• 02 Jul 2024

State-wise Talks by Union Minister of Agriculture

Why in News?

Recently, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan started consultations with states on the farm sector, holding meetings with agriculture ministers of two states- Chhattisgarh and Assam.

Key Points

• During the discussion various topics related to agriculture and farmers' welfare were discussed, including the promotion of pulses, oilseeds, horticulture, etc.
• The Centre will continue to provide all possible assistance to Chhattisgarh.
• There will be adequate availability of inputs like fertilizers, seeds in the Kharif season.

Kharif Season

• Crops are sown from June to July and Harvesting is done in between September- October.
• Crops are: Rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, soyabean etc.
• States are: Assam, West Bengal, Coastal regions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra

Scheme for Mango Cultivation

Why in News?

Recently, the state government has introduced a scheme designed specifically for mango cultivation to provide targeted assistance and support to farmers engaged in mango production.

• Bihar produces 15.84 lakh Metric Tons (MT) of mango and ranks third in the country in mango production.

Key Points

• Mango Development Scheme is introduced for enhancing mango’s area expansion with a 50% subsidy at the unit cost of Rs 60,000 per hectare.
  • The state is facilitating a micro irrigation scheme extending 80% support on Drip, Mini, and Micro sprinkler to small and marginal farmers (70% for other farmers) and 80% support on community borewells.
• Bihar is home to many unique flavours of mango, including Dudhia Malda, Jardalu, and Amrapali.
  • Proper marketing and branding can make a significant difference in how fruits from the state are perceived and valued in the market.
• With support from the Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Bihar exports around more than 1200 MT of fresh mango to the UK, Middle East, and New Zealand.

Zardalu Mango

• Zardalu is a unique mango variety from Bhagalpur.
• It is known for its light yellow skin and distinct special aroma.
• It was accorded the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2018.

Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA)

• It was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act, 1985.
• It functions under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Authority has its headquarters in New Delhi.
• In 2020, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) to bring in better synergy in agricultural activities.

Private Hospital Stop Patients Over Pending Dues

Why in News?

The private hospitals in various parts of Haryana stopped admitting patients under the central government’s Ayushman Bharat free treatment scheme and state government’s Chirayu Haryana scheme, for non-clearance of the payments worth over ₹200 crore by the state government.

Key Points

• According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), nearly 600 private hospitals across the state are empanelled under the Ayushman scheme and had requested the state government to release payment of bills.
  • In Haryana, 74.33 lakh beneficiaries are covered under the Chirayu scheme and 28.89 lakh under the Ayushman scheme.
  • Under these schemes, every family gets health coverage of upto ₹5 lakh per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri- Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY)

• About:
  • PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance scheme fully financed by the government.
  • Launched in 2018, it offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care and tertiary care.
    • Health Benefit Packages covers surgery, medical and day care treatments, cost of medicines and diagnostics.
• Beneficiaries:
  • It is an entitlement-based scheme that targets the beneficiaries as identified by latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
  • The National Health Authority (NHA) has provided flexibility to States/UTs to use non- Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) beneficiary family databases with similar socio-economic profiles for tagging against the leftover (unauthenticated) SECC families.

Chirayu Haryana scheme

• It aims to provide free treatment facilities to the needy of the state.
• The expenditure of these families up to Rs 5 lakh will be borne by the state government.
• More than 28 lakh families in the state will get the benefit of this scheme. With the expansion of the scheme, more than 12 lakh new Below Poverty Line (BPL) families have been added to it.

Madhya Pradesh Extends All Schemes Until the Next Budget

Why in News?

According to the Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jadish Devda, the ongoing schemes will be continued in the forthcoming Budget, on 3^rd July 2024.

Key Points

• According to the officials the session will feature 14 sittings, beginning on 3rd July and concluding on 19^th July, 2024.
• Various issues are expected to be discussed including the alleged nursing college scam and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.
  • The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the alleged nursing college scam pertaining to gross irregularities in the functioning of several nursing colleges that lacked infrastructure while some existed only on paper.

Minimum Support Price

• MSP is the guaranteed amount paid to farmers when the government buys their produce.
• MSP is based on the recommendations of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP), which considers various factors such as cost of production, demand and supply, market price trends, inter-crop price parity, etc.
  • CACP is an attached office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. It came into existence in January 1965.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) chaired by the Prime Minister of India takes the final decision (approve) on the level of MSPs.
• The MSP is aimed at ensuring remunerative prices to growers for their produce and encouraging Crop Diversification.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)

• It is the premier investigating police agency in India.
• It provides assistance to the Central Vigilance Commission and Lokpal.
• It functions under the superintendence of the Department of Personnel, Ministry of Personnel, Pension & Public Grievances, Government of India - which falls under the prime minister’s office.
  • However, for investigations of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 its superintendence vests with the Central Vigilance Commission.
• It is also the nodal police agency in India which coordinates investigations on behalf of Interpol Member countries.
• Its conviction rate is as high as 65 to 70% and it is comparable to the best investigation agencies in the world.

Chief Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana

Why in News?

Recently, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma launched Chief Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana. The state government announced an additional annual financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to farmers who are already beneficiaries of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana.

Key Points

• Under this scheme, the first installment of Rs 1,000 has been disbursed, followed by two installments of Rs 500 each.
  • The Cooperative Department has been designated as the nodal department for the effective implementation of the scheme.
• More than 65 lakh farmers in Rajasthan received over Rs 650 crore directly into their bank accounts as part of this first installment.
• The CM also distributed Rs 3 lakh each to 51 women-run village service Cooperative Societies.
  • These societies, managed exclusively by women, aim to develop leadership skills and empower women to make decisions for their own development and welfare.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN)

• It is a Central Sector Scheme with 100% funding from the Government of India.
• It is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
• Under the scheme, the Centre transfers an amount of Rs 6,000 per year, in three equal installments, directly into the bank accounts of the all landholding farmers irrespective of the size of their land holdings.
• It intends to supplement the financial needs of the Small and Marginal Farmers (SMFs) in procuring various inputs to ensure proper crop health and appropriate yields, commensurate with the anticipated farm income at the end of each crop cycle.
• The entire responsibility of identification of beneficiary farmer families rests with the State / UT Governments.

Cooperative Society

• Cooperatives are organizations formed at the grassroots level by people to harness the power of collective bargaining in the marketplace.
  • This can mean different kinds of arrangements, such as using a common resource or sharing capital, to derive a common gain that would otherwise be difficult for an individual producer to get.
• In agriculture, cooperative dairies, sugar mills, spinning mills etc. are formed with the pooled resources of farmers who wish to process their produce.
  • Amul is perhaps the best-known cooperative society in India

Rajasthan New Draft Township Policy

Why in News?

Recently, the Rajasthan government has come up with a fresh draft township policy and building by-laws and has invited suggestions from people and all the stakeholders.

Key Points

• According to the new draft policy, a developer will be accountable for the upkeep of units sold in their township for a period of seven years.
  • These townships will solely be constructed in areas designated by the authorities, who will ensure that all necessary amenities - such as water and electricity - are accessible in that region.
• According to the new building by-laws, a tall building would not be allowed to be constructed on a small plot in the housing schemes and colonies of the cities.
• Key Highlights:
  • Only eight-storey buildings can be built on plots of more than five hundred to 750 square metre area.
  • The construction of green buildings or eco-friendly buildings is being made mandatory on plots of more than 2500 square meters in cities.
  • In group housing, multi-residential units, now space for one car parking will have to be left for every unit.