banks resulting in reduced available resources to lend. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
  • Under expansionary monetary policy, RBI reduces repo rate and bank rate to increase liquidity in the banking sector. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
  • Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

Source: TH

Purchasing Managers Index

For Prelims: PMI, IIP, GDP, Inflation

For Mains: Growth & Development, PMI and its Significance, State of Economy.

Why in News?

According to the S&P Global India Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), India’s manufacturing sector recorded a slight acceleration in new orders and output which rose to 54.7 in April 2022 from 54 in March 2022.

What are the Key Highlights of the Index?

• April data showed a rebound in new export orders, following the first contraction for nine months in March.
  • Contraction, in economics, refers to a phase of the business cycle in which the economy is in decline.
  • A contraction generally occurs after the business cycle peaks, but before it becomes a trough.
• Inflationary pressures meanwhile intensified, owing to rising commodity prices, the Russia-Ukraine war and greater transportation costs.
• Input prices increased at the fastest pace in five months, while output charge inflation hit a 12-month high.
• A major insight from the latest results was an intensification of inflationary pressures, as energy price volatility, global shortages of inputs and the war in Ukraine pushed up purchasing costs.
• On the job front, there was only a mild increase in employment during April 2022.

What is the PMI?

• It is a survey-based measure that asks the respondents about changes in their perception of key business variables as compared with the previous month. It is an index of the prevailing direction of economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors.
• The purpose of the PMI is to provide information about current and future business conditions to company decision makers, analysts, and investors.
• It is calculated separately for the manufacturing and services sectors and then a composite index is also constructed.
• The PMI is a number from 0 to 100.
  • A print above 50 means expansion, while a score below that denotes contraction.
  • A reading at 50 indicates no change.
• If the PMI of the previous month is higher than the PMI of the current month, it represents that the economy is contracting.
• It is usually released at the start of every month. It is, therefore, considered a good leading indicator of economic activity.
• PMI is compiled by IHS Markit for more than 40 economies worldwide.
  • IHS Markit is a global leader in information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide.
  • IHS Markit is part of S&P Global.
• As the official data on industrial output, manufacturing and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth comes much later; PMI helps to make informed decisions at an earlier stage.
• It is different from the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), which also gauges the level of activity in the economy.
  • IIP covers the broader industrial sector compared to PMI.
  • However, PMI is more dynamic compared to a standard industrial production index.

What is the Significance of PMI?

• Provides a Reliable Expectation of Economy:
  • The PMI is becoming one of the most tracked indicators of business activity across the world.
  • It provides a reliable expectation of how an economy is doing as a whole and manufacturing in particular.
• Indicator of Economic Activity:
  • It is a good gauge of boom-and-bust cycles in the economy and closely watched by investors, business, traders and financial professionals besides economists.
    • PMI is also regarded as a leading indicator of economic activity since it is released at the beginning of every month.
    • It comes before the official data on industrial output, core sector manufacturing and GDP growth.
• Helps in Decision Making:
  • The PMI is used by central banks to set interest rates.
  • Besides influencing equity market movements, PMI releases also impact bond and currency markets.
• Enhances Attractiveness of the Economy:
  • A good reading of PMI enhances the attractiveness of an economy vis-a-vis other competing economies.
  • Suppliers can decide on prices depending on PMI movements.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions

Q. What does S & P 500 relate to? (2008)

(a) Supercomputer

(b) A new technique in e-business

(c) A new technique in bridge building

(d) An index of stocks of large companies

Ans: (d)

• S&P 500 or Standard & Poor’s 500 is an American Stock index, which is widely regarded as the best gauge of large-capital US Equities.

Source: IE

PMFME Scheme

For Prelims: PMFME, NAFED, FPOs, One District One Product, Initiatives related to food processing sector,

For Mains: Significance of PMFME Scheme in improving agricultural marketing.

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited) launched Three One District One Product (ODOP) brands under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro food processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme.

• The Ministry of Food Processing Industries has signed an agreement with NAFED for developing 10 brands of selected 20 ODOPs under the branding and marketing component of the PMFME scheme.

What is PMFME Scheme?

• About:
  • Launched under Atmanirbhar Abhiyan (in 2020), it aims to enhance the competitiveness of existing individual micro-enterprises in the unorganised segment of the food processing industry and to promote formalisation of the sector and provide support to Farmer Producer Organisations, Self Help Groups, and Producers Cooperatives along their entire value chain.
  • The scheme adopts the One District One Product (ODOP) approach to reap the benefit of scale in terms of procurement of inputs, availing common services and marketing of products.
  • It will be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
• Features:
  • One District One Product (ODOP) Approach:
    • The States would identify food products for districts keeping in view the existing clusters and availability of raw material.
    • The ODOP could be a perishable produce based or cereal based or a food item widely produced in an area. E.g. mango, potato, pickle, millet based products, fisheries, poultry, etc.
  • Other Focus Areas:
    • Waste to wealth products, minor forest products and Aspirational Districts.
    • Capacity building and research: Academic and research institutions under MoFPI along with State Level Technical Institutions would be provided support for training of units, product development, appropriate packaging and machinery for micro units.
  • Financial Support:
    • Existing individual micro food processing units desirous of upgrading their units can avail credit-linked capital subsidy at 35% of the eligible project cost with a maximum ceiling of Rs.10 lakh per unit.
    • Support would be provided through credit linked grants at 35% for development of common infrastructure including common processing facility, lab, warehouse, etc. through FPOs/SHGs/cooperatives or state owned agencies or private enterprise.
    • A seed capital (initial funding) of Rs. 40,000- per Self Help Group (SHG) member would be provided for working capital and purchase of small tools.
  • Funding:
    • It is a centrally sponsored scheme with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore.
    • The expenditure under the scheme would be shared in 60:40 ratio between Central and State Governments, in 90:10 ratio with North Eastern and Himalayan States, 60:40 ratio with UTs with legislature and 100% by Centre for other UTs.

What is the Need of the Scheme?

• The unorganised food processing sector comprising nearly 25 lakh units contributes to 74% of employment in the food processing sector.
• Nearly 66% of these units are located in rural areas and about 80% of them are family-based enterprises supporting livelihood of rural households and minimising their migration to urban areas.
• These units largely fall within the category of micro-enterprises.
• The unorganised food processing sector faces several challenges which limit their performance and their growth. The challenges include lack of access to modern technology & equipment, training, access institutional credit, lack of basic awareness on quality control of products, and lack of branding & marketing skills etc.

What is NAFED?

• About:
  • It is an apex organisation of marketing cooperatives for agricultural produce in India.
  • It was founded on 2nd October 1958 and is registered under the Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002.
  • NAFED is one of the largest procurement as well as marketing agencies for agricultural products in India.
• Objectives:
  • To organise, promote and develop marketing, processing and storage of agricultural, horticultural and forest produce.
  • To distribute agricultural machinery, implements and other inputs, undertake inter-state, import and export trade, wholesale or retail as the case may be.
  • To act and assist for technical advice in agricultural production for the promotion and the working of its members, partners, associates and cooperative marketing, processing and supply societies in India.

Source: PIB

Direct Seeding of Rice

For Prelims: Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), Rice

For Mains: Irrigation, DSR

Why in News?

Recently, the Punjab government announced Rs 1,500 incentive per acre for farmers opting for Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR).

• In 2021, 18% (5.62 lakh hectares) of the total rice area in the state was under DSR against the government target of bringing 10 lakh hectares under it.

What is DSR and How is it Different from Normal Transplanting of Paddy?

• Transplanting Paddy:
  • In transplanting paddy, farmers prepare nurseries where the paddy seeds are first sown and raised into young plants.
  • The nursery seed bed is 5-10% of the area to be transplanted.
  • These seedlings are then uprooted and replanted 25-35 days later in the puddled field.
• Direct Seeding of Rice (DRS):
  • In DSR, the pre-germinated seeds are directly drilled into the field by a tractor-powered machine.
  • There is no nursery preparation or transplantation involved in this method.
  • Farmers have to only level their land and give one pre-sowing irrigation.

What is the need for DSR?

• During the transplanting of Paddy watering has to be done practically daily to ensure submerged/flooded conditions in the first three weeks.
  • Under DSR, the first irrigation (apart from the pre-sowing) is necessary only 21 days after sowing.
  • According to Punjab Agriculture Department data for last Kharif season (2021-22), 31.45 lakh hectares were under paddy and basmati.
• As per the studies, around 3,600 litres to 4,125 litres of water are required to grow one kg of rice depending upon the paddy variety.
  • Long duration varieties consume more water.
• In Punjab, 32% of the area is under the long duration (around 158 days) paddy varieties, and the rest comes under paddy varieties that take 120 to 140 days to grow.

How much Water can DSR Save?

• According to an analysis, DSR technique can help save 15% to 20% water.
  • In some cases, water saving can reach 22% to 23%.
• With DSR, 15-18 irrigation rounds are required against 25 to 27 irrigation rounds in traditional methods.
• DSR can save 810 to 1,080 billion litres of water every year if the entire rice crop is brought under the technique.

What are the Advantages of DSR?

• Require Less Number of Labours: DSR can solve labour shortage problems because like the traditional method it does not require a paddy nursery and transplantation of 30 days old paddy nursery into the main puddled field.
• Avenues for Groundwater: It offers avenues for ground water recharge as it prevents the development of hard crust just beneath the plough layer due to puddled transplanting.
  • It matures 7-10 days earlier than the puddle transplanted crop, therefore giving more time for management of paddy straw.
• Increase in Yield: According to the results from research trials and farmers’ field survey, after this technique the yield is one to two quintals per acre higher than puddled transplanted rice.

What are the Disadvantages of DSR?

• Suitability: It is the most important factor as farmers must not sow it in the light textured soil as this technique is suitable for medium to heavy textured soils including sandy loam, loam, clay loam, and silt loam which accounts for around 80% area of the state.
  • It is recommended to avoid this technique in fields which are under crops other than rice (like cotton, maize, sugarcane) in previous year as DSR in these soils is likely to suffer more from iron deficiency and weed problems.
• Laser and Levelling are Compulsory: The field should be laser levelled.
• Use of Herbicides: The spraying of herbicides must be done simultaneously along with sowing, and the first irrigation.

Rice

• Rice is a staple food for most of the population in India.
• It is a kharif crop which requires high temperature, (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
  • In the areas of less rainfall, it is grown with the help of irrigation.
• In southern states and West Bengal, the climatic conditions allow the cultivation of two or three crops of rice in an agricultural year.
  • In West Bengal farmers grow three crops of rice called ‘aus’, ‘aman’ and ‘boro’.
• About one-fourth of the total cropped area in India is under rice cultivation.
  • Leading producer states: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
  • High Yielding States: Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal and Kerala.
• India is the second-largest producer of rice after China.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements: (2019)

1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (a)

• Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct, and statements 2 and 4 are not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Q. Consider the following crops: (2013)

1. Cotton
2. Groundnut
3. Rice
4. Wheat

Which of these are Kharif crops?

(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Ans: (c)

Q. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years? (2019)

(a) China
(b) India
(c) Myanmar
(d) Vietnam

Ans: (b)

Source: IE

Grey Slender Loris

Why in News?

Recently, scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) in Coimbatore carried out a survey of Grey slender loris populations in Tamil Nadu’s Dindigul forest division.

What is Grey Slender Loris?

• About:
  • The Grey slender loris belongs to the family Loridae.
    • It is a species of primate.
  • It has got a lean and lanky appearance, with longer and slender limbs, larger ears, pointed snout and eyes circled with black or dark brown.
    • The fur is soft and woolly. The colour varies from dark grey to earthy brown.
  • The Grey slender loris is a nocturnal animal. It is also a slow-moving animal. It comes down into the bushes to feed and crosses open stretches of ground to enter isolated groves or to cross from one tree to another.
  • Though it is insectivorous, it is fond of berries also.
• Habitat:
  • They are found in tropical rainforests, scrub forests, semi-deciduous forests, and swamps.
  • Grey Slender Loris generally inhabits dry and drought-prone areas of Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
    • It is found in acacia and tamarind-dominated thorn and scrub forests near cultivated fields.
  • The species occurs in southern and eastern India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu) and Sri Lanka.
• Types:
  • There are two species of Slender Loris, the only members of the genus ‘Loris’:
    • Red Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)
    • Grey Slender Loris (Loris lydekkerianus)
• Threat:
  • The loris has become threatened mainly because of habitat loss.
  • The disappearance of the acacia tree, a preferred tree species of the loris, hunting for the pet trade and for their meat, road kills, superstitious kills, traditional medicine and habitat fragmentation pose serious threats to this primate.
• Protection Status:
  • IUCN: Near Threatened
  • CITES: Appendix II
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972: Schedule I

What is Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON)?

• SACON , established in 1990 at Anaikatti, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) is a national centre for information, education and research in ornithology and natural history in India.
• It was named after Dr. Salim Ali in appreciation of his lifelong services to India's bird life and conservation of natural resources.
• It designs and conducts research in ornithology covering all aspects of biodiversity and natural history.

Source: DTE

Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana

Why in News?

Recently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution revised the PMKGAY (Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana) allocation of rice and wheat for all the 36 states/UTs for the remaining five months — from May to September 2022.

What is PMGKAY?

• About:
  • PMGKAY is a part of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package (PMGKP) to help the poor fight the battle against Covid-19.
    • Its nodal Ministry is the Ministry of Finance.
  • It was initially announced for a three-month period (April, May and June 2020), covering 80 crore ration cardholders. Later it was extended till November 2020.
    • Phase-I and Phase-II of this scheme were operational from April to June 2020 and July to November 2020 respectively.
    • Phase-III of the scheme was operational from May to June 2021.
    • Phase-IV of the scheme is currently operational for July-November 2021 months.
  • The scheme aimed at providing each person who is covered under the NFSA (National Food Security Act 2013) with an additional 5 kg grains (wheat or rice) for free, in addition to the 5 kg of subsidized food grain already provided through the Public Distribution System (PDS).
  • The new version of the PMGKAY lacks one of its important components which was there in 2020 PMGKAY i:e free-of-cost 1 kg pulses per month to each household covered under the NFSA.
• Expenditure:
  • The government will be incurring an expenditure of nearly Rs.2.60 lakh Crore in PMGKAY Phase I- V.
  • PMGKAY-V will entail an estimated additional food subsidy of Rs. 53344.52 Crore.

What are the Significance and Challenge?

• Significance:
  • It is significant in a view of daily wagers and informal sector entrepreneurs who lost their job in the wake of Covid-19 induced Lockdown.
• Challenge:
  • A key issue is that the beneficiaries of the National Food Security Act are based on the last census (2011). The number of food-insecure people has increased since then and they remain uncovered.

Source: IE