February 17

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6
Union Budget
And Current
Affairs

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Union Budget 2014-15: Agriculture Sector

Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitely on 10 July 2014 presented Union Budget 2014-15. The Budget
2014-15 was the maiden budget for the newly formed Government of NDA led by PM Narendra Modi.

The Union Government introduced many funds like Agri-tech Infrastructure Fund, National
Adaptation Fund, Price Stabilization Fund to improve countrys Agricultural sector.
Highlights

An amount of 100 crores rupees set aside for Agri-tech Infrastructure Fund.
200 crore provided to open Agriculture Universities in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan and
Horticulture Universities in Telangana and Haryana.
A scheme to provide every farmer a soil health card in a Mission mode will be launched.
100 crore rupees has been provided for this purpose and additional 56 crores rupees to set up
100 Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories across the country.
To meet the vagaries of climate change a National Adaptation Fund with an initial sum an
amount of 100 crore rupees will be set up.
A sustainable growth of 4 percent in Agriculture will be achieved.
Technology driven second green revolution with focus on higher productivity and including
Protein revolution will be area of major focus.
To mitigate the risk of Price volatility in the agriculture produce, a sum of 500 crore rupees is
provided for establishing a Price Stabilization Fund.
Central Government to work closely with the State Governments to re-orient their respective
Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Acts.
Sum of 50 crores rupees provided for the development of indigenous cattle breeds and an equal
amount for starting a blue revolution in inland fisheries.
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Transformation plan to invigorate the warehousing sector and significantly improve postharvest lending to farmers.
Agriculture Credit

To provide institutional finance to landless farmers, it is proposed to provide finance to 5 lakh

joint farming groups of Bhoomi Heen Kisan through NABARD .
A target of 8 lakh crore rupees has been set for agriculture credit during 2014-15.

Corpus of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) raised by an additional 5000 crore
rupee from the target given in the Interim Budget to 25000 crores rupees.
Allocation of 5000 crore rupee provided for the Warehouse Infrastructure Fund.
Long Term Rural Credit Fund to set up for the purpose of providing refinance support to
Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks with an initial corpus of 5000 crore rupees.
Amount of 50000 crore rupees allocated for Short Term Cooperative Rural Credit.
Sum of 200 crore rupees for NABARDs Producers Development and Upliftment Corpus
(PRODUCE) for building 2,000 producers organizations over the next two years.
Food Security

Restructuring FCI, reducing transportation and distribution losses and efficacy of PDS to be
taken up on priority.
Government committed to provide wheat and rice at reasonable prices to the weaker sections of
the society.

Government when required will undertake open market sales to keep prices under control.

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Current Affairs

1. President give assent to sugar cess ( amendment ) Bill , 2015

Objective
To raise ceiling of cess as a duty on production of sugar.
Assent as per provision of article 111 of constitution.
Key fact
Bill seek to amend the sugar cess act 1982.
Increase ceiling of sugar to rs. 200 per quintal to rs. 25 per quintal.
Implication
Increase SDF ( Sugar development fund ) .
Help in revival of stagnant sugar industry.

2. Union govt. launches two mobile apps. for farmers

Key facts
Launched two mobile apps crop insurance & agri market mobile to benefit
farmemers.
Create conducive environment raising farm productivity & income to global
levels.
Crop insurance mobile app , help farmer to find complete details about
insurance cover , help farmer to calculate insurance premier , loan amount.

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Agri mobile app used by farmer to get market price of crop , within 50 km of
radius.
3. CCEA approves measures to increase pulse production
Key facts
Creation of buffer stock to deal inflation .
Consist 5000 tonnes from kharif crop & 1 lakh tonnes from rabi crop
If price fall below MSP , procurement made at MSP under price support
scheme.
4. 26th November :- National milk day
Key facts : To mark birth anniversary of father of the white revolution Dr. verghese
kurien.
Operation flood :- He had started billion operation idea flood , world largest
agricultural development programme.
Helped to transform india from milk deficit into world largest milk producer.

Milk cooperative movement :- He founded around 30 cooperative

institution.
Milk powder :- under his chairmanship amul achieved key invention of milk
powder processed from buffalo milk.

Award & Honour :- raman magassay award , world food prize , Padma shri ,
Padma bhushan , Padma vibhusan.
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5. CCEA ( cabinet committee on economic affairs) approves production subsidy

of rs. 4.50 / quintal to sugarcane farmers
Key facts
To offset cost of sugarcane .
3 hundred crore rupees for this scheme.
Help in building long term partnership with other countries.

6. CCEA hikes MSP ( minimum support price ) for major rabi crops including
wheat , gram & pulses
Key facts : Approval for allocation of 27 lakh tonnes of foodgrains below poverty line
( BPL ) , above poverty line ( APL ) through PDS.

7. 8th edition of national seed congress begins in Hyderabad.

Key facts : To deliberate on advanced seed development.
Aims to provide platform to all stakeholders to discuss issue regarding seed
development technology & various seed policies.

To promote telegana as seed bowl of country.

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Organised by union agriculture minister in different states.

To access quality seeds of new variety .

Emphasis on crop productivity food security & economic development.

8. ASPEZ (adani port special economic zone) inks MoU with IPGA( India pulse &
grain association)

Key facts: To handle import & export of pulses across its port in country.
To develop an efficient & dedicated supply chain for pulses.

Ensure smooth & cost efficient availability of pulses.

ASPEZ , largest dedicated covered warehouse space inside agricultural
goods , largest private port development company.

India , import 5 million tonnes of pulses for domestic consumption from

countries like Canada & Australia.

9. 16th October , world food day

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Key facts
Established in Nov. 1979 by FAO ( food agricultural organization ) at 20th
general conference .
Aim to raise public awareness .
Theme of 2015:- social protection & agriculture , to underline role of social
protection in reducing chronic food insecurity & poverty.
10. CCEA (cabinet committee of economic affairs) approves watershed
management project neeranchal
Key facts : Approved world bank assisted national water management project
neeranchal.
Ensure acess to irrigation to every farmland , to achieve objective of PMSY
(pradhan mantri krishi yojna).
Ensure efficient use of water (per crop per drop)
Project formed to cater to water deficit areas with outlay of 2142 crore
rupees, 50% loans amount from world bank.

Neeranchal project address following concern

Bring change in rainfed & watershed agricultural management practices.

For more coordinated & quantifiable results.
Support & improve livelihood.
Improved sustainability of water management practices.

11.Union govt. launches kishan project & hailstorm app for crop damage
Key facts : Favour use of satellites, drones & other geospatial technology.
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Enable crop insurance companies to give proper compensation to affected

farmers.
Implemented as pilot study in Haryana , Karnataka & MP.
Jointly conducted by ISRO (Indian space research organization)+ MNFC
(Mahalanobis national crop forecast centre) + India meterological
department (IMD) + climate change agricultural & food security (CCAFS) +st.
agricultural department & remote sensing satellite.
Provide timely & accurate data.
Launched hail storm app , to prevent large scale damage to crops.

12. India pips china to emerge as world largest cotton producer

Key facts : India produced 6.51 million against 6.48 million tonnes registered by china
in cotton year 2014-2015.

13.India Laos ink two MoU to strengthen bilateral ties

Key facts : Two key memorandum of understanding (MoU) on air service & quick
impact project under Mekong ganga cooperation (MGC )
Strengthen bilateral ties.
MoU signed are
MoU on air services :- allows airlines to start a direct flight b/w two
countries.
MoU on quick impact project of MCG:- Include 3 agricultural project.

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14. India Cambodia ink 2 MoUs for bilateral cooperation in tourism , meckong
ganga cooperation.
Key facts : To boost cooperation in field of tourism.
2nd MoUs under meckong ganga project.
Five quick impact project
a) 2 project in health care.
b) 1 project in agriculture.
c) 1 project in women empowerment.
d) 50000 US dollar for Cambodia entrepreneurship development ceredential.
(CIEDC)

15. Agriculture expert Ramesh chand appointed as full time member of NITI
(National institution transforming India)
Key facts: 3rd full time member of NITI aayog including vivek oberoi & former DRDO VK
saraswat.

16. Union cabinet improves reimbursement to 4 govt. agencies for import of

pulses.
Key facts
Four govt. agencies are national agriculture cooperative market federation
of India (NAFED) , metal & minerals trading cooperation of India (MMTC) ,
state trading cooperation of India.

17. US extend anti dumping duty on Indian preserved mushroom for 5 yrs.

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Key facts : Negative impact on India domestic exportsers.

Preserved mushroom refer to mushroom prepared or preserved by
cleaning, slicing & cutting.
Very nutrious , rich in fibre , protein , high content of folic acid , also amino
acid.
India , largest producer of mushroom followed by china.
Major producing states are :- Punjab , Himachal Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh ,
rajasthan, j&k.
solan district of Himachal pradesh is popular known as mushroom city of
India because vast mushroom farming in area.

18. chengalikodan Banana from kerala accorded GI (geographical indication)

Key facts : Known for its unique size colour & taste.
For GI ( geographical indication) status product must have geographical
orientation & evaluation over centuries, have special quality or reputation.
Darjeeling tea 1st agricultural product in india accorded to GI.

19. food grain production declined by 4.66% to 252.68 million tonnes.

Key facts
Due to poor monsoon & unseasonal rain.
12% deficit monsoon.
Hailstorm.

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20. India tops in beef production export: US DoA (Department of

agriculture)
Key facts : World largest exporter of beef followed by brazil & Australia.
India account for 23.5% of global beef export.
Reason for boom in beef export
a) Consumption rose by 71% globally.
b) Increase in demand for from china.
c) Demand from export of industries.

21. Govt. to impose 10% import duty on wheat

Key facts
To discourage wheat importer.
Due to increase overseas purchased wheat when adequate
domestic stock is present in India.
22. centre accorded food park status to 3 industrial park in odhisha
Key facts
Accorded status of designated food park to MITS mega food park
but rejected to accord said industrial estates.
No. of food parks in Orissa gone to six, park eligible to acess credit
from rupees 2,000 crore found available with NABARD.
To develop a demand driven pre marketed model.
To facilitate establishment of integrated value chain.

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23. spices board launches subsidy scheme to boost production &

export
Key facts : Promote spice cultivation in India by offering subsidies to farmers.
Financial assistance, assistance will be provided in irrigation ,
mechanization , land development , soil conservation, organic
farming of various spices.
Coradamom cultivators, tamilnadu will be provided 70,000 rupees
per hectare for replanting, farmers from Karnataka get up 50,000
rupees, given aid for production.
Irrigation & land development, 1 lakh rupees for purchasing
improved cardamom curing device, 50% subsidy for bee keeping
boxes, 50% subsidy for purchasing equipment for cardamom plant
protection & grading, washing & polishing.

24. Union agriculture ministry launches PGS India, soil health card &
focus web portals.
Key facts
Launched 3 agricultural portals namely soil health card (SHC)
portal, participatory gurantee system (PGS) ,fertilizer quality
control system ( FQCS)
Make process of fertilizer quality check organic farming
certification & issuance of soil health care more transparent &
accountable.
Soil health card ( SHC) portal, test result of soil samples, provide
crop along fertilizer recommended to farmers.
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Participatory gurantee system (PGS)

Fertilizer quality control system (FQCS)

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