Date: 02/05/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions.

Key Phrases: Food Corporation of India, Zero Tillage, Mulching, Soil degradation, Infrastructure development, e-vouchers, PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana, Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoF&PD).

Context:

• The Food Corporation of India (FCI), which is part of the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoF&PD), is probably happy that they have already bought over 20 million tonnes (MT) of wheat, which is more than they had at this time last year.

Key Highlights:

• Three states — Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh — have contributed more than 98 per cent to the central pool.
• Unseasonal rains have surely damaged the quality of grain in many pockets, and accordingly FCI has relaxed its quality parameters to accommodate lustre loss or shrivelled grain, etc for procurement.
• The FCI hopes to procure at least 25 MT, which is sufficient for its public distribution system (PDS) needs.
• In any case, the corporation has more than comfortable rice stocks that can provide ample cushion to substitute rice for wheat, if and when the need arises.
• UP is estimated to procure 3.5 MT of wheat, but so far it has procured a meagre 0.12 MT.

Impact of Zero Tillage and Mulching:

• Those who had done zero tillage, and had mulched paddy straw at the time of sowing wheat through smart happy seeders, their wheat crop was standing tall even in gusty winds.
• Zero tillage refers to the practice of sowing seeds without tilling the soil, while mulching involves spreading organic matter such as paddy straw on the soil surface.
• The use of zero tillage and mulching in wheat cultivation has several benefits.
• These practices help to conserve soil moisture by reducing evaporation, which is particularly important in areas with low rainfall.
• This leads to higher water use efficiency, resulting in increased crop yields.
• Zero tillage helps to preserve soil structure, which can reduce soil erosion caused by wind and water.
• Mulching provides a source of nutrients for the soil, as the organic matter breaks down and releases nutrients over time.
• These practices help to increase soil organic matter, which improves soil structure, water-holding capacity, and nutrient availability.
• This, in turn, helps to reduce soil erosion and nutrient leaching, as well as increase carbon sequestration in the soil.
• Additionally, these practices can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by reducing the need for tillage, which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
• Overall, zero tillage and mulching of paddy straw have great potential in improving wheat productivity in India while also enhancing soil health and climate resilience.

The Indian agriculture sector faces several challenges in providing more nutritious food to the masses, including:

• Soil degradation: Overuse of chemical fertilizers and lack of crop rotation has led to soil degradation, reducing the nutrient content of crops.
• Water scarcity: With changing weather patterns and depleting groundwater levels, farmers struggle to access adequate water resources to irrigate their crops.
• Lack of infrastructure: Many small farmers lack access to modern technologies and infrastructure like cold storage and transportation facilities, leading to post-harvest losses.
• Low productivity: Indian agriculture has lower yields compared to other countries due to a lack of technology adoption, limited access to credit, and inadequate support for research and development.

To overcome these challenges, the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoF&PD) has taken several measures, including:

• Promoting soil health: The government has launched several initiatives to improve soil health, including soil testing, soil health card distribution, and subsidies for organic fertilizers.
• Irrigation and water management: The government is investing in irrigation infrastructure, promoting water-saving technologies like drip irrigation, and encouraging water harvesting techniques.
• Infrastructure development: The government is building cold storage facilities, improving transportation networks, and promoting farmer producer organizations (FPOs) to improve marketing and bargaining power.
• Technology adoption: The government is promoting the use of modern technologies like genetically modified seeds, precision agriculture, and mechanization to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Nutritional interventions: The government has launched several schemes to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable groups, including the National Food Security Act, Integrated Child Development Services, and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Way Forward:

• DoF&PD can upgrade and declare at least 10 per cent of their five lakh odd fair price shops as Nutritious Food Hubs (NFHs).
• These NFHs will have fortified, including bio-fortified, rice and wheat, millets, pulses, oilseeds (especially soyabean products with 40 per cent protein), fortified milk and edible oils, eggs, etc.
• The consumers of PDS list may be given electronic vouchers (like an e-food coupon in a food court) that can be charged by the government three or four times a year.
• At present family of 4.5 members currently gets a food subsidy of around Rs 8,000/year through rice and wheat under PM-Garib Kalyan Yojana.
• This amount can be loaded on e-vouchers of targeted beneficiaries. The NFHs would be upgraded with government assistance.
• It would create a demand for more diversified and nutritious food from the masses.
• But then the procurement of rice would have to be capped, starting with districts where the water table has been depleting alarmingly.
• For example, Sangrur in Punjab has witnessed a fall in groundwater level by more than 25 meters during 2000-2019.
• Farmers of such districts could be incentivised to grow millets, pulses, oilseeds, etc that are climate smart, use much less water and fertilisers, thus saving power and fertiliser subsidies.

Conclusion:

• The Centre and the states need to join hands to give a special package for carbon credits for growing such crops.
• The introduction of more nutritious food in PDS through NFHs and the encouragement of climate-smart crops such as millets, pulses, and oilseeds, could help make Indian agriculture more resilient while providing healthier options for the masses.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains Question:

Q. Examine the role of zero tillage and mulching of paddy straw in enhancing wheat productivity in India. Discuss the potential of this technology in improving soil health and climate resilience. (250 Words).