Introduction

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is in the process of developing the National Agriculture Code (NAC), which aims to establish standardized practices across the agricultural sector. This initiative mirrors existing frameworks such as the National Building Code and the National Electrical Code.

Purpose of the National Agriculture Code

The NAC seeks to standardize agricultural practices throughout the entire agricultural cycle, ensuring consistency and quality in farming operations. It will serve as a comprehensive guide for farmers, agricultural institutions, and policymakers.

Structure of the NAC

The NAC will be divided into two main parts:

1. General Principles: Applicable to all crops, providing a foundational framework.
2. Crop-Specific Standards: Tailored standards for key crops such as paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses.

Coverage of the NAC

The code will encompass a wide range of agricultural processes, including:

• Agricultural Cycle: From crop selection to post-harvest operations.
• Post-Harvest Operations: Including standards for storage, processing, and traceability.
• Emerging Practices: Guidelines for natural and organic farming, as well as the integration of Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies.
• Input Management: Recommendations for the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides.

Objectives of the National Agriculture Code

The BIS outlines several key objectives for the NAC:

• Standardization: Create a national code that reflects the diverse agro-climatic zones and socio-economic conditions across India.
• Quality Culture: Act as a reference for policymakers and regulators to enhance agricultural quality.
• Guidance for Farmers: Provide a practical guide to assist farmers in making informed decisions.
• Integration of Standards: Combine existing Indian standards with agricultural practices.
• Modernization: Emphasize aspects such as SMART farming, sustainability, and documentation.
• Capacity Building: Support training programs conducted by agricultural extension services.

Implementation Timeline

The BIS has established working panels comprising university professors and research organizations to draft the NAC, with a target completion date set for October 2025. Following this, training programs for farmers will be organized, facilitated by universities with financial assistance from the BIS.

Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADF)

In conjunction with the NAC, the BIS is launching Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADFs) at select agricultural institutions. These farms will serve as experimental sites to test and implement agricultural practices aligned with Indian standards. Partnerships with prominent agricultural institutes are being formalized through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), with two agreements already signed, including one with Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology.

Significance of the NAC

• Uniform Standards: Promotes best practices in diverse agricultural environments.
• Stakeholder Guidance: Provides a structured framework for informed decision-making.
• Support for Modern Techniques: Encourages the adoption of innovative practices and technologies.
• Farmer Empowerment: Facilitates training and capacity building for enhanced productivity.

Challenges and Limitations

• Implementation Barriers: Standardizing practices across varied climates and soil conditions may prove challenging.
• Adoption Resistance: Smaller farmers might struggle with resource availability or awareness of new practices.
• Dynamic Agricultural Needs: The need for frequent updates to the NAC to keep pace with evolving agricultural trends.
• Infrastructure Constraints: Rural areas may lack the necessary infrastructure to effectively implement NAC guidelines.

Conclusion

The National Agriculture Code represents a pivotal move towards modernizing and standardizing agricultural practices in India. While it aims to enhance productivity and sustainability, its success hinges on effective implementation, farmer engagement, and ongoing updates to meet the changing landscape of agriculture.

In News:

Farmers in Bhagthala Khurd, Kapurthala, and Amritsar are increasingly using drones to apply pesticides to their maize and moong crops. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are advanced flying machines that can be operated either autonomously or via remote control.

Drone Technology in Agriculture

While the use of drones in Indian agriculture is still emerging, it shows great potential. In Punjab, 93 out of the 100 drones provided to farmers by the Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative (IFFCO) under the Centre’s ‘NAMO Drone Didi’ scheme are already in operation. Each drone, costing Rs 16 lakh, is equipped with a 12-litre water tank.

Benefits

• Health Protection:  Drones minimize farmers' direct exposure to harmful pesticides, reducing the risk of health issues like cancer and kidney problems.
• Efficiency:  Drones can spray an acre in just 5-7 minutes, significantly faster than the several hours required for manual application. They ensure a uniform application, which can enhance crop yields.
• Data Collection: Drone data helps pinpoint areas requiring attention, leading to better crop management and increased profits.
• Nano Fertilisers: Drones effectively handle nano fertilisers, ensuring even distribution of these small quantities that are difficult to spread manually.
• Pest Control: Drones enable timely application of pesticides during infestations of pests such as pink bollworms, locusts, and whiteflies.
• Environmental Benefits:  Drones improve nutrient absorption from nano fertilisers by up to 90%, reducing runoff and pollution. Leaf-based application is also less polluting than soil-based methods.
• Water Conservation:  Drones reduce water usage by up to 90% compared to traditional methods.
• Cost Reduction: They decrease the need for manual labor and reduce pesticide and chemical use, lowering overall costs.
• Additional Uses:  Drones are also used to drop seed balls (a mix of soil and cow dung with seeds) for potential reforestation projects.

Challenges

• Job Loss:  The use of drones may reduce demand for manual labor, affecting job opportunities for laborers.
• Knowledge and Training: Farmers may lack the necessary skills and training to operate drones effectively.
• Cost: The high cost of drones can be a significant barrier for many farmers.
• Regulatory Barriers: Regulatory challenges may complicate the adoption of drones in agriculture.

Initiatives

• Digital India Campaign: Aims to enhance digital infrastructure and provide training.
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR):  Promotes precision agriculture technologies, including drones.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme:  Offers Rs. 120 crore (US$ 14.39 million) to incentivize domestic drone manufacturing and reduce import reliance.
• Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM):  Provides financial aid to farmers purchasing drones, making technology more accessible.
• NAMO Drone Didi Scheme: Launched to empower women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and provide access to modern agricultural technology.
• Support and Training:  Efforts are underway to offer training and support to farmers to overcome adoption barriers.

Conclusion and Way Forward

Drone technology holds the promise of transforming agriculture by boosting efficiency, yields, and cost-effectiveness. In Punjab, where traditional manual methods have prevailed, drones offer a new approach to pesticide and fertiliser application. It is essential for farmers and policymakers to work together to address challenges and ensure that the benefits of drones are fully realized while mitigating any potential drawbacks.

In News:

• Last week, PTI reported that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) is planning to revive District Agro-Meteorology Units (DAMUs) under the Gramin Krishi Mausam Sewa (GKMS) scheme.

Background:

• The IMD established 199 DAMUs in 2018 in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• The aim was to use weather data to prepare and disseminate sub-district level agricultural advisories. In March, DAMUs were shut down following an order issued by the IMD.

Why are agro-met units important?

• Around 80% of farmers in India are small and marginal. They largely practise rain-fed agriculture in the backdrop of a decades-long farm crisis that is now overlaid with climate change-related weather variability.
• The DAMUs were located within Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs). Scientists and researchers trained in meteorology and agriculture were recruited as DAMU staff. They used weather data provided by the IMD like rainfall, temperature and wind speeds to prepare agricultural advisories related to sowing and harvesting, usage of fertilizers and pesticides, irrigation etc.
• These advisories were sent to millions of farmers across the country free-of-cost in local languages twice a week. They were shared via text messages, WhatsApp groups, newspapers and also through in-person communication from DAMU staff and KVK officers.
• Since these advisories provided weather information in advance, they helped farmers plan activities like irrigation. They also served as early warnings for extreme events like droughts and heavy rainfall. Many studies conducted over the years have stressed the benefits of agro-met advisories.

Why were DAMUs shut down?

• According to an Article-14 report, the NITI Aayog misrepresented the role of District Agricultural Management Units (DAMUs) and advocated for their privatization. The report claims that NITI Aayog inaccurately stated that agro-met data was automated, thereby diminishing the role of DAMU staff. In reality, DAMU staff were crucial in creating agricultural advisories based on IMD weather data, which were disseminated to farmers in local languages. NITI Aayog also proposed monetizing these services, contrasting with the current free provision of agro-met information to all farmers.
• A policy brief from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bangalore, released in August, highlights that localized and accessible advisories from District Agricultural Management Units (DAMUs) have significantly improved farmers' responses to climatic variations in the Kalyana-Karnataka region. This has led to increased yields and incomes. The brief recommends reconsidering the decision to discontinue DAMUs and suggests exploring ways to enhance their effectiveness and presence.

What about private players?

Currently, a few private companies offer weather advisories, but their services are often too costly for small and marginal farmers.  Dr. M. N. Thimmegowda, a professor at the University of Agricultural Sciences noted that annual subscriptions can cost ?10,000 per crop, leading to expenses of ?20,000-40,000 for vegetable and cereal growers, and up to ?60,000-80,000 for specialized advisories. Additionally, there is concern that these companies may provide biased recommendations for fertilizers and pesticides, favoring certain brands.

Why is it in the News?

The current government policy, skewed towards consumers, unfavourably impacts farmers, necessitating a shift to enhance farmers' incomes.

Current State of India‘s Agricultural Exports:

• The current status of India's agri exports highlights a notable shortfall in achieving government targets.
• Despite aiming for $60 billion in 2022, actual exports in 2023-24 amounted to $48.9 billion, showing an 8% decrease from the previous year's $53.2 billion.
• Between 2004-05 and 2013-14, agricultural exports witnessed remarkable growth, expanding nearly fivefold from $8.7 billion to $43.3 billion.
• However, this growth trajectory slowed significantly in the period from 2014-15 to 2023-24, with an annual growth rate of merely 1.9%.
• Key exports include rice ($10.4 billion), marine products ($7.3 billion), spices ($4.25 billion), bovine meat ($3.7 billion), and sugar ($2.8 billion).

What is Agricultural Export Policy?

• The Agricultural Export Policy, commonly known as an agri-export policy, encompasses a range of governmental regulations, strategies, and incentives aimed at facilitating and encouraging the export of agricultural commodities from a specific nation.
• It encompasses diverse measures such as export subsidies, tariff adjustments, quality benchmarks, market access arrangements, financial support, and promotional efforts to assist agricultural producers and exporters in accessing global markets, enhancing their competitiveness, and broadening their export horizons.
• The Government of India introduced a comprehensive Agriculture Export Policy in December 2018, with the following objectives:
  • To diversify our export basket, and destinations and boost high-value and value-added agricultural exports, including focus on perishables.
  • To promote novel, indigenous, organic, ethnic, traditional and non-traditional Agri products exports.
  • To provide an institutional mechanism for pursuing market access, tackling barriers and dealing with sanitary and phytosanitary issues.
  • To strive to double India’s share in world agri exports by integrating with global value chains.
  • Enable farmers to get the benefit of export opportunities in overseas markets.

What is the Need for an Agri-Export Policy?

• Economic Contribution: India's agricultural exports, totalling around USD 53 billion in the fiscal year 2022-2023, constitute a significant portion of overall exports, yet the country's global share in agricultural exports remains low at 2.2% as of 2016.
• Food Security Enhancement: Despite catering to a substantial portion of the world's population with limited resources, a well-designed export policy can generate additional revenue to invest in bolstering food security and augmenting farmers' incomes.
• Inflation Control: Agricultural exports have the potential to stabilize domestic prices, benefiting consumers and producers, particularly during periods of abundant harvests.
• Job Creation: With approximately 45% of the workforce engaged in agriculture, promoting agricultural exports can foster employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is predominant.
• Balance of Payments Support: Agricultural exports significantly contribute to India's foreign exchange reserves, helping to offset trade deficits and maintain currency stability.
• Crop Diversity Utilization: India's diverse agricultural production offers substantial export potential, which can be tapped into through a well-structured export policy.
• Trade Relations Strengthening: Agricultural exports are pivotal in fostering and reinforcing trade ties with countries like the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Addressing Structural Challenges: The policy framework can effectively tackle obstacles such as low farm productivity, inadequate infrastructure, global price fluctuations, and limited market access.

What are the Challenges in India's Agri-Export Policy?

Several challenges hamper the effectiveness of India's agricultural export policy, requiring strategic interventions to unleash the sector's full potential:

• Restrictive Export Policies: Favoring domestic consumers over farmers often impedes the achievement of export targets.
  • Restrictions on commodities like Basmati rice, such as the Minimum Export Price (MEP) of USD 1,200, can limit export volumes.
• Subsidy-Centric Schemes: Increased subsidies during election periods, including food and fertilizer subsidies, strain fiscal discipline.
  • Populist measures like loan waivers and free power for farmers impact the financial health of the agricultural sector.
• Insufficient R&D Investment: Low investment in agricultural R&D, approximately 0.5% of agricultural GDP, hinders growth prospects.
  • Doubling or tripling R&D investments is essential for India to excel in agricultural production and exports.
• Quality and Standards: Maintaining consistent quality and meeting international standards is challenging.
  • Variability in quality, compliance issues, and difficulties in meeting Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures due to pests and diseases impede exports.
• Infrastructure: Inadequate infrastructure for storage, transportation, and processing results in post-harvest losses, reducing export competitiveness.
• Environmental and Sustainability Concerns: Balancing the growth of agricultural exports with environmental sustainability is crucial.
  • Over-exploitation of resources may have long-term consequences, necessitating careful resource management and sustainable practices.

Government Initiatives Promoting Agri-Export in India:

To unlock the full potential of India's agricultural exports, the government has launched several initiatives to enhance productivity, modernise infrastructure, and promote sustainable practices. Key schemes include:

• E-NAM (National Agriculture Market): A pan-India electronic trading portal, E-NAM enables farmers to sell directly to buyers, reducing intermediaries and ensuring fair prices.
  • E-NAM has integrated 1,000 wholesale markets and 585 mandis across 18 states and 3 Union Territories.
• National Horticulture Mission (NHM): Promoting sustainable horticulture practices, including organic farming and precision farming, NHM supports the establishment of over 100 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) for horticultural products.
  • The mission also backs the production of high-value horticultural products for export.
• Market Access Initiative (MAI): Supporting export promotion activities, such as participation in trade fairs, capacity building, and market research, MAI has facilitated Indian exporters' participation in over 100 international trade fairs annually.
• Operation Greens: With an allocation of INR 500 crores in the Union Budget 2023-2024, Operation Greens stabilizes the supply and prices of essential agricultural commodities like fruits and vegetables.
  • The scheme reduces price volatility, ensures fair prices for farmers, and fosters sustainable agri-exports.
• Scheme for Agro-Marine Processing and Development of Agro-Processing Clusters (SAMPADA): With a budgetary allocation of INR 6,000 crores for the period 2020-2021 to 2024-2025, SAMPADA modernizes infrastructure for agro-processing clusters.
  • This reduces post-harvest losses and increases shelf life, improving the overall export potential.
• APEDA: Promoting the export of scheduled products, APEDA provides guidelines for sustainability and quality.
  • APEDA facilitated exports of agricultural products worth USD 22.17 billion during the financial year 2022-2023.
• Agri Export Zones (AEZs): AEZs provide infrastructure development and technology adoption for sustainable agri-exports.
  • Established for commodities like mangoes, grapes, and spices, AEZs have contributed to increased export volumes.
• Promotion of Organic Farming: Initiatives promoting organic farming for environmental sustainability and the export potential of organic products have resulted in increased organic farming area, reaching 3.90 million hectares in 2022-2023, with exports of organic products totalling USD 1.04 billion.

Way Forward for a Stable Agricultural Export Policy in India:

To establish a stable and prosperous agri-export policy in India, several strategic actions and considerations must be taken into account. These include:

• Prioritizing Farmer Welfare: Ensuring that farmers receive fair prices for their produce is crucial for the success of agricultural exports and the well-being of the farming community.
• Supporting Domestic Consumers: Implementing targeted income policies to support vulnerable populations and maintain food security for domestic consumers.
• Enhancing Productivity: Increasing agricultural productivity through investments in R&D, seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, and improved farming practices to bolster global competitiveness.
• Diversifying Export Basket: Expanding the range of agricultural exports, focusing on value-added products, and targeting a wide array of international markets to minimize reliance on a select few commodities.
• Quality Assurance: Implementing strict quality standards and certification mechanisms to ensure that exported agricultural products meet international norms.
  • Establishing uniform quality and standardization protocols is vital, particularly for horticultural items.
• Infrastructure Development: Investing in modern infrastructure, such as cold storage, processing facilities, transportation, and logistics, to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance export competitiveness.
  • Offering financial incentives, subsidies, and credit facilities can encourage investments in agriculture, infrastructure, and processing facilities.
• Technology Adoption: Promoting the use of advanced agricultural technologies, precision farming, and efficient irrigation techniques to boost productivity.
  • Encouraging the growth of agri-startups and fostering innovative solutions can enhance agricultural production and export efficiency.
• Environmentally Sustainable Practices: Encouraging sustainable farming practices, including organic farming, to ensure environmental sustainability in agriculture.
• Learning from Global Best Practices: Gaining insights from successful agricultural export policies and best practices in other countries can inform India's approach.
  • Strengthening diplomatic efforts to negotiate favourable trade agreements and reduce trade barriers will provide better access to international markets.

Conclusion

To ensure India's continued growth in global agricultural trade, a stable export policy is crucial, embodying dynamism, responsiveness, and adaptability. It must prioritize agricultural sustainability, environmental responsibility, and farmer welfare, securing India's position in international trade. Balancing economic growth with farmer well-being and environmental concerns is key to unleashing India's agricultural potential. Forward-looking policies and innovative solutions will strengthen the agri-export sector, fostering a prosperous and sustainable future for all.