Recent Initiatives in Agriculture

Farmer FIRST
It is an ICAR initiative to enhance farmers-scientists contact with multi stake holders-participation. FIRST refers to Farm, Innovations, Resources, Science and Technology. The project focuses on enabling interaction of scientists with farm conditions and problems; exchange of knowledge between farmers and other stakeholders; integration of technology with different agro-systems;development of rural based institutions; and using the platform of the project having commodity institutions as partners to develop commodity specific contents for e-enabled knowledge sharing.

Mera Gaon – Mera Gaurav
It is launched by ICAR to provide farmers with required information, knowledge and advisories on regular basis. Under this scheme, groups of scientists will select villages and will remain in touch with that village and provide information to farmers on technical and other related aspects through personal visits or through telecommunication. The scheme enables 20,000 scientists of NationalAgricultural Research and Education System (NARES) to work directly in villages.

Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB)
The Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IIAB) at Ranchi (Jharkhand) will be established
as a deemed University. Its foundation stone was laid in August 2014. The mandate of the Institute
would be to undertake multi-disciplinary basic research to develop crops for traits such as increased
yield, or increased tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress; to develop the highly trained manpower
required for fundamental research in agricultural biotechnology; to provide its research output to
breeders and developers in agricultural universities to develop the germ plasm, vaccines etc.

National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)
NIHSAD, Bhopal is a premier institute of Indian Council of Agricultural Research for research on
exotic and emerging pathogens of animals. It came into existence in August 2014 as an independent
institute under ICAR from its original status as High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL),
a regional station of Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar. The institute has
contributed significantly by detecting many animal diseases of exotic origin and preventing them
from entering our country.

National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI)
NIVEDI, a unit of ICAR has been established at Bengaluru to study the changing pattern of emerging
and re-emerging animal diseases.

National Research Centre on Integrated Farming System
National Research Centre on Integrated Farming (ICAR-NRCIF) will come up in Bihar. The
mandate of the institute will be to conduct research on the development of location specific
integrated farming system models for diverse agro-ecological conditions specially flood and wetland
situation with emphasis on rice, sugarcane and banana which require more water.

National Agricultural Research & Education System (NARES)
NARES is a huge repository of knowledge and information on crop sciences, horticulture, animal
sciences, agricultural engineering, fisheries, agricultural extension, agricultural education and
resource management.

Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture (ARYA) Scheme
ICAR has initiated a programme on “Attracting and Retaining Youth in Agriculture” to empower
youth in rural areas to take up agriculture, allied and service sector enterprises for sustainable income
and gainful employment in selected districts. It enables youth to establish network groups to take up
resource and capital intensive activities like processing, value addition and marketing. ARYA project
is implemented in 25 States through KVKs, one district from each State.

STUDENT READY
READY refers to “Rural and Entrepreneurship Awareness Development Yojana”. Student READY is
a skill development initiative to strengthen students with skills to take up global challenges and also
to improve both their employability as well as ability to set up a venture.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana
It is a central scheme that aims at providing irrigation facilities to every village in the country by
 converging ongoing irrigation schemes implemented by various ministries. It will focus on ‘end-to enddecentralised state-level planning and execution. This scheme has amalgamated three ongoing
programmes of three different ministries viz. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme of the
Ministry of Water Resources; Integrated Watershed Management Programme of the Ministry of
Rural Development; and Farm water management component of the National Mission on
Sustainable Agriculture. For 2015-16, Rs.1,000 crore are allotted for the scheme. The funding
pattern between centre and states is 75:25 percent. In case of north-eastern region and hilly states it
will be 90:10.

Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana
Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (Traditional Farming Improvement Programme) has been
launched by Government of India to support and promote organic farming and thereby improving
soil health. This will encourage farmers to adopt eco-friendly concept of cultivation and reduce their
dependence on fertilizers and agricultural chemicals to improve yields. Government has made
budgetary allocation of Rs. 300 Crores for the same in the Union Budget 2015-16.

Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF)
ATIF is aimed at implementation of an appropriate common e-market platform to regulate 585
regulated wholesale markets in the states across the country.

National Agriculture Market (NAM)
NAM is envisaged as a pan-India electronic trading portal which seeks to network the
existing Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) and other market yards to create a
unified national market for agricultural commodities.NAM will be implemented as a Central Sector
Scheme through Agri-Tech Infrastructure Fund (ATIF).

Price Stabilization Fund Scheme
To control the rising prices of agricultural commodities a Price Stabilization Fund of Rs. 500 Crore
for agricultural commodities was announced in the Union Budget 2014-15 with a view to mitigate
volatility in the prices of agricultural produce.

MIND_MAPs on Editorials

Current News for Prelims Environment,Geography & Climate Change

Three of India’s natural WHS face threat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution/Three-of-Indias-natural-world-heritage-sites-face-threat-from-harmful-activity-WWF/articleshow/51794852.cms

India’s three major natural World Heritage Sites – the Western Ghats, Sundarbans National Park and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary – are facing threats from harmful industrial activities like mining, according to a the survey ‘Protecting People Through Nature’ by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

What’s affecting them?

While ecology of Western Ghats covering six states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala – is threatened by mining and oil and gas exploration, Manas Wild Life Sanctuary faces threat from dams and unsustainable water use.

• Sundarbans in West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh have been hit by various activities including unsustainable water use, dams, wood harvesting, over-fishing and shipping lanes.

Way ahead:

These iconic places face a range of threats, including climate change. Removing pressure from harmful industrial activity is therefore critical to increase the sites’ resilience.

Significance of world heritage sites:

• World Heritage sites are not just important environmentally, they also provide social and economic benefits.
• Two-thirds of natural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List are crucial sources of water and about half help prevent natural disasters such as floods or landslides.
• WWF survey estimates that “11 million people – more than the population of Portugal – depend directly on World Heritage sites for food, water, shelter and medicine. Harmful industrial development poses a threat to these ecosystem services and communities that depend on them.”

UNESCO world heritage site:

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as of special cultural or physical significance.

• The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 UNESCO member states which are elected by the General Assembly.
• Each World Heritage Site remains part of the legal territory of the state wherein the site is located and UNESCO considers it in the interest of the international community to preserve each site.
• The List of recorded sites on the World Heritage now stands at 981 which include both cultural and natural wonders.
• Italy is home to the greatest number of World Heritage Sites with 50 sites.
  

Heat wave warning for Telangana

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/heat-wave-warning-for-telangana/article8468407.ece

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a heat wave warning for the next two days for Telangana.

• It has warned that heat wave conditions were likely to prevail over parts of Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Rangareddy, Khammam and Nalgonda districts.
• According to IMD, the State would have day temperatures hovering between 40 degree Celsius and 45 degree Celsius.

Heat Wave:

A heat wave is a combination of temperture and humidity for a prolonged period. It is an extended period of very high summer temperture with the potential to adversely affect communities.

• High temperture are often accompanied by high humidity, that the body cannot tolerate are defined as extreme heat. A heat wave is a very dangerous situation and major threat to lives.
• According to IMD, Heat Wave occurs when temperatures are greater than 4.5 degree Celsius above what’s usual for the region.

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138834

The Union Cabinet has given its nod for India adopting the statute of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) which will help in checking cross border wildlife crimes.

• The approval allows the country to become a formal member of SAWEN in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region.

What is SAWEN?

SAWEN is a regional network comprises eight countries in South Asia –Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

• It aims at working as a strong regional intergovernmental body for combating wildlife crimes by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.

Significance of SAWEN:

The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the region. The collaboration in harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is considered very important for effective conservation of biodiversity.

How will this statute benefit India?

Now, India along with other member countries will take initiatives to bring “harmonisation and standardisation” in laws and policies to conserve fauna and flora and will also document the trend of poaching, illegal trade and related threats to the natural biodiversity.

• This will also strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach and to encourage member countries to prepare and implement their national action plans in curbing wildlife crime.

Cabinet approves changes in bill on afforestation

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/developmental-issues/Cabinet-approves-changes-in-bill-on-afforestation/articleshow/51910214.cms

Details:

• The legislation will ensure expeditious utilisation of accumulated unspent amounts available with the ad hoc Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is currently around `40,000 crore, and fresh accrual of compensatory levies and interest on accumulated unspent balance, which will be of the order of approximately `6,000 crore per annum, in an efficient and transparent manner.
• Apart from facilitating timely execution of appropriate measures to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land, utilisation of these amounts will also result in creation of productive assets and generation of huge employment opportunities in the rural areas, especially the backward tribal areas.
• The amendments include deleting some of environmental services for which credible model to assess their monetary value does not exist while it also provides for prior consultation with states for making a rule under it. The amendments provide for use of monies realised from the user agencies in lieu for forest land diverted in protected areas for voluntary relocation from protected areas.

About the Bill:

The CAMPA Bill is meant to promote afforestation and regeneration activities to compensate for forest land diverted to non-forest uses, by regulating and managing $5.3 billion (almost Rs.350 billion) collected over years.

• The union government in April 2015 approved the bill for introduction in parliament. However, it was rejected in theRajya Sabha, where the government is in minority.
• The bill basically envisages the establishment of a national Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) and state CAFs to credit amounts collected by state governments and Union territory administrations to compensate for the loss of forest land to non-forest projects.

NGT halts Tawang hydro-power project

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/bird-hit-ngt-halts-tawang-hydro-power-project/article8506412.ece

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has suspended the Union Environment Ministry’s clearance for the Rs. 6,400-crore hydro power project in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The clearance by the centre was granted in 2012.

Why?

This move was particularly aimed at protecting the vulnerable black-necked crane in the region.

Background:

The project was planned on the Nyamjang Chhu river and was the largest of 13 hydro power projects to be built in the Tawang basin.

About the species:

• Black-necked crane is a species that breeds on the Tibetan plateau and migrates to Tawang for the winter.
• The bird, most commonly found in China, is legally protected in Bhutan and Indiaand is considered sacred to certain Buddhist traditions.
• It is rated as ‘vulnerable’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of endangered species.
• It is also listed in India’s Wildlife Act as a Schedule 1 species, which gives animals and birds the highest legal protection.

Other species that are found in the region include the red panda, the snow leopard and the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, a recently-described primate species in the area.

Primate species new to India discovered in Arunachal Pradesh.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/rare-primate-sighted-in-arunachal-pradesh/article8510529.ece

A new primate species in India has been discovered by a team of biologists and wildlife photographers during their bird watching trip to Arunachal Pradesh’s Anjaw district.

• With this, White Cheeked Macaque has become a new primate species in India.

Details:

• The White Cheeked Macaque, hitherto unknown in India, was actually spotted by the team last year, but it took almost a year to confirm.
• The White Cheeked Macaque differs considerably from all macaque species such as Raesus Macaque, Arunachal Macaque, Tibetan macaque and Assamese macaque.
• It has relatively hairless short tail, long and thick hair on its neck and chin-whiskers creating a white cheek, among other characteristics.
• White-cheeked macaques are threatened by illegal hunting and potential habitat loss.

Differently-abled:Scaling Up Educational Rights And Opportunities-SUMMARY OF YOJANA_MAY16

http://yojana.gov.in/details_leadarticle.asp?CoverId=90

India's population has increased by 22.4 percent between 2001 and 2011. The number of
disabled, which was 2.19 crore in 2001, rose in 20ll to 2.68 crore- l.5 crore males and 1.18 crore females. The growth rate of disabled population is more in urban areas and among urban females.
The decadal growth in urban areas is 48.2 per cent and 55 per cent among urban females.
Among scheduled castes, it is 2.45 per cent (Census 2011).

Where do We stand now?
India seems a long way to go to ensure educational rights of children with special needs if
we compare the number of persons with disabilities reported in 2011 population census and
number of children with special needs studying in primary and secondary schools. There is no
data on inclusion of children with special needs in 0-6 age group and in higher education. This
is one of the major gaps that exists today for planning purpose.
1. SSA Inclusive education scheme has included 10.7l lakh children with special needs.
2. Inclusive education of children with disabilities in Secondary schools around 2 lakhs children
with special needs.
3. Around one lakh children with special needs studying in 977 special schools.

The number of persons with special needs in the age group of 0-29 years who need access
to education is 1.23 crores as per 2011 Census data, out of which, 53.4 lakhs are girls and
women with special needs. At present, a 'conservative estimate' shows that around 20 lakhs
persons with special needs our studying in primary, secondary and special schools. The challenge
ahead is how to ensure educational access to the unreached children/persons with special
diverse needs.
It is not debatable that we have not been able to reach even 20 percent of our children/
persons with special needs though we have legislations such as Right to Education since 2005
and compulsory and free education to all children guaranteed in the Indian constitution. India
has signed many international declarations and treaties concerning rights of persons with disabilities
and the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities was signed and ratified
by India in 2006. Article 24 of the CRPD refers specifically to education, and creates an obligation
for governments to do two things:
1. Provide education to children, youth with disabilities on an equal basis with other children;
and
2. Provide that education within an inclusive system.


NEP : Potential Game Changer
A comprehensive policy on education is basically a path finding effort to translate political
will and vision into action. Inclusion of the disadvantaged sections of our society into mainstream
education and development is a process, which needs identification and systematic removal of
socio-economic-cultural-political- administrative and other barriers on the road to inclusion.
A broader understanding of inclusive education is reflected in NEP-2015. Inclusive education
in the Indian context must include the diverse needs of SC/ST/Minorities/Children and young persons with disabilities, children living in extreme poverty and difficult challenging
conditions.
NEP adopts, for the first time in India, an Indian perspective to inclusive education reflecting
global concerns and commitments to which India is a participatory /signatory.

The key factors that may exclude children/persons with special needs from the mainstream
education can be:-
1. Policies that ignore education for all cannot be achieved unless children and youth with
disabilities are included in the mainstream education.
2. The framework for monitoring progress in achieving Education for All ignores children
and youth with disabilities.
3. Failure to identify and remove systemic barriers to inclusive education at planning,
administration, monitoring and implementation levels.
4. Lack of recognition of the factors that affect inclusive education are within the social gaps
that are existing in education of children and youth with disabilities among SC/ST/Minorities/
Gender discrepancies within these groups and in general.
5. Disability being a state subject/ PRI subject and education being a concurrent subject is
leading to gaps in educational access to children/young persons with disabilities across
the different states in India.

NEP 2015: Bridging the Social Gaps
NEP 2015 has adopted bottom-top approach, which opens' debates/ discussions, participation
of the community. This is a unique feature of NEP-2015 and the participatory approach
was essential for the policy makers to understand the concerns of the community and ground
realities and reflect these issues adequately in the policy framework. NEP 2015 on inclusive
education makes this attempt successfully. We see conceptual clarity of inclusive education
stated very clearly in the framework.
NEP 2015 has adopted bottom to top approach, which opens' debates/ discussions, participation
of the community. This is a unique feature of NEP-2015 and the participatory approach
was essential for the policy makers to understand the concerns of the community and ground
realities and reflect these issues adequately in the policy framework. NEP 2015 on inclusive
education makes this attempt successfully. We see conceptual clarity of inclusive education
stated very clearly in the framework.
NEP-2015 has included disability concerns in all components of the education system-be it
in education admission, admission policies, teacher training, curriculum development, teaching
strategies, learning materials, evaluation system, virtual learning platforms, etc. NEP 2015
has adopted an educational view to inc1usive education in place of disability view. NEP 2015
supports to move away from labeling and isolation of children with disabilities in segregated
environments. It aligns the inclusive vision and goals with specific, observable, measurable and
achievable steps towards ensuring that every child has the right to education in an enabling
and caring environment which does not discriminate the child based on disability and gender.
NEP- 2015 has tremendous potential to be a major game changer when it gets implemented at
the grass root level.


Data Base on Disability: Is it available?
In India, we need disability data for planning services leading to effective inclusion. This
demands innovative approaches as survey methodology cannot provide comprehensive information
about individuals with special needs. We need information on disability, socio-economic educational-
employment profiles, diverse needs of each person (rehabilitation needs, employment,
skill development, education etc) to plan services leading to effective inclusion at the
community level without disintegrating children with special needs away from their families.
India must introduce mandatory registration of persons with disabilities at community level/
school level/ ICDS levels. It could be achieved by introducing village disability registers, school
special needs registers, ward level disability registers and issue add on card to Aadhaar card /
ration cards. This digitized data could be used to provide smart ill cards replacing existing
paper based disability ill cards.

CBR programmes in India already use a system of Village disability registers to provide
community based inclusive services.
The other issues which are seen as a major barrier for inclusion are listed below:
1. Children with disabilities remain invisible to the education system;
2. Families are not supportive;
3. Teachers lack training, leadership, knowledge and support to adapt curriculum;
4. Poor quality education;
5. Poor access to: knowledge and information for -parents, teachers, administrators and policy
makers
6. No inclusive education infrastructure -governance, policy, planning, financing, implementation
and monitoring
7. Lack of public support for inclusion; and
8. Lack of accountability and monitoring mechanisms.

 The Census and data base on on Disability:
● The census data on disability covers more than it reveals. The identification of disabilities
needs skills especially to identify special needs (intellectual, sensory disabilities of mild and
moderate levels) which are not easily visible unless persons are trained in the identification.
● In India, we need disability data for planning services leading to effective inclusion. This
demands innovative approaches as survey methodology cannot provide comprehensive
information about the individuals with special needs.
● India must introduce mandatory registration of person with disabilities at community level/
school level/ ICDS level.The digitized data could also be used to provide smart ID cards
replacing existing paper based disability ID cards.

"Gram Uday se Bharat Uday Abhiyan"-SUMMARY OF YOJANA_MAY16

“Gram Uday se Bharat Uday" Abhiyan, -

(http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=138372
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/ambedkar-birth-anniversary-villagers-to-take-tolerance-oath-on-ambedkar-birth-anniversary-birender-singh/)

A nation wide campaign on rural development
and social harmony was launched by the Prime Minister from Dr Ambedkar's birth place Mhow
in Madhya Pradesh on 14th April, 2016. The eleven day programme, to commemorate the
125th Birth anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, ended on 24th April 2016,
which was Panchayati Raj Day.
The campaign aimed to generate nation-wide efforts to increase social harmony across
villages, strengthen Panchayati Raj, promote rural development, and foster farmers' progress.

During the campaign, discussions on issues pertaining to rural development, improving farmer's
income, SC and ST welfare and social harmony were held on different platforms.
The programmes,included a 'Social Harmony Programme' in all Gram Panchayats, where
villagers honoured Dr. Ambedkar, and resolved to strengthen social harmony. Information
regarding the various schemes of the government to foster social justice was also provided.
Village Farmer Assemblies were organized in Gram Panchayats to promote agriculture. In these
assemblies, information on Fasal Bima Yojna, Social Health Card, etc. were provided to farmers
and their suggestions for bringing about improvements in agriculture solicited.
Gram Sabha meetings were held from 21st-24th April, 2016 across the country.
Preceding the main event of Gram Sabha meetings for Panchayati Raj Day, a National meeting of tribal women and Gram Panchayat Presidents from Fifth Schedule Areas of 10 States was held at
Vijayawada on 19th April 2016 focusing on Panchayat and tribal development.
The topics of
discussions in these Gram Sabhas included :-
• Gram Panchayat Development Plans for local economic development,
• Optimum utilization offunds available with Panchayati Raj Institutions, .Clean drinking
water and sanitation,
• Role of women in village and rural development,
• Social inclusion including welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, person with Disabilities
and other marginalized groups.
Information regarding various schemes for socio-economic development were also provided.