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(GIST OF KURUKSHETRA) Taking allied Sector to Newer Heights

[May-2021]

Taking allied Sector to Newer Heights

Context:

According to the Economic Survey 2019-20, the share of agriculture and allied sectors in Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country at current prices is 17.8 percent for the year 2019-20.
The agriculture and allied activities clocked a growth of 3.4 percent at constant prices during 2020-21(first advance estimate).

Initiatives taken by the government:

The government has advocated a seven-point strategy for it that includes: special focus on
irrigation with sufficient budget, with the aim of “Per Drop, More Crop”;
provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on soil health of each field;
large investments in Warehousing and Cold Chains to prevent post harvest crop losses;
promotion of value addition through food processing;
creation of a National Farm Market, removing distortions and
e-platform across 585 Stations;
introduction of a New Crop Insurance Scheme to mitigate risks at affordable cost; and
promotion of ancillary activities like poultry, beekeeping and fisheries.

Horticulture:

The cultivation of gardens or orchards leading to cultivation of fruit, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants is known as horticulture. This helps in increasing the area and productivity of farming lands, bringing technological aspect in agriculture as well as being a source of employment opportunities.
The productivity of horticulture has increased from 8.8 tonnes per hectare in 2001-02 to 12.3 tonnes per hectare in 2018-19.

Food Processing Sector:

This sector is involved in enhancing the shelf life of food along with making it more digestible and nutritious.
As per the Ministry of Food Processing, Government of India following segments come within the food processing industry: Dairy, fruits and vegetable processing, grain processing, meat and poultry processing, fisheries, consumer foods including packaged foods, beverages and packaged drinking water.
The Indian food industry is poised for huge growth, increasing its contribution to world food trade every year.
In India, the food sector has emerged as a high-growth and high profit sector due to its immense potential for value addition, particularly within the food processing industry.

Animal Husbandry:

This sector, dealing with animal production, is largely a part of mixed crop livestock farming
system. Animal Husbandry sector provides large self-employment opportunities.
Animal husbandry deals with the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.
Products obtained from animal husbandry include broiler meat, eggs, buffalo meat, sheep/goat meat, pig meat, wool, animal skin, etc.

Fishing Sector:

India contributes 7.73 percent of the global fish production. The export earnings from the
sector was of 46,589 crores rupees in 2018-19.
India today has attained the status of the 2nd largest aquaculture and 4th largest fish exporting nation in the world. The sector recorded an Average Annual Growth Rate of 10.88 percent during 2014-15 to 2018-19, 7.53 percent average annual growth in fish production and 9.71 percent average annual growth in export earnings, with 18 percent share in agricultural exports.
The GVA of fisheries sector in the national economy during 2018-19 stood at 212915 crores rupees which constituted 1.24 percent of the total National GVA and 7.28 percent share of Agricultural GVA.

Sericulture:

Sericulture refers to mass scale rearing of silk worms in order to obtain silk for weaving into clothes. Silk is part of only 0.2 percent of total textile production in the world and India ranks 2nd major raw silk producer in the world.
Sericulture involves: Cultivation of silkworm food plans; rearing of silkworms for the production of raw silk; reeling the cocoons for unwinding the silk filament; other post-cocoon processes such as twisting, dyeing, weaving, printing and finishing.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched 20,050 crore rupees Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to boost production and exports in the fisheries sector as part of the government’s aim to double farmers’ income.
About 42 percent of the total estimated investment of 20,050 crore rupees, the PMMSY is earmarked for creation and upgradation of fisheries infrastructure facilities.
PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality,
technology, post-harvest infrastructure and management, modernization and strengthening of value chain, traceability, establishing a robust fisheries management framework and fishers’
welfare. The scheme aims to consolidate the achievements of Blue Revolution Scheme.

Silk Samagra:

The Government of India through Central Silk Board has been implementing a Central Sector
Scheme “Silk Samagra” an Integrated Scheme for Development of Silk Industry (ISDSI) during the year (2017-20).
With aims and objective to scale up production by improving the quality and productivity and to empower downtrodden, poor and backward families through various activities of sericulture in the country. The scheme comprises four major components viz.
Research and Development, Training, Transfer of Technology and I.T. Initiatives.
Seed Organisations,
Coordination and Market Development and
Quality Certification Systems (QCS) / Export Brand Promotion and Technology Up-gradation.

Rashtriya Gokul Mission:

Rashtriya Gokul Mission has been initiated by Government of India in December 2014. The objectives of the Scheme are
to undertake breed improvement programme for
indigenous cattle breeds so as to improve the genetic makeup and increase the stock;
to enhance milk production and productivity of indigenous bovines;
to upgrade nondescript cattle using elite indigenous breeds like Gir, Sahiwal, Rathi, Deoni, Tharparkar, Red Sindhi; and
to distribute disease free high genetic merit bulls of indigenous breeds for natural service.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana:

The main objective of this scheme is creation of processing and preservation capacities and modernisation/expansion of existing food processing units with a view to increase the level of processing, value addition leading to reduction of wastage.
The processing activities undertaken by the individual units covers a wide range of postharvest processes resulting in value addition and/or enhancing shelf life with specialized facilities required for preservation of perishables. Under PMKSY, 32 projects have been sanctioned which are spread across almost 17 states.
Schemes such as Mega Food Parks, Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure, Creation/ Expansion of Food Processing/ Preservation Capacities (Unit Scheme), Infrastructure for Agro-processing Clusters, Creation of Backward and Forward Linkages, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Infrastructure and Human Resources and Institutions are to be implemented under PMKSY.

Mission for Integrated Development of horticulture (MIDh):

MIDH is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for the holistic growth of the horticulture sector.
Under it, Government of India contributes 60 percent of total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states except states in North East and Himalayas, and its 40 percent share is contributed by State Governments.
In the case of North Eastern States and Himalayan States, GOI contributes 90 percent. In case of National Horticulture Board (NHB), Coconut Development Board (CDB), Central Institute for Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland and the National Level Agencies (NLA), GOI contributes 100 percent. MIDH also provides technical advice and administrative support to State Governments/ State Horticulture Missions (SHMs) for the Saffron Mission and other horticulture related activities under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

Conclusion:

The various schemes launched and those which are running, aim to strengthen the population associated with agriculture and the allied sectors.
The second half of the population which is out of these sectors as well as a large portion of the country’s economy depends on the growth and prosperity of the production in this sector.
At the same time, the prosperity of the people associated with these sectors is the concern of the present government. As for a nation to sustain and grow each sector needs its work force and a work force which is happy.