Climate Resilient Agriculture: APEDA signs MoU with NRDC

 

Climate Resilient Agriculture UPSC: Relevance

• GS 3: e-technology in the aid of farmers.

 

Climate Resilient Agriculture: Context

• Recently, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) to give a boost to the export value chain.

 

Climate Resilient Agriculture: Key points

• The MoU has been signed for the implementation of the Agri Export Policy   and to strengthen the export value chain.
• The MoU’s mandate is to infuse and disseminate technologies jointly with APEDA in the areas of climate-resilient agriculture related to zero carbon emission farming to produce residue/carbon-free food for exports.
• Key areas of cooperation: Developing and improvising farm machinery for low cost, user-friendly and energy-efficient tools for small scale farmers, promoting and supporting Agri Start-ups.

 

 

What is NRDC?

• NRDC is an enterprise of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India.
• It was established in 1953 with the primary objective to promote, develop and commercialize the technologies, know-how, inventions, and patents.

What is APEDA?

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, established by the Government of India in December, 1985
• It is the premier body of export promotion of fresh vegetables and fruits.

 

 

Climate Resilient agriculture: Recommendations

• Need micro and macro level decision making culture.
  • At micro level– traditional wisdom and old age notions+ climate assessments by meteorological departments.
  • At macro level– govt should ensure with its policies that the negative impact of climate change do not affect much the farmers.
• Agronomic management practices like inter and multiple cropping, crop rotation, shift to non-farm activities for better and consistent livelihood.

• Need to educate farmers to increase awareness of crop insurance. At present, very less farmers are aware of crop insurance as per NSSO.
• Reorient krishi vigyan kendras (KVKs) and other grassroot organisations to promote satellite enabled agriculture risk management.
• Innovative farm practices like multi-layer farming and precision farming should be followed.
• Need to explore trading options like agri contracts and use of options for future trading.
• Promotion of conservational practices like agro forestry—farming in association with fruit bearing or environmental friendly tree plantation on unused agri-land.
• More focus should be given on dryland agriculture.
• Strategy for new India@75: Convert farmers to agripreneurs by expanding e-NAM and replacing APMC act by Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Act.

 

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