In News:

The Committee on Estimates (2024–25) has submitted its Sixth Report to Parliament, emphasizing the pressing need for a climate-resilient and ecologically sustainable agricultural system in India. The report presents a roadmap aimed at tackling the vulnerabilities posed by climate change, soil degradation, and unsustainable farming practices.

Key Challenges in Indian Agriculture:

1. Climate Vulnerability:

• Projected Yield Decline: Crop yields may fall by 4.5% to 9% in the medium term due to climate-induced stresses.
• District-Level Risks: Out of 310 climate-vulnerable districts identified by the IPCC,
  • 109 are at ‘very high risk’,
  • 201 are categorized as ‘highly vulnerable’.

2. Soil Health Crisis:

• Extent of Degradation: Nearly 30% of India's land suffers from soil degradation.
• Root Causes: Excessive chemical inputs (urea and pesticides) and loss of organic matter have disrupted nutrient cycles and reduced fertility.

3. Economic Pressures: The Green Revolution model now shows diminishing returns, with rising input costs contributing to farmer indebtedness and suicides.

Policy Shift Towards Sustainable Farming:

1. Natural Farming:

• National Mission on Natural Farming (NMNF): Launched in 2023–24 as an independent scheme, expanding upon the earlier Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddati (BPKP).
• Focus: Chemical-free agriculture, soil regeneration, and farmer self-reliance.

2. Organic Farming Initiatives:

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY): Promotes cluster-based organic farming using Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) for certification.
• MOVCDNER: Aims to develop organic value chains in the North Eastern Region, leveraging traditional practices and rich biodiversity.

Challenges in Transition:

• Yield reductions during the initial switch.
• Complex and often expensive certification procedures.
• Weak market linkages and poor consumer awareness.
• Training and knowledge gaps among farmers.
• Financial risks for small and marginal farmers lacking safety nets.

Recommendations of the Committee:

• Integrate climate-resilient agriculture into national schemes like PM-KISAN, MGNREGA, and RKVY.
• Provide green subsidies to farmers offering ecological services.
• Establish a national agroecological transition framework combining research, training, and market access.
• Empower Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) with digital tools and decentralized funding for field-level implementation.

Scaling Up Climate-Resilient Strategies:

National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA):

• Launched: 2011 by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Objective: Equip farming systems to adapt to climate variability.

Key Components:

1. Strategic research on climate-tolerant varieties.
2. Technology demonstrations in vulnerable districts.
3. Capacity building for farmers and extension staff.
4. Infrastructure enhancement at research institutions.

Notable Achievements in NICRA Villages:

• 2,900+ climate-resilient varieties developed (e.g., heat-tolerant wheat, drought-resistant rice).
• 28–37% rise in crop productivity.
• 10–12% increase in livestock productivity.
• 35–40% higher farm incomes compared to non-NICRA areas.

Way Forward:

• Expand NICRA initiatives to cover more vulnerable districts with dedicated funding.
• Create agroecological clusters to support localized natural/organic farming models.
• Simplify and support organic certification and branding to enhance marketability.
• Promote ministerial convergence among Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Development departments for cohesive implementation.

Overview:

The ICAR-National Institute of Secondary Agriculture (NISA), originally established in 1924 as the Indian Institute of Natural Resins and Gums in Ranchi, Jharkhand, marks its centenary this year. Renamed in 2022, it operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, focusing on enhancing the value of agricultural products.

Understanding Secondary Agriculture:

Secondary agriculture encompasses the transformation of primary agricultural products into higher-value commodities and includes activities such as:

• Beekeeping
• Poultry farming
• Agricultural tourism

This sector plays a crucial role in converting agricultural produce, residues, and by-products into valuable goods for various uses, including pharmaceuticals, food, and industrial applications. Examples of secondary agriculture practices include:

• Extracting vitamins from grains
• Producing oil from rice bran
• Making jaggery from sugarcane
• Cottage industries for jams and pickles

Growth Potential: The sector is poised for growth due to:

• Increasing consumer demand for value-added products like ready-to-eat meals.
• The need for innovative uses of renewable agro-bio resources.
• The significant availability of agricultural byproducts.

Significance of Secondary Agriculture:

1. Environmental Sustainability: Proper utilization of crop residues can reduce waste and pollution.
2. Enhanced Farmer Income: Activities like beekeeping and lac culture provide additional revenue streams for farmers.
3. Value Addition: Processing agricultural products increases their shelf life and overall productivity.
4. Promotion of Cottage Industries: Supports rural economies and fosters technology adoption.

Challenges Ahead: Despite its potential, secondary agriculture faces several hurdles:

• The industry for high-value products from agricultural byproducts, such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, is still emerging.
• Small landholdings complicate the collection of crop residues.
• Limited research on suitable technologies hampers development.
• There is a lack of awareness among farmers regarding the processing of agricultural waste.

Conclusion

As ICAR-NISA celebrates its 100th anniversary, it remains crucial in shaping the future of secondary agriculture in India, addressing both challenges and opportunities to enhance sustainability and farmer livelihoods.