UPSC Editorial Analysis: Agriculture–Environment Nexus and India’s Policy Divergence
Kartavya Desk Staff
*General Studies-3; Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.*
Introduction
• Every winter, northern India is engulfed in a thick smog blanket, primarily caused by low temperatures, stagnant winds, and stubble burning from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
• This phenomenon leads to hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, affecting public health, visibility, and the regional economy.
• Yet, stubble burning is only a symptom of a deeper ecological and policy crisis that connects soil degradation, groundwater depletion, and chemical contamination — all linked to modern agricultural practices.
• At the heart of this problem lies a structural disconnect between India’s agricultural and environmental law–policy frameworks, which have evolved in isolation from each other.
Historical Background: The Productivity Paradigm
• Food Security as the Foundational Goal Post-Independence, India faced the twin challenges of famine and chronic food shortages. Hence, the Green Revolution (1960s–70s) prioritized high productivity through: High-Yield Variety (HYV) seeds, Intensive irrigation, Chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and Double cropping and mechanisation.
• Post-Independence, India faced the twin challenges of famine and chronic food shortages.
• Hence, the Green Revolution (1960s–70s) prioritized high productivity through: High-Yield Variety (HYV) seeds, Intensive irrigation, Chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and Double cropping and mechanisation.
• High-Yield Variety (HYV) seeds,
• Intensive irrigation,
• Chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and
• Double cropping and mechanisation.
• Achievements of the Green Revolution Transformed India from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation. Established food self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on imports. Boosted rural incomes in select regions (mainly Punjab, Haryana, Western UP).
• Transformed India from a food-deficit to a food-surplus nation.
• Established food self-sufficiency and reduced dependence on imports.
• Boosted rural incomes in select regions (mainly Punjab, Haryana, Western UP).
• The Productivity Hangover Even after liberalisation in the 1990s, agricultural policies continued to be driven by yield maximisation, not sustainability. Example: NITI Aayog’s Report on Pulses emphasizes productivity enhancement with limited reference to sustainable practices. Fertiliser, power, and irrigation subsidies still encourage resource-intensive cultivation, disregarding ecological impacts.
• Even after liberalisation in the 1990s, agricultural policies continued to be driven by yield maximisation, not sustainability.
• Example: NITI Aayog’s Report on Pulses emphasizes productivity enhancement with limited reference to sustainable practices.
• Fertiliser, power, and irrigation subsidies still encourage resource-intensive cultivation, disregarding ecological impacts.
Interdependence between Agriculture and Environment
• Mutual Dependence Agriculture depends on soil fertility, water availability, biodiversity, and climate stability, and in turn influences these very systems. Unsustainable agricultural practices degrade natural resources, leading to a vicious feedback loop.
• Agriculture depends on soil fertility, water availability, biodiversity, and climate stability, and in turn influences these very systems.
• Unsustainable agricultural practices degrade natural resources, leading to a vicious feedback loop.
• Global and Indian Context As per the IPCC (2019), agricultural expansion contributes to: 13% of global CO₂ emissions, 44% of CH₄ emissions, and 81% of N₂O emissions. Globally, agriculture consumes about 70% of freshwater, while in India, it accounts for 91% of freshwater withdrawals. India’s over-dependence on water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane is depleting aquifers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Deccan Plateau.
• As per the IPCC (2019), agricultural expansion contributes to: 13% of global CO₂ emissions, 44% of CH₄ emissions, and 81% of N₂O emissions.
• 13% of global CO₂ emissions,
• 44% of CH₄ emissions, and
• 81% of N₂O emissions.
• Globally, agriculture consumes about 70% of freshwater, while in India, it accounts for 91% of freshwater withdrawals.
• India’s over-dependence on water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane is depleting aquifers in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and Deccan Plateau.
• Environmental Impacts of Current Practices Soil degradation: Continuous monocropping, heavy fertiliser use, and residue burning reduce soil organic matter. Water contamination: Runoff from pesticides and nitrates pollutes surface and groundwater. Air pollution: Stubble burning contributes up to 30–40% of winter PM2.5 levels in North India. Loss of biodiversity: Hybrid and HYV seeds have displaced traditional, climate-resilient varieties.
• Soil degradation: Continuous monocropping, heavy fertiliser use, and residue burning reduce soil organic matter.
• Water contamination: Runoff from pesticides and nitrates pollutes surface and groundwater.
• Air pollution: Stubble burning contributes up to 30–40% of winter PM2.5 levels in North India.
• Loss of biodiversity: Hybrid and HYV seeds have displaced traditional, climate-resilient varieties.
The Legal Disconnect: Agriculture vs Environment
• Industrial Bias in Environmental Laws Key environmental legislations — Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — were primarily designed to regulate industrial pollution, not agriculture.
• Key environmental legislations — Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — were primarily designed to regulate industrial pollution, not agriculture.
• Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974,
• Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 — were primarily designed to regulate industrial pollution, not agriculture.
• Gaps in Legal Definitions Even though the EPA defines “environment” and “pollution” broadly, it does not explicitly address agricultural pollutants like fertiliser runoff or methane from livestock. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006 also excludes agricultural activities from mandatory assessments.
• Even though the EPA defines “environment” and “pollution” broadly, it does not explicitly address agricultural pollutants like fertiliser runoff or methane from livestock.
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006 also excludes agricultural activities from mandatory assessments.
• Policy Incoherence India’s environmental laws focus on pollution control, while agricultural policies focus on production maximisation — creating a governance vacuum. As a result, agricultural pollution (diffuse sources) remains largely unregulated.
• India’s environmental laws focus on pollution control, while agricultural policies focus on production maximisation — creating a governance vacuum.
• As a result, agricultural pollution (diffuse sources) remains largely unregulated.
• Need for Integration Agriculture must be treated as a regulated sector under environmental governance, with cross-cutting frameworks linking soil, water, air, and biodiversity conservation to farming policies.
• Agriculture must be treated as a regulated sector under environmental governance, with cross-cutting frameworks linking soil, water, air, and biodiversity conservation to farming policies.
Government Initiatives towards Sustainable Agriculture
• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) A core component of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). Focus areas: Agroforestry, Rainfed area development, Water and soil health management, Climate adaptation strategies. However, budget allocation remains negligible — around 0.8% of the Agriculture Ministry’s total.
• A core component of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• Focus areas: Agroforestry, Rainfed area development, Water and soil health management, Climate adaptation strategies.
• Agroforestry,
• Rainfed area development,
• Water and soil health management,
• Climate adaptation strategies.
• However, budget allocation remains negligible — around 0.8% of the Agriculture Ministry’s total.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) Promotes “Per Drop More Crop” through micro-irrigation and water-use efficiency.
• Promotes “Per Drop More Crop” through micro-irrigation and water-use efficiency.
• Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) Encourages rainwater harvesting and community-level watershed conservation.
• Encourages rainwater harvesting and community-level watershed conservation.
• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) Supports organic farming clusters and certification processes.
• Supports organic farming clusters and certification processes.
• Soil Health Card Scheme Aims to monitor and improve soil nutrient balance.
• Aims to monitor and improve soil nutrient balance.
• Shortcomings in Implementation Funding remains inadequate. Farmers lack awareness and technical know-how. Absence of a safety net in case of yield loss discourages adoption. Sustainable produce markets are still underdeveloped and poorly incentivised.
• Funding remains inadequate.
• Farmers lack awareness and technical know-how.
• Absence of a safety net in case of yield loss discourages adoption.
• Sustainable produce markets are still underdeveloped and poorly incentivised.
Barriers to Sustainable Transition
• Psychological and Economic Fears Farmers fear lower yields and reduced incomes during the transition. Policymakers worry about food shortages if productivity declines temporarily.
• Farmers fear lower yields and reduced incomes during the transition.
• Policymakers worry about food shortages if productivity declines temporarily.
• Knowledge and Capacity Gaps Extension services remain weak; most farmers are unaware of sustainable techniques like zero-tillage, crop diversification, or precision farming.
• Extension services remain weak; most farmers are unaware of sustainable techniques like zero-tillage, crop diversification, or precision farming.
• Lack of Incentives and Infrastructure No dedicated mechanism to compensate farmers for environmental services (like carbon sequestration or residue management). Access to technology, credit, and markets for sustainable produce is limited.
• No dedicated mechanism to compensate farmers for environmental services (like carbon sequestration or residue management).
• Access to technology, credit, and markets for sustainable produce is limited.
• Governance Fragmentation Agriculture, water, and environment ministries operate in silos, leading to fragmented policymaking.
• Agriculture, water, and environment ministries operate in silos, leading to fragmented policymaking.
Way Forward
• Policy Integration Align agricultural policy objectives with environmental goals. Introduce Environmental Impact Assessments for large-scale agricultural practices and link them to state-level climate action plans.
• Align agricultural policy objectives with environmental goals.
• Introduce Environmental Impact Assessments for large-scale agricultural practices and link them to state-level climate action plans.
• Economic Incentives Redirect subsidies towards climate-smart and resource-efficient technologies. Reward farmers for maintaining soil and water quality, through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) models.
• Redirect subsidies towards climate-smart and resource-efficient technologies.
• Reward farmers for maintaining soil and water quality, through Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) models.
• Institutional Coordination Establish an Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Sustainable Agriculture, involving Agriculture, Environment, and Water ministries.
• Establish an Inter-Ministerial Task Force on Sustainable Agriculture, involving Agriculture, Environment, and Water ministries.
• Technological Innovation Promote bio-fertilisers, precision agriculture, and digital soil-health monitoring. Encourage crop diversification towards millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
• Promote bio-fertilisers, precision agriculture, and digital soil-health monitoring.
• Encourage crop diversification towards millets, pulses, and oilseeds.
• Farmer Education and Social Change Integrate sustainability in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) programmes and agricultural universities. Public campaigns to highlight health and economic benefits of eco-friendly farming.
• Integrate sustainability in Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) programmes and agricultural universities.
• Public campaigns to highlight health and economic benefits of eco-friendly farming.
• Regional Cooperation for Pollution Control For stubble burning, implement joint action plans across states, linking farmer incentives with residue management. Encourage mechanical solutions like Happy Seeders, bio-decomposers, and cooperative equipment banks.
• For stubble burning, implement joint action plans across states, linking farmer incentives with residue management.
• Encourage mechanical solutions like Happy Seeders, bio-decomposers, and cooperative equipment banks.
• Strengthening Local Governance Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to manage local soil and water resources sustainably.
• Empower Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) to manage local soil and water resources sustainably.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Use satellite data and AI-based tools to monitor pollution, cropping patterns, and groundwater levels. Develop public dashboards linking agricultural performance to environmental outcomes.
• Use satellite data and AI-based tools to monitor pollution, cropping patterns, and groundwater levels.
• Develop public dashboards linking agricultural performance to environmental outcomes.
Conclusion
• The future of Indian agriculture lies in sustainability, not mere productivity.
• Aligning environmental and agricultural frameworks, empowering farmers with incentives and technology, and integrating laws under a unified “Sustainable Agriculture Mission” can help achieve the twin goals of food security and ecological balance.
• This transition is urgent, inevitable, and foundational for India’s long-term climate and developmental trajectory.
“The twin crises of agricultural distress and environmental degradation stem from the same root – policy myopia.” Discuss with reference to India’s agricultural and environmental governance. (250 Words)