In view of the growing negative consequences of modern agriculture there is growing demand to promote “sustainable agriculture”. The key to sustainable agriculture is the capacity of farmers and all other actors in agricultural development, as well as the wider society, to learn, experiment, adapt and cooperate in an effective way.
Recent Developments Operation Greens In the budget speech of 2018-19, a new Scheme “Operation Greens” was announced on the line of “Operation Flood”, with an outlay of Rs.500 crore to promote Farmer Producers Organizations, agri-logistics, processing facilities and professional management. Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) on November 5, 2018 approved the operationalization strategy for Operation Greens. Short term Price Stabilisation Measures
Major objectives of “Operation Greens” are-
Weather Derivatives The Economic Survey 2017-18 mentions that climate change could reduce annual agricultural incomes in India in the range of 15% to 18%, on average, and up to 20% to 25% for non-irrigated areas. Significantly, about 52% of India’s total land under agriculture is still non-irrigated or is rain-fed. Weather derivative instruments can be helpful for tackling such situations. What are Weather Derivatives?
Krishonnati Yojana to Continue To ensure better coordination and fine-tuning, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), approved the umbrella scheme in agriculture sector beyond 12th five year plan for the period from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This move will merge 11 different government agricultural schemes into an umbrella scheme called Green Revolution- Krishonnati Yojana (GRKY). Schemes under GRKY
11 Schemes
The Schemes/Missions focus on creating/strengthening of infrastructure of production, reducing production cost and marketing of agriculture and allied produce. These schemes/missions have been under implementation for varying duration during past few years. |
The word sustainable is derived from the Latin, ‘sustinere’ meaning to keep in existence, implying permanence or long-term support. Sustainable agriculture is a type of agriculture that focuses on producing long-term crops and livestock without harming the environment.
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is envisaged as one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) with the objective of promoting Sustainable Agriculture. The thrust areas to be addressed under this Mission are dryland agriculture, access to information, bio-technology and risk management.
Other Government Initiatives for Sustainable Agriculture
8 Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
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Challenges for Sustainable Development in India
Organic farming is a type of agriculture or farming which avoids the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. It rely on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manures, legumes, green manure, off-farm organic wastes and biofertilisers, mechanical cultivation, mineral bearing rocks to maintain soil productivity to supply plant nutrients and biological pest control, controlling weeds, insects and other pests. All kinds of agricultural products can be produced organically, including grains, meat, dairy, eggs, fibres such as cotton, jute, flowers etc. Thus organic farming creates a sustainable lifestyle for generations to come.
Revolution |
Related to |
Green |
Grains and Cereals mainly Wheat (Father of Green Revolution-Norman Borlaug) |
Blue |
Fisheries |
Brown |
Leather |
Silver |
Egg & Poultry |
White |
Dairy (Operation Flood) (Father of White Revolution - Dr. Verghese Kurien) |
Golden |
Fruits/Honey/Overall Horticulture |
Golden Fibre |
Jute |
Silver Fibre |
Cotton |
Grey |
Fertilizer |
Round |
Potato |
Red |
Meat/ Tomato |
Yellow |
Oil seed |