National Agriculture Code

• •Syllabus: Agriculture*

• •Source: TOI*

Context: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has begun the process of formulating a National Agriculture Code (NAC), on the lines of the existing National Building Code and National Electrical Code.

About National Agriculture Code (NAC):

• Purpose: Aims to standardize agricultural practices and provide guidelines for future standardization in India.

• Structure:

• General principles: Applicable to all crops. Crop-specific standards: Focuses on crops like paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses.

• General principles: Applicable to all crops.

• Crop-specific standards: Focuses on crops like paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses.

Coverage:

• Agricultural cycle: Encompasses entire agricultural processes from crop selection to post-harvest operations.

• Post-harvest operations: Includes standards for storage, processing, irrigation, soil and plant health management, and traceability.

• Emerging areas: Incorporates standards for natural farming, organic farming, and the use of Internet-of-Things (IoT) in agriculture.

• Input management: Provides guidelines for the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides.

Objectives:

• Standardization: To create a national code considering agro-climatic zones, crop types, and socio-economic diversity.

• Quality culture: Acts as a reference for policymakers and agriculture departments to incorporate NAC into their schemes.

• Guidance for farmers: Serves as a comprehensive guide to aid decision-making in agricultural practices.

• SMART farming and sustainability: Focuses on modern farming techniques, sustainability, traceability, and documentation.

• Capacity building: Supports training initiatives by agriculture extension services and civil society organizations.

Implementation plan:

• Timeline: NAC drafting expected to be completed by October 2025.

• Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms (SADF): Experimental farms to test and implement standardized agricultural practices.

• Training programs: BIS plans to collaborate with universities and agricultural institutes to train farmers on NAC standards.

Significance of the National Agriculture Code (NAC):

• Standardization of practices: Promotes uniform agricultural standards, enhancing productivity and ensuring best practices across diverse agro-climatic zones.

• Guidance for stakeholders: Provides a comprehensive framework for farmers, policymakers, and agricultural institutions to make informed decisions in agricultural practices.

• Support for modern farming: Encourages the adoption of SMART farming, sustainability, and the use of emerging technologies like IoT, improving efficiency.

• Capacity building: Aids in the training of farmers and agricultural workers, empowering them with knowledge and skills to improve productivity and sustainability.

Limitations of the National Agriculture Code (NAC):

• Implementation challenges: Standardizing agricultural practices across diverse regions with varying climates and soil conditions may be difficult.

• Adoption issues: Farmers, especially smallholders, may face resistance or difficulty in adopting new practices due to lack of resources or awareness.

• Dynamic agricultural needs: Rapidly changing agricultural trends and the emergence of new technologies might require frequent updates to the code.

• Infrastructure limitations: Lack of adequate infrastructure and resources in rural areas could hinder the effective rollout and training on NAC guidelines.

Conclusion

The National Agriculture Code (NAC) represents a significant step toward modernizing and standardizing agricultural practices in India, aiming to boost productivity, sustainability, and efficiency. However, its success will depend on effective implementation, farmer adoption, and continuous updates to address evolving agricultural needs.

Insta Links:

• Digital-agriculture-mission

In India, which of the following can be considered as public investment in agriculture? (2020)

1. 1.Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops

1. 1.Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

1. 1.Social Capital development

1. 1.Free electricity supply to farmers

1. 1.Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system

1. 1.Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only

(c) 2, 3 and 6 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Answer: c)

1. 1.Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). (UPSC-2016)