eChapters

Introduction

India has one of the best agricultural research systems in the world with better amount man-power amongst the developing countries. The research system includes more than 30,000 scientists along with 1,00,000 subordinate personnel actively engaged in research system in the country involved to agricultural research which considered to be second highest next to China. The achievement and success looks very much impressive and at par with all the developed nations of the world.

National Agricultural System

India has one of the largest agricultural research systems in the world with the largest number of scientific personnel of any developing country except China. The research system includes approximately 30,000 scientists and more than 100,000 supporting staff actively engaged in research related to agriculture. Although the total number of scientists engaged in agricultural research in India looks very impressive, it compares less favorably with many developed countries.

The present agricultural research system comprises essentially two main streams, the ICAR at the national level and the Agricultural Universities at the State level. Besides, several other agencies such as General Universities, Scientific Organizations, and various Ministries/Departments at the Centre, as also Private or Voluntary Organizations participate directly or indirectly in research activities related to agriculture.

National Agriculture Technology Project (NATP)

This project was launched by the ICAR on June 30, 1998, with the support of the World Bank to strengthen and complement the existing resources and to argument the output National Agricultural Research System (NARS).

Objectives

The major objective of this component is:

National Agriculture Development Programme/Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY)

Economic reforms initiated since 1991 have put the Indian economy on a higher growth trajectory. Annual growth rate in the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has accelerated from below 6 per cent during the initial years of reforms to more than 8 per cent in recent years. The Planning Commission in its approach paper to the Eleventh Five-Year-plan has stated that 9 per cent growth rate in GDP would be feasible during the Eleventh Plan period. However, Agriculture that accounted for more than 30 per cent of total GDP at the beginning of reforms failed to maintain its pre-reform growth. On the contrary, it witnessed a sharp deceleration in growth after the mid-1990s. This happened despite the fact that agricultural productivity in most of the states was quite low as it were, and the potential for the growth of agriculture was high. The GDP of agriculture increased annually at more than 3 per cent during the 1980s.

Since the Ninth Five-Year Plan (1996 to 2001-02), India has been targeting a growth rate of more than 4 per cent in agriculture, but the actual achievement has been much below the target. More than 50 per cent of the workforce of the country depends upon agriculture for it’s livelihood and slow growth in Agriculture and allied sectors can lead to acute stress in the economy because a large proportion of population depend on this sector. A major cause behind the slow growth in agriculture is the consistent decrease in investments in the sector by the state governments. While public and private investments are increasing manifold in sectors such as infrastructure, similar investments are not forthcoming in Agriculture and allied sectors, leading to distress in the community of farmers, especially that of the small and marginal segment. Hence, the need for incentivising states that increase their investments in the Agriculture and allied sectors has been felt.

1. Introduction

The National Agroforestry Policy of India is a comprehensive policy framework designed to improve agricultural livelihoods by maximizing agricultural productivity including animal productivity along with tree cover and mitigating climate change. The Government of India launched the policy in February 2014 during the World Congress on Agroforestry, held in Delhi. The focus of the policy is to address Agroforestry, which is an integrated system of practicing agriculture, livestock farming and forest activities on the same unit of land, storing high carbon, there by mitigating climate change. Agroforestry systems have the potential to be more beneficial than traditional agriculture and forest production practices. They may be able to give enhanced productivity, as well as social, economic, and environmental advantages, as well as a broader variety of ecological products and services. It’s important to remember that these advantages are contingent on appropriate farm management. In 2014 India became the first nation in the world to adopt an inter-sectoral policy on agroforestry, which seeks to identify the bottlenecks in expansion on agroforestry in the country and pathways to remove the constraints in a systematic manner.

India’s growing aquaculture industry requires the implementation of standardized laboratory techniques for detecting fish pathogens to uphold fish health, ensure biosecurity, and meet international trade standards. Both national and international diagnostic guidelines play a vital role in ensuring accurate identification of diseases, surveillance, and certification.
Domestically, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), particularly through institutes like ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE) and ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), has developed diagnostic methods suited for Indian conditions. These include techniques such as histopathology, bacteriology, ELISA, PCR, and qPCR, specifically validated for key cultured species like Labeo rohita, Catla catla, Penaeus vannamei, and Clarias batrachus. The National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD) also outlines protocols for disease diagnosis and reporting, aligning with the standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), previously known as OIE.
At the global level, WOAH offers comprehensive diagnostic manuals for key aquatic animal diseases like white spot disease (WSSV), infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), and epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS). These manuals detail procedures for collecting samples, using PCR primers, conducting serological tests, and identifying histopathological features. Adhering to these protocols is essential for maintaining the credibility of Indian exports to markets such as the EU, USA, and ASEAN countries. Additionally, laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation ensure quality control and global recognition of their test results.

Previous Year Questions

1. Write down the various programmes run by state & central govts for ensuring food security in our country. Briefly discuss the strategies for sustainable agricultural production (20M, CSE 2023)

2. How will national food policy help in sustainable food security? (CSE 2020, 10 marks)

3. Discuss the national initiatives for food and nutrition security. (8M, IFoS-2019)

4. What are the special schemes for providing food grains to underprivileged, destitutes and malnourished populations (CSE 2016, 12.5 marks)

5. National and international food policies. (10M, IFoS-2016)

Historically, Indian scientists have recognized the importance of conserving plant biodiversity with particular reference to indigenous     and naturalized crops and their wild relatives. Indian scientists have recognized the importance of conserving plant biodiversity as early as 1935 by the ‘Crops and Soil Wing’ of the then Board of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. Late Dr. B. P. Pal, in his classic paper ‘Search for New genes’ published in 1937 emphasized the importance of germplasm augmentation and utilization in crop improvement programmes. The need was reiterated in a meeting of the Indian Society of Genetics and Plant Breeding in 1941, which inter alia discussed the subject of economic crops. Dr. B. P. Pal, working at the then Imperial (now Indian) Agricultural Research Institute approached the then Imperial (now Indian) Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to set-up a unit for assembly of global germplasm under phytosanitary conditions in India. The ICAR scheme for plant introduction started functioning in 1946 under the leadership of late Dr. Harbhajan Singh as the first ‘Operational Scientist’. The scheme was further expanded and strengthened as ‘Plant Introduction and Exploration Organization’ in the Botany Division in 1956 and later established as a separate Division of Plant Introduction in IARI in 1961 headed by Dr. Harbhajan Singh.

Introduction
Education and Its Evolution
Education is a process of learning, which involves both formal and informal modes of learning, which transforms the behaviour, skills, knowledge attitudes, and beliefs of the learner. For this reason, it is more deliberate than other education activities since it is a deliberate effort to create learning in a bid to achieve set goals and objectives. Ordinarily, education is characterized by a systematic learning system that is complemented by curricula and instructional materials in different disciplines. This includes talking and explaining, discussing and questioning, performing and observing so as to reach individual students. Communication is also considered as necessary as education is a process of interconnecting people, exchanging information, and learning how to deal with society members. It also develops critical skills such as analysis and developing insights, due to its capacity to offer information to be analyzed, find solutions and then make sound decisions. Education implies character building and it shapes people into responsible members of society. Education also fosters a construct of perpetuity learning which in this case is strengths toward self and career. There is the principle of non-selectiveness as one of the basic principles of education, as education must be provided to all so that all students should be given an equal opportunity. Learners’ understanding and progress can be measured therefore, assessment and evaluation were part of the program to ensure that teaching strategies can be improved. In addition, it has a 96 | Sustainable Development Goals, Health & Education sociocultural function of passing on a culture from one generation to another, and thus preserving social and cultural development and growth. In its strictest sense education is learning as it is getting acquainted with information as well as has the added dimension of moulding positive character in the learners so that they and society can be the better for it. From antiquity to the present, education has undergone tremendous change, having a huge impact on the advancement of society. When education was first developed in ancient communities, it took the form of apprenticeships, oral traditions, and storytelling to impart cultural values, religious convictions, and useful survival skills. For the elite, it was frequently reserved, preventing access for the general public and preserving social hierarchies. A teacher-centered approach limited student interaction and critical thinking, and the curriculum prioritized memorization and rote learning with a focus on mythology and societal responsibilities. In comparison, the goal of contemporary education is to develop students’ ability to think critically, be creative, and solve problems in a formal, structured manner. Regardless of one’s background, access to it is considered a fundamental right that fosters inclusivity and social fairness. The curriculum’s diversity promotes inquiry and discovery by including technology, the arts, and the sciences. A variety of student-centered, modern teaching techniques are used to improve critical thinking and participation. Education is now a key factor in social and economic development as a result of this change, encouraging creativity and producing knowledgeable citizens who take an active role in solving global issues. After all, if education in the past served to uphold hierarchical institutions, education today aims to dismantle obstacles and promote equality in society.

Introduction

The much awaited new educational Policy 2020 approved and released by the Central Government on July, 29, 2020. A document which is set to transform Indian education system in most holistic way and will exert a long lasting influence on framing the Indian education system by addressing the vivid issues across the discipline and streams. The implementation of this policy will be under a single body HECI (Higher Education Council of India) well supported by multiple bodies like National Higher Education Regulatory Council(NHREC), Meta-accrediting body referred as Nation accreditation Council (NAC), Higher Education Grant Council (HEGC), General Education Council(GEC) also called Graduate attributes, it will formulate the National Higher Education Qualification Frame work (NHEQF). This council will take over presently regulating bodies of higher education like University Grant Commission, All India Council of Technical Education and National Council of Teachers Education.

INTRODUCTION

The discipline of Agrometeorology, an applied science is less than fifty years old. Its services are operationally used by individual farmers in developed countries, and by agricultural or development services in more than half of the countries of the world. Its contribution to agricultural production by examining forecast is sought in virtually all countries. In many countries, the respective governments have expressed the desire to use meteorological information to a much larger extent in day-to-day farm planning and operations. The climate database is used for the development of practical criteria in planning and management of irrigated and rainfed crop production system (Martin Smith, 2000).

Though a huge set of Agromet data exists in India, its utility has not been effective due to the scattered location of these data sources and the impediments for free flow of data to the users to analyze and interpret for real-time decision making in agriculture. There is also a considerable time lag between the actual observation and data availability. In view of the importance and the immediate exigency to centralize the database system for helping the researchers and planners, a central agrometeorological databank facility funded by DST from 1998 to 2003 and later by ICAR with the following objectives was established at Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR), Hyderabad.

Introduction

India accounts for 16.7 per cent of the world’s food consumers. India’s size in terms of food consumers is many times larger than the average size of the rest of the countries, except China. At the time of independence in 1947, India was in the grip of a serious food crisis, which was accentuated by the partition of the country. The demand for food far exceeded supply, food prices were ruling at high levels and more than half of the populations were living below the poverty line with inadequate purchasing power. With high rates of population growth, the dependence on imported food increased further. However, the situation improved considerably after the mid-1960s, when new agricultural development strategy and food policies were adopted in the country. The production of staple cereals increased substantially, mainly contributed by productivity improvements. The dependence on food imports reduced and the country became a marginal net exporter of cereals. There was also an improvement in physical and economic access of households to cereals and other nutritive food products. The proportion of households reporting hunger went down and the incidence of economic poverty was reduced. The objective of this paper is to review the Indian approach to tackling the severe problem of food insecurity, which it faced immediately after independence. It reviews the evolution of food policy, the major policy instruments deployed, intervention in food marketing system, and the current status of food security/insecurity. The paper also identifies the lessons emerging from the experience of India. The paper has been divided into eight sections. The second section briefly presents the evolution of the food policy in India and the approaches to food security. The current status of food security and insecurity is analyzed in section 3. The next three sections detail the three major instruments of the food security policy. Price support policies pursued in the country are described in section 4. Section 5 examines the magnitude of input subsidies in Indian agriculture. Direct food and other assistance programs for improving household food and nutrition security and magnitude of food subsidy are presented in section 6, while some salient features of food marketing system that affect food security are given in section 7. Lessons emerging from the Indian experience are presented in the last section.

Macroeconomics approaches the economic problems in terms of aggregates like national income, general employment level, aggregate demand, aggregate production and so on. The important among the above is national income. The one common thing to all products is value. Therefore, the national income must be expressed in monetary terms. The entire value of the goods and services (output) produced by an economy over time is measured by national income (normally a year). It also serves as a measure of the money generated by production and/or the total amount of expenditures made in order to produce the output.

Significance

The Central Statistical Organization of India has been calculating the country’s gross domestic product. We can measure your academic performance in relation to other students by the percentage of the marks scored by you. Similarly a country’s economic performance has been measured by indicators of national income such as GDP or GNP. Additionally, it is crucial to measure national income for a number of reasons, such as making predictions about how the economy will develop in the future,

16.1. Meaning
National Income is nothing but the aggregate money value of all goods and services produced in a country in a year. It can also be viewed as income distributed among the factors of production in the form of rent (to land), wages (to labour) interest (to capital) and profits (to entrepreneurs).
According to Alfred Marshal National Income is defined as the labour and capital of a country acting on its natural resources produce annually a certain net aggregate of goods and services.
16.1.1. Limitations
• In an economy in which numerous goods and services are produced, it is really a difficult proposition to estimate them correctly to arrive at the national income. Coming to the farming, farmers do retain some part of production for personal consumption and the rest is only marketed. In such a case, the methodology to evaluate the amount of produce not reached the market has not been given.
• Double counting: It implies the same good being counted twice: say, cotton may be counted in agricultural production and the cotton cloth in industrial production.
Marshall approached national income from production end. On the other hand, some other economist approached from consumption end. At the same time this approach in reality poses problems. Consumers who number in millions, consumes the same good at different places, and the estimation of their total consumption is a difficult proposition. Hence, there are problems in measurement of national income.

Horticulture in the hills has special significance and specific requirements to sustain it for the improvement of the lot of the people living in the hills. The national policy on horticulture has to be so oriented so that it recognizes the varied agro climatic and soil conditions. The dynamic process of development and extension has to be specifically designed to cater to the requirements of the hill states; which, because of the difficult terrain, are by and large under-developed as compared to the rest of the country. The new national policy on horticulture should take into account the following points in order to make temperate horticulture a self sustaining enterprise.

The concepts of biosafety and biosecurity are central to efforts to protect human health against the risks posed by exposure to hazardous biological agents. Biosafety, a term used to describe the collection of technologies, processes and practices a term used to describe the collection of technologies, processes and practices aimed at preventing the unintentional exposure to biological agents, has in particularaccrued increasing importance in recent decades as a result of the trend towards globalization and concomitant growth in international communication, transport and trade (WHO, 2020). In this international context, the outbreaks of highly-infectious diseases that have occurred in the last years serve to underscore the urgent need for effective prevention and detection and response to biological risks, in accordance with the International Health Regulations (IHR).

National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)

The NREP was launched in October, 1980 and became a regular Plan programme from April, 1981. The programme was expected to generate additional gainful employment in the rural areas, to the extent of 300-400 million mandays per annum, create durable community assets, and improve nutritional status and living standards of the poor.

An outlay of Rs. 1620 crores was provided under this Programme, out of which the outlay from 1980-81 onwards (Rs. 1280 crores) was to be shared equally between the Centre and the States.

Introduction

Indian Agriculture has made enormous strides in the past 50 years, raising foodgrains production from 50 million tonnes to over 200 million tonnes.  In the process, the country has progressed from a situation of food shortages and imports to one of surpluses and exports.  Having achieved food sufficiency, the aim now is to achieve food and nutritional security at the household level.

The increase in agricultural production, however, has brought in its wake, uneven development, across regions, crops, and also across different sections of farming community.  In the decade of the ‘nineties’, a marked slackening in the pace of growth has occurred, pointing to the need for infusing a new vitality in the agricultural sector.

Aims and Objectives

It has become evident that in order to achieve the food production targets of the future, a major effort will be required to enhance the seed replacement rates of various crops. This would require a major increase in the production of quality seeds, in which the private sector is expected to play a major role. At the same time, private and Public Sector Seed Organisations at both Central and State levels, will be expected to adopt economic pricing policies which would seek to realise the true cost of production. The creation of a facilitative climate for growth of a competitive and localised seed industry, encouragement of import of useful germplasm, and boosting of exports are core elements of the agricultural strategy of the new millennium.

Biotechnology will be a key factor in agricultural development in the coming decades. Genetic engineering/modification techniques hold enormous promise in developing crop varieties with a higher level of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A conducive atmosphere for application of frontier sciences in varietal development and for enhanced investments in research and development is a pressing requirement. At the same time, concerns relating to possible harm to human and animal health and bio-safety, as well as interests of farmers, must be addressed.

Globalization and economic liberalization have opened up new opportunities as well as challenges. The main objectives of the National Seeds Policy, therefore, are the provision of an appropriate climate for the seed industry to utilize available and prospective opportunities, safeguarding of the interests of Indian farmers and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. While unnecessary regulation needs to be dismantled, it must be ensured that gullible farmers are not exploited by unscrupulous elements. A regulatory system of a new genre is, therefore, needed, which will encompass quality assurance mechanisms coupled with facilitation of a vibrant and responsible seed industry.

Rural poultry production constitutes vital component of agricultural economy in India. The organized sector of poultry industry is contributing nearly 70% of the total output and the rest 30% by the unorganized sector. In unorganised sector, poultry are reared in free range extensive system with very little input in the form of grain or farm by-products, birds have to scavenge from limited amount of feed resource. The productive out put of these birds are very low (60-70 eggs per bird per annum; 2.0 kg. and 1.5 kg. body weight per bird in males and females, respectively). Moreover, still more than 50 % population of poultry in India comprises of non-descript / deshi birds.