{"id":16803,"date":"2023-08-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-12T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/current_affairs\/uncategorized\/12-08-2023\/seeds-for-growth\/"},"modified":"2023-08-12T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-12T00:00:00","slug":"seeds-for-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/12-08-2023\/seeds-for-growth","title":{"rendered":"Seeds for Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<html><body><\/p>\n<h1 style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:20pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><u>Seeds for Growth<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:12pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Syllabus: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>GS3\/ Agriculture<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>In Context<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The Indian government is promoting <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>technology-enabled sustainable farming,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> including natural, regenerative and organic systems, during its G20 presidency.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Agriculture in India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Agriculture and allied sectors are central to the Indian economy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India is one of the major players in the agriculture sector worldwide and it is the primary source of livelihood for ~55% of India\u2019s population.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>India:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Has the <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>world&#8217;s largest cattle herd <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">(buffaloes),\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Has <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>largest area planted to wheat<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>rice, and cotton,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Is the largest producer of milk, pulses, and spices in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> second-largest producer <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">of fruit, vegetables, tea, farmed fish, cotton, sugarcane, wheat, rice, cotton, and sugar.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Agriculture sector in India<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> holds the record <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">for <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>second-largest agricultural land in the world<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> generating<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> employment for about half of the country\u2019s population<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Shortcomings\/Challenges<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Demand &#038; affordability: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Though India has <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>achieved food security with the production of food grains reaching 330 MT<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, the demand for<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and vegetables<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> is not fully met.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In addition, they are<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> not affordable for a large part of the population<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, leading to a <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>high proportion of the under\/malnourished population<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, with a sizable percentage of child wasting (19.3 percent).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Crop productivity: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India is much lower than other advanced and emerging market economies due to various factors, like fragmented landholdings, lower farm mechanization and lower public and private investment in agriculture.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Irrigation: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Although India is the second largest irrigated country of the world after China, only one-third of the cropped area is under irrigation. Irrigation is the most important agricultural input in a tropical monsoon country like India.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Conventional method of cultivation: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">In spite of the large scale mechanization of agriculture in some parts of the country most of the agricultural operations in larger parts are carried on by human hand using simple and conventional tools and implements like wooden plough, sickle, etc.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Significant challenges: Depleting natural resources<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, a burgeoning <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>population<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>extreme weather <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">conditions and <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>natural disasters <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">because of climate change pose bigger challenges to Indian and regional agriculture, dominated by smallholder farmers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">India\u2019s performance in achieving the SDGs, especially goals one, two and three, ones linked to agriculture, are yet to reach desired levels.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>What is needed in India\u2019s agriculture?<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Alongside fulfilling its <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>goal of increasing profitability in agriculture<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and its <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>share of export<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> in the world market, India needs to close the gap between:<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">potential and achievable productivity in most grain crops and vegetables,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">reduce the cost of production,\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">promote cultivation and consumption of nutritionally-rich crops like millets, and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">focus on the quality of the agricultural produce.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Availability of seeds: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">It is imperative that focus be given to ensuring the availability of quality seeds and maximising the performance value of every seed \u2014 the most critical input in agriculture.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> advancements made in seed technology<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> can<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> maximise the availability and quality of seeds<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and help them perform well under a wide range of conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Utilising available technology: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">To ensure that we meet the<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> targets for food and nutrition security,<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> and the population\u2019s well-being in a sustainable manner, it\u2019s crucial to effectively utilise every available technology including traditional knowledge in agriculture.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Suggestions<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Millet production: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Being <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>nutrient-rich, hardy and grown in a short cycle<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, millets are recognised as well-suited for sustainable agriculture. India is the global leader in millet production.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">By producing quality-assured seeds of improved varieties of millets, especially minor millets, it has the potential to capture the global seed market.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Seed technology: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">While crop variety development will become faster and more precise in the coming years by using <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>molecular technologies, speed breeding and gene-editing tools<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">, applied seed technologies <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>would ensure good performance<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> even under less favourable, unpredictable, and harsh environments.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Hence, seed technology today must combine <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>genetic advancement<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> with applied technologies.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> must ensure to provide quality-enhanced seeds of improved varieties <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">having higher productivity, high input use efficiency and the ability to withstand a range of biotic and abiotic stressors.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Role of public and private sectors: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">The R&#038;D efforts of the public and private sectors can complement each other in developing environment-friendly, better-performing seeds at affordable costs.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Availability of the seed technologies<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>These technologies would comprise: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Genetic manipulation in variety development, subject to regulatory compliances;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Priming or physiological advancement protocols;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Film coating, pelleting with or without active formulations;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Seed treatments with biologicals, or chemical pesticides having contact or systemic mode of action;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Bio-stimulants and nutrients for higher germination and faster seedling establishment;\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Incorporation of AI responsive sensors\/substances in seed to help modulate plant responses to external stimuli; and\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Production of \u201cclean and green\u201d planting materials in horticultural crops.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Availability: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Most of these technologies are in commercial use globally, and some have been introduced in India<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>Emerging technologies: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Priming and enhancement technologies are emerging as an essential package of practices to ensure that seeds perform well under a wide range of growing conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">These are especially beneficial in agro-eco-regions that frequently experience moisture, temperature, and other abiotic stressors, or are prone to diseases and pest damages.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Way ahead<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>\u201cClean Green Mission\u201d: <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">A robust regulatory mechanism covering quality seedlings and planting materials is needed under the newly proposed <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>\u201cClean Green Mission\u201d <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">by the Government of India as part of its<\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong> G20 commitment<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"> to <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>\u201cGreen Development\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:disc\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>\u201cNext Gen\u201d technologies: \u201cNext Gen\u201d technologies <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">may also introduce AI-based responses from seeds under specific external conditions (for example, moisture, temperature); or incorporate such molecules or metabolites that act as metabolic cues in biological pathways, which will require appropriate guidelines for application.<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type:circle\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Thus, new seed technologies supported by scientific validation and enabling regulatory mechanisms offer significant advantages for sustainable agriculture at little additional cost.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse:collapse; border:none; width:667px\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"background-color:#fce5cd; border-bottom:1px solid #000000; border-left:1px solid #000000; border-right:1px solid #000000; border-top:1px solid #000000; vertical-align:top; width:667px\">\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong><u>Daily Mains Question<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:justify\"><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\"><strong>[Q] <\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size:13pt\"><span style=\"font-family:Georgia,serif\"><span style=\"color:#000000\">Examine the significance of the Indian government promoting technology-enabled sustainable farming during its G20 presidency. What should \u201cNext Gen\u201d seed technologies include?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><\/body><\/html><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Seeds for Growth Syllabus: GS3\/ Agriculture In Context The Indian government is promoting technology-enabled sustainable farming, including natural, regenerative and organic systems, during its G20 presidency. Agriculture in India Agriculture and allied sectors are central to the Indian economy. India is one of the major players in the agriculture sector worldwide and it is the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16347,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[28],"class_list":["post-16803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis","tag-indian-express"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2023\/09\/3025164images.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16803"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16803\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}