Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The National Food Security Mission (NFSM), launched in 2008, is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at increasing the production of rice, wheat, pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds through area expansion, productivity enhancement, and post-harvest technology. Recognizing the critical role of technology in achieving food security, NFSM has consistently focused on targeted interventions. The mission underwent revisions in 2018-19 and further in 2023-24, broadening its scope and incorporating climate-resilient technologies. This answer will assess whether these focused, target-oriented technological interventions have indeed made a significant impact since the mission’s inception.
Technological Interventions under NFSM
NFSM’s technological interventions are broadly categorized under different components, each focusing on specific crops and aspects of agricultural production:
- Seed Component: Promotion of high-yielding varieties (HYVs), hybrid seeds, and climate-resilient seeds. This includes support for seed production and distribution. For example, the introduction of PUSA Basmati 1508 and PUSA Basmati 1718 significantly boosted basmati rice production.
- Nutrient Management Component: Encouraging balanced fertilizer use, micronutrient application, and soil health management practices. This involves soil testing facilities and promoting the use of bio-fertilizers.
- Irrigation & Water Management Component: Promoting efficient irrigation techniques like micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler) and water harvesting structures.
- Plant Protection Component: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, bio-pesticides, and promoting judicious use of chemical pesticides.
- Post-Harvest Management Component: Support for storage infrastructure, processing units, and reducing post-harvest losses. This includes promoting the use of improved storage structures like silos and warehouses.
- Machinery & Technology Component: Promoting the use of farm machinery like tractors, harvesters, and other implements to improve efficiency and reduce labor costs.
Impact Assessment
The impact of NFSM’s technological interventions can be assessed through production trends and adoption rates:
- Rice Production: Rice production has increased from 141.3 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 135.52 million tonnes in 2022-23 (as per the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, GoI – knowledge cutoff 2023). While there have been fluctuations, the overall trend indicates a positive impact, partly attributable to the adoption of HYVs and improved irrigation techniques promoted under NFSM.
- Wheat Production: Wheat production has risen from 75.81 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 110.55 million tonnes in 2022-23. The adoption of disease-resistant varieties and improved nutrient management practices have contributed to this increase.
- Pulses Production: Pulses production witnessed a significant increase, from 39.4 million tonnes in 2007-08 to 27.5 million tonnes in 2022-23. This was largely due to interventions promoting short-duration, high-yielding pulse varieties and improved irrigation facilities.
- Adoption of Micro-Irrigation: Area covered under micro-irrigation has increased significantly, from 4.6 million hectares in 2008-09 to 23.08 million hectares in 2022-23, leading to water savings and increased productivity.
However, the impact hasn’t been uniform across all regions and crops. The adoption of technology is often constrained by factors like small landholdings, lack of access to credit, and inadequate extension services. Furthermore, climate change impacts, such as erratic rainfall and increased pest infestations, pose challenges to the sustained impact of these interventions.
Challenges and Limitations
Despite the positive impacts, several challenges remain:
- Uneven Distribution: Technological interventions haven’t reached all farmers equally, particularly small and marginal farmers.
- Infrastructure Gaps: Inadequate storage and processing infrastructure continue to contribute to post-harvest losses.
- Climate Change Vulnerability: The impact of climate change is undermining the effectiveness of some interventions.
- Extension Services: Weak extension services hinder the dissemination of information and adoption of new technologies.
The recent focus on climate-resilient technologies and digital agriculture under NFSM is a positive step towards addressing these challenges.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the focused and target-oriented technological interventions under the National Food Security Mission have demonstrably contributed to increased production of key food crops in India. While challenges related to equitable access, infrastructure gaps, and climate change remain, the mission has laid a strong foundation for enhancing food security. Continued investment in research and development, strengthening extension services, and promoting climate-resilient technologies are crucial for sustaining and amplifying the impact of NFSM in the future. A shift towards precision farming and digital agriculture will be key to maximizing productivity and ensuring long-term food security.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.