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Recently, scientists from various institutions in Japan worked together on a study reported in the journal Science Advances. 

Breakthrough in Quantum Computing With Stable Room Temperature Qubits

• The Japanese study focused on a system with zirconium as the metal component and an organic molecule containing the chromophore pentacene connecting the metal atoms.
• They discovered a way to create qubits, the building blocks of quantum computers, at room temperature using a metal-organic framework (MOF).

What Is Qubit?

• It is the fundamental unit of information in quantum computing. 
• It is a two-state (or two-level) quantum-mechanical system.
  • It uses the quantum mechanical principle of superposition to combine two states linearly.
    • This quality of superposition is unique to quantum systems as it  is not present in the bits of traditional computers. 
    • These superposed states, also referred to as coherent superpositions.
      • It plays a significant role in quantum information processing methods.

Challenges With Qubits:

• Qubits’ superposition feature is special but is fragile  due to interactions with other systems. 
• They should be the same to make a quantum device which is very difficult. 
  • They are manufactured so there are chances of small errors. 

About Chromophores

• Chromophores are molecules that absorb specific colors of light due to which it helps in giving objects their dominant color.
• For instance, the green color of numerous plant leaves results from chlorophyll, a chromophore that mainly absorbs red and blue light from sunlight.
• Chromophores cause coloration due to which it is commonly referred to as “color molecules”. 
• When a chromophore absorbs light, it enters a higher energy level known as an excited state.

• In its ground state, a chromophore molecule has a pair of electrons with opposite spins, known as a singlet configuration.
• • Singlet configuration occurs when the spins of two electrons point in opposite directions, resulting in a total spin of zero.
• Excitation involves electrons moving to higher energy levels similar  to climbing up a ladder.
  • A singlet excited state arises when electrons on different energy levels have opposite spins, while a triplet excited state occurs when electrons on different levels have spins in the same direction. 
• The process, where a singlet excited state chromophore produces two triplet excited chromophores, is called singlet fission. 
  • This energy transfer occurs as the two chromophores interact.

New Source: Thehindu

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A Memorandum of understanding (MOU) is signed for anaemia control among adolescent girls through Ayurvedic interventions under Mission Utkarsh.

Govt Launches Anaemia Project For Adolescent Girls Under Mission Utkarsh

• Aim: To prevent anaemia in adolescent girls  by  providing cost effective and palatable Ayush medicines for better compliance with minimum adverse effects. 
• Nodal ministries: Ministry of Women and Child Development and Ministry of Ayush
• The coordinating agency:  Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS).
• Execution: The project will be executed in the five districts through Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Guwahati; All India Institute for Ayurveda, New Delhi; CARI, Bhubaneshwar; Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Nagpur and National Institute Ayurveda, Jaipur.
• Assessment and evaluation: The results of the project will be evaluated by premier institutions like the Public Health Foundation of India’s IIPH, Delhi, AIIMS Delhi, and ICMR giving it an empirical nature.

The Project On Anaemia Control Under Mission Utkarsh

• Pilot: The project  will be piloted first in the 5 Aspirational districts of  Dhubri (Assam),  Bastar (Chattisgarh), Paschimi Singhbhum (Jharkhand),  Gadchiroli (Maharashtra)  and Dholpur (Rajasthan)
  • Approximately  94,000 adolescent girls between the age group of 14-18 years registered under Poshan Tracker at nearly 10,000 Anganwadi Centres will be benefit.
• Duration: 1 year
• Objective: 15 central ministries or departments will work to elevate districts at the bottom in nutritional measures  to state and national averages.

• Interventions: 

  • Availability of medicines: Classical Ayurveda medicines (Drakshavaleha and Punarnavadi mandoor) will be provided for a period of 3 months  for better nutrition to improve the health of the anemic adolescent girls 
  • Promotion of wellness: Ministry will also take up a joint venture with Ministry of Ayush and ICMR for effective interventions like Yoga in Polycystic Ovarian Disease (PCOD) among adolescent girls and overall wellness,
  • Diet Diversity: To leverage traditional knowledge, and promote diet diversity through the consumption of locally grown wholesome foods.

News source: PIB

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The Indian Supreme Court has instructed the central government to review the issue of granting permanent commission to eligible women short-service commission officers of the force.  

• The bench also requested the Centre to develop a policy on the issue that is fair to both genders.

Permanent Commission

• Permanent Commission means having a long-term job in the Indian armed forces until retirement. 
  • It provides stability and a complete career path within the military.
• PC officers can rise through the ranks and attain higher positions.

Short Service Commission

• Short Service Commission (SSC) is a temporary service arrangement in the armed forces. 
• Officers serving under SSC have a set period of time to serve, usually around 10-14 years.
• SSC Officers do not receive pension benefits.
  • This means they do not receive retirement benefits like regular permanent officers.
• After completing SSC, officers can choose civilian life or other professions.

Significance of Giving Permanent Commission to Women Officers in the Indian Coast Guard

• Equality: Granting Permanent Commission to women officers promotes gender equality by acknowledging their skills and commitment.
• Career Security: It ensures job stability and advancement opportunities, enabling officers to make lasting contributions.
• Operational Consistency: Permanent officers maintain consistent leadership and operational roles, ensuring smooth functioning over time.

Reason For Not Giving Permanent Commission to Women Officers in the Indian Coast Guard

• Operational and functional Difference: As per ICG,   There is a point of functionality difference as the Coast Guard functions differently from the Army and Navy“.
• Traditional Gender Roles: Historically, military roles, including those within the Coast Guard, have been predominantly occupied by men due to traditional societal norms and perceptions regarding gender roles. 
• Incorrect assumptions about physical abilities: There are some arguments that women may lack the necessary physical strength or stamina for specific roles in the Coast Guard. This viewpoint overlooks individual capabilities and unfairly discriminates based on gender.
• Safety and Privacy Concerns: There are concerns about the safety, privacy, and insufficient facilities for women in combat environments. 
• Disruption of effectiveness: Integrating women may necessitate substantial shifts in attitude among male personnel which could impact unit cohesion and effectiveness.

News Source: Thehindu

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Recently, Researchers from BRIC-THSTI Faridabad and IIT Madras have developed an India-specific model to determine the age of a foetus in a pregnant woman in the second and third trimesters precisely. 

About Garbhini-GA2

Garbhini-GA2 is a polynomial regression computer model, developed using the genetic algorithm-based method (using data from the GARBH-Ini study, which focused on pregnant women in North India).

• This model incorporated three of the five routinely measured ultrasonographic parameters during the second and third trimesters to calculate the fetus’s age accurately. 
• The model was trained on over 2000 ultrasound scans from Indian women with known pregnancy dates from the first trimester. 
• It demonstrated its superior accuracy compared to older formulas such as Hadlock and INTERGROWTH.

Challenges With Existing Methods  

Currently, doctors rely on formulas designed for Western populations to estimate the age of Indian fetuses, but these formulas become less reliable as the pregnancy progresses due to variations in growth patterns between Indian and Western babies. 

Significance of Garbhini-GA2

• Precision in Gestational Age Estimation 

  • In India, many pregnant women receive late prenatal care, leading to challenges in accurately dating pregnancies. 
  • Garbhini-GA2 fills this gap by providing tailored gestational age estimates based on Indian-specific data, thereby improving care and planning. 

• Facilitate better Clinical Practice 

  • Enhancing clinical outcomes for both mothers and babies :
    • It enables more precise scheduling of interventions and planning of neonatal care in accordance with the anticipated delivery date.

• Better Strategy for Public Health Policies & Resource Allocation

• • At the population level, Garbhini-GA2 can enhance estimates of preterm birth and other gestation-dependent outcomes.

News Source: The Hindu

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Every four years, a significant event occurs in the world of Bitcoin known as “Bitcoin halving” and the next Bitcoin Halving is due to take place around April this year. 

Bitcoin Halving 2024

• Initiation: This Bitcoin Having cycle commenced with the first halving event in 2012, reducing the block reward from 50 BTC to 25 BTC. 
• Subsequent Halvings: It occurred in 2016 and 2020, further halving the reward to 12.5 BTC and 6.25 BTC, respectively. 
• New Halving: It is scheduled in mid April 2024 when only 3.12 Bitcoin will be emitted every block.

About Bitcoin Halving

• The Bitcoin Halving refers to the 50% reduction in the reward paid to Bitcoin miners who successfully process other people’s cryptocurrency transactions so that they can be added to the public digital ledger known as the blockchain.
• A Regulation Mechanism: Bitcoin halving serves as a mechanism to regulate the issuance of new Bitcoin rewards to miners, who play a vital role in securing the network. 
• Distinct Market Phases: Examining historical patterns surrounding Bitcoin halving events reveals distinct market phases. 
  • Pre-Halving: It precedes the event, fueled by speculation and anticipation of reduced supply. 
  • Post-Halving: It is a period of reaccumulation ensues as the market consolidates before embarking on a parabolic run-up to new all-time highs.

Factors Impacting Bitcoin Halving

• X-factor of Institutional Demand: This time, there is the added X-factor of institutional demand.
  • The influx of institutional capital has amplified the effects of halving events, contributing to increased market volatility and speculation.
• Liquidity: It plays a pivotal role in shaping Bitcoin’s price trajectory during halving events. 
  • Liquidity injections, coupled with monetary stimulus, can exacerbate the effects of halving events, leading to heightened market volatility and potential high runs.
• Multiple Factors: The interplay between supply, demand, institutional adoption, and market liquidity.
  • Both corporate and independent Bitcoin miners are spread across the world, trying to leverage cheap electricity prices in countries like Kazakhstan and Iran to mine as much Bitcoin as they can. 

Impacts of Bitcoin Halving

• Increase of Value: Bitcoin Halving reduces the rate at which these coins are released, making the asset more scarce.
  • Economic theory suggests that scarcity fuels demand, potentially leading to upward price pressure. 
• Expand the User’s Base: As the price increases, it attracts more people to Bitcoin, expanding the network’s user base by following the principles of Metcalfe’s law and Reed’s law. 
  • Metcalfe’s Law: It states that the value of a network is proportional to the square of the number of its users.
  • Reed’s Law: It highlights the exponential growth potential of networks through group formation. 
• On Investors: It depends on the investor and the extent of their involvement with Bitcoin and its ecosystem.
  • A corporate-level miner is probably desperate to earn their block reward these last days while it is still set at 6.25 BTC rather than the much lower 3.125 BTC.
  • A new trader, who has invested a small sum of money and knows nothing about the underlying blockchain technology might not have a severe impact.
  • A more experienced trader might try increasing their Bitcoin investment in the hope of benefiting from a possible price spike.

Conclusion

Bitcoin halving serves as a critical component of its monetary policy, its implications extend far beyond the reduction of miner rewards, offering insights into the evolution of the cryptocurrency landscape. Understanding these nuances is essential for navigating the complexities of Bitcoin and deciphering its future path.

News Source: The Hindu

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Recently, The Prime Minister has paid tributes to Veer Savarkar on his Punya Tithi.

Vinayak Damodar Veer Savarkar: Biography

• He is also known as Swatantryaveer Savarkar or Veer Savarkar in Marathi, was a freedom fighter, politician, lawyer and a writer.
• Born: on May 28, 1883, in Bhagur Village, Nashik, Maharashtra. 

His Contribution in India’s Freedom of Struggle

• He coined the Hindu nationalist ideology of ‘Hindutva’. and 
• He was a pivotal leader in the ‘Hindu Mahasabha’ in 1907 . 
• Involvement in Politics: 
  • As a high school student, Savarkar became involved in politics and continued to do so at Fergusson College in Pune. 
  • During his legal studies in the United Kingdom, Veer Savarkar got involved in organizations such as the India House and the Free India Society.
• Literary Work:  “The Indian War of Independence,” which depicted the Indian revolt of 1857.
• Due to his association with the India House, He was arrested in 1910 and was deported to India.

Veer Savarkar’s Years in Prison

• Savarkar was sentenced to two life imprisonments and was sent to the cellular jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, also known as Kala Pani, in 1911. 
• During his prison years, He wrote a Hindu ideological pamphlet named Hindutva: Who is a Hindu?.
• He was released from prison in 1924. 
• After his release he played a major role in the ‘Ratnagiri Hindu Sabha’. 
• From February 1966, Savarkar began to fast unto death, forsaking food, water and medicines . 
• He passed away on February 26, 1966.

News Source: PIB

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This article is based on the news “How the nod to critical pesticides will bolster India’s agricultural progress” which was published in the live mint. The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry decided to continue with the use of 24 critical pesticides.

Government’s Decision to Continue Use of 24 Critical Pesticides

• The government of India after an extensive review of 27 pesticides through an appointed Expert Committee decided to continue the use of 24 pesticides.
  • The three pesticides banned are Dicofol, Dinocap, and Methomyl.
• This decision has been welcomed and lauded by the agriculture community, including small-holding farmers as they have been already safely using these products for the last decades on multiple crops.

About Pesticides

• A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, or controlling any pest.

Classification of Pesticides in terms of Chemical Classes

• Organic Pesticides

  • They are usually considered as those pesticides that come from natural sources. These natural sources are usually plants, as in the case of pyrethrum, rotenone, or ryania (botanical insecticides)
  • They are classified according to their chemical structure, such as chlorohydrocarbon, insecticides, organophosphorus insecticides, etc

• Inorganic Pesticides

• • They do not contain carbon elements in their chemical structure. They are typically derived from mineral ores extracted from the earth.
    • It includes copper sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper, lime, and sulfur.

• Classification of Pesticides by Different Targets of Pests:

• • Eg, Fungicides – Fungi, 
  • Insecticides – Insects, 
  • Herbicides – Plants, and 
  • Rodenticides – Rodent (mice and rats)

Status of Pesticides In India

• Stats of Pesticides Use: According to FAO, India used over 61,000 tonnes of pesticides in 2020, which is relatively lower than that of Brazil, China, and Argentina
  • Currently, 104 pesticides are being manufactured in India among 293 registered pesticides.
• Fourth Largest Producer: India is the fourth largest producer of pesticides in the world. The Indian pesticides market was worth Rs 197 billion in 2018 according to a report by the database Research and Markets.
  • Major Exporting Destinations: USA, Japan, China, and Brazil.
  • Exported Agrochemical: The most prominent agrochemicals exported include Mancozeb, Acephate, Chlorpyrifos, Cypermethrin, and Profenos.
• States Consuming Most Pesticides: Maharashtra has consumed the most chemical pesticides in India in the past five years at 61, 138 tonnes, followed by UP and Punjab.

Benefits of Pesticides

• Boost Yield:

  • By minimizing crop losses, pesticides enable farmers to produce more food on the same amount of land, contributing to global food security and affordability.
  • About one-third of agricultural products are produced using pesticides. 
  • Without the use of pesticides, there would be a 78% loss of fruit production, a 54% loss of vegetable production, and a 32% loss of cereal production.

• Enhance Farmer Income and Guarantee Food Security:

  • Doubling Farmer’s Income: India has set a goal to double farmer’s income. Higher incomes are a function of two factors – higher yields and lower costs which can be possible by the use of these 24 pesticides.
  • Improved Crop Quality: By controlling pests that blemish or damage crops, they can help maintain higher quality produce, allowing farmers to command better prices for their crops in the market.
  • Reduced Losses: Pests can significantly damage crops which can be minimized with pesticides and a larger portion of the harvest will reach the market contributing to farmers’ income.
    • Insect pests can create crop damage between 20-30% including grains stored in the warehouse.
  • Increased Efficiency: By controlling weeds and other pests, they can reduce the need for manual labour in tasks like weeding and pest control. This can not only improve efficiency but also save farmers time and money.

• Expand the Scope of Export Potential:

  • Agri Export Targets: Agriculture accounts for 14% of merchandise exports and the value of India’s agricultural exports was $52 billion in the year 2022-23 according to the Commerce Ministry.
    • The ministry has set a target for commodities exports to cross $100 billion. 
  • Overcoming Export Challenges: To promote agriculture exports the government has already placed curbs on exports of wheat and rice and tightened restrictions on sugar and onion exports.
    • According to the Commerce Ministry’s estimates, the continuity of the pesticides will ensure Rs. 10,000 crores of exports.

Issues with Pesticides

• Increased Risk to Human Health: Inappropriate use of pesticides may lead to increased risks to human health and the environment.
  • Farmers are exposed to pesticide-contaminated soils via different pathways such as dermal contact, direct ingestion, and inhalation.
  • The most widely known organochlorine pesticide has been associated with health effects, such as endocrine disorders, lipid metabolism etc.
• Soil Degradation: They can also harm the microorganisms that live in soil, which are essential for solid health leading to decreased fertility and erosion.
  • From 1990 to 2018, there have been registered amounts of used pesticides by all countries, especially in Asia and America.
  • The world average quantity has increased from 1.55 kg per hectare in 1990 to 2.36 kg per hectare.
• Pesticide Runoff: When pesticides are applied to crops, some of them can wash off the plants and into the soil and water. This can contaminate surface water, groundwater and even drinking water supplies.
  • In 2017, pesticides were found in 80% of groundwater bodies, with approximately a quarter of these exceeding the regulatory threshold of 0.5 μg/L for total detected and quantified pesticides and their metabolites
• Harmful to Wildlife: They can harm non-target organisms, such as birds, fish, and bees. This can disrupt ecosystems and reduce biodiversity.
  • Recent studies prove that pesticides such as neonicotinoid insecticides and herbicides such as glyphosate play major roles in the decline of insects.

Regulations of Pesticides in India

Pesticides are regulated in India through the Insecticides Act 1968 and Insecticides Rules 1971.

• Insecticides Act, of 1968: It was brought with a view of regulating the import, manufacturing, sale, transport, distribution, and use of insecticides and pesticides to prevent the risk to human beings and animals.
  • The experiences in administering this act over the last five decades have exposed certain gaps.
  • In this context, the Union Cabinet approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020.

Way Ahead

• Cut Down Exposure Risk: Using drones, satellites, artificial intelligence, and sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT) will help farmers deliver more precise doses of pesticides.
  • These technologies will make it possible for farmers to spray their fields remotely and cut down exposure risks.
• Safety Advancements: The Agriculture Ministry mentions that the concerns regarding the safety of pesticide use are addressed through rigorous scientific evaluation, showing a significant reduction in the dosage of pesticides used today compared to the past.
  • The dosage of pesticides used today is 30-40% lower than in the past.
  • Internationally, Indian pesticide products are deemed safe by key export markets like the US, Brazil, Japan, Belgium, Argentina, and Australia.
  • As per the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) “the three-year average (2017-19) pesticide residues found in agriculture commodities was 2.6% compared to developed nations like the US at 2.8%, EU at 4.2%, and the UK at 5.8%
• Greater Say to State Governments: State governments should have the power to regulate pesticides as they have a better idea about the agro-ecological aspects of their state.
• Green Alternative: Today, there are proven, successful alternative agro-ecological methods for pest management, both in India and globally, without the need for chemical pesticides. Continued research and innovation should accelerate the phase-out of chemical.
• • The government is actively promoting organic farming through schemes like Paramapragat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY).

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This article is based on the news “Express View on government’s new grain storage plan: More in store” which was published in the Indian Express. Recently, the Indian Prime Minister launched the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector”. 

World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan Carried Out in 11 States

• Approval: To address the shortage of foodgrain storage capacity in the country, the government has approved this plan in May 2023.
• The project is being carried out in 11 states by primary agricultural credit societies (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka and Telangana). 
• Vision: Thousands of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) from across the country will join it in the next couple of years to reach 100% storage capacity before 2027.

Need for Grain Storage

• Ensuring Food Security: India holds 11% of the World’s total Cultivable Area and 18% of the Total World Population. India runs the world’s largest food programme under the National Food Security Act, of 2013, which covers about 81 crore people. Therefore, to ensure the food security of a billion-plus population, a robust network of foodgrain storage facilities becomes essential.
• Shortage of Storage: Based on the FAO Statistical Data 2021, total Food Grain Production in India is 311 MMT and total Storage Capacity in India is only 145 MMT, i.e., a shortage of 166 MMT of Storage. 
• • There is surplus Storage capacity in other countries at 131%, while in India there is a shortfall of 47%. 
• Embodying the Vision of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi”: Recognizing the significance of cooperatives as a potent force for economic growth, the government represents the vision of “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation). 
  • To drive this vision, the Ministry of Cooperation has introduced an unprecedented initiative—the ‘World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in the Cooperative Sector.
• National Food Security Act (NFSA): It aims to provide food security to eligible beneficiaries by ensuring access to adequate food grains at subsidised prices, which requires good storage facilities to counter deterioration challenges and enhance the longevity of seeds and crops.
• Regional Disparities: In India, the storage capacity varies across various regions.
  • Example: Some southern states have a storage capacity of 90% and above, while northern states have capacities below 50%.

About the World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan

It is India’s ambitious plan in the cooperative sector that is poised to revolutionise agriculture and the Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. 

• To Enable PACS Participation: The Plan entails the creation of various agri infrastructures at the PACS level, including setting up decentralised godowns, custom hiring centres, Fair Price Shops, etc. The Budgetary Allocation: Though the plan does not have a separate allocation, it will be implemented by converging 8 schemes. (Refer to image).
• Financial Support by NABARD: Refinancing PACS at highly subsidised rates of around 1% after incorporating the benefits of 3% interest subvention under the Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) scheme for projects up to Rs. 2 Crore.  
• Implemented by: The National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) with the support of NABARD, Food Corporation of India (FCI), Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC), NABARD Consultancy Services (NABCONS), National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC), etc. in different States/ UTs. 
• An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC): It has been constituted to ensure accountability and smooth, effective and transparent implementation of the plan.
• A National Level Coordination Committee (NLCC): It has also been constituted having members from Ministry/Departments, Central Government agencies concerned to steer the overall implementation of the Plan and reviewing the progress of implementation, etc.
• Monitoring: State Cooperative Development Committee (SCDC) at State level and District Cooperative Development Committee (DCDC) in each District of the State/UT have also been constituted.
• Aim:
• • To set up a storage infrastructure of 700 lakh metric tons. 
  • To double the Existing Storage Statistics
  • To set up a network of integrated grain storage facilities through PACS nationwide. 
  • Strengthen the Economic Condition of PACS

Benefits of Increase in the Grain Storage Infrastructure

• Reduction in Post-harvesting Losses: By creating sufficient storage capacity in the country and strengthening food security of the country up to Panchayat/village level.
• Bring down the Food Grain Handling and Transportation Cost: Since PACS would be operating as a procurement center as well as Fair Price Shops (FPS), the cost incurred in transportation of food grains to procurement centers and again transporting the stocks back from warehouses to FPS would also be saved.
• Ensuring Food Security: This Plan would help in ensuring food security at Panchayat/ village level across the country, thereby benefiting the consumers.
• An Efficient Food Supply Chain: By leveraging the extensive network of PACS, the plan aims to bridge the gap between farm produce and consumer demand, ensuring a stable and efficient food supply chain.
• Various Benefits to Farmers:
• • Farmers would have a choice to sell their produce depending on the market conditions, and not be forced into distress sale.
  • They will be able to get various agri inputs and services at the Panchayat/ village level.
  • By diversifying their businesses, farmers will be able to get additional sources of income.
  • Through integration with the food supply management chain, farmers can expand their market size and realise better value for their produce.
  • Reduction of post-harvest loss will lead to enabling farmers to earn better prices.

Challenges that Need to be Tackled

• Non-functional PACS: A large number of PACS are currently dysfunctional. 
  • Example: Only about 63,000 out of 1 lakh PACS are currently operational in India.  
• Bureaucratic Challenges: The convergence and coordination of various schemes might present intricate bureaucratic challenges.  
  • Multiplicity of institutions with cross-cutting objectives are likely to dilute their effectiveness.
• Lack of Infrastructure & Technology: Setting up modern storage facilities and implementing digital solutions might pose a challenge given the rural setting and the potential lack of technological infrastructure.  
• On Skill Development: The plan could generate local employment opportunities, however it would require skilled people to operate and manage the advanced storage facilities, which poses a challenge of skill development.  
• Governance Issues: Placing food storage under the purview of agricultural cooperative societies appears to be puzzling in the context of another high-profile government initiative FPOs. 
  • FPOs are also involved in post-harvest handling of the produce that may come in conflict with the agriculture co-operatives.
• Inefficient Functioning of Agriculture Cooperatives: The inefficient functioning of agriculture co-operatives is widely acknowledged, still handing over the implementation of the storage infrastructure along with financial responsibilities lie on it.
  • However, FPOs are being run as businesses with better governance structure.
• Maintenance of Infrastructure: It is easy to create infrastructure but managing and maintaining it is a bigger challenge. India has an unenviable record of maintaining its infrastructure, be it FCI storage, drinking water systems, irrigation systems, etc. 
  • Capital maintenance expenditure (Capex) is rarely incorporated into annual budgets. More importantly, none of these systems are financially viable due to various reasons.
• Other Problems: It includes elite capture, bureaucratic/political interference and poor marketing. The measures being taken to resolve them need to be spelled out.

Actions taken by the Government to Support Cooperatives

• The new storage plan points towards the increasing emphasis the government is placing on cooperatives. 
• The Government had previously outlined a plan to establish two lakh primary agricultural credit societies (PACS), dairy and fisheries cooperatives in the country.
• The Union Budget 2023-24 flagged the initiation of the process of computerisation of 63,000 PACS with an investment of Rs 2,516 crore. 
• The formation of a Ministry of Cooperation in 2021, is also indicative of this Cooperatives priority.

Way Forward

• Quality Infrastructure: Modernizing the existing storage infrastructure should be a priority, especially for perishable commodities (fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, fish, etc.).
  • In the case of perishables, processing can increase the longevity of the food and may reduce its nutrition value. Hence, modern technologies are required for ensuring high quality processing.
• Judicious Planning: India has the storage capacity for only one-eighth of its annual perishable produce. This requires judicious planning and estimation of storage requirements for different products across the regions of the country.
• Revival of PACS: These societies need to be revived and made operational to receive the best of potential of the plan.
• Address Climate Change Impact: Efforts need to be made to mitigate the impact of climate change on foodgrain storage by using modern technologies.  
• Encouragement to the Private Sector: To work on the poor track record of co-operatives, the Centre tried to encourage the private sector to invest in marketing infrastructure.
• Focus on Private-Public-People (PPP) Initiative: To gain more positivity, there would be a focus on the private-public-people (PPP) initiative along the lines of FPOs. 
  • Even bringing it under the umbrella of FPO would have been a better option.
• Use of Hermetic Storage: Hermetic storage is an airtight storage technology for agricultural commodities. It uses the concept of a modified atmosphere to protect commodities that are sensitive to moisture. 
  • It removes the possibility of pest infestation by preventing gas exchange from the surrounding environment. Lack of interaction with the atmosphere also ensures the stored commodities are free from toxic substances like aflatoxin. 

Conclusion

As India works towards achieving its global commitments and fostering sustainable agricultural practices, the storage capacity expansion plan is a shining example of India’s dedication to economic growth, food security, and rural development.

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