03 February 2025 : Daily Answer Writing
Q1) The cropping pattern in India is skewed in favor of water-intensive crops. Analyse the reason for the trend and the need to move towards sustainable farming practices. (150 Words/10 Marks)
Answer:
Cropping Pattern means the proportion of area under different crops at a point of time, changes in this distribution over time and factors determining these changes. Cropping pattern in India is determined mainly by rainfall, climate, temperature and soil type.
Reasons for growing water intensive crops:
- Government policies – (a) MSPs are given for water intensive crops like rice and sugarcane (b) input subsidies and procurement guarantee make them attractive for farmers
- Market value – (a) due to MSP policies, these crops fetch higher prices (b) better return on investments compared to other crops [cotton, sugarcane]
- Green revolution – introduced High Yield Variety Seeds that demanded abundant water supply
- Traditional practices – (a) local farming culture and knowledge has achieved expertise in growing a particular crop that is water intensive (b) inter – generational customary practice of growing certain crops – ex; rice in Tamil Nadu
- Irrigation facilities – farmers are more likely to grow water intensive crops with extensive canal and groundwater irrigation systems. Ex: Punjab and Haryana
- Crop insurance and Risk Mitigation – water intensive crops are covered comprehensively under insurance schemes encouraging farmers to grow these crops
- Lack of alternatives and awareness – (a) lack of well-established market for alternative crops discourage farmers from diversifying (b) lack of awareness about less water intensive crops and established markets for them
There is a need to move towards more Sustainable farming practices due to following reasons:
- Ecological Conservation
- Prevent groundwater depletion, soil fertility loss and water logging and salinity
- reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides
- ensures crops that are suitable to a particular area are grown
- Ensure food security for India’s large population + reduce food inflation to make food affordable by lowing production costs associated with water-intensive crops.
- Crop diversification towards nutrient-rich and less water-intensive crops like millets and pulses could ensure better health and serve nutritional requirements for the people.
- Protects Biodiversity – (a) promotes the utilization of native species [preserve gene pool] (b) promotes beneficial organisms such as pollinators and natural predators to control pests
- Climate Resilient agriculture – reduces impact of droughts, floods and heat waves (b) practices like dryland farming contributes to food security and livelihood.
For more such UPSC related Mains Answer Writing, Check Out –01 February 2025 : Daily Answer Writing
