Question 4GS3GS2

What are the major challenges faced by India's agriculture sector to achieve self-sufficiency in pulses and vegetable oils? Suggest measures to address these challenges.

Introduction

India imports around half of its needs for pulses from countries such as Mozambique, Myanmar, and vegetable oil from Brazil, Ukraine, Indonesia. This is due to low self-sufficiency in the production of pulses and oils.

35 words

Main Body

Major Challenges faced to achieve self-sufficiency:

Cereals-centric agricultural production - wheat, rice.

Oft-ended government policies of FCI

Low incentives to grow pulses and vegetable oils.

Declining area under cultivation of these crops.

Varieties of nature - climate change reducing their productivity.

Pest-attack reducing output.

Industrial burning of biomass

Burning of waste - plastic and biodegradation releasing PM and other gases.

Dust and sandstorms due in the summer season

Steps taken by the government

i) National Action Plan on Climate Change

a) National Solar Mission, National Wind Mission -> production of electricity from renewable sources

b) Green India Mission -> Trees. reduce the dust by acting as barriers

c) National Energy Efficiency Mission.

ii) National Clean Air Program (NCAP)

Reduce PM2.5 and PM10 by 40% by 2026 from 2017 levels.

iii) Air quality monitoring systems

iv) SAFAR weather forecast

v) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

vi) Odd-even formula.

— Aditya Agarwal · AIR 1

153 words4 paragraphs6 bullet points

Diagram

Circular diagram showing 'Major Challenges faced to achieve this' with branches pointing to six key challenges: cereals-centric production, FCI policies, low incentives, declining cultivation areas, climate change, and pest attacks

Answer continues on next page

Clear identification of import dependency with specific countries
Comprehensive list of challenges affecting production
Recognition of both structural and environmental factors
Use of visual diagram to organize information
Structured listing of causes and government steps
Specific data on NCAP targets

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Topper

Aditya Agarwal

AIR 1

Subject & Paper

GS3GS2

Topic

Government Policies and Interventions

Agriculture sector self-sufficiency

Pulses and vegetable oils production

Writing Stats

188

Total words

Paragraphs

Bullets

Structured, point-wise

Tone

Linked PYQ

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