Farmers Raise Concerns Over Poor-Quality Seeds, Pesticides, and Loss of Farmland

Challenges

Way Forward

1. Damage to crops due to climate change and diseases in crops.

1. A variety of seeds and crops should be developed which is adaptive to climate change and diseases.

2. Increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables via technological changes might help

2. Sale of substandard seeds and pesticides.

1. Enact a strict regulatory law to ensure only certified, high-quality agricultural inputs are sold.

3. Shrinking agricultural land due to urbanisation, industrialisation and infrastructure development.

1. Formulate a National Land-Use Policy to protect arable land and ensure sustainable development.

2. Technological changes like experimenting with solar panels on the top and growing fruits and vegetables below are being carried out.

3. Techniques like Hydroponics can be used, which require less land for agriculture.

4. Lack of a unified approach among institutions and ministries

1. Strengthen coordination under the ‘One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team’ concept to align agricultural policy execution.

5. Poor rural infrastructure (roads, irrigation, markets)

Invest in rural infrastructure, including cold chains, irrigation, and digital connectivity.

Hydroponics:

1. It is a way of growing plants without soil. Instead, plants are grown in water mixed with nutrients they need to grow.
2. How it requires less land:
   1. Since soil is not used, plants can be grown vertically in layers — like shelves — using less ground space.
   2. It allows more plants in a smaller area, making it ideal for cities or places with little farmland.
   3. Controlled environments also make growth faster and more efficient, increasing yield per square foot.
3. Example: Growing spinach or tomatoes in stacked trays inside a greenhouse.

One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team:

1. It brings all departments, scientists, and institutions together to work as a single team.
2. It ensures farmers get timely support, advice, and benefits without confusion or delays.
3. Reduces duplication of efforts and promotes coordinated action across states and ministries.
4. Helps implement schemes better and makes agriculture more productive and farmer-friendly.

Ensure IAS Mains Question:

Q. Despite several reforms and schemes, Indian agriculture continues to face structural challenges like poor-quality inputs, shrinking land, and inadequate income. Examine these issues and suggest a multi-pronged approach to address them. (250 words)

Ensure IAS Prelims Question:

Q. With reference to challenges faced by Indian agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. Hydroponics allows the cultivation of crops without soil and can help reduce land usage.
2. Unregulated sale of seeds and pesticides can lead to crop failure and farmer distress.
3. The 'One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team' initiative focuses on increasing the MSP for major crops.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: a
Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using nutrient-rich water instead. It allows for vertical farming, which uses less land and is ideal for urban or land-scarce regions.

Statement 2 is correct: Farmers often face crop failure and losses due to low-quality or fake seeds and pesticides. Without regulation and accountability in agri-input supply chains, it directly affects productivity and income.

Statement 3 is incorrect: ‘One Nation, One Agriculture, One Team’ is not about MSP. It refers to a collaborative governance model to bring various departments, scientists, and institutions together for coordinated agricultural development, not pricing reforms.