The conversion of Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa (Samastipur), Bihar into a Central Agricultural University has been agreed to in-principle. This will become operational after various modalities in this regard are agreed between the State Government and Government of India.
There are two Central Agricultural Universities in the country so far:
1. Central Agricultural University, Imphal (1993)
2. Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi (2014)
GIS Based Soil Fertility Maps Prepared for 19 States
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Indian Institute of Soil Science has developed GIS based soil fertility maps of 19 states using data of different soil testing laboratories in the country. The assessment revealed that about 59, 49 and 9% soils are low in available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium respectively. The extent of micronutrient deficiency in soil (state-wise) was studied under the All India Coordinated Research Project on ‘Micro and Secondary Nutrients and Pollutant Elements in Soils and Plants’.
The Government through the National Project on Management of Soil Health & Fertility and National Project on Organic Farming promotes soil test based balanced and integrated nutrient management and use of organics (manure/composts, biofertilizers etc.) to prevent decline in fertility of agricultural land and to improve soil fertility.
The Government uses science and technology, namely, Geo-referenced soil sampling technique, GIS based software for soil fertility mapping, prescription equations for soil test based fertilizer recommendation, liquid biofertilizer formulations, soil genomics, bio-enriched composting/vermicomposting, fertigation and Resource Conservation Technologies (RCTs) for improving fertility of soils. Besides, nano technology application is also being explored.
Measures to Address Post Harvest Losses
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Government has taken several measures to address the issue of post harvest losses which include (i) incentivization of post-harvest infrastructures including construction/renovation of cold storages through credit linked back ended subsidy scheme of Mission on integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH),
(ii) provision of subsidy for construction of cold storages as part of Integrated Value Chain (IVC) under Agriculture Marketing Infrastructure (AMI) sub-scheme of Integrated Scheme of Agricultural Marketing (ISAM),
(iii) Small Farmers’ Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) also sanctions projects for cold storage units under its scheme of Venture Capital Assistance (VCA) and Project Development Facility (PDF) and has sanctioned VCA to 234 units across the country,
(iv) Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) is also implementing a scheme of cold chain, value addition and preservation infrastructure to provide integrated cold chain and processing facilities from farm gate to consumers,
(v) Ministry of Commerce through APEDA provides assistance to private companies for setting up infrastructure including specialized cold stores,
(vi) CIPHET has established tomato pilot plant facility for providing hands on training to farmers/entrepreneurs/youth to take up value addition at rural catchment area as food processing venture and also provides trainees with incubation facility to start their own ventures. CIPHET has also been instrumental in design and development of ventilated train wagons for transportation, safe handling and storage of potatoes and in development of evaporatively cooled chambers which can be established at production catchment for short duration storage of these commodities. And
(vii) Government has established the National Centre for Cold Chain Development (NCCD) which provides cold-chain technical guidance, conducts knowledge dissemination activities and addresses industry concerns on development matters.
Measures to Address any Situation Arising due to Deficient Rainfall
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As per India Meteorological Department (IMD) second stage operational long range forecast, South West Monsoon (June-September) rainfall during 2014 is likely to be 93% +4% of country`s Long Period Average (LPA) of 890 mm. Cumulative rainfall till 14.07.2014 was 170.4 mm which is 41% less than normal (LPA) rainfall of 289.2 mm. So far, all States except Sikkim, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar & Tamil Nadu have received sub normal rainfall.
Government has taken several measures to address any situation arising due to deficiency in monsoon rainfall.
Central Research Institute of Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), in collaboration with State Agricultural Universities has prepared contingency plans for 520 districts for implementing location specific interventions to sustain agriculture production in the eventuality of weak monsoon/deficient rainfall.
States have been advised to ensure availability of short duration and drought tolerant varieties of seeds so as to be in a position to supply them to farmers in case such a need arises. States have also been advised to keep asides 10% of funds available under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and other schemes for undertaking appropriate interventions to mitigate any situation arising out of deficient rainfall.
States have also been requested to construct water harvesting structures, restore irrigation infrastructure by desilting canals; energising tubewells, replacing/repairing faulty pumps and arranging power to meet irrigation needs.
Farmers have also been advised to adopt techniques such as in-situ moisture conservation, on farm water conservation, ridge furrow sowing, promoting suitable agronomic practices including mulching, inter cropping, mixed cropping, sowing of less water consuming crops etc.
In the eventuality of drought, State Governments are empowered to initiate necessary relief measures from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) which is readily available with them. Additional financial assistance, over and above SDRF, is considered from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) on receipt of memoranda from State Governments and in accordance with extant norms and procedures.
Production of Biofertilizers Increases to 46836 MT
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Production of biofertilizer in 2008-09 was 25065 mt which has increased to 46836 mt in 2012-13 in the country. Government is promoting production of biofertilizers in the country through various programmes under National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and Network Project on Organic Farming under ICAR.
(ii) Under Soil Health Management (SHM) component of NMSA, financial assistance upto 50% of cost subject to a limit of Rs.5,000/- per hectare and Rs.10,000/- per beneficiary is provided for promotion of organic /chemical free inputs on farmers field.
(iii) Under Soil Health Management component of NMSA, financial assistance upto 33% of financial outlay upto a ceiling of Rs.63.00 lakhs is provided as back-ended subsidy through NABARD for establishment of agro / vegetable waste compost production units. Assistance has been provided for 56 nos.of Bio-Fertilisers production units and 17 nos. of fruits/ vegetables agro waste compost units have been established under the scheme. Details of Biofertilizer Production in the country during last five years are at annexure I.
(iv) Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), financial assistance for establishing vermi compost units and HDPE Vermi beds is @ 50% of cost subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000/- per beneficiary for a unit having size of 30’x8’x2.5’, for smaller units, assistance is on prorate basis. For HDPE Vermi bed of 96 cft size (12’x4’x2’), the assistance is Rs.8,000/- per bed.
(v) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technology for preparation of enriched / vermi compost from various organic wastes.
(b): All India Coordinated Research Project on Soil Test Crop Response (AICRP-STCR) under the aegis of ICAR has developed a soil test based fertilizer prescription model to achieve a desired yield target taking due consideration of crop nutrient requirement, contribution from soil and fertilizer
Promoting Organic Farming
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Government is promoting organic farming in the country through various programmes, namely, Soil Health Management component under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojna (RKVY) and Network Project on Organic Farming under ICAR.
(ii) Under Soil Health Management (SHM) component of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), financial assistance upto 50% of cost subject to a limit of Rs.5,000/- per hectare and Rs.10,000/- per beneficiary is provided for promotion of organic inputs on farmers field.
(iii) Under Soil Health Management component of NMSA, financial assistance upto 33% of financial outlay upto a ceiling of Rs.63.00 lakhs is provided as back-ended subsidy through NABARD for establishment of agro/vegetable waste compost production units.
(iv) Under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), financial assistance for establishing vermi compost units and HDPE Vermi beds is @ 50% of cost subject to a maximum of Rs.50,000/- per beneficiary for a unit having size of 30’x8’x2.5’, for smaller units, assistance is on prorata basis. For HDPE Vermi bed of 96 cft size (12’x4’x2’), the assistance is Rs.8,000/- per bed.
(v) Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed technology for preparation of enriched/vermi compost from various organic wastes. |
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