Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains

The terms 'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures', and 'Peace Clause' all appear in the context of the affairs of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Agreement on Agriculture: This agreement regulates trade in agricultural products among WTO member countries. It aims to promote fair trade practices and reduce distortions caused by subsidies and other measures. Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement): This agreement sets out rules for countries to ensure the safety and quality of food, animals, and plants traded internationally. It helps to prevent the spread of pests and diseases while minimizing unnecessary barriers to trade. Peace Clause: This provision within the Agreement on Agriculture provides some flexibility for developing countries regarding their agricultural subsidy programs. It allows them to offer certain subsidies to their farmers without facing challenges from other WTO members.

Assessment of crop productivity: IRS satellites capture data that helps assess crop health, growth stage, and potential yield.
Locating groundwater resources: Remote sensing allows for studying geological features and identifying potential zones with underground water reserves.
Mineral exploration: IRS data can reveal signatures of specific minerals on the Earth's surface, aiding in mineral exploration activities.
Telecommunications: IRS satellites are not designed for telecommunication purposes. Geostationary satellites are typically used for this function.
Traffic studies: While remote sensing can be used for some traffic studies (e.g., analyzing transportation infrastructure), it's not the primary application of IRS satellites. Therefore, only 1,2 and 3 are primary applications of IRS satellites.

A seed village, wherein trained group of farmers are involved in the production of seeds of various crops and cater to the needs of themselves, fellow farmers of the village and farmers of neighbouring villages in the appropriate time and at an affordable cost is called a seed village.

Statement 1 is incorrect: India has a National Seeds Policy (2002), which provides a framework for quality assurance, seed certification, and private sector participation. Statement 2 is incorrect: The private sector plays a significant role in the production and distribution of seeds, particularly for hybrid and vegetable crops (e.g., Mahyco, Syngenta, Nunhems, etc.). Statement 3 is correct: For crops like pulses, coarse cereals, and oilseeds, which are low-value but high-volume, there is indeed a shortage of certified seeds due to lower profitability and investment. Thus, only statement three is correct.

* The guar or cluster bean, with the botanical name Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, is an annual legume and the source of guar gum. * It is also known as Gavar, guar, or guvar bean. * The gum made from its seeds is used in the extraction of shale gas . The seeds of the guar bean contain a large endosperm. This endosperm consists of a large polysaccharide of galactose and mannose. This polymer is water-soluble and exhibits a viscosifying effect in water. * Guar gum has a multitude of different applications in food products, industrial products, and the extractive industry.

Pair 1 is not correct: The drought prone area programme comes under Ministry of Rural Development. This programme aims to mitigate the impacts of droughts on crop production, livestock, land and water resources. Pair 2 is not correct: The Desert Development Programme comes under Ministry of Rural Development. The basic objective of the Desert Development Programme is to minimise negative effect of drought and control desertification. Pair 3 is not correct: The national watershed project for rainfed areas implemented by Ministry of Agriculture is an umbrella scheme under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayi Yojana.

Statement 1 is correct: Neem oil is a well-known natural pesticide and has been shown to be effective in controlling some insect and mite populations. Statement 2 is incorrect: While there might be some research into using neem seeds for biofuels, it's not a widespread application in 2014 when the question was asked by the UPSC. Hospital detergents typically use stronger and more regulated chemicals. Statement 3 is correct: Neem oil does have applications in the pharmaceutical industry. It has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and some of its properties are being explored in modern medicine for their anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and other potential benefits.

Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative is a method of sugarcane production that involves the use of less seeds , less water and optimum utilization of fertilizers and land to achieve more yields . The major principles that govern SSI are - Transplanting young seedlings (25-35 days old).
- Maintaining wide spacing (5X2 feet) in the main field.
- Providing sufficient moisture and avoiding inundation of water.
- Encouraging organic method of nutrient and plant protection measures.
- Practicing intercropping for effective utilization of land.
- NPK (fertilizers) can be applied at the rate of 112 kg, 25 kg, and 48 kg per acre, respectively, through inorganic or organic methods. Hence statement 3 is wrong, this eliminates A, C, and D.

1. Regional Rural Banks (RRBs): RRBs are established to provide credit and banking facilities to rural areas, especially to small and marginal farmers, agricultural laborers, and rural artisans. They grant direct credit assistance to rural households. 2. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD): NABARD primarily provides refinance facilities to banks and financial institutions for lending to rural sectors. It does not directly lend to rural households, except in very limited cases through pilot schemes. 3. Land Development Banks (LDBs): LDBs provide long-term credit to farmers for land development and agricultural improvements. They grant direct loans to rural households.

Contour Bunding is associated with terracing, to check the flow of water on a hill slope in order to reduce soil erosion. This method is crucial for preventing soil erosion and is a part of sustainable land management practices.