Context

Recently, US Surgeons said it’s the first time a pig kidney has been transplanted into a living person.

Xenotransplantation: Transplant Pig Kidney Into a Patient

• Previously, pig kidneys have been temporarily transplanted into brain-dead donors. 
• Pig Kidney Success (September 2021): In New York Hospital, a gene-edited pig kidney was successfully transplanted into a brain-dead patient. 
• Modified Pig Heart (January 2022 – University of Maryland): Doctors used a genetically modified pig heart for a patient with no other options. 
• German Organ Farm Initiative: A German doctor plans to establish a farm for cultivating genetically modified organs, aiming to address organ scarcity and enhance transplantation possibilities.

About Xenotransplantation

• A Transplantation Process: 

  • Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting organs from one species to another, particularly from animals to humans.It is any procedure that involves the transplantation, implantation or infusion into a human recipient of either:
    • Live cells, tissues, or organs from a non-human animal source.
    • Human body fluids, cells, tissues or organs that have had ex-vivo contact with live non-human animal cells, tissues or organs.
      • Ex-vivo contact: It refers to a medical procedure in which an organ, cells, or tissue are taken from a living body for a treatment or procedure, and then returned to the living body.

• Need for Xenotransplantation:

• • Xenotransplantation is seen as an alternative to the clinical transplantation of human organs whose demand around the world is increasing.
    • Currently, over 100,000 individuals are on the national waiting list for organ transplants, with a majority of them in need of kidneys.
  • The recent advancements, including genetic modifications in pigs to render their organs more compatible with humans, have revitalized hopes of addressing the critical shortage of donated organs.

Reason to Choose Pigs (Sus scrofa domestica) for Transplantation

• Easy to Raise: They offer advantages over primates for organ procurements, because they are easier to raise and achieve adult human size in six months.
• Similar Physiology & Anatomy: The pig’s anatomical and physiological parameters are similar to that of humans and the breeding of pigs in farms is widespread and cost-effective.
• Matched with the Need: Many varieties of pig breeds are farmed, which provides an opportunity for the size of the harvested organs to be matched with the specific needs of the human recipient.

Ethical Issues in Xenotransplantation

• Animal Rights: Critics from the animal rights movement argue that xenotransplantation disregards the rights of animals. They assert that animals have intrinsic rights that should not be violated for human benefit.
• Anthropocentrism and Moral Responsibility: Xenotransplantation often reflects an anthropocentric view, where humans prioritize their needs over animals. This philosophy raises ethical concerns and is seen as a contributing factor to ecological crises.
• Medical Implications: Xenotransplants pose substantial risks due to the potential for organ rejection and unknown consequences. 
• Religious Conflicts: Transplanting pig organs may create ethical conflicts for individuals whose religious principles prohibit interactions with pigs, potentially limiting their medical options.

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Context

The Supreme Court has formed a committee  to address the endangerment of the Great Indian Bustard bird population while considering India’s commitment to renewable energy.

Supreme Court Forms Expert Panel to Balance Great Indian Bustard Conservation

• Committee’s primary task: The committee’s primary task is to assess the feasibility of underground and overhead electric lines in key habitats of the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
  • It will explore alternative measures to balance sustainable development goals with bird conservation efforts.

About Great Indian Bustard Bird

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• Other name: The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is  also known as Godavan, Godawan, Hoom, and Gaganbher.
• State Bird:  Rajasthan
• Location: Central and western India.
• Conservation Status: 
  • This species is critically endangered by the IUCN Red List.
  • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• Flagship grassland species: This species is mainly dependent on the grassland. Thus, its presence helps to know the health of grassland. 
• Similarity with ostrich: The Great Indian Bustard is a big bird with a flat body and long legs, making it look like an ostrich.
• Distinctive Features:
  • Black cap on head: This bird is easy to recognize because it has a black cap on its head.
    • It makes it stand out from its light-colored head and neck.
  • Body colour: Its body is brown with a black spot covered in white dots.
  • Male Great Indian Bustard Features: During the mating season, male birds have a sandy-brown color and a black stripe across their chest.
    • Sexual Dimorphism: Males also have black feathers on their head that make a pointy shape, especially when they’re trying to impress females.
  • Distinction between female and male birds: Female birds are smaller than males and have head and neck colors that aren’t pure white. Sometimes, their chest stripe is not complete.
• Special Characteristics:
• • Gular pouch in Male bird: Male Great Indian Bustards have a big pouch in their throat called a gular pouch. 
    • They blow it up when they want to attract a mate.
  • Deep and loud calls: The puffed-up pouch helps them make deep, loud calls to attract females during mating season.

Measures Taken to Protect Great Indian Bustard

• Project Great Indian Bustard: This project was launched by the Rajasthan government in 2013.
  • Objective: The main aim of this project was to build breeding enclosure and improve infrastructure to remove human interference in its habitat. 
• Conservation Breeding Facility: In 2019,  the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Wildlife Institute of India , and Rajasthan government established a breeding facility for conservation of GIB  in Desert National Park at Jaisalmer. 
• Objective: The aim of this project was to build a captive population of GIB and increase their numbers by releasing chicks in the wild. 

Key Challenges faced by the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

• Endangered Status: The large-winged birds are at the verge of extinction.
• Loss of Habitat: The habitats of Great Indian Bustards are diminishing due to the expansion of agriculture and urban areas.
• Problem of Diclofenac use: The use of  anti-inflammatory agent and painkiller to cure pain, swelling, and  mastitis in birds creates problems for them such as depression, lethargy, somnolence,  and Idle sitting with closed eyes 
• Power Line Collisions: The Great Indian Bustard faces problems due to its poor vision and high body mass as poor frontal vision makes them unable to detect power lines which causes their collision with high-voltage power lines, getting electrocuted.  
• Hunting: Illegal hunting, particularly in neighboring countries like Pakistan is a major problem to the Great Indian Bustard.

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Context

Recently, the Union Health Ministry has sought a report from the Government of Punjab concerning the IVF treatment undergone by the Parents of a late noted celebritiy.

About In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

• Egg Retrieval-Fertilization-Embryo Transfer: 
  • IVF is a method of assisted reproduction in which the woman’s eggs and man’s sperm are fertilized outside the body in a lab. 
  • This fertilized egg (embryo) is then transferred in the woman’s womb where they stick in the uterine lining and grow.
• IVF Purpose:  Due its highest success rates, it is a beacon of hope for individuals or couples grappling with infertility challenges,offering a pathway to parenthood.
• Considerations for IVF: Reproductive history, maternal age, cause of infertility, and lifestyle habits.
• Other Applications of IVF: It addresses a range of infertility issues such as damaged fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders, male infertility and other genetic disorders.
• Age Limit for IVF Treatment: The Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) (Regulation) Act, 2021, dictates the age limits for IVF treatment in India.
  • For Women:  between 21 and 50 years & For Men between 21 and 55 years.

Why did the Union Health Ministry Intervene in this Case?

• Couple’s Breaches Age Bracket: Due to the couple’s age exceeding the age brackets stipulated by the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Act 
  • Since the mother was 58 years old and the father was 60 years old, they were clearly beyond these age limits set by the legislation.
• Breaches Age limits for egg and sperm donation as these are biological factors in ensuring successful reproductive outcomes.

Other Issues Regarding Age limit for IVF Treatment 

Medical & Health Issues: 

• Effect of Aging on Fertility Drug Response: As women age, the quality of their eggs declines & it also affects how the body responds to fertility drugs, impacting IVF effectiveness. 
• Chromosomal Abnormalities: Without donor eggs, there’s a heightened risk of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos, posing risks to both mother and child. 
• Complications During Pregnancy: 
  • Aged lifestyle conditions :Older women are more likely to have lifestyle conditions such as diabetes and hypertension, which can complicate pregnancy. 
  • Increased risk of developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. 
  • Other Associated Risks : Preterm labor, premature rupture of membrane, and a higher likelihood of miscarriage.

Social Considerations: 

• Elderly Parents and Toddler Energy Levels:Elderly parents may struggle to keep up with a toddler’s energy levels, impacting their ability to parent effectively. 
• Higher Likelihood of Parental Passing: They may face challenges in relating to other parents of young children and may have a higher likelihood of passing away when the child is young.

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Context

Recent studies reveal that India’s forests are facing a silent crisis driven by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and deforestation, highlighting the ability of forests to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) & in the photosynthesis process and carbon uptake.

• ISRO is undertaking several long-term studies under its Geosphere-Biosphere Programme to understand the impact of climate change on 12 different forest types in the country. 

Key Findings of the Study On Carbon Absorption

• Impact of Rising temperature on Photosynthesis: 
  • Rising  temperatures hinders enzyme growth which is crucial for photosynthesis, despite initial CO2-induced boosts. 

• • Water stress from hotter temperatures and changing rainfall patterns further disrupts this vital function.
• Decrease in Carbon Absorption: In key forested regions of Northeast, Peninsular India and the Western Ghats, despite an increase in green cover, there has been a decrease in CO2 absorption over the past two decades (2001-2019).
• Effects Examined on Leaf Area Index (LAI,a measure of the total green cover of a region) & net primary productivity (NPP, the total CO2 absorbed by plants after accounting for respiration).
• • Based on Variation of Species and Canopy: Variations in species types and canopy structures impact photosynthetic efficiency. 
    • Canopies with multiple layers are better at photosynthesis than single-canopy forests because of the increase in photosynthetic space.
  • Based on Types of Forest :The photosynthetic ability of tropical forest trees generally starts to fail when the leaf temperature reaches 46.7 degree celsius. 
    • It says that An average atmospheric temperature rise of  4°C temperature increase may halt primary nutrition production in tropical trees
• Delay in the process of leaf senescence: During the winter of 2019-20, a delay in the process of leaf senescence as compared to the winter of 2018-19.
• Phenological Changes on Fauna: 
  • Climate-induced phenological shifts affect not only plants but also birds and animals. Mismatches in phenological events can disrupt ecosystems, leading to cascading effects.  For example: 
    • Over the past five decades, the arrival times of 117 European migratory bird species in spring have been getting out of sync with other spring events like when leaves appear and when insects start flying. This mismatch can affect bird survival.
• Need for Elaborative Studies: Though it is a Ground-level study which highlights the adverse effects of global warming on forests. Long-term observational studies are needed to understand the combined impact of climate variables on forests & to formulate effective mitigation strategies. 

Conclusion

India’s forests face multifaceted challenges exacerbated by climate change. Understanding the intricate interactions between warming temperatures, CO2 levels, and forest ecosystems is essential for effective mitigation strategies. 

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Context

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said it successfully conducted the landing experiment of Pushpak Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) at Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga district in Karnataka.

Pushpak Viman: Decoding India’s ambitious Reusable Launch Vehicle

• Simulation of Landing Conditions: The high-speed landing conditions and approach used by RLV while returning from space was simulated during the mission.
• Advanced Landing Experiments: This is ISRO’s second series of RLV landing experiments and this time, the RLV exhibited autonomous landing capability and undertook more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions.
• ISRO’s Pursuit of Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology: This mission is a part of ISRO’s ongoing efforts to develop essential technologies for a fully RLV, aimed at enabling low-cost access to space. 
• Previous RLV Missions: ISRO had successfully conducted previous RLV missions in 2016.
  • The experiment involved sending a winged spacecraft on a rocket powered by conventional solid booster (HS9) engine used by ISRO into space. 

About ISRO Pushpak Viman

• Single-stage-to-orbit (SSTO) Vehicle: Pushpak RLV is designed as an all-rocket, fully reusable SSTO vehicle, incorporating advanced elements from previous demonstrators like the X-33, X-34, and the upgraded DC-XA. 

What is a Re-Usable Landing Vehicle (RLV)?

• About: A RLV is a vehicle that is launched into space many times. As the vehicle can be used for many relaunches, it goes a long way in mitigating costs.
  • The idea behind RLV is to regain super expensive rocket boosters that are used for launching spacecraft. It could be later used to refuel and reuse in space flights.
• Functioning by ISRO: These launch vehicles are equipped with additional protection such as heat shields, grid fins, and other flight control surfaces. 
  • They weigh more compared to the expendable counterparts because of additional avionics and propellant. The shape of the spaceplane is also modified to support the recovery process.
• RLV by ISRO: The RLV that ISRO is building has only two stages to propel the vehicle into orbit. 
  • Once the fuel in the first stage has been expended, the vehicle will shed it, and carry on with the second stage. 
  • Once it has been shed, the first stage will re-enter the atmosphere and land in an autonomous fashion at a pre-determined location. After some maintenance, it will be available for reuse.

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Context

The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced that it has commenced a technology transfer of simplified oral cholera vaccine (OCV-S) to Hyderabad-based pharma major Biological E.

IVI Commences Tech Transfer of Oral Cholera Vaccine to Biological E

• Signing of Technology Licence Agreement: Biological E had signed a technology license agreement with IVI in 2023
• OCV-S: It is a simplified formulation of oral cholera vaccine with the potential to lower production costs while increasing production capacity for current and aspiring manufacturers.

About Cholera

• Bacterial Infection: It is a bacterial infection of the small intestine that causes a lot of watery diarrhea.
• Causing Agent: Vibrio cholerae
• Transmission: Cholera bacteria can be transmitted to people by contaminated water or food.
  • Cholera can spread swiftly in areas where sewage and drinking water are not properly treated.

Prevention and Control of Cholera

• ORS Treatment: It is a disease that can be readily treated. The majority of patients can be successfully treated with immediate use of oral rehydration solution (ORS).
• Role of Zinc: Zinc is a crucial supplementary therapy for children under the age of five, and it also shortens the length of diarrhea.
• WHO-approved oral cholera vaccines (OCV): Dukoral, Shanchol, and Euvichol-Plus. All three vaccines require two doses to provide full protection.

Initiatives to Control Cholera

• World Health Organization’s Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC):  It is  a platform for technical exchange, coordination, and collaboration on cholera-related initiatives to increase the country’s capacity to prevent and control cholera
  • Created in 1992 in response to an unprecedented cholera outbreak in Peru.
• Ending Cholera: A Roadmap for 2030 In 2017, the goal was to reduce cholera mortality by 90% and eliminate cholera in up to 20 countries by 2030.
• Country Support Platforms (CSP): To increase GTFCC support for countries, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) offers multisectoral operational support.

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Context

According to IAR (Indian Agriculture Research Institute)I, the illicit seed sales and cultivation of IARI varieties in Pakistan started with Pusa Basmati Rice-1121 (PB-1121).

Illegal Cultivation of Pusa Basmati Rice in Pakistan

• Kainat Basmati: The Pusa Basmati 1121 variety is officially registered as ‘PK 1121 Aromatic’ in Pakistan and sold as ‘1121 Kainat’ basmati.
• Cultivation of Other Popular Varieties: Pakistan is also cultivating popular IARI-bred varieties such as Pusa Basmati-6 (PB-6) and PB-1509 (registered and renamed as ‘Kissan Basmati’ in Pakistan), which were launched in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

Reasons for Growing of Protected Varieties in Pakistan

• Easy availability of High Yielding Variety seeds: It takes 5 kg of seeds to plant an acre of PB-1847. Within four months, that acre will produce approximately 2,800 kg of grain.
• Reusing of Seeds: Even after accounting for 10% processing loss, more than 2,500 kg of this grain can now be reused as seed for continued growth.
• Buying of seeds from Punjab and Haryana: Pakistani seed producers required to obtain a few kg of PB-1847 and PB-1885 grains – from fields over the border or even from mandis in Punjab or Haryana – to multiply and sell within two years of its release in India.

Features of Basmati Rice Varieties Developed at IARI

• Pusa Basmati 1121: It is the world’s longest Basmati rice. It was first issued as Pusa 1121 (Pusa Sugandh 4) in 2003 and then publicized as Pusa Basmati 1121 in 2008.
  • It matures from seed to seed in 145 days and produces 45 q/ha on average.
• Pusa Basmati 1509: This variety, resulting from the cross of Pusa 1121 and Pusa 1301, overcomes all of the significant flaws of Pusa Basmati 1121.
  • It matures in 115 days, with an average yield of 5 tonnes per hectare.
• Enhanced Pusa Basmati 1 (Pusa 1460):  Pusa 1460 is an enhanced form of Pusa Basmati 1 that is resistant to bacterial leaf blight. It is India’s first output of molecular breeding in rice.
• Pusa Basmati 6 (Pusa 1401) : Superior grain quality: It outperforms Pusa 1121 in terms of yield, agronomy, and cooking quality.
• Pusa RH10: It  is the world’s first superfine grain aromatic rice hybrid, launched in 2001 for commercial cultivation in irrigated ecosystems of Haryana, Delhi, and Uttaranchal.
• Registration of Pusa Basmati Rice in India:
• Notified Under Seeds Act: All bred varieties are notified under the Seeds Act of 1966 for cultivation in the legally designated Geographical Indication (GI) area of basmati rice in India, which includes seven northern states.
• Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001: They are also registered under the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act 2001. 
  • This Act only allows Indian farmers to sow, save, resow, exchange, or transfer seeds from protected/registered types.

Popular Basmati Varieties in Pakistan

• Kainat Basmati: The Pusa Basmati 1121 variety is officially registered as ‘PK 1121 Aromatic’ in Pakistan and sold as ‘1121 Kainat’ basmati.
• Cultivation of Other Popular Varieties: Pakistan is also cultivating popular IARI-bred varieties such as Pusa Basmati-6 (PB-6) and PB-1509 (registered and renamed as ‘Kissan Basmati’ in Pakistan), which were launched in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
• Advanced Varieties: The three varieties, Pusa Basmati-1847 (PB-1847), PB-1885, and PB-1886, were released in late 2021.
  • These are enhanced variants of PB-1509, PB-1121, and PB-6, which were engineered to provide resistance to bacterial blight and rice blast fungal disease.

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Context

Despite having high productivity in rice and wheat, Punjab ranks low in agricultural value creation among Indian states.

About Agricultural Productivity 

• Agricultural Productivity refers to the ratio of agricultural outputs to inputs. It is measured by the production (crops, livestock) per unit of input (land, labour, fertilizer, seeds) used in agricultural production.

• • Higher productivity indicates more efficient use of inputs.
• There are two ways to estimate agricultural productivity:
  • Dividing State Agri-GDP by Net Sown Area (NSA): In this, Andhra Pradesh (AP) has the highest productivity (Rs 6.43 lakh/ha), followed by West Bengal (Rs 5.19 lakh/ha). 
    • Punjab ranks 13th with productivity of (Rs 3.71 lakh/ha).
  • Dividing Agri-GDP by Gross Cropped Area (GCA): In this too, Andhra Pradesh (5.30 lakh/ha) has the highest productivity followed by Tamil Nadu (3.97 lakh/ha). Punjab has productivity of Rs 1.92 lakh/ha.

Reasons behind Low Agri Value Creation in Punjab

• Lack of Crop Diversification: 

• • The agriculture of Punjab and Haryana are predominantly focused on rice and wheat due to policy incentives by the state. Furthermore, 84% of the Gross Cropped Area is dedicated to these two crops.

• Minimum Support Prices (MSP) Driven Agriculture

• • Government-promoted Green Revolution cropping pattern: The Green Revolution  cropping pattern of rice-wheat-rice, MSP regime and open-ended procurement encourage the status quo towards the cropping pattern.
  • Subsidy Dependency: Reliance on free power and subsidized fertilizers disincentivizes diversification and shifts to high-value agricultural practices.

• Lack of Sustainable Agricultural practices: 

  • 76% of Punjab’s blocks face over-exploitation of groundwater resources due to high GCA allocation to water-guzzling crops like rice. This results in increased salinity of soil, high usage of chemicals and increased climate stress on agriculture.
    • Moreover, the same cropping pattern for years extracts the specific nutrients from the soil, resulting in soil deficiency.

Furthermore, Johl Committee Recommendations advised crop diversification in 1986 and 2002, but they largely remain unheeded.

About Crop diversification 

• Crop diversification refers to the traditional approach of low input-based extensive and diversified agricultural practices. It is a strategy applied to grow more diverse crops from shrinking land resources with an increase in productivity in the same arable land.
• It includes addition of new crop(s) as intercrop and / or predecessor or successor crops, changing numbers of the crop (multi-cropping), modified cropping system and adopting a new, integrated cropping pattern with changing agronomical practices. 

Need for Crop Diversification

• Increase Income on Small Land Holding

  • Growing high value crops: The declining landholding size (more than 70% farmers with < 2 hectare land), requires diversification in existing cropping patterns with high value crops such as maize, pulses, etc. to augment income. 
  • Mera Pani – Meri Virasat Scheme: The Government of Haryana is incentivizing farmers to switch to other alternate crops instead of paddy by paying Rs. 7000 per acre.

• Increase resource-use efficiency:

  • Shift from Mono cropping practice: Mono-cropping pattern reduces resource-use efficiency. Thus there is a need to introduce diverse crops and cropping patterns to revive the soil health and increase resource-use efficiency. 
  • Traditional pattern of agriculture in India has wider crop diversity. In the Garhwal Himalayan region of India, Barahnaja is a crop diversification system for cultivating 12 crops in a year and is the traditional heritage of the area. 

• Prevent Soil Health Degradation

  • The repetitive rice-wheat cropping pattern depletes specific soil nutrients and diminishes the microfaunal population. This impacts the soil’s self-sustaining capabilities and leads to nutrient deficiencies.

• Economic Stability

  • Aligning production with consumer demands: Crop diversification, including the adoption of high-value cash crops, can potentially increase farmers’ incomes by aligning production with changing consumer demands, as observed in the increased production of fruits and vegetables in India.
  • Mitigate price fluctuation: Crop diversification can better tolerate the ups and downs in price of various farm products and it may ensure economic stability of farming products.

• Food and Nutritional Security:

  • Improve nutritional security: Crop Diversification can help in improving the socio economic status by adding quality to the food basket and addressing malnutrition, anemia, etc.
  • National Food Security Mission: The Government of India is promoting increase in area under pulses and oilseeds through NFSM.

• Conservation:

• • Reduction in usage of chemicals: Adoption of crop diversification helps in reduced application of pesticides and insecticides. 
  • For example, introduction of legume in the rice-wheat cropping system has the ability to fix atmospheric Nitrogen to help sustain soil fertility.

Steps Taken to Promote Crop Diversification

• Crop Diversification Programme (CDP): 

• • The Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare is implementing the Crop Diversification Programme (CDP), a sub-scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) in Haryana, Punjab & Western Uttar Pradesh since 2013-14 to divert the area of water intensive paddy crop to alternative crops like pulses, oilseeds, coarse cereals, nutri cereals, cotton etc.

• Support to State government: 

  • Government of India is also supplementing the efforts of state governments to encourage diversified production of crops under National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).

• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): 

  • Encouraging partnerships between the government, private sector, and NGOs to promote research, provide financial support, and improve market access for diversified crops.

• Extension Services: 

  • Financial assistance is being provided to the State Governments, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Institutions, Central Government Institutions, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) etc. for Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities for creating awareness on crop residue management and crop diversification.

• Crop Insurance Schemes: 

  • Implementation of National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, which covers food crops, oilseeds and yearly commercial and horticulture crops. 
    • Seed Crop Insurance Pilot Program (PSSCI) has also been introduced  addressing the risk associated with seed production.

Challenges to Crop Diversification

• Economic Challenges:

  • Lack of Financial Support: Small-scale farmers often lack the capital needed to invest in new crops, which can include the cost of seeds, new farming equipment, and technology.
  • Market Accessibility: There’s a significant challenge in accessing markets for non-traditional crops, including transportation logistics and finding buyers willing to pay fair prices.
  • Price Volatility: New crops may be subject to high price volatility, deterring farmers from diversifying due to the risk of financial loss.

• Social and Cultural Challenges

  • Resistance to Change: Many farming communities have a deep-rooted tradition in cultivating specific crops, making them resistant to changing long standing agricultural practices.
  • Knowledge and Skills: There’s often a lack of knowledge and skills required to cultivate new crops, including understanding their specific needs and best practices for cultivation.

• Ecological Challenges

  • Water Availability: Water scarcity in many parts of India limits the ability to diversify crops, especially those that are water-intensive.
  • Climate Adaptability: With the impact of climate change, crops that were once suitable for certain areas may no longer thrive, making diversification a moving target.

• Policy and Institutional Challenges

• • Lack of Supportive Policies: There’s often a lack of government policies that actively support and incentivize crop diversification, including subsidies, insurance, and technical support.
  • Infrastructure Deficiencies: Poor rural infrastructure, including roads and storage facilities, can hamper the distribution and sale of diversified crops.

Way Forward to Increase Agricultural Productivity in India

• Embracing Agroforestry: 

  • Agroforestry combines trees, crops, and/or livestock, optimizing ecological and economic benefits through resource-efficient utilization. 
    • It produces a diverse range of products such as food, feed, fiber, fuel, etc., enhances food and nutritional security and supports livelihoods and fosters resilient agricultural environments.

• Government Support: 

  • Policies that encourage market access, provide subsidies for diverse crops, and invest in infrastructure can incentivise diversification.
    • Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY): Central government scheme to provide aid and financial surety to the farmer.
    • Seed Crop Insurance: The government has launched a pilot program for seed crop insurance, which covers the risk factors associated with the production of seeds.

• Research and Development: 

• • Breeding programs and the development of climate-resilient crop varieties can reduce risks and improve the economics of diversified agriculture.

• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing: 

  • Farmers’ networks and cooperatives can support knowledge exchange, market access, and collective bargaining, making diversification more viable.
    • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: In 2014-15, the NMSA was launched to improve the efficiency of farming, the use of water, and soil health management. It also aims to synergize resource conservation across all parts of the country.

• Building Market Linkages: 

  • Facilitating connections between farmers and reliable buyers, including supermarkets, restaurants, and direct-to-consumer channels, can improve market access and price stability.
    • The Shanta Kumar Committee recommended that Private players procure and store food grains to strengthen market linkages.

• Investment in Infrastructure: 

  • Strengthening cold storage, transportation facilities, and processing plants is crucial to ensure efficient and cost-effective management of diverse crops.
    • Gramin Bhandaray Yojana: A program created in 2001 to provide storage facilities for agricultural products in rural India and to promote grading, standardization, testing, and quality control to make the products more marketable.

Conclusion

The path towards revitalizing Indian agriculture and boosting farmers’ incomes requires moving beyond traditional staples. Punjab and Haryana need to embrace a demand-driven high-value agricultural system and need to shed the mindset of an MSP-based cropping system.

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Context

The recent report by the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Australian Water Partnership (AWP) describes climate change as the “urgent catalyst” for collaboration over three key river basins in Asia: the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra.

• As per the UN Chief, major Himalayan rivers like the Indus Ganges and Brahmaputra (IGB) will see their flows reduced as glaciers recede. 

Crucial Insights of the Report

• High Dependency on Rivers: People in India, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan depend on these three IGB rivers for their food and water security.
• Fragmented Governance: Despite the urgent need for collective action, governance within these basins remains fragmented, with limited multilateral agreements facilitating basin-wide collaboration. 
• No Addresal to Climate Change: Existing treaties and agreements have often failed to address the broader impacts of climate change or involve marginalised stakeholders. 
• No Multilateral Treaty: There are bilateral treaties such as the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan or agreements on water data sharing and on Brahmaputra between India and China, however, no multilateral agreements or treaties exist.
  • 600 mn Indians, 29 mn from Nepal and millions in Bangladesh live in the Ganga river basin area. However, there is no agreement involving Nepal, India and Bangladesh. 

• Data and Knowledge Gaps: There were substantial data and knowledge gaps across the Ganga river basin regarding social, economic and environmental realities and even on water usage.
• Multifaceted Concerns: The Elevating River Basin Governance and Cooperation in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region (HKH) report series zeroes in on key economic, ecological, energy, social, geopolitical and governance issues.
  • The collective action in the region is fraught but, with governments’ water, food, energy and security strategies at stake, also “hugely urgent.”

About River Basin

• It is an area drained by a river and all of its tributaries. 
• It is made up of many different watersheds. 
  • Watershed: It is a small version of a river basin. 

River Basins and Threats

The three rivers- Indus Ganges and Brahmaputra provide food and water security to some of Asia’s most vulnerable communities, as well as underpinning industry, and industrial and economic policies in one of the most populous and geopolitically sensitive zones in the world.

• The Ganges Basin: 

  • It is often regarded as sacred and essential to more than 600 million individuals across the Indian subcontinent.
    • States Flowing Through: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, etc.
    • Threats: The impacts of climate change are exacerbating existing challenges, particularly in the form of escalating flooding and droughts. 
      • The monsoon season now brings devastating floods while dry seasons worsen water scarcity, especially in downstream areas such as Bangladesh. 
      • Anthropogenic Activities: Rapid industrialisation, urbanisation and intensive agricultural practices are severely impacting the river’s ecological health. 
        • The indiscriminate discharge of sewage and industrial waste poses significant risks to both human health and the environment.
      • Impact on Vulnerable Groups: These climate-related hazards affect vulnerable groups, including women, people with disabilities and marginalised communities.

• The Indus Basin: 

  • The Indus River is a lifeline for more than 268 million people across Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, and China.
  • States Flowing Through: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Chandigarh (UT).
    • It holds a hydropower potential of 35,700 MGWatts, only 12% of which is currently being harnessed, and is important for India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and China’s energy strategies. 
  • Threats: It is under unprecedented stress due to climate change. 
    • Rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, and environmental degradation are pushing the basin towards a crisis point. 
    • The scale of climate change impacts is undermining food security, livelihoods and water security.
    • Variations in the timing and intensity of monsoon rains and environmental degradation, including increasing agricultural and industrial pollution adversely affecting freshwater fisheries and eroding the ecological health of the river. 
    • Impact on Vulnerable Groups: These challenges with the socio-economic vulnerabilities, further exacerbating the plight of marginalised communities.

• The Brahmaputra Basin: 

  • It is essential for 114 million people in Bangladesh, India, China and Bhutan – and accounts for 30% of India’s freshwater sources.
  • States Flowing Through: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and others.
  • It has the immense hydropower potential that both China and India aim to tap.
  • Threats: The climate change along with dams and development work is escalating floods and droughts, particularly in its lower basin. 
    • While currently there are no major water diversions in the basin, upstream dam construction and climate change projections are likely to reduce dry season flows in downstream areas, affecting millions of lives.
    • With rise in glacial melt rates, impacting water availability across the region. 
    • Impact on Vulnerable Groups: The vulnerability of women, poor and indigenous and marginalised communities is increasing with changing socioeconomic drivers converging with projected climate impacts.

Recommendations of the Report & Way Forward

• Need For Bottom-up Approach & Harnessing Indigenous Knowledge: 

  • It is essential for effective climate adaptation. Governments need to empower local communities with knowledge and technology to nurture their resilience in the face of rising uncertainty.
    • Local communities can act to resolve problems quickly and effectively during a crisis.
    • Programmes such as “Indus Calling” empower communities with information and tools for better water management and resilience building.

• Data Development and Enhancement: 

  • The data gaps on river basins need to be sorted out for better water management, early warning and to facilitate disaster management.
    • Developing the data using a ‘whole basin’ research approach would yield additional benefits- reliable water accounting and supply, underpin strategic basin planning, increase transboundary understanding of the long-term impacts of climate change, etc.

• Negotiations on IRBM Approaches: 

  • Encourage negotiations and build fresh consensus, especially by rejuvenating existing treaties and potentially new forms of cooperation through the deployment of ‘integrated river basin management’ (IRBM) approaches.

• Regional Cooperation: 

  • There is a transboundary nature of climate impacts, which requires regional cooperation. 
  • Initiatives such as the “HKH Call to Action” provide a framework for collaborative action, fostering trust among basin states and informing evidence-based decision-making. 

• Adopt Long-Term Strategic & Inclusive Approaches: 

  • There is an opportunity to adopt more inclusive and resilient approaches to basin governance, leveraging diverse perspectives and expertise. 
    • There is a need for long-term strategies that must prioritise adaptive infrastructure, flexible governance structures, and inclusive policies to ensure reliable water supply amid climatic uncertainties.

• Trust Building: 

• • There is a need for greater ‘hydro-solidarity’ and climate diplomacy among researchers to build trust between countries and move towards greater dialogue.

Conclusion

With climate change compounding the existing pressures on water resources, and increasing risks from floods, land erosion, and salinity, there is need for researchers, scientists, civil society, communities, and officials around the three crucial IGB river basins that span Pakistan, China, Afghanistan, Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan to join forces to avert “enormous and growing” humanitarian, ecological, and economic risks.

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