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Economy 13: Agriculture

Important Days in Agriculture

16 OCTOBER

World Food Day

15 OCTOBER

National Woman Farmer's Day

15 OCTOBER

International Rural Woman Day

Crop Seasons in India

1. Kharif Crops

  • Sowing: Beginning of first monsoon rain.
  • Harvesting: 3rd week of September to October.
  • Requirements: Needs good rainfall and warm weather.
  • Examples: Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Soyabean, Cotton, Groundnut.

2. Rabi Crops

  • Growing period: October & November.
  • Harvesting: Spring season (March/April).
  • Requirements: Cold weather for growth and frequent irrigation.
  • Examples: Wheat, Oats, Pulses, Mustard, Gram, Barley.
The Green Revolution
The transformation of Indian agriculture in the 1960s.

FATHER (INDIA)

M.S. Swaminathan

FATHER (WORLD)

Norman Borlaug

Background & Implementation

  • Context: Post-WW2 period and the devastating Bengal Famine (1943) which saw ~4 million deaths.
  • Issue: Population growth was far outpacing food grain production.
  • US Imports: India relied on PL-480 wheat seeds from the US until refusal in the 1960s.
  • The Shift: India introduced HYV (High Yield Variety) seeds with help from Mexico.
  • Time: Occurred in the 1960s (coinciding with the 4th Five Year Plan period).

Evergreen Revolution (1990s)

Spearheaded by M.S. Swaminathan, it focuses on increasing productivity while making agriculture environmentally safe and sustainable.

White Revolution & Operation Flood
Sharp increase in milk production since 1970.

Father: Prof. Verghese Kurien

Launched on 13 Jan 1970. Today, India is the largest milk producer in the world.

1 JUNE

World Milk Day

26 NOVEMBER

National Milk Day

Public Distribution System (PDS)
Ensuring food security for the poor.

The PDS distributes food grains and essential goods at low and subsidized prices through government-regulated fair price shops (Ration shops).

Timeline & Evolution

  • 1970s: Formal implementation under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
  • June 1992: PDS changed to RPDS (Revamped Public Distribution System).
  • June 1997: RPDS changed to TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System), focusing on APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line) households.

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

This act relies on TPDS to deliver food grains and aims to make the Right to Food a justiciable right in India.

Agricultural Marketing & Reforms

APMC Act 2003

The Agriculture Produce Market Committee Act was the first attempt to reform agricultural markets. It aimed to eliminate the exploitation of farmers by intermediaries who forced them to sell crops at extremely low prices.

E-NAM Portal

The Electronic National Agriculture Market is a virtual platform that links APMCs across the country. It promotes the concept of "One Nation, One Market".

Minimum Support Price (MSP)
A safety net for Indian farmers.

MSP ensures agricultural products against any sharp fall in prices due to bumper production or other reasons. It is announced before the sowing season to support farmers and prevent distress sales.

CROPS WITH MSP

24

MSP ANNOUNCED FOR

22

*Note: MSP for Toria is fixed based on Mustard. MSP for de-husked coconut is fixed based on husked coconut.

Categories of MSP Crops (22)

14 Kharif Crops
6 Rabi Crops
2 Commercial Crops
7 Cereals

Paddy, Wheat, Maize, Sorghum, Pearl millet, Barley, Ragi

5 Pulses

Gram, Tur, Moong, Urad, Lentil

6 Oilseeds

Groundnut, Mustard, Soyabean, Sesame, Niger seed, Sunflower/Safflower

4 Others

Raw cotton, Raw jute, Coconut (husk/de-husk), Tobacco

Operation Green & Key Revolutions

Operation Green

Focused on the organized marketing of TOP crops (Tomato, Onion, Potato) in India. Managed by the Ministry of Food Processing Industry.

Agricultural Revolutions

RevolutionRelated Crop/Product
BlueFish Production
PinkPrawn, Onion, Pharmaceuticals
SilverEgg / Poultry
RoundPotato
GoldenHoney & Horticulture
GrayFertilizers
BrownCocoa, Leather
RedMeat & Tomatoes
BlackPetroleum Products
RainbowFruits
YellowOil seeds (especially Mustard & Sunflower)
Golden FibreJute
Silver FibreCotton
Practice Quiz

When is World Food Day celebrated?

15 October
16 October
1 June
26 November

Which of the following crops is categorized as a Kharif crop?

Wheat
Mustard
Rice
Gram

Who is known as the 'Father of Green Revolution' in India?

Norman Borlaug
Prof. Verghese Kurien
M.S. Swaminathan
Shahji K.V.

Which country assisted India in introducing HYV (High Yield Variety) seeds?

USA
Mexico
Russia
Germany

What is the primary objective of the Evergreen Revolution?

Increasing milk production
Increase productivity while ensuring environmental safety
Focusing on organized marketing of TOP crops
Promoting fish production

Who is known as the 'Father of White Revolution' (Operation Flood)?

M.S. Swaminathan
Norman Borlaug
Prof. Verghese Kurien
J.M. Keynes

When is National Milk Day celebrated in India?

1 June
16 October
26 November
15 October

Which crops are covered under 'Operation Green'?

Rice, Wheat, Maize
Tomato, Onion, Potato
Cotton, Jute, Silk
Mustard, Sunflower, Soyabean

The 'Pink Revolution' is associated with which of the following?

Fish Production
Egg/Poultry
Prawn, Onion, and Pharmaceuticals
Meat and Tomatoes

Which revolution is associated with Jute production?

Golden Revolution
Golden Fibre Revolution
Silver Fibre Revolution
Yellow Revolution

Under which Ministry does the Public Distribution System (PDS) operate?

Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Finance
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Ministry of Rural Development

In what year did the Revamped Public Distribution System (RPDS) change to the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS)?

June 1992
June 1997
August 2013
January 2003

What was the primary focus of the TPDS (Targeted Public Distribution System)?

Expanding the number of ration shops
Focusing on APL (Above Poverty Line) and BPL (Below Poverty Line) households
Replacing food grains with cash transfers
Buying grains directly from foreign countries

The National Food Security Act (NFSA) was passed in which year?

1992
2003
2013
2015

What is the main objective of the APMC Act 2003?

To increase tax on crops
To eliminate the exploitation of farmers by intermediaries
To distribute free seeds
To nationalize all agricultural land

The E-NAM Portal promotes which specific concept in agricultural trading?

One Nation, One Tax
One Nation, One Market
Direct Export Only
Free Trade with Neighbors

When is the Minimum Support Price (MSP) typically announced?

During harvesting
After the budget
Before the sowing season
At the end of the year

MSP is available for 24 crops, but for how many is it officially announced?

20
22
24
26

The MSP of Toria is fixed on the basis of which other crop?

Wheat
Mustard
Barley
Gram

How many Kharif and Rabi crops are respectively included in the categories of MSP announced crops?

14 Kharif, 6 Rabi
10 Kharif, 10 Rabi
12 Kharif, 8 Rabi
15 Kharif, 5 Rabi