Study Notes

Agriculture current affairs

1st Fortnight Nov 2022
Agriculture current affairs Nov 2022

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 Agriculture current affairs Nov 2022

Natural Farming
• Natural Farming is a chemical-free farming system rooted in Indian tradition enriched with
modern understanding of
ecology, resource recycling
and on-farm resource
optimization.
• It is considered as
agroecology based
diversified farming system
which integrates crops,
trees and livestock with
functional biodiversity. It is
largely based on on-farm
biomass recycling with major stress on biomass mulching, use of on-farm cow dung-urine
formulations; maintaining soil aeration and exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs.
• Natural farming is expected to reduce dependency on purchased inputs. It is considered as a
cost- effective farming practice with scope for increasing employment and rural development.

Aims and Objectives for Natural Farming promotion:

• Preserve natural flora and fauna
• Restore soil health and fertility and soil’s biological life
• Maintain diversity in crop production
• Efficient utilization of land and natural resources (light, air, water)

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 Agriculture current affairs Nov 2022

• Promote natural beneficial insects, animals and microbes in soil for nutrient recycling and
biological control of pests and diseases
• Promotion of local breeds for livestock integration
• Use of natural / local resource-based inputs
• Reduce input cost of agricultural production
• Improve economics of farmers

BHARTIYA PRAKRATIK KRISHI PADDHATI (BPKP)

• The Zero Budget Natural Farming has been renamed as Government started promoting
Natural Farming since 2019 through a sub-scheme- Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhti
(BPKP)under an umbrella scheme of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojna (PKVY).
• BPKP was aimed at promoting traditional indigenous practices which gives freedom to farmers
from externally purchased inputs and is largely based on on-farm biomass recycling with major
stress on biomass mulching, use of cow dung-urine formulations and plant based preparations
in exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs directly or indirectly.
• Under BPKP the financial assistances were provided for 3 years @ Rs. 12,200/ha.
Components of BPKP
• Deployment of manpower and management cost for 1000 ha Block level implementation of
programme including data management and uploading (@ Rs 4,500/ha for 3 years)
• Cluster formation and Capacity building including exposure visits, and trainings of field
functionaries (@ Rs 3,000/ha for 3 years)
• PGS certification & Residue analysis (@ Rs 2,700/ha for 3 years)
• Incentive to farmers as DBT (reduced from 31,000/ ha to Rs. 2,000/ha)

National Fisheries Development Board awarded “India Agribusiness

Awards 2022”
• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, a vibrant organization under
the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,
Government of India was one of the organization to be awarded with “India Agribusiness
Awards 2022” for the best Agribusiness Award under Fisheries Sector during the event for
commemorating the services & support extended to the fisheries sector by playing a crucial
and exemplary role dedicated to the stakeholders for supporting various need-based projects
for technology upgradation, species diversification in aquaculture, dissemination of new and
improved fish varieties, promoting seaweed cultivation, ornamental fisheries, training &
capacity building etc. to bring a significant increase in fish production and productivity, improve
the livelihoods of fishers, promote entrepreneurship opportunities in fisheries, employment
generation, promote hygienic handling and marketing of fish and increase fish consumption.

National Bio Energy Programme

• The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India has notified
the National Bioenergy Programme on November 2, 2022.

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 Agriculture current affairs Nov 2022

• MNRE has continued the National Bioenergy Programme for the period from FY 2021-22 to
2025-26.
• The Programme has been recommended for implementation in two Phases. The Phase-I of
the Programme has been approved with a budget outlay of Rs. 858 crore.
• The National Bioenergy Programme will comprise of the following sub-schemes:
• Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial and Agricultural
Wastes /Residues) to support setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding
MSW to Power projects).
• Biomass Programme (Scheme to Support Manufacturing of Briquettes & Pellets and
Promotion of Biomass (non-bagasse) based cogeneration in Industries) to support setting up
of pellets and briquettes for use in power generation and non-bagasse-based power
generation projects.
• Biogas Programme to support setting up of family and medium size Biogas in rural areas.

UNFCCC COP 27
Generation of UNFCCC

• 1979- First World Climate Conference (WCC)

• 1988- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is set up
• 1992- INC adopts UNFCCC at Earth Summit in Rio (UNCBD UNCCD)
• 1994- UNFCCC enters into force, March 21, 1994
• 1995- The first Conference of the Parties (COP 1) takes place in Berlin.
• 1997- Kyoto Protocol formally adopted in December at COP 3
• 2001- COP 7 (Marrakesh, Morocco), Setting the stage for ratification of the Kyoto
Protocol
• 2002- COP 8 (New Delhi, India) Delhi Declaration, Development needs of the poorest
countries and the need for technology transfer for mitigating climate change.
• 2015- COP 21 Paris Agreement adopted, To keep global temperatures "well below"
2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and "endeavor to limit" them even more, to 1.5C
• 2021- COP 26, Glasgow (UK), Net-zero target of 2070
• 2022 - COP 27 Sharm Al Sheikh
Kyoto Protocol
• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• 6 greenhouse gases; carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons, sulphur hexafluoride.
• Adopted in Kyoto, Japan on 11 December 1997.
• Came into force on 16 February 2005.
• 192 countries are parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
2015 COP 21 Paris Agreement adopted
• To keep global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and
"endeavor to limit" them even more, to 1.5C

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 Agriculture current affairs Nov 2022

• Rich countries should help poorer nations by providing "climate finance" to adapt to
climate change and switch to renewable energy.
• The agreement requires rich nations to maintain a $100bn a year funding pledge beyond
2020.
2021 COP 26, Glasgow (UK)
• New Global and Country Targets: countries to consider strengthening their 2030 targets
• The summit targeted global warming not to exceed +1.5°C and got about 140 countries
to announce target dates for bringing emissions down to net zero.
• India has also joined the consensus and announced its net-zero target of 2070.
• India also suggested a middle path calling for a “phase-down" of coal-based power.
• A potentially important development which emerged out of COP26 (but outside the COP
process) is the Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda endorsed by 42 countries (including
India).
• Also, a mechanism is being put in place to achieve the target of climate financing USD
100 billion by 2023
2022 COP 27 Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• 27th Session of Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC (COP 27) scheduled to be held at
Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt from 6-18 November, 2022.
• India will emphasize again on its invitation to all countries to join the LiFE movement
“Lifestyle for Environment, a pro-people and pro-planet effort that seeks to shift the world from
mindless and wasteful consumption to mindful and deliberate utilization of natural resources.”
LiFE- Lifestyle for Environment

LiFE
• The concept of LiFE was introduced by the Prime Minister at COP26 at Glasgow on 1
November 2021.
• On 5 June 2022, on World Environment Day, India furthered the vision of LiFE by
launching the LiFE Global Movement, inviting academicians, researchers and start-ups
across the world to think about specific and scientific ways to address the environment
crisis.
• Mission LiFE is designed with the objective to mobilize at least one billion Indians and
other global citizens to take individual and collective action for protecting and preserving
the environment in the period 2022 to 2027.