2018 UPSC Prelims: Questions on Environment and Ecology (Part 2)

Additional information on topics covered by the Environment and Ecology questions that appeared in the 2018 Prelims

Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)

The concept of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) was originally developed by FAO and officially presented and at The Hague Conference on Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change in 2010.

CSA is an approach to developing the technical, policy and investment conditions to achieve sustainable agricultural development for food security under climate change. The magnitude, immediacy and broad scope of the effects of climate change on agricultural systems create a compelling need to ensure comprehensive integration of these effects into national agricultural planning, investments and programs. The CSA approach is designed to identify and operationalize sustainable agricultural development within the explicit parameters of climate change.

GACSA is an independent alliance, governed by its members. It is a voluntary platform open to governments, international and regional organizations, institutions, civil society, farmers’ organizations and businesses who agree with its vision and its Framework Document.

Being a member does not create any binding obligations and members determine their particular voluntary actions according to their needs and priorities.

• Individuals cannot be members, but they can join GACSA’s Action Groups.
• Institutions may also want to join as observers.
• There is no fee for participation.

India as a country is not a member, but the Indian NGO ‘Hand in Hands’ is one.

Conservation Agriculture

Conservation Agriculture (CA) is a farming system advocated and promoted by UN FAO.  CA promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance (i.e. no tillage), and diversification of plant species. It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and sustained crop production.

Complemented by other known good practices, including the use of quality seeds, and integrated pest, nutrient, weed and water management, etc., CA is a base for sustainable agricultural production intensification. It opens increased options for integration of production sectors, such as crop-livestock integration and the integration of trees and pastures into agricultural landscapes.

Conservation Agriculture provides a number of advantages on global, regional, local and farm level such as sustainability, enhanced biodiversity, carbon sequestration, labour savings, healthier soils, increased yields, and reduced costs.

Spread of CA

·      The global extent of CA cropland in 2013 was about 157 m ha (11% of global cropland),

·      CA adoption is highest in the North-Western Parts of North America and in the southern parts of South America with adoption levels above 50%.

·      Asian countries, including India, have seen considerable uptake of CA in the past 10-15 years.

·      By 2013, 1.5 m ha of cropland was covered by CA in India (in states such as Punjab and Haryana).

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP)

The Government of India has implemented the National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP). The programme involves the accreditation programme for Certification Bodies, standards for organic production, promotion of organic farming etc. The NPOP standards for production and accreditation system have been recognized by European Commission, Switzerland, and the US.  

NPOP is operated under the overall guidance and directions of the Department of Commerce. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of the NPOP.

India’s rank in terms of World’s Organic Agricultural land was 15% as per 2013 data. The total area under organic certification is 5.71 m ha in 2015-16. India produced around 1.35 m tonnes (2015-16) of certified organic products. Among all the states, Madhya Pradesh has covered largest area under organic certification followed by Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan.