TOPIC : GS 3Issues related to Direct and Indirect Farm Subsidies and Minimum Support Prices; Public Distribution System – Objectives, Functioning, Limitations, Revamping; Issues of Buffer Stocks and Food Security; Technology Missions; Economics of Animal-Rearing.
More feed, better productivity
What is the news?
- A major stumbling block faced by Indian farmers pertains to the lack of affordable good quality feed and fodder for livestock.
Research Study
- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute has observed that for every 100 kg of feed required, India is short of 23.4 kg of dry fodder, 11.24 kg of green fodder, and 28.9 kg of concentrate feed.
- This is one of the chief reasons of Indian livestock’s milk productivity is 20%Â60% lower than the global average.
- The input costs, find that feed constitutes 60%Â70% of milk production
The significance of SubÂMission on Fodder and Feed
- The livestock is the major source of cash income for about 13 crore marginal farmers and is an insurance in the event of crop failure.
- The lack of good quality feed and fodder impacts the productivity levels of cattle.
- As about 200 million Indians are involved in dairy and livestock farming, the scheme is important from the perspective of poverty alleviation.
Revised scheme
- National Livestock Mission was launched in 2014, it focused on supporting farmers in producing fodder from nonÂforest wasteland/grassland, and cultivation of coarse grains.
- This model could not sustain fodder availability due to lack of backward and forward linkages in the value chain.
- The Mission has been revised to make the programme focus primarily on assistance towards seed production and the development of feed and fodder entrepreneurs.
- It now provides for 50% direct capital subsidy to the beneficiaries under the feed and fodder entrepreneurship programme and 100% subsidy on fodder seed production to identified beneficiaries.
- The SubÂMission on Fodder and Feed intends to create a network of entrepreneurs the hub and sell them directly to the farmers .
- It is premised on the idea that the funding of the hub will lead to the development of the spoke.
- The largeÂscale production of silage will bring down the input cost for farmers since silage is much cheaper than concentrate feed.
Way Forward
- Private entrepreneurs, selfÂhelp groups, farmer producer organisations, dairy cooperative societies, and Section 8 companies (NGOs) can avail themselves of the benefits under this scheme.
- The scheme will provide 50% capital subsidy up to 50 lakh towards project cost to the beneficiary for infrastructure development and for procuring machinery for value addition in feed such as hay/silage/total mixed ration.
- The scheme can be used for covering the cost of infrastructure/machinery such as bailing units, harvester, chaff cutter, sheds, etc.
- The revised scheme has been designed with the objectives of increasing productivity, reducing input costs, and doing away with middlemen.
- It is from the fact that good quality green fodder is only available or about three months during the year.
- The ideal solution would to ferment green fodder and convert it into silage.
- The fodder entrepreneurship programme, farmers will receive subsidies and incentives to create a consistent supply chain of feed throughout the year.
- Since India has a livestock population of 535.78 million, an effective implementation of this scheme will play a major role in increasing the return on investment for our farmers.
Mains Question
How the Sub-Mission on Fodder and Feed seeks to enhance livestock productivity and farmers’ income?
Sources : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/more-feed-better-productivity/article35961260.ec
PRELIMS PUNCHERS
- Khardung La
It is a mountain pass in the Leh district of the Indian union territory of Ladakh. The pass on the Ladakh Range is north of Leh and is the gateway to the Shyok and Nubra valleys. The Siachen Glacier lies part way up the latter valley. Built in 1976, it was opened to public motor vehicles in 1988. Maintained by the Border Roads Organisation, the pass is strategically important to India as it is used to carry supplies to the Siachen Glacier.
The nearest sizable town is Leh. Leh is connected by road from Manali and Srinagar. The two bases on either side of Khardung La are North Pullu and South Pullu. An Inner Line Permit (ILP), which can be acquired at the District Commissioner’s office in Leh, is required for tourists not needed for Ladakh citizens. Altitude sickness is a serious health concern for people not acclimatised to high altitudes. Khardung La has an arctic tundra climate with short, cool summers and long, very cold winters.
- Bhalki Conspiracy
Exactly 10 years after India’s First War of Independence in 1857, the anti-British sentiments echoed in Bhalki, and it was later termed the Bhalki Conspiracy. The associates of Nana Saheb Peshwa II and Tatya Tope, the notable leaders of the revolt, regrouped in Hyderabad and staged attacks against British camps in Secundrabad, Aurangabad, and other places in 1862. Rao Saheb, the nephew of Nana Saheb, who led the attacks, was caught and executed by the British. His associate Rama Rao challenged the British by hoisting Bhagwa Dhwaj at Ashti village near Bhalki in 1867.
The British began a manhunt and when Rama Rao, also known as Jung Bahadur, and his associates Balakrishna, Vitoba, and Bhima Rao were holding a meeting at Bhalki, the British arrested them. They were charged with hatching a plot against the British and the Nizam rule and awarded life imprisonment. Two others, Vishwanath and Jahangir Ali, were sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Bhalki Conspiracy is considered to be the last echo of India’s First War of Independence.
- Kalyanasundara Murti
is the iconographical depiction of the wedding of the Hindu deities Shiva and Parvati. The couple are often depicted performing the panigrahana “accepting the hand” ritual of a Hindu wedding. The icon is a popular feature on temple gopurams
 Chola bronzes featuring only Shiva and Parvati as described in the wedding scene are found. South Indian sculptures, like those from Madurai, feature only the couple and Vishnu. In this configuration, Parvati is depicted in the centre with Vishnu on the left giving away her hand to Shiva on the right. Sometimes as in the Elephanta Caves, Parvati’s biological father Himavan, instead of Vishnu, is depicted giving away his daughter to Shiva. In South Indian Shiva temples like those in Tiruvenkadu and Chidambaram, the bronze Kalyanasundara images of Shiva and Parvati are used in annual temple festivals to commemorate the divine union.
Sources : https://www.hindu-blog.com/2010/03/lord-shiva-as-kalyanasundara-murti.html
- Hirakud Dam
It is built across the Mahanadi River, from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. It is the longest dam in the world. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence. After the devastating floods of 1936, Sir M. Visveswararya proposed a detailed investigation for storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to tackle the problem of floods in the Mahanadi delta. In 1945, under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Member of Labour, was decided to invest in the potential benefits of regulating the Mahanadi for multi-purpose us
The main dam has an overall length of spanning between two hills, the Laxmidungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by of earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the adjoining hills. The dam and dykes together measure. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in India,. There are two observation towers on the dam one at each side. One is “Gandhi Minar” and the other one is”Jawahar Minar”. Both the observation towers present extensive views of the lake.
PRELIMS QUESTION
Qn 1. Consider the following statement with regard to Bhalki Conspiracy
- The Nana Saheb Peshwa II and Tatya Tope lead the revolt
- They regrouped in Hyderabad and staged attacks against British camps in Secundrabad, Aurangabad, and other places in 1862
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only      (b) 2 only
(c).Both      (d). None of above
Answer : B
Exactly 10 years after India’s First War of Independence in 1857, the anti-British sentiments echoed in Bhalki, and it was later termed the Bhalki Conspiracy. The associates of Nana Saheb Peshwa II and Tatya Tope, the notable leaders of the revolt, regrouped in Hyderabad and staged attacks against British camps in Secundrabad, Aurangabad, and other places in 1862. Rao Saheb, the nephew of Nana Saheb, who led the attacks, was caught and executed by the British. His associate Rama Rao challenged the British by hoisting Bhagwa Dhwaj at Ashti village near Bhalki in 1867.
The British began a manhunt and when Rama Rao, also known as Jung Bahadur, and his associates Balakrishna, Vitoba, and Bhima Rao were holding a meeting at Bhalki, the British arrested them. They were charged with hatching a plot against the British and the Nizam rule and awarded life imprisonment. Two others, Vishwanath and Jahangir Ali, were sentenced to 14 years in prison. The Bhalki Conspiracy is considered to be the last echo of India’s First War of Independence.
Qn 2 Consider the following statement with regard to Hirakud Dama.
a.It is built across the Yamuna River
b .It is in the state of Uttarakhand
Select the correct statement using code given below.
(a). 1only      (b) 2 only
(c).Both      (d). None of above
Answer : D
It is built across the Mahanadi River, from Sambalpur in the state of Odisha in India. It is the longest dam in the world. It is one of the first major multipurpose river valley projects started after India’s independence. After the devastating floods of 1936, Sir M. Visveswararya proposed a detailed investigation for storage reservoirs in the Mahanadi basin to tackle the problem of floods in the Mahanadi delta. In 1945, under the chairmanship of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the Member of Labour, was decided to invest in the potential benefits of regulating the Mahanadi for multi-purpose us
The main dam has an overall length of spanning between two hills, the Laxmidungri on the left and the Chandili Dunguri on the right. The dam is flanked by of earthen dykes on both the left and right sides, closing the low saddles beyond the adjoining hills. The dam and dykes together measure. It also forms the biggest artificial lake in India,. There are two observation towers on the dam one at each side. One is “Gandhi Minar” and the other one is”Jawahar Minar”. Both the observation towers present extensive views of the lake.