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Context: 

The Union Cabinet approved seven schemes at a total outlay of Rs 14,235.30 Crore.

About the schemes

1. Digital Agriculture Mission:

• Based on the structure of Digital Public Infrastructure.
• Total outlay: Rs 2.817 crores.
• Pillars

1.  Agri Stack
2. Farmers registry
3. Village land maps registry
4. Crop Sown Registry
5. Krishi Decision Support System
6. Geospatial data
7. Drought/flood monitoring
8. Weather/satellite data
9. Groundwater/water availability data
10. Modelling for crop yield and insurance

Read about agristack:https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/india-digital-ecosystem-of-agriculture-idea-42

2. Crop science for food and nutritional security:

• The initiative will prepare farmers for climate resilience and provide for food security by 2047.
• Total outlay: Rs 3,979 crore.
• Pillars:

1. Research and education
2. Plant genetic resource management
3. Genetic improvement for food and fodder crop
4. Pulse and oilseed crop improvement
5. Improvement of commercial crops
6. Research on insects, microbes, pollinators etc.

  3. Strengthening Agricultural Education, Management and Social Sciences:

• It will prepare agriculture students and researchers for current challenges.
• Total outlay: Rs 2,291 Crore.
• Pillars:

1. Under Indian Council of Agri Research
2. Modernising agri research and education
3. In line with New Education Policy 2020
4. Use the latest technology such as Digital DPI, AI, big data, remote, etc
5. Include natural farming and climate resilience

4. Sustainable livestock health and production:

• The decision aims to Increase farmers' income from livestock and dairy.
• Total outlay: Rs 1,702 crore.
• Pillars:

1. Animal health management and veterinary education
2. Dairy production and technology development
3. Animal genetic resource management, production and improvement
4. Animal nutrition and small ruminant production and development

Read about livestock sector in India:https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/livestock-sector-in-india#:~:text=The%20livestock%20sector%20contributed%20approximately,22%20(at%20constant%20prices).

5. Sustainable development of Horticulture:

• The measure is aimed at increasing farmers’ income from horticulture plants.
• Total outlay: Rs 1129.30 crore.
• Pillars:

1. Tropical, sub-tropical and temperate horticulture crops
2. Root, tuber, bulbous and arid crops
3. Vegetable, floriculture, and mushroom crops
4. Plantation, spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants

Read about horticulture in India:https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/national-horticulture-board

6. Strengthening of Krishi Vigyan Kendra

with an outlay of Rs 1,202 crore

Read about KVKs:https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/krishi-vigyan-kendra-kvk#:~:text=A%20Krishi%20Vigyan%20Kendra%20(KVK,in%20a%20practical%2C%20localized%20setting.

7. Natural Resource Management

with an outlay of Rs 1,115 crore

Digital Public Infrastructure or DPI ●It is an evolving concept, but there is growing consensus on it being a combination of (i) networked open technology standards built for public interest, (ii) enabling governance, and (iii) a community of innovative and competitive market players working to drive innovation, especially across public programmes. ●In other words it is an interoperable, inclusive and open standard based ecommerce marketplace that enables effortless product visibility and efficient sale transactions between the buyer and seller applications. ●DPI serves as the foundation for the deployment of essential digital services to citizens and users, to bridge the gap between technology and the public. ●India's Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an example of an open network DPI. For more details on DPI refer: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/digital-public-infrastructure

Important articles for reference

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/agriculture-infrastructure-fund-49

https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/should-india-focus-on-natural-farming-exploring-alternative-perspectives

Sources:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2050900

https://www.undp.org/digital/digital-public-infrastructure

 

PRACTICE QUESTION Q) Recently seven new schemes for agriculture has been approved in India, In this context consider the following statements: Crop science for food and nutritional security initiative will prepare farmers for climate resilience and provide for food security by 2030. Strengthening Agricultural Education, Management and Social Sciences is based on digital public infrastructure. Research on insects, microbes, pollinators etc, is mandated under Crop science for food and nutritional security. How many of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None   Answer: (a)   Explanation Statement 1 is incorrect and 3 is correct: Crop science for food and nutritional security initiative will prepare farmers for climate resilience and provide for food security by 2047 not 2030. It has following pillars: Research and education Plant genetic resource management Genetic improvement for food and fodder crop Pulse and oilseed crop improvement Improvement of commercial crops Research on insects, microbes, pollinators etc. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Digital Agriculture Mission is based on the structure of Digital Public Infrastructure.