indian agriculture programme & policy 2019...krishi vikas yojana (pkvy) and to support for...

Agriculture Development Programs

FARM TO FOREIGN LAND

In a developing country like India, agriculture sector and rural economy have a significant role in providing livelihoods, ensuring food security and providing impetus to the growth of industries and service sectors. The process of development inter alia results in declining share of agriculture in Gross Value Added (GVA), which is being witnessed in India too. However, the declining share does not undermine the significance of the sector for employment, livelihood and food security. With structural changes in agriculture, there is greater scope to broaden the range of activities related to agriculture to improve productivity and make way for sustainable growth.Agriculture plays a vital role in India's economy. 54.6% of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities (census 2011) and it contributes 17% to the country's Gross Value Added. Given the importance of agriculture sector, Government of India took several steps for its sustainable development. Steps have been taken to improve soil fertility on a sustainable basis through the soil health card scheme, to provide improved access to irrigation and enhanced water efficiency through Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), to support organic farming through Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and to support for creation of a unified national agriculture market to boost the income of farmers. Further, to mitigate risk in agriculture sector a new scheme “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been launched for implementation from Kharif 2016.

Niti Aayog has argued against any abrupt restrictions on agriculture exports to meet domestic demand, suggesting instead that these should be resorted to in exceptional situations and producers should know well in advance of impending restrictions.

Indian Agriculture Programme & Policy 2019Indian Agriculture Programme & Policy 2019

If accepted by the government, this would ensure that Indian agriculture commodities have a dedicated market overseas as the focus of government moves from farm land to foreign land to help take India's agriculture exports to $60 billion by 2022.. Currently India exports a large number of agriculture commodities annually.

India ranks first, with 179.8 Mha (9.6 percent of the global net cropland area) of net cropland area according to United States Geological Survey 2017. The pattern of cropping is determined by various factors like agro-climatic conditions, farm size, prices, profitability and government policies. A diversified cropping pattern will help in mitigating the risks faced by farmers in terms of price shocks and production/ harvest losses. With 9.6 per cent of the global net cropland area, India has tremendous potential for crop diversification and to make farming a sustainable and profitable economic activity.

Crop Diversification Programme is being implemented in Original Green Revolution States viz: Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh as a sub scheme of RKVY to divert the area of water guzzling paddy to alternate crops like pulses, oilseeds, maize, cotton and agro forestry with the objective of tackling the problem of declining of soil fertility and depleting water table in these states. In order to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternate crops/ cropping systems, Crop Diversification Programme has been extended to tobacco growing states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,

However, this is subject to stable domestic market which means if demand goes up or prices soar in the domestic market, the government immediately stops exports mid-way as a result of which India is rarely seen as a consistent supplier of agri commodities to overseas destinations.The Aayog is of the view that agriculture production in India should have dedicated focus on exports and certain amount of all produce should be dedicated to exportsCropping Pattern in Indian Agriculture

Crop Diversification Programme:

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Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal to encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternate crops/ cropping system on 100 % GOI assistance. However, the programme is being implemented on 60:40 sharing basis between GOI and State Governments.

Government fixes Minimum Support Prices (MSPs) of 22 mandated Kharif and Rabi crops and Fair & Remunerative Prices (FRP) for Sugarcane on the basis of recommendations of Commission for Agricultural Costs & Prices (CACP), after considering the views of State Governments and Central Ministries/Departments concerned & other relevant factors. In addition, MSP for Toria and De-Husked coconut is also fixed on the basis of MSPs of Rapeseed/Mustard and Copra respectively.While recommending MSPs, CACP considers a host of factors including all India weighted average cost of production of crops. The costs considered are comprehensive and include all paid out costs such as those incurred on account of hired human labour, bullock labour/machine labour, rent paid for leased in land, expenses incurred in cash and kind on use of material inputs like seeds, fertilizers, manures, irrigation charges, depreciation on implements and farm buildings, interest on working capital, diesel/electricity for operation of pump sets etc, miscellaneous expenses and imputed value of family labour. The MSPs fixed by Government for most of the crops provide atleast a return of 50 per cent over cost of production for the year 2018-19.

Cluster demonstrations of alternate crops, farm mechanization & value addition, site-specific activities and awareness campaigns/training programmes are the major interventions of the programme. The scheme has encouraged farmers to adopt alternate crops in place of paddy in Original Green Revolution States (Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh) and encourage tobacco growing farmers to shift to alternate crops/cropping

Increase in MSP

system in tobacco growing states. Under Crop Diversification Programme in Original Green Revolution States, cluster demonstration on alternate crops like pulses, oilseeds, maize, cotton, agro forestry and inter cropping were conducted in 83,366 hectare area.

Launch Date: 19.2.2015Objective: To help farmers improve productivity by issuing them soil health card completely free of cost, this can be renewed every two years. Soil Health Cards to be issued to all farmers by 2019.

· 10.73 crore Soil Health Cards distributed in Phase-I during 2015-17.

· 2nd cycle (2017-19) of SoiL health card scheme has been initiated from 1st May , 2017 and till date 4.56 crore Soil Health Cards have been Distributed to the farmers.

· Under Soil Health Management Scheme, Rs. 243.82 crores released to the States during 2014-17 against Rs.27.76 crores during 20011-14

· Under Soil Health Cards Scheme, Rs.401.65 crores released to the states during 2014-17

· 9243 Soil Testing Laboratories including 8752 Mini Labs sanctioned to the States between 2014-17 against 15 during 2011-14.

· Funds amounting to ₹ 36 lakh have been released to ICAR under RKVY Scheme, for setting up 1076 new Mini labs and 100% coverage of all 648 KVKs.

· Scheme for setting up village level soil testing labs Labs by local entrepreneurs approved by EFC on 29.11.2017. and 95 labs approved by finance (Rs.108 lakh), funds not to be

· Production of Food grains: Estimated at 277.49 MT

· Production of Rice Estimated at 111.01 MT· Production of Coarse Cereals Estimated at 45.42

million tonnes· Production of Pulses Estimated at 23.95 million

tonnes

Soil Health Card Scheme

Achievements:

ENHANCED CROP YIELD (2017-18 Estimates)

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· Production of Sugarcane Estimated at 352.23 million tonnes.

A record production of more than 275 million tonnes of food grains and about 305.4 million tonnes of horticultural produce.

has been computed for major States and All India to examine whether there has been major changes in the cropping patterns across States. The index value ranges between 0 and 1 and higher the value, greater the diversification. It is evident that there is a declining inter-temporal behaviour in crop diversification for the States like Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Among these States, the decline in the index has been sharp for Odisha.

Crop diversification needs to be encouraged to improve soil health, productivity and thereby profitability of cultivation. The inverse relationship between change in crop diversification index and variability of output can be seen in the plot of States (excluding outliers Odisha and Jharkhand) .There is a need to diversify into high value crops and horticulture crops for which Government has taken several measures. Crops Diversification Programme is being implemented by the Government in original green revolution states viz. Punjab, Haryana and in Western UP to diversify paddy area towards less water requiring crops like oilseeds, pulses, coarse cereal, agroforestry and shifting of tobacco farmers to alternative crops/cropping system in tobacco growing States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products. India's fruit production has grown faster than vegetables, making it the second largest fruit producer in the world. India's horticulture output, is estimated to be 287.3 million tonnes (MT) after the first advance estimate. It ranks third in farm and agriculture outputs. Agricultural

The Index of Crop Diversification

export constitutes 10 per cent of the country's exports and is the fourth-largest exported principal commodity. The agro industry in India is divided into several sub segments such as canned, dairy, processed, frozen food to fisheries, meat, poultry, and food grains.The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for the development of the agriculture sector in India. It manages several other bodies, such as the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), to develop other allied agricultural sectors.

Gross Capital Formation (GCF) in Agriculture and Allied sector is estimated separately for public, private corporate and the household sectors. Items included in the estimates of GCF are: (i) Improvement of land and Irrigation works (ii) Laying of new orchards and plantations (iii) Purchase of agricultural machinery and

implements (iv) Agriculture construction works (v) Additions to livestock (vi) Fishing boats and nets etc

National Policy for Farmers (NPF), 2007: Government of India approved the National Policy for Farmers (NPF) in 2007. The Policy provisions, inter alia, include asset reforms in respect of land, water, livestock, fisheries, and bio-resources; support services and inputs like application of frontier technologies; agricultural bio-security systems; supply of good quality seeds and disease-free planting material, improving soil fertility and health, and integrated pest management systems; support services for women like crèches, child care centres, nutrition, health and training; timely, adequate, and easy reach of institutional credit at reasonable interest rates, and farmer-friendly insurance instruments; use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and setting up of farmers' schools to revitalize agricultural extension; effective implementation of MSP across the country,

Capital Formation in Agriculture and Allied Sector:

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development of agricultural market infrastructure, and rural non-farm employment initiatives for farm households; integrated approach for rural energy, etc.The strategy of the Government is to focus on farmers' welfare by making farming viable. Farm viability is possible, when cost of cultivation is reduced, yield per unit of farm is increased and farmers get remunerative prices on their produce. The Department is implementing various schemes to meet this objective.

The scheme has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore for a period of 5 years (2015-16 to 2019-20). The major objective of PMKSY is to achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level, expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage of water, enhance the adoption of precision irrigation and other water saving technologies (More crop per drop), promote sustainable water conservation practices etc. Cabinet decision has been made in July, 2016 for implementation of PMKSY on mission mode approach. The mission is administered by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Climate change incidence on agriculture can be in the form of increased variability in temperature and rainfall and intensity of extreme weather events like drought and flood ultimately creating disturbance to agro-ecosystems, thereby impacting farmers and farming community. This necessitates the need to address adaptation and rural development in an integrated manner, so as to achieve climate resilient development. It is in this context that there is emergence of the concept and significance of 'Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA).Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is an approach that helps to guide actions needed to transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure food security in a changing climate. CSA aims to tackle three main objectives:

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY):

Policy to Promote Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA)

sustainably increasing agricultural productivity and incomes; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.CSA is an approach for developing agricultural strategies to secure sustainable food security under climate change. CSA provides the means to help stakeholders identify agricultural strategies suitable to their local conditions.

Credit is a critical input in achieving high productivity and overall production in the agricultural sector. A sum of Rs.20,339 crore has been approved by the Government of India in 2017-18 to meet various obligations arising from interest subvention being provided to the farmers on short term crop loans, as also loans on post-harvest storages meets an important input requirement of the farmers in the country especially small and marginal farmers who are the major borrowers. This institutional credit will help in delinking the farmers from non-institutional sources of credit, where they are compelled to borrow at usurious rates of interest. Since the crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is linked to availing of crop loans, the farmers would stand to benefit from both farmer oriented initiatives of the Government, by accessing the crop loans. The Government has been undertaking market reforms with a view to ensuring that the farmers benefit from remunerative prices for their produce in the market. The electronic National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) that was launched by Government on April, 2016 aims at integrating the dispersed APMCs through an electronic platform and enable price discovery in a competitive manner, to the advantage of the farmers. While the farmers are advised to undertake on-line trade, it is also important that they avail themselves of post-harvest loans by storing their produce in the accredited warehouses. The loans are available to Kisan Credit Card (KCC) holding small and marginal farmers at interest subvention of 2 per cent on such storages for a period of upto six months. This will help the farmers to sell

Agriculture Credit and Marketing Initiatives

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when they find the market is buoyant, and avoid distress sale. It is, therefore, needful for the small and marginal farmers to keep their KCCs alive.The Government is keen to double the income of the farmers by 2022, for which it has launched several new initiatives that encompass activities from seed to marketing. The credit from institutional sources will complement all such government initiatives like Soil Health Card, Input Management, Per Drop More Crop in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), PMFBY, e-NAM, etc.

· To achieve convergence of investments in irrigation at the field level.

· To Enhance the physical access of water on the farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation (Har Khet ko pani)

· To enhance the adoption of precision - irrigation and other water saving technologies and Improve on - farm water use efficiency to reduce wastage and increase availability both in duration and extent. (Per Drop More Crop).

· PMKSY to cover 28.5 Lakh hectare area under irrigation

· PMKSY to cover 28.5 Lakh hectare area under

irrigation· 50,000 crores to be invested in five years to

achieve 'Water to Every Field / HarKhetKoPaani'· Long Term Irrigation Fund with Rs 40,000 Crore

(Budget 2016-17 and 2017-18) established for completion of 99 priority

· Dedicated Micro Irrigation fund with a sum of Rs. 5000 crores is being set up for enhancing coverage of micro irrigation.

· Under 'Per Drop More Crop' for micro irrigation 26.87 lakh hectares brought under micro irrigation from 2014-18( as on 25.03.2018)

· The work of completing 99 Irrigation projects that were held up for decades is in progress.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee YojanaLaunch Date: 1.7.2015 Objective:

Achievements:

· Under Har Khet ko Pani, 96 deprived irrigation districts will be taken up with an allocation of Rs 2600 crore.

· Centre will work with the state governments to facilitate farmers for installing solar water pumps to irrigate their fields.

· Budget allocation of PMKSY IN 2018-19: Rs. 9429 crores.

· To provide comprehensive insurance coverage to farmers in the event of failure of any of the notified crop as a result of natural calamities, pests & diseases

· To encourage adoption of innovative practices· To increase the number of insured farmers gross

cropped area (GCA) from present 20% to 50% by 2018-19.

· Biggest financial support till date by the Central Government in crop insurance. Plan to increase crop insurance coverage from 20% to 50% by 2018-19.

· Implemented by 23 States during Kharif 2016; 405.76 lakh farmers covered and 379.06 lakh hectares insured over the sum insured of 1, 31,5 1988.16 lakh.

· During Rabi 2016-17, 169.11 lakh farmers covered and more than 192.47 lakh hectares insured over the sum insured of Rs. 6,95,0386 lakh.

· During 2017-18, under Rabi & Kharif crops, 4.79 lakh farmers were provided protective coverage under this scheme.

· 2018-19- Rs. 13000cr. Hike of 21%· 2017-18- Rs. 10701 cr· 2016-17 - Rs. 5500 cr (actual expenditure Rs.

11,054.63 crore )· 2015-16 - Rs. 3185 cr (actual expenditure Rs.

2,982.47 crore)

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima YojanaLaunch Date: 13.1.2016Objective:

Achievements:

Budget Allocations:

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E-National Agriculture Market Launch Date: 14.4.2016

Target to double farmers' income by 2022

Objective:

Achievements:

Seven Point Strategy

Interest Subvention Scheme Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS)

· To create a unified national market for

agricultural commodities by integrating 585 regulated markets (APMCs) with the common e-market platform 'e-NAM' by March 2018. Farmers will be able to get better price of their crop through E-Nam.

· Rs 80 lakhs allotted for every mandi,

· 585 Mandis across 16 states & 2UTs are live on e-NAM portal as on 28.03.2018.

· More than 1 Crore farmers and sellers are registered on this platform.

· 1.17 Crore Tonnes of farm commodities worth Rs. 41591 thousand crores has been transacted on e-NAM platform (As on 27.03.2018).

1. Special focus on irrigation with sufficient budget,

with the aim of “Per Drop More Crop”.2. Provision of quality seeds and nutrients based on

soil health of each field.3. Large investments in Warehousing and Cold

Chains to prevent post-harvest crop losses.4. Promotion of value addition through food

processing.5. Creation of a National Farm Market, removing

distortions and e-platform across 585 Stations.6. Introduction of a New Crop Insurance Scheme to

mitigate risks at an affordable cost.7. Promotion of ancillary activities like poultry,

beekeeping, and fisheries.

The Interest Subvention Scheme (ISS) has been operational since 2006-07. Under this scheme, the farmers can avail concessional crop loans of upto Rs.3 lakh at 7 per cent rate of interest. It also provides for an additional subvention of 3 per cent for prompt repayment within a period of one year from the date

of advance. The scheme for 2017-18 will help farmers to avail of short term crop loans up to Rs. 3 lakh payable within one year at only 4 per cent per annum. As a measure to check distress sale, post-harvest loans for storage in accredited warehouses against Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWRs) are available for upto 6 months for KCC holding small & marginal farmers. The Interest Subvention Scheme will continue for one year and it will be implemented by NABARD and RBI. The interest subvention will be given to Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Private Sector Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) on use of own funds and to NABARD for refinance to RRBs and Cooperative Banks. The salient features of the scheme are as follows:· The Central Government will provide interest

subvention of 5 per cent per annum to all prompt payee farmers for short term crop loan upto one year for loan upto Rs. 3 lakhs borrowed by them during the year 2017-18. Farmers will thus have to effectively pay only 4 per cent as interest. In case farmers do not repay the short term crop loan in time they would be eligible for interest subvention of 2 per cent as against 5 per cent available above.

· The Central Government will provide approximately Rs. 20,339 crore as interest subvention for 2017-18.

· In order to give relief to small and marginal farmers who would have to borrow at 9 per cent for the post-harvest storage of their produce, the Central Government has approved an interest subvention of 2 per cent i.e. an effective interest rate of 7 per cent for loans upto 6 months.

· To provide relief to the farmers affected by natural calamities, the interest subvention of 2 per cent will be provided to Banks for the first year on the restructured amount.

· In case farmers do not repay the short term crop loan in time they would be eligible for interest subvention of 2 per cent as against available above.

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· The ISS is to make available at ground level, agricultural credit for Short Term crop loans at an affordable rate to give a boost to agricultural productivity and production in the country.

I. The process of registration of warehouses with WDRA has been simplified. The new rules will promote increase in the number of warehouses registered with WDRA. This would enhance facility of pledge finance for the farmers through Negotiable Warehouse Receipts (NWR) system. During the year Rs. 51.45 crore loans have been availed against NWRs upto 31.10.2018.

ii. Electronic Negotiable Warehousing Receipt (eNWR) System and WDRA Portal has been launched to transform the process of registration of warehouses online and to issue e-NWR instead of paper-NWR which will be a more credible financing tool.

The Kisan Credit Card Scheme is in operation throughout the country and is implemented by Commercial Banks, Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks (RRB). The scheme has facilitated in augmenting credit flow for agricultural activities. The scope of the KCC has been broad-based to include term credit and consumption needs. The KCC Scheme has since been simplified and converted into ATM enabled debit card with, inter-alia, facilities of one-time documentation, built in cost escalation in the limit, any number of withdrawals within the limit etc. which eliminates the need for disbursement through camps and mitigates the vulnerability of farmers to middlemen.

In order to protect farmers against crop failure due to natural calamities, pests & diseases, weather conditions, Government of India had introduced the National Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) with component schemes of Modified National Agricultural Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop

Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA)

Kisan Credit Card

Crop Insurance

Insurance Scheme (WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS). In addition, National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) which was to be withdrawn after implementation of NCIP from Rabi 2013-14 was extended further upto 2015-16. The erstwhile crop insurance schemes have recently been reviewed in consultation with various stakeholders including States/ UTs. As a result of the review, a new scheme “Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) has been approved for implementation from Kharif 2016 along with restructured pilot Unified Package Insurance Scheme (UPIS) and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS). Under the PMFBY & RWBCIS, a uniform maximum premium of only 2% will be paid by farmers for all Kharif crops and 1.5% for all Rabi crops. In case of annual commercial and horticultural crops, the maximum premium to be paid by farmers will be only 5%. The premium rates to be paid by farmers are very low and balance premium will be paid by the Government, to be shared equally by Central and State Government, to provide full insured amount to the farmers against crop loss on account of natural calamities

Commission for 'Agricultural Costs and Prices' (CACP), set up with a view to evolve a balanced and integrated price structure, is mandated to advice on the price policy (MSP) of 23 crops. These include seven cereal crops (paddy, wheat, jowar, bajra, maize, ragi and barley), five pulse crops (gram, tur, moong, urad and lentil), seven oilseeds (groundnut, sunflower seed, soyabean, rapeseedmustard, safflower, nigerseed and seasmum), copra (dried coconut), cotton, raw jute and sugarcane {Fair and Remunerative prices (FRP)}. CACP submits its recommendations to the government in the form of Price Policy Reports every year, separately for five groups of commodities namely Kharif crops, Rabi crops, Sugarcane, Raw Jute and Copra. Before preparing these five pricing policy reports, the Commission seeks views of various state governments, concerned National organizations and Ministries.

Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices:

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Cost of production (CoP) is one of the important factors in the determination of MSP of mandated crops. Besides cost, the Commission considers other important factors such as demand and supply, price trend in the domestic and international markets, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and nonagricultural sectors and the likely impact of MSPs on consumers, in addition to ensuring rational utilization of natural resources like land and water. Thus, pricing policy is rooted not in 'cost plus' approach, though cost is an important determinant of MSP.

· Big hike in Minimum Support Price or MSP for Kharif crops, 1.5 times of the production cost.

· MSP of Kharif pulses for 2017-18. MSP of Arhar increased from Rs. 5050/- to Rs. 5,450/-per quintal. MSP of Urad increased from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs. 5,400/- per quintal. MSP of Moong increased from Rs 5,225/- to Rs. 5,575/- per quintal

· Substantial increase in MSP of Rabi Pulses. MSP of Gram increased from Rs. 4,000/- to Rs. 4400/- per quintal. MSP of lentil (Masoor) increased from Rs. 3,950/- to Rs. ,/- per quintal

· Extent of buffer stock of Pulses increased from 1.5 lakh tonnes to 20 lakh tonnes.

· About 16.24 lakh metric tonne of pulses procured (As on 22.3.2018)

· Procurement of wheat during Rabi season has touched 308.24 lakh tonne as on 31th August, 2017 compared to 229.30 lakh metric tonnes in 2016-17 and 280.88 lakh metric tonnes in 2015-16.

· Pulses production went up by more than 3.5 percent during 2017-18 (as per 2nd Advance estimates) as compared to last year's production, of 231.3 lakh, which is a record.

· Launch of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana” to modernise supply chain infrastructure in the agricultural sector.

· Budget allocation doubled under the Krishi

Determinants of MSP:

MSP & PROCUREMENT

Sampada Yojana to push the Food processing industry

i. Persistent efforts has resulted in universal implementation of the NFSA, 2013 in all 36 States & UTs, benefiting 80.72 crore persons in the country by providing them access to highly subsidized foodgrains at Rs.1/2/3 per kg. for coarse grains/wheat/rice respectively.

ii. The prices of foodgrains specified under NFSA – Rs.3 per kg for rice, Rs.2 per kg for wheat and Re.1 per kg for coarse grains were initially valid for a period of three years from the coming into force of the NFSA.These rates were extended from time to time upto June, 2018. These have been further extended upto June, 2019.

iii. During the Financial Year 2018-19 (upto 05.12.2018), Rs. 2575 crore has been released to State Governments as Central assistance to meet the expenditure incurred on intra-State movement & handling of foodgrains and fair price shop dealers' margins. Such an arrangement has been made for the first time under NFSA. Under erstwhile TPDS, State Governments were required to either meet this expenditure on their own or pass it on to beneficiaries (other than AAY beneficiaries).

National Food Security Mission was launched in 2007-08 to increase the production of rice, wheat and pulses by 10, 8 and 2 million tonnes, respectively by the end of 11th Plan through area expansion and productivity enhancement; restoring soil fertility and productivity; creating employment opportunities; and enhancing farm level economy. The Mission has continued during 12th Plan with new target of additional production of 25 million tonnes by the end of 12th Plan and promotion of commercial crops like cotton, jute & sugarcane. The basic strategy of the Mission is to promote and extend improved technologies, i.e., seed, micro-nutrients, soil amendments, integrated pest

National Food Security MissionImplementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA)

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management, farm machinery and implements, irrigation devices along with capacity building of farmers. The major interventions/activities covered under NFSM include cluster demonstrations of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals, distribution of improved varieties/hybrid seeds, need based inputs, resource conservation techniques / energy management, efficient water/ application tools, cropping system based trainings and local initiatives; award for best performing districts etc.NFSM is implemented in 638 districts of 29 states. NFSM-Rice is implemented in 194 districts of 25 states viz. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal; NFSM Wheat in 126 districts of 11 states viz., Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand; NFSM- Pulses in 638 districts of all 29 States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal ; NFSM Coarse cereals in 265 districts of 28 States.

i. As an outcome of digitization of Ration Card/beneficiary records, de-duplication due to Aadhaar seeding, transfer/migration/deaths, change in economic status of beneficiaries, and during the run-up to and implementation of NFSA, a total of 2.75 Crore ration cards have been de le t ed /cance l l ed by S ta t e /UT Governments during the years 2013 to 2017 (up to November 2017). Based on this the Government has been able to achieve an

End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations

estimated 'Rightful Targeting of Food Subsidies' of about Rs. 17,500 Crore per annum.ii. To modernize and to bring about transparency in

the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS), the Department is implementing scheme on End-to-end Computerization of TPDS Operations at a total cost of 884 Crore on cost-sharing basis with the States/UTs. The Scheme provides for digitization of ration cards & beneficiary records, computerization of supply chain management, setting up of transparency portals and grievance redressal mechanisms.

iii. Key achievements under the scheme are as follows:(a) Digitization of ration cards / beneficiaries

data : Completed in all States/ Uts.(b)Online allocation of food grains : Completed in all States/UTs except UTs of

Chandigarh & Puducherry which have adopted DBT/Cash transfer Scheme.

(c)Computer izat ion of Supply Chain Management : Completed in 25 States/UTs, and the work is in p r o g r e s s i n t h e remaining States/UTs.

iv. To identify and weed-out duplicate/ineligible beneficiaries, and to enable rightful targeting of food subsidies, seeding of Aadhaar numbers of beneficiaries with their Ration Cards is being done by States and UTs. Presently, 85.61% of all ration cards have been seeded.

v. As part of the scheme, electronic Point of Sale (ePoS) devices are being installed at Fair Price Shops (FPSs) for distribution of foodgrains through authentication and electronic record-keeping of the sale transactions. As on date, 3.61 lakh FPSs out of total 5.34 lakh FPSs have ePoS devices in 29 States/UTs.

vi. Intra state portability of ration cards: Facility enabling PDS beneficiaries to lift their entitled foodgrains from any fair price shop in the State has been started fully in Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tripura,Kerala and partially

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in Madhya Pradesh.vii. Integrated Management of PDS' (IM-PDS): A

new Central Sector Scheme has been approved to be implemented during FY 2018-19 and FY 2019-20 for establishing Public Distribution System Network (PDSN) to implement national level portability, central data repository and central monitoring system of PDS operations.

viii. L a u n c h o f e P o S t r a n s a c t i o n s portal:Annavitran Portal has been implemented to display electronic transactions made through ePoS devices for distribution of subsidized foodgrains to beneficiaries. This portal also shows all India picture of Aadhaar authentication of beneficiaries besides allocated and distributed quantity of foodgrains up to district level.

a sub scheme of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana was initiated in 2010- 11 to address the constraints limiting the productivity of “rice based cropping systems” in eastern India comprising seven (7) States namely; Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. However, from the year 2015-16, the programme is being implemented on 60:40 sharing basis between GOI and States and 90:10 sharing basis in NE State (Assam).

This Centrally Sponsored Scheme was launched in the year 2005-06 aims at the holistic development of horticulture sector by ensuring forward and backward linkage through a cluster approach with the active participation of all stake holders. 384 districts in 19 States and 4 Union Territories were covered under NHM. Eighteen (18) National Level Agencies (NLAs) have also been included for providing support for developmental efforts which require inputs at the National level. 5.4 Supply of quality planting material through establishment of

Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI),

National Horticulture Mission (NHM):

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)

nurseries and tissue culture units production and productivity improvement programmes through area expansion and rejuvenation, technology promotion, technology dissemination, human resource development, creation of infrastructure for post harvest management and marketing in consonance with the comparative advantages of each State/region and their diverse agro-climatic conditions were major programmes implemented .

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India has been implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme - Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH) earlier known as “Technology Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture in North Eastern States since 2001-02. During the X Plan (2003-04), the scheme was further extended to three Himalayan States namely: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttrakhand. The Mission covers entire spectrum of horticulture, right from planting to consumption, with backward and forward linkages. With effect from 2014-15, HMNEH scheme has been subsumed under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH).India has retained its status as the second largest producer of fruits in the world. The country is first in the production of fruits like mango, banana, sapota, pomegranate and aonla. Interventions in horticulture in the country, have led to increase per capita availability of fruits from 133 gm/person/ day in 2004-05 to 195 gms/person/day in 2017-18.Vegetables are an important crop in horticulture sector, occupying an area of 9.6 million ha during 2017-18 .India continued to be second largest producer of vegetables after China. India is a leader in production of vegetables like peas and okra. Besides, India occupies the second position in production of brinjal, cabbage, cauliflower and onion and third in potato and tomato in the world. Vegetables such as potato, tomato, okra and cucurbits are produced abundantly in the country

Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH)

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.Per capita availability of vegetables has increased from 264 gm/ person/day in 2004-05 to 355 gm/person/day in 2017-18. India has also made noticeable advancements in production of flowers, particularly cut flowers, which have a high potential for exports. Floriculture covered an area of 0.24 million ha with a production of 1.55 m. MT of loose flowers and 0.69 m. MT of cut flowers. There has been phenomenal growth in cut flower production, which is finding place in export market.India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products, the total production of spices was 6.4 m. MT from an area of 3.26 m. MT.

The National Horticulture Board (NHB) was established in the year 1984 by the Government of India as an autonomous organization and registered as a society with the Registrar of Firms and Societies Chandigarh with its headquarters in Gurugram and 35 field offices located all over the country. The broad aims and objectives of the Board are the creation of production hubs for commercial horticulture development, post harvest infrastructure and cold chain facilities, promotion of new crops, and promotion of growers' associations.

Coconut Development Board Kochi, (CDB) is a statutory body established by Govt. of India in 1981. Coconut is cultivated in 16 states and 4 UTs in the country and provides food and livelihood security to more than 12 million people. There are 5 million coconut holdings in the country and the average size of these holdings is less than one hectare. India is the largest coconut producing country in the world contributing 31% of the world production. The thrust areas identified by the Coconut Development Board programmes under MIDH are: production and distribution of quality planting material, expansion of area under coconut cultivation especially in potential and non-traditional areas, improving the productivity of coconut in major coconut producing states, developing technology in post-harvest

National Horticulure Board

Coconut Development Board

processing and marketing activities, product diversification and by-product utilization of coconut for value addition.

Vegetable Oil constitutes an important part of our daily diet being source of energy, essential fatty acids and amino acids. Domestic consumption of edible oils has increased substantially over the years and has touched the level of 24.16 million tonnes in 2014-15 (Nov-Oct) and is likely to increase further with enhancement in income and population against the domestic availability of 9.58 million tonnes. Considering the importance of oilseeds, various oilseeds development schemes have been funded by the Government for encouraging cultivation of oilseeds including Oil Palm. The Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM), which was launched in 2004-05 and remained under implementation till March, 2014, Oil Palm Area Expansion (OPAE) programme, a sub-scheme of RKVY implemented during 2011-12 to 2013-14 have made significant contribution in increasing the oilseeds production and area expansion under oil palm. Implementations of these schemes have given fillip in augmenting the availability of vegetable oil in the country. The scheme of ISOPOM, Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBOs) and Oil Palm Area Expansion (OPAE) programme have been restructured into National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP) during 12th Plan and are implemented in 28 States. The sharing pattern of NMOOP between GOI and States is 60:40 for general states and 90:10 for NE and hilly states. Few components especially seed production & distribution, mini kit of oilseeds for farmers, R&D support, FLDs by KVKs/ICAR etc. are on 100% funding for Central Agencies and ICAR/SAUs. Oilseeds Scenario The diverse agro-ecological conditions in the country are favorable for growing nine annual oilseeds which include 7 edible oilseeds viz. groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower,

National Mission on Oilseeds and Oil Palm (NMOOP)

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sesamum, safflower and niger and two non-edible oilseeds, castor and linseed. 6.5 Oilseeds are raised mostly under rainfed conditions and important for the livelihood of small and marginal farmers in arid and semi arid areas of the country.

The strategy to implement the proposed Mission includes increasing Seed Replacement Ratio (SRR) with focus on Varietal Replacement; increasing irrigation coverage under oilseeds, diversification of area from low yielding cereals crops to oilseeds c rops ; in te r-c ropping of o i l seeds wi th cereals/pulses/sugarcane; use of fallow land after paddy/potato cultivation; expansion of cultivation of Oil Palm, increasing availability of quality planting materials of Oil Palm & TBOs Maintenance cost and Inter-cropping during gestation period of oil palm and TBOs would provide economic return to the farmers when there is no production. The scheme would be implemented in a mission mode through active involvement of all the stakeholders. Fund flow would be monitored to ensure that benefit of the Mission reaches the targeted beneficiaries in time to achieve the targeted results.Mission wise States under NMOOP are given below: on Oilseeds: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, J&K, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

on Oil Palm: Andhra Pradesh , Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal.

on TBOs :Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya,

Strategy for NMOOP

(i) Mini Mission – I

(ii) Mini Mission-II

(iii) Mini Mission - III

Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) is one of the eight Missions outlined under National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). The Mission aims at promoting sustainable agriculture through seventeen deliverables focusing on ten key dimensions of Indian Agriculture. During 12th Five Year Plan, these dimensions have been e m b e d d e d a n d m a i n s t r e a m e d i n t o Missions/Progammes/ Schemes of Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) through a process of restructuring and convergence. NMSA as a programmatic intervention aims at making agriculture more productive, sustainable, and remunerative and climate resilient by promoting location specific integrated/composite farming systems; soil and moisture conservation measures; comprehensive soil health management; efficient water management practices and mainstreaming rainfed technologies. * Rainfed Area Development (RAD): RAD

focuses on Integrated Farming System (IFS) for enhancing productivity and minimizing risks associated with climatic variabilities. Under this system, crops/cropping system is integrated with activities like horticulture, livestock, fishery, agro-forestry, apiculture etc. to enable farmers not only in maximizing farm returns for sustaining livelihood, but also to mitigate the impacts of drought, flood or other extreme weather events with the income opportunity from allied activities during crop damage.

* Soil Health Management (SHM): SHM is aimed at promoting location as well as crop specific sustainable soil health management including residue management, organic farming practices by way of creating and linking soil fertility maps with macro-micro nutrient management, appropriate land use based on land type.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)

Major Components of NMSA are :

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New Initiatives:

To give specific focus on development of Agroforestry, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India, brought out the National Agroforestry Policy in 2014 to bring about coordination, convergence and synergy among various elements of agro-forestry scattered in various missions, programmes, schemes and agencies.

To ensure adequate availability of fertilizers, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmers Welfare conducts Zonal Conferences with all the States for every Kharif and Rabi season in order to assess the requirement of fertilizers in all the States. After consultation with States, Department of Fertilizers and Lead Fertilisers suppliers etc., the total requirement for each State is assessed for the season.

In order to make available large variety of fertilizers to the farmers as per their soil requirement, different grades of fertilizers are notified under FCO Schedule-I (Part-A). At present 13 Straight Nitrogenous Fertilizers, 8 Straight Phosphatic Fertilizers, 5 Straight Potassic Fertilizers, 2 Sulphur Fertilizers, 19 NPK Complex Fertilizers and 18 NP Complex Fertilizers, 29 customized fertilizers, 21 Fortified Fertilizers, 18 Water Soluble Fertilizers and 17 Micronutrients are notified under FCO.

Soil Health Management (SHM) is one of the most important interventions under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA). SHM aims at promoting Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) through judicious use of chemical fertilizers including secondary and micro nutrients in conjunction with organic manures and bio-fertilizers for improving soil health and its productivity;

Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry

Integrated Nutrient Management Assessment of Fertilizers:-

Fertilizer Control Order (FCO), 1985:

Soil Health Management (SHM)

strengthening of soil and fertilizer testing facilities to provide soil test based recommendations to farmers for improving soil fertility; ensuring quality control requirements of fertilizers , biofertilizers and organic fertilizers under Fertilizer Control Order, 1985; up-gradation of skill and knowledge of soil testing laboratory staff, extension staff and farmers through training and demonstrations; promoting organic farming practices etc.

· Fertilizer subsidies: Urea and Nutrient bases subsidies up by almost 8 percent to Rs 70000 crore

· Promoting organic farming; Scheme launched in 2015-16 with an allocation of Rs. 300 Crore and Rs. 297 crores in 2016-17

· 10,000 clusters covering 2.4 lakhs hectare area under Organic Farming being covered during 2015-18;

· 10,000 clusters developed by state governments till now

· Organic value chain for North Eastern States: Rs. 400 crores allocated for 2015-18; Rs. 225.96 crores released during 2015-18.

The Sub Mission on Agricultural Extension (SMAE) under the National Mission on Agricultural Extension and Technology (NMAET) being implemented during the 12th Plan with an objective to restructure and strengthen the agricultural extension machinery with a judicious mix of extensive physical outreach of personnel, enhancement in quality through domain experts & regular capacity building, interactive methods of information dissemination, Public Private Partnership, pervasive & innovative use of Information & Communication Technology (ICT) / Mass Media, Federation of groups and convergence of extension related efforts under various schemes and programmes of Government of India and the

FERTLIZER SUBSIDIES

PARAMPARAGAT KRISHI VIKAS YOJANA

National Mission on Agricultural Extension & Technology (NMAET)

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State Governments. The SMAE aims to appropriately strengthen, expand and upscale existing Extension & Information Technology (IT) Schemes. The ongoing Extension Schemes include the Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes b e i n g i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e E x t e n s i o n Division/Directorate of Extension. Even in the case of Central Sector Schemes which have been subsumed within the Mission, a greater role has been envisaged for the States through their active involvement in planning, implementation and monitoring.Kisan Call Centers (KCC): The KCC Scheme was launched on 21st January 2004 to provide answer to farmers' queries on agriculture and allied sectors through toll free telephone lines. The replies to the queries of the farming community are being given in 22 local languages. KCCs operate from 14 locations in the country covering all the Sates and UTs.Development of Portals DAC&FW has developed 80 portals, applications and websites (primarily in collaboration with National Informatics Centre) covering both the headquarters and its field offices. The important portals include Soil Health Card, National Agriculture Market, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), PMKSY, AGMARKNET etc.

The Government is implementing a state sector plan scheme (erstwhile centrally sponsored) Mission Mode Project (MMP) National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A) for helping farmers to access information related to latest technology. This project has been approved at a total cost of Rs. 858.79 crore for implementation of this scheme in entire country. Dissemination of information to the farmers has been aimed through various delivery channels including Common Service Centres, Web Portals, SMSs and Kisan Call Centres, Mobile apps etc. twelve identified clusters of services under the project is under implementation. The services include

National e-Governance Plan in Agriculture (NeGP-A):

Information on Pesticides, Fertilizers and Seeds; Soil Health; Information on crops, farm machinery, training and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs); Weather advisories; Information on prices, arrivals, procurement points, and providing interaction platform; Electronic certification for exports and import; Information on marketing infrastructure; Monitoring implementation / evaluation of schemes and programmes; Information on fishery inputs; Information on irrigation infrastructure; Drought Relief and Management; Livestock Management. mKisan Portal: This Portal subsumes all mobile based initiatives in the field of Agriculture & Allied sectors. It brings together SMS (both Push and Pull), Interactive Voice Response System, Mobile Apps and Services. Officers, Scientists and Experts from all Organizations and Departments of the GoI and State Governments (including State Agriculture Universities(SAUs) , Krishi Vigyan Kendras(KVKs) and Agro –Meteorological Field Units (AMFUs) are using this Portal all over the country are using this Portal for disseminating information(giving topical & seasonal advisories and providing services through SMSs to farmers in their local languages) on various agricultural activities to registered farmers.

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https://youtu.be/3GmLLja2SD4

CLIMATE· In southern India, woollen clothes are not

required. In northeastern states, winters are mild except in the hills. There are variations in weather conditions during different seasons.

· These changes occur due to the changes in the elements of weather (temperature, pressure, wind direction and velocity, humidity and precipitation, etc.).

· Monsoon connotes the climate associated with seasonal reversal in the direction of winds.

· India has hot monsoonal climate which is the prevalent climate in south and southeast Asia.

· The monsoon regime emphasises the unity of India with the rest of southeast Asian region.

· The climate of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the south are so different from that of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in the north, and yet all of these have a monsoon type of climate.

· The climate of India has many regional variations expressed in the pattern of winds, temperature and rainfall, rhythm of seasons and the degree of wetness or dryness.

· While in the summer the mercury occasionally touches 55°C in the western Rajasthan, it drops down to as low as minus 45°C in winter around Leh.

· Churu in Rajasthan may record a temperature of 50°C or more on a June day while the mercury hardly touches 19°C in Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh) on the same day.

· On a December night, temperature in Drass (Jammu and Kashmir) may drop down to minus 45°C while Tiruvanantapuram or Chennai on the same night records 20°C or 22°C.

· These examples confirm that there are seasonal variations in temperature from place to place and from region to region in India.

· While snowfall occurs in the Himalayas, it only rains over the rest of the country. Similarly,

UNITY AND DIVERSITY IN THE MONSOON CLIMATE

Indian ClimateIndian Climate

variations are noticeable not only in the type of precipitation but also in its amount.

· While Cherrapunji and Mawsynram in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya receive rainfall over 1,080 cm in a year, Jaisalmer in Rajasthan rarely gets more than 9 cm of rainfall during the same period.

· Tura situated in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya may receive an amount of rainfall in a single day which is equal to 10 years of rainfall at Jaisalmer. While the annual precipitation is less than 10 cm in the northwest Himalayas and the western deserts, it exceeds 400 cm in Meghalaya.

· The Ganga delta and the coastal plains of Orissa are hit by strong rain-bearing storms almost every third or fifth day in July and August while the Coromandal coast, a thousand km to the south, goes generally dry during these months.

· Most parts of the country get rainfall during June-September, but on the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, it rains in the beginning of the winter season.

· In spite of these differences and variations, the climate of India is monsoonal in rhythm and character.

· India's climate is controlled by a number of factors which can be broadly divided into two groups — factors related to location and relief, and factors related to air pressure and winds.

(i) Factors related to Location and Relief · Latitude: Northern part of the India lies in sub-

tropica· l and temperate zone and the part lying south of

the Tropic of Cancer falls in the tropical zone. · The tropical zone, being nearer to the equator,

experiences high temperatures throughout the year with small daily and annual range of temperature.

· The area north of the Tropic of Cancer which is away from the equator, experiences extreme

FACTORS DETERMINING THE CLIMATE OF INDIA

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climate with high daily and annual range of temperature.

· The Himalayan Mountains: The lofty Himalayas in the north along with its extensions act as an effective climatic divide. The towering mountain chain provides an invincible shield to protect the subcontinent from the cold northern winds.

· These cold and chilly winds originate near the Arctic circle and blow across central and eastern Asia.

· The Himalayas also trap the monsoon winds, forcing them to shed their moisture within the subcontinent.

· Distribution of Land and Water: India is flanked by the Indian Ocean on three sides in the south and girdled by a high and continuous mountain-wall in the north.

· As compared to the landmass, water heats up or cools down slowly creating different air pressure zones in different seasons in and around the

I ndian subcontinent. · Difference in air pressure causes reversal in the

direction of monsoon winds. · Distance from the Sea: With a long coastline,

large coastal areas have an equable climate. · Areas in the interior of India are far away from

the moderating influence of the sea. · The seasonal contrasts in weather at places in the

interior of the country such as Delhi, Kanpur and Amritsar affect the entire sphere of life.

· Altitude : Temperature decreases with height. Due to thin air, places in the mountains are cooler than places on the plains.

· For example, Agra and Darjiling are located on the same latitude, but temperature of January in Agra is 16°C whereas it is only 4°C in Darjiling.

· Relief : The physiography or relief of India also affects the temperature, air pressure, direction and speed of wind and the amount and distribution of rainfall.

· The windward sides of Western Ghats and Assam receive high rainfall during June-September whereas the southern plateau remains dry due to its leeward situation along the Western Ghats.

Factors Related to Air Pressure and Wind

Mechanism of Weather in the Winter Season

· To understand the differences in local climates of India, we need to understand the mechanism of the following three factors:

(i) Distribution of air pressure and winds on the surface of the earth.

(ii) Upper air circulation caused by factors controlling global weather and the inflow of different air masses and jet streams.

(iii)Inflow of western cyclones generally known as disturbances during the winter season and tropical depressions during the south-west monsoon period into India, creating weather conditions favourable to rainfall.

· The mechanism of these three factors can be understood with reference to winter and summer seasons of the year separately.

· Surface Pressure and Winds: In winter months, the weather conditions over India are generally influenced by the distribution of pressure in Central and Western Asia.

· A high pressure centre in the region lying to the north of the Himalayas develops during winter giving rise to the flow of air at the low level from the north towards the Indian subcontinent, south of the mountain range.

· The surface winds blowing out of the high pressure centre over Central Asia reach India in the form of a dry continental air mass and come in contact with trade winds over northwestern India.

· The position of this contact zone is not, however, stable but occasionally shift its position as far east as the middle Ganga valley with the result that the whole of the northwestern and northern India up to the middle Ganga valley comes under the influence of dry northwestern winds.

· Jet Stream and Upper Air Circulation: The variations in the atmospheric pressure closer to the surface of the earth have no role to play in the making of upper air circulation.

· All of Western and Central Asia remains under the influence of westerly winds along the altitude

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of 9-13 km from west to east that blow across the Asian continent at latitudes north of the Himalayas roughly parallel to the Tibetan highlands. These are known as jet streams.

· Tibetan highlands act as a barrier in the path of these jet streams resulting in bifurcation of jet streams. One of its branches blows to the north of the Tibetan highlands, while the southern branch blows in an eastward direction, south of the Himalayas.

· Western Cyclonic Disturbance and Tropical Cyclone: The western cyclonic disturbances which enter the Indian subcontinent from the west and the northwest during the winter months, originate over the Mediterranean Sea and are brought into India by the westerly jet stream.

· An increase in the prevailing night temperature generally indicates an advance in the arrival of these cyclones disturbances.

· Tropical cyclones originate over the Bay of Bengal and the Indian ocean and with a high wind velocity and heavy rainfall, hit the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa coast.

· Most of these cyclones are very destructive due to high wind velocity and torrential rain that accompanies it.

· Surface Pressure and Winds: As the summer sets in and the sun shifts northwards, the wind circulation over the subcontinent undergoes a complete reversal at both, the lower as well as the upper levels.

· By the middle of July, the low pressure belt nearer the surface [termed as Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)] shifts northwards, roughly parallel to the Himalayas between 20° N and 25° N. By this time, the westerly jet stream withdraws from the Indian region.

· The ITCZ being a zone of low pressure, attracts inflow of winds from different directions.

· The maritime tropical airmass (mT) from the southern hemisphere, after crossing the equator, rushes to the low pressure area in the general

Mechanism of Weather in the Summer Season

southwesterly direction. It is this moist air current which is popularly known as the southwest monsoon.

· Jet Streams and Upper Air Circulation : An easterly jet stream flows over the southern part of the Peninsula in June, and has a maximum speed of 90 km per hour.

· In August, it is confined to 15oN latitude, and in September up to 22o N latitudes. The easterlies normally do not extend to the north of 30o N latitude in the upper atmosphere.

· Easterly Jet Stream and Tropical Cyclones: The easterly jet stream steers the tropical depressions into India that play a significant role in the distribution of monsoon rainfall over the Indian subcontinent.

· The tracks of these depressions are the areas of highest rainfall in India and the frequency at which these depressions visit India, their direction and intensity, all go a long way in determining the rainfall pattern during the southwest monsoon period.

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https://youtu.be/vE1Sdj_uUXs


PRINCIPLES OF CLOUD CLASSIFICATION

Genera

Species

Varieties

Clouds continuously evolve and appear in an infinite variety of forms. However, there is a limited number of characteristic forms frequently observed all over the world, into which clouds can be broadly grouped in a classification scheme. The scheme uses

(defined according to their appearance and position in the sky), (describing shape and structure) and (describing transparency and arrangement).This is similar to the systems used in the classification of plants or animals, and similarly uses Latin names.There are some intermediate or transitional forms of clouds that, although observed fairly frequently, are not described in the classification scheme. The transitional forms are of little interest; they are less stable and in appearance are not very different from the definitions of the characteristic forms.There also two additional cloud classifications:

and . These tend to be only rarely or occasionally observed and, in some cases, only in certain parts of the world.

The classification of clouds has ten main groups, called genera. Each observed cloud is a member of one, and only one, genus.

Most of the genera are subdivided into species, based on the shape of the clouds or their internal structure. A cloud, observed in the sky and identified as a specific genus, may bear the name of only one species.

Varieties are different arrangements of the visible elements of clouds and varying degrees of transparency. A variety may be common to several genera, and a cloud may show characteristics of more than one variety. When this is the case, all the observed varieties are included in the name of the cloud.

generaspecies

varieties

Special clouds Upper atmospheric clouds

New Cloud TypesNew Cloud Types

Useful conceptsHeight, altitude, vertical extent · Height: Vertical distance from the point of

observation on the Earth's surface to the point being measured.

· Altitude: Vertical distance from mean sea level to the point being measured.

· Height/Altitude of cloud base: For surface observations, height of the cloud base above ground level; for aircraft observations, altitude of the cloud base above mean sea level.

· Vertical extent: Vertical distance from a cloud's base to its top.

Levels Clouds are generally encountered over a range of altitudes varying from sea level to the top of the troposphere (the tropopause). The troposphere can be vertically divided into three levels, formerly known as “étages”: high, middle and low. Each level is defined by the range of heights at which clouds of certain genera occur most frequently. The levels overlap and their limits vary with latitude.

Most clouds are confined within their level with the following few notable exceptions:(a) Altostratus is usually found in the middle level,

but it often extends higher;(b) Nimbostratus is almost always found in the

middle level, but it usually extends into the other two levels;

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Approximate heights of each level, and the genera occurring in each.

Level Genera Polar region Temperate region Tropical region

High Cirrus Cirrocumulus Cirrostratus

3 – 8 km (10 000 – 25 000 ft)

5 – 13 km (16 500 – 45 000 ft)

6 –18 km (20 000 – 60 000 ft)

Middle Altocumulus Altostratus Nimbostratus

2 – 4km (6 500 – 13 000 ft)

2 – 7 km (6 500 – 23 000 ft)

2 – 8 km (6 500 – 25 000 ft)

Low Stratus Stratocumulus Cumulus Cumulonimbus

From the Earth’s surface to 2 km (0 – 6 500ft)



(c) Cumulus and Cumulonimbus usually have their bases in the low level, but their vertical extent is often so great that their tops may reach into the middle and high levels.

When the height of a particular cloud is known, the concept of levels may be of some help to the observer in identifying the cloud. The genus can be determined by making a choice from among the genera normally encountered in the level corresponding to its height.

New cloud typesAs might be expected, no additions have been made to the 10 genera or primary cloud types. However, a new cloud species has been added: 1.Volutus

A long, typically low, horizontal, detached, tube-shaped cloud mass, often appearing to roll slowly about a horizontal axis. The roll cloud, volutus, is a soliton, not attached to other clouds and is an example of an undular bore.This species applies mostly to Stratocumulus and rarely Altocumulus

Five new supplementary features have also been added: asperitas, cavum, cauda, fluctus and murus.

2.AsperitasWell-defined, wave-like structures in the underside of the cloud; more chaotic and with

less horizontal organization than the variety undulatus. Asperitas is characterized by localized waves in the cloud base, either smooth or dappled with smaller features, sometimes descending into sharp points, as if viewing a roughened sea surface from below. Varying levels of illumination and thickness of the cloud can lead to dramatic visual effects.Occurs mostly with Stratocumulus and Altocumulus.

3.Cavum A well-defined generally circular (sometimes

linear) hole in a thin layer of supercooled water droplet cloud. Virga or wisps of Cirrus typically fall from the central part of the hole, which generally grows larger with time. Cavum is typically a circular feature when viewed from directly beneath, but may appear oval shaped when viewed from a distance.When resulting directly from the interaction of an aircraft with the cloud, it is generally linear (in the form of a dissipation trail). Virga typically falls from the progressively widening dissipation trail.Occurs in and and rarely Stratocumulus.

4.CaudaA horizontal, tail-shaped cloud (not a funnel) at low levels extending from the main precipitation region of a supercell Cumulonimbus to the murus (wall cloud). It is typically attached to the wall cloud, and the bases of both are typically at the same height.Cloud motion is away from the precipitation area and towards the murus, with rapid upward motion often observed near the junction of the tail and wall clouds. Commonly known as a 'tail cloud'.

5.FluctusA relatively short-lived wave formation, usually on the top surface of the cloud, in the form of curls or breaking waves (Kelvin-Helmholtz waves) . Occurs most ly wi th Cir rus , Altocumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus and

Altocumulus Cirrocumulus

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5.FluctusA relatively short-lived wave formation, usually on the top surface of the cloud, in the form of curls or breaking waves (Kelvin-Helmholtz waves) . Occurs most ly wi th Cir rus , Altocumulus, Stratocumulus, Stratus and occasionally Cumulus.

6.MurusA localized, persistent, and often abrupt lowering of cloud from the base of a Cumulonimbus from which tuba (spouts) sometimes form. Usually associated with a supercell or severe multicell storm; typically develop in the rain-free portion of a Cumulonimbus and indicate an area of strong updraft. Murus showing significant rotation and vertical motion may result in the formation of tuba (spouts). Commonly known as a 'wall cloud'.

The updated Cloud Atlas recognises a new accessory cloud – the name for features that merge with another cloud.

7.FlumenBands of low clouds associated with a supercell severe convective storm (Cumulonimbus), arranged parallel to the low-level winds and moving into or towards the supercell.These accessory clouds form on an inflow band into a supercell storm along the pseudo-warm front. The cloud elements move towards the updraft into the supercell, the base being at about the same height as the updraft base. Note that flumen are not attached to the murus wall cloud and the cloud base is higher than the wall cloud.One particular type of inflow band cloud is the so-called 'Beaver's tail'. This is distinguished by a relatively broad, flat appearance suggestive of a beaver's tail.

To round things off, there are also five new "special clouds", which describe localised conditions where clouds are generated due to either natural causes or human activity.The new special clouds recognised are: cataractagenitus, flammagenitus, homogenitus, silvagenitus and homomutatus.

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8.CataractagenitusClouds may develop locally in the vicinity of large waterfalls as a consequence of water broken up into spray by the falls. The downdraft caused by the falling water is compensated for by the locally ascending motion of air. These special clouds will be given the name of the appropriate genus, followed by any appropriate species, variety and supplementary feature, and followed by the special cloud name “cataractagenitus”(for example, Cumulus c a t a r a c t a g e n i t u s o r S t r a t u s cataractagenitus).

9.FlammagenitusClouds may develop as a consequence of convection initiated by heat from forest fires, wildfires or volcanic eruption activity. Clouds that are clearly observed to have originated as a consequence of localized natural heat sources, such as forest fires, wildfires or volcanic activity and which, at least in part, consist of water drops, will be given the name relevant to the genus followed, if appropriate, by the species, variety and any supplementary features, and finally by the special cloud name “flammagenitus”, (for example, Cumulus congestus flammagenitus or Cumulonimbus calvus flammagenitus).

10.HomogenitusClouds may also develop as a consequence of human activity. Examples are aircraft condensation trails (contrails), or clouds resulting from industrial processes, such as cumuliform clouds generated by rising thermals above power station cooling towers. Clouds that are clearly observed to have originated specifically as a consequence of human activity will be given the name of the appropriate genus, fol lowed by the special c loud name “homogenitus”. For example, Cumulus cloud formed above industrial plants will be known as Cumulus (and, if appropriate, the species, variety and any supplementary features) fol lowed by the special c loud name homogenitus; for example, Cumulus mediocris homogenitus.

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11.SilvagenitusClouds may develop locally over forests as a result of increased humidity due to evaporation and evapotranspiration from the tree canopy. These special clouds will be given the name of the appropriate genus, followed by any appropriate species, variety and supplementary feature, and followed by the special cloud name “si lvageni tus” ( for example, Stra tus silvagenitus).

12.HomomutatusPersistent contrails (Cirrus homogenitus) may be observed, over a period of time and under the influence of strong upper winds, to grow and spread out over a larger portion of sky, and undergo internal transformation such that the cloud eventually takes on the appearance of more natural cirri-form clouds. In this instance, the resulting clouds will be given the name of the appropriate genus (for example, Cirrus, Cirrocumulus, or Cirrostratus) followed by any appropriate species, variety and supplementary features, followed by the special cloud name “homomutatus”, (for example, Cirrus floccus homomutatus or Cirrus fibratus homomutatus).

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