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North Eastern Tea Association (NETA)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: North Eastern Tea Association (NETA)
Why in the News?
- The North Eastern Tea Association (NETA) has appealed to Ministry of Commerce and Industry seeking permission for tea producers to sell their products through both private sales and public auction systems.
- A gazette notification issued on February 26, 2024 has mandated that 100% of dust teas must be sold through public auctions.
About North Eastern Tea Association (NETA)
| Details | • NETA is an association of tea producers headquartered in Golaghat, Upper Assam. • Established in 1981. • A key constituent of the Joint Forum and the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA), Assam Valley branch. • Focuses on promoting the interests of its members and enhancing the tea industry in Assam. |
| Structural Mandate | • Presence: Strong presence in Golaghat, Assam. • Role: Represents tea producers and plays a pivotal role in the development of Assam’s tea industry. • Mandate: Advocates for improvements in the tea industry, assists with policy suggestions, and provides guidance on the development of the tea sector. |
| Powers and Functions | • Advisory Role: Provides expert opinions and advice to the government of Assam and its members on issues related to the tea industry. • Policy Advocacy: Urges for changes in government policies to improve the tea industry, e.g., suggesting the relocation of the Tea Board of India’s headquarters to Guwahati. • Industry Growth: Encourages high-quality tea production and advises growers to enhance the quality of tea to attract international buyers. • Small Tea Grower Representation: Advocates for amendments to the definition of Small Tea Growers, proposing that those holding up to 50.6 hectares of land be recognized as small growers. • Government Relations: Provides suggestions to the government for the betterment and scaling up of the tea industry in Assam. |
PYQ:[2022] Consider the following States:
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States? (a) Only one State (b) Only two States (c) Only three States (d) All four States |
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[pib] India and ADB sign $98 million loan to promote Plants Health management
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP), ADB
Why in the News?
- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $98 million loan to support the Building India’s Clean Plant Programme.
Aims and Objectives
|
About the Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme (CPP):
| Details | • Announced in Union Budget 2023-24 to enhance plant health management in India. • Aimed at providing farmers access to clean, disease-free planting materials. • Anchored by the National Horticulture Board (NHB), which will set up Clean Plant Centers across the country. • Ensures global competitiveness of the Indian horticulture sector. • Key Objectives: – Strengthen the regulatory framework for plant health management. – Establish Clean Plant Centres for disease-free horticultural crops. – Collaborate with private nurseries, researchers, state governments, and growers’ associations for success. • Funding: ADB loan to establish advanced laboratories and diagnostic testing facilities at Clean Plant Centres. • Will include a certification scheme for private nurseries to produce disease-free planting materials. |
| Where does India stand in its Horticulture Sector? | • In 2022-23, India’s horticulture production reached 351.92 million tonnes, surpassing foodgrain production. • Second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world; Contributes about 33% to the agriculture Gross Value Added (GVA). • Ranks first in the production of crops like Bananas, Lime, Papaya, and Okra. • Steady increase in horticulture production driven by proactive government policies. |
PYQ:[2021] What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification? [2018] Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? |
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Coffee Board devises road map with eye on doubling production, exports
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Coffee Board of India
Why in the News?
The Coffee Board of India has launched a 10-year roadmap with a goal to double the country’s coffee production and coffee exports by 2034.
About Coffee Board of India:
| Details | |
| About | • Coffee cultivation in India began with the planting of 7 seeds of coffee during 1600 AD by saint Baba Budan, in the courtyard of his hermitage in Chikmagalur, Karnataka.
• Until 1995, marketed the pooled supply of coffee. |
| Structural Mandate | • Managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, established in 1942, headquartered in Bangalore.
• Comprises 33 members, including a Chairman appointed by the Government of India. |
| Functions of Coffee Board | • Enhancement of production, productivity & quality. • Export promotion for achieving higher value returns for Indian Coffee. • Supporting the development of the domestic market. |
| Coffee Industry in India – Imports/Exports | • Karnataka is the largest producer (70%), followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu. • India exports over 70% of its coffee production. • India is the 8th largest coffee exporter (FAO) globally (by volume). • Coffee exports peak from March to June. |
| Agro-climatic Conditions | • It is a tropical plant which is also grown in semi-tropical climate.
• 16° – 28°C temperature, 150-250cm rainfall and well-drained slopes are essential for its growth. • Low temperature, frost, dry weather for a long time and harsh sunshine are harmful for its plant. • Coffee plants grow better in the laterite soils of Karnataka in India. • Major Varieties Cultivated: Arabica, Robusta and Liberica. • Arabica has high market value than Robusta coffee due to its mild aromatic flavor. |
PYQ:[2010] Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 |
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Asia Tea Alliance not in favor of GM Tea
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Asia Tea Alliance, Tea Cultivation in India
Why in the News?
- The Asia Tea Alliance (ATA) resolved to reject Genetically Modified (GM) Tea in response to climate challenges affecting global tea production.
- With India’s tea production down by 10% this year due to climate change, certain companies have advocated for GM tea.
About Asia Tea Alliance (ATA)
|
About Indian Tea Industry:
- India is the second-largest tea producer and largest black tea producer after China, and also the fourth-largest tea exporter worldwide.
- India is the largest consumer of black tea, accounting for 18% of global tea consumption.
- The Indian tea industry directly employs 1.16 million workers, with an equal number indirectly associated.
- It is governed by the Tea Board of India and under Union Government control by an Act of Parliament.
- Geographical conditions:
- Northeast India (including Assam), north Bengal (such as Darjeeling, Terai and the Dooars), and the Nilgiris in south India.
- Tropical and subtropical climates, with regions concentrated in Asia, Africa, and South America favours tea cultivation.
- It requires cool to warm temperatures (15–23°C) with at least 5 hours of sunlight daily; annual rainfall should be 150-200 cm.
- Darjeeling Tea known as the “Champagne of teas,” for its aroma was the first to GI tag in 2004–05.
PYQ:[2020] “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop? (a) Cotton (b) Jute (c) Sugarcane (d) Tea |
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[pib] Cabinet approves the Clean Plant Programme
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Clean Plant Programme
Why in the News?
The Union Cabinet has approved the Clean Plant Programme (CPP) proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
What is the Clean Plant Programme (CPP)?
| Details | |
| Objective |
|
| Key Features |
|
| Core
Components |
These centers will produce and maintain virus-free planting material for large-scale propagation.
|
| Key Benefits |
|
PYQ:[2013] Fruits stored in a cold chamber exhibit longer storage life because: (a) Exposure to sunlight is prevented (b) Concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment is increased (c) Rate of respiration is decreased (d) There is an increase in humidity [2018] Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers? |
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CDP-SURAKSHA Digital Platform for Horticulture Subsidies
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Cluster Development Programme (CDP), CDP-SURAKSHA
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
The government has introduced a new platform called CDP-SURAKSHA for disbursing subsidies to horticulture farmers under the Cluster Development Programme (CDP).
India’s Horticulture Sector:
|
What is CDP-SURAKSHA?
- CDP-SURAKSHA is a digital platform acronym for “System for Unified Resource Allocation, Knowledge, and Secure Horticulture Assistance.”
- It facilitates instant subsidy disbursal to farmers’ bank accounts using the e-RUPI voucher from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
- It provides upfront subsidies during material purchase, and vendors receive payment only after farmers verify delivery.
Key Features include database integration with PM-KISAN, cloud-based server space from NIC, UIDAI validation, eRUPI integration, LGD, content management system, geotagging, and geo-fencing.
Operational Mechanism of CDP-SURAKSHA
- Farmer Interaction:
- Farmers, vendors, implementing agencies (IA), cluster development agencies (CDAs), and National Horticulture Board (NHB) officials can access the platform.
- Farmers can log in using their mobile number, place orders for planting material, and contribute their share of the cost.
- Subsidy Disbursement:
- After raising the demand, farmers receive the subsidy amount automatically on the screen.
- Upon paying their contribution, an e-RUPI voucher is generated and received by the vendor, who supplies the planting material.
- Farmers verify the delivery through geo-tagged media, following which the IA releases payment to the vendor.
Significance of e-RUPI
- e-RUPI is a one-time payment mechanism redeemable without cards or digital payment apps, used for specific purposes.
- It is shared with beneficiaries via SMS or QR code and accepted at merchants supporting e-RUPI.
Old System vs. CDP-SURAKSHA:
- Previously, farmers purchased planting materials independently and then approached officials for subsidy release.
Cluster Development Program (CDP)
|
PYQ:[2019]Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years? (a) Spices (b) Fresh fruits (c) Pulses (d) Vegetable oils |
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Challenges in India’s Tea Industry: A Call for Introspection and Resilience
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Tea cultivation in India
Mains level: Not Much
Introduction
- Echoes of the Past: India’s tea industry is facing challenges similar to the “dark phase” of 2002-07, as noted by the Tea Association of India (TAI).
- Key Concerns: Stagnant prices, oversupply, demand-supply gap, and a trend towards cheaper teas are major issues impacting the industry.
Historical Context and Recent Developments
- Previous Crisis: The industry suffered a significant slump during 2002-07 due to regulatory challenges, falling demand, competition from cheaper international teas, and export quality concerns.
- Current Scenario: Despite India’s economic strides, the tea industry struggles with stagnant prices and increasing input costs, leading to estate closures and reliance on subsidies.
Demand-Supply Imbalance and Quality Concerns
- Oversupply Issues: The meeting highlighted the critical problem of oversupply leading to an imbalance between availability and consumption.
- Quality Decline: To make tea more affordable, there has been a decline in quality, resulting in a “race to the bottom.”
Proposed Measures and Tea Board of India’s Role
- Repositioning Tea: TAI suggests repositioning tea to enhance its perception and consumption patterns.
- Regulatory Steps: Measures include regulating tea waste sold domestically, restricting import of low-quality teas, and promoting tea’s health benefits.
- Potential Impact: Regulating waste could reduce supply by 15-20 million kg, and limiting imports could remove an additional 30 million kg of low-quality teas.
Tea Industry Statistics and Trends
- Production and Export: India’s tea production increased by 39% from 2008 to 2022, with a slight projected increase in 2023. However, exports till October 2023 decreased by 2% compared to 2022.
- Import Increase: Tea imports rose from 27 million kg in 2021 to 30 million kg in 2022.
Overview of the Indian Tea Industry
- Global Standing: India is the second-largest tea producer and the fourth-largest exporter globally, with a significant domestic consumption market.
- Employment and Regulation: The industry directly employs 1.16 million workers, with the Tea Board of India regulating cultivation.
- Main Growing Regions: The Northeast, including Assam, and north Bengal are major tea-growing areas, with significant cultivation in the Nilgiris in south India.
Challenges and Issues
- Global Competition and Quality Decline: Competition from countries like Kenya and the demand for organic tea have affected India’s market position.
- Worker Conditions and Small Tea Growers: Poor worker conditions and challenges faced by small tea growers, including pricing and recognition issues, are significant concerns.
- External Factors: Global events like the Russia-Ukraine war have further compounded problems for the industry.
Tea Board of India Initiatives
- Establishment: The Tea Board was set up under the Tea Act 1953 and functions as a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce. Headquarters are located in Kolkata, the Board is reconstituted every three years.
- Promotional Efforts: The Board undertakes various initiatives to promote packaged Indian tea and subsidizes participation in international fairs.
- Promotional Activities: The Board supports packaged Indian tea promotion and subsidizes participation in international fairs.
- Tea Development and Promotion Scheme: This scheme aims to enhance productivity, quality, worker welfare, and market promotion.
- Support for Small Growers: The Board has formed SHGs, FPOs, and FPCs to assist small tea growers.
Way Forward
- One District One Product (ODOP) Program: This program can help promote Indian tea.
- Improving ‘AROMA’: ‘AROMA’ stands for Assistance to small growers, Re-energizing infrastructure, Organic and GI tea promotion, Modernization of supply chains, and Adaptability to climate change.
- Supporting Small Farmers: Enhancing production, quality, and sustainability while focusing on high-value markets is crucial for the industry’s growth.
Try this PYQ from 2022
Consider the following States:
- Andhra Pradesh
- Kerala
- Himachal Pradesh
- Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
(a) Only one State
(b) Only two States
(c) Only three States
(d) All four States
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US research highlights Indian farming practices
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Types of farming mentioned in news
Mains level: NA
A paper has recently published in the US has found that Integrated farming with intercropping increases food production while reducing environmental footprint.
What is the finding?
This work found that:
- Relay planting enhances yield
- Within-field rotation or strip rotation allowing strips for planting other plants (such as grass, fruits) besides the major crop was more fruitful
- Soil munching that is, available means such as crop straw, in addition to the major crop such as wheat or rice, and
- No-till or reduced tillage, which increases the annual crop yield up by 15.6% to 49.9%, and decreasing the environmental footprint by 17.3%, compared with traditional monoculture cropping
Various terms mentioned
[A] Relay planting
- Relay planting means the planting of different crops in the same plot, one right after another, in the same season.
- Examples of such relay cropping would be planting rice (or wheat), cauliflower, onion, and summer gourd (or potato onion, lady’s fingers and maize), in the same season.
- Benefits: It is less risk since you do not have to depend on one crop alone. It also means better distribution of labour, insects spread less, and any legumes actually add nitrogen to the soil.
[B] Strip cropping
- Strip cropping has been used in the U.S. (where the fields are larger than those in India), where they grow wheat, along with corn and soybean, in the same farm in an alternative manner.
- However, this needs large lands. The land is divided into strips, and strips of grass are left to grow between the crops.
- Benefits: Planting of trees to create shelters has helped in stabilising the desert in Western India.
[C] Soil mulching and no-till
- Soil mulching requires keeping all bare soil covered with straw, leaves, and the like, even when the land is in use.
- Benefits: Erosion is curtailed, moisture retained, and beneficial organisms, such as earthworms, kept in place. The same set of benefits are also offered by not tilling the soil.
Significance of the findings
- This research has led to the conclusion that small farm holders can grow more food and have reduced environmental footprint.
- Current statistics reveal that our country has a significant population of small farmers, many owning less than 2 hectares of land.
- About 70% of its rural households still depend primarily on agriculture for their livelihood, with 82% of farmers being small and marginal.
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Honey Adulteration in India
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: Apiculture and its benefits for farmers
10 out of 13 popular honey brands failed a key test of purity, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has claimed in an investigation.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Consider the following kinds of organisms:
- Bat
- Bee
- Bird
Which of the above is/are pollinating agent/agents?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Adulteration in honey
- The CSE has resorted to the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) testing to ascertain the composition of a product at the molecular level.
- The NMR test is not required by Indian law for honey that is being marketed locally but is needed for export.
- Current regulations specify around 18 parameters that honey must comply with for producers to label it ‘pure honey.
- Among the tests employed as per Indian regulations is one to check whether the honey is adulterated with C4 sugar (cane sugar) or C3 sugar (rice sugar).
- Most samples cleared these tests but failed another test called the Trace Marker for Rice test, to test for rice syrup adulteration.
Significance of the CSE study
- Adulteration of honey is a global problem with several countries, including India, devising regulations and new tests to check it.
- It also destroys the livelihoods of bee-keepers who found it unprofitable to make pure honey because sugar-syrup honey was often available at half the price.
- Some Indian companies in the honey business were importing synthetic sugar syrups from China to adulterate honey.
- This shows how the business of adulteration has evolved so that it can pass the stipulated tests in India.
Back2Basics: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
- NMR spectroscopy is a crucial analytical tool for organic chemists.
- It is a physical phenomenon in which nuclei in a strong constant magnetic field are perturbed by a weak oscillating magnetic field and respond by producing an electromagnetic signal with a frequency characteristic of the magnetic field at the nucleus.
- It is widely used to determine the structure of organic molecules in solution and study molecular physics and crystals as well as non-crystalline materials.
- It is also routinely used in advanced medical imaging techniques, such as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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Cultivation of ‘Wild’ Arunachal Kiwi
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Arunachal Kiwi
Mains level: Organic farming in India
Recently, the ‘Wild’ Arunachal Kiwi has received organic certification by the Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the North East Region.
Try this PYQ:
Q.Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?
(a) Spices
(b) Fresh fruits
(c) Pulses
(d) Vegetable oils
Arunachal Kiwi
- The kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa Chev.) is a deciduous fruiting vine native to Yangtze River valley of south and central China.
- In Arunachal Pradesh, a domesticated variety of kiwi was introduced as a commercial fruit only in 2000.
- The Ziro Valley specifically located at 1,500-2,000 metres above sea level is the most ideal for kiwi.
- It is also called “China’s miracle fruit” and “Horticulture wonder of New Zealand”.
Benefits of certification
- Certification helps producers and handlers; they receive premium prices for the products and have access to fast-growing, local, regional and international markets.
Organic certification in India
- An agricultural practise/product is considered organic when there are no chemical fertilizers or pesticides involved in its cultivation process.
- Such certifications in India can be obtained after a strict scientific assessment done by the regulatory body, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
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In news: International Tea Day
The ‘International Tea Day’ gets thumbs up from the UN. Tea is the most consumed drink in the world, second only to water.
It would be no surprise to expect a question based on worldwide tea production:
Q. Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years? (CSP 2019)
(a) China
(b) India
(c) Myanmar
(d) Vietnam
International Tea Day
- While the UN has been aware of the popularity of the drink, May 21, 2020, became the first time when it recognized and gave an official nod to International Tea Day.
- The UN General Assembly proclaimed May 21 as International Tea Day.
- The day is aimed at promoting sustainable production, consumption and trade of tea.
- As part of the celebrations, key players in tea production come together and make systematic plans for expansion of demand for tea, particularly in tea producing countries where per capita consumption is relatively low.
- This day also reminds all actors at global, regional and national levels to ensure that the tea sector continues to play a role in reducing extreme poverty, fighting hunger and safeguarding natural resources.
Tea
- Tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia.
- After water, it is the most widely consumed drink in the world.
- There are many different types of tea; some, like Darjeeling and Chinese greens, have a cooling, slightly bitter, and astringent flavour.
- Tea has a stimulating effect in humans primarily due to its caffeine content.
- China is the leading producer of tea in the world. (Ref.)
Its significance
- In 2018, over 50 lakh tonnes of tea was consumed globally, according to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN.
- The origin of tea plantations dates back to 5,000 years. Like many cultures, tea enjoys a special space in Indian culture.
- With more than 100 varieties being consumed in the country, India is among the top four producers of tea.
- Currently, tea is grown in more than 35 countries and supports 1.3 crore people including smallholder farmers around the globe.
Back2Basics: Tea cultivation in India
- India is the second producer of tea in the world and second in terms of land devoted to tea growing as well.
- Much of India’s tea production is concentrated in the areas of Darjeeling, Nilgiri, Dooars, and Assam, which is the single largest tea growing region in the world. The top 5 growing states in India, ranked by production, are:
1) Assam
2) West Bengal
3) Tamil Nadu
4) Kerala
5) Karnataka
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[pib] Species in news: Anthurium
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Anthurium
Mains level: NA
A women innovator from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has developed ten varieties of Anthurium, a flower with high market value, by cross-pollination.
Anthurium
- An anthurium is a vast group of beautiful blooming plants available in a wide range of colours.
- Anthurium is one of the best domestic flowering plants in the world.
- They are decorative as well as purify the surrounding air and remove harmful airborne chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia, toluene, xylene, and allergens.
- Its importance of removing toxic substances from the air, NASA has placed it in the list of air purifier plants.
- Anthurium has larger economic importance because of its eye-catching and beautiful inflorescence and fetches a good market price.
Salient features of the Anthurium varieties are
- Large beautiful flowers
- Different colors of spathe and spadix
- Long stalks
- Better shelf life
- Good market value
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[pib] Nagpur Orange
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Nagpur Orange
Mains level: Export promotion of Nagpur Oranges
The first consignment of Nagpur oranges was flagged off to Dubai from Vashi, Navi Mumbai.
Nagpur Orange
- Nagpur orange is rustic and pockmarked exterior which is sweet and has juicy pulp.
- It gives the city of Nagpur its pseudonym Orange City.
- It oranges blossom during the Monsoon season and are ready to be harvested from the month of December.
- The Geographical Indication was accorded to the Nagpur Orange by the registrar of GIs in India and is effective as of April 2014.
The best breed
- Nagpur mandarin in one of the best mandarins in the world. Production of this fruit crop in the central and western part of India is increasing every year.
- Mrig crop (monsoon blossom), which matures in February – March, has great potential for export since arrivals of mandarin fruit in international market are less during this period.
- In the whole region only one variety of Nagpur Mandarin is grown.
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India’s first ‘fruit train’
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Fruit Train
Mains level: Logistics support for horticulture products
A ‘fruit train’, said to be the first of its kind in India, was flagged off from Tadipatri Railway Station in Anantapur district of Andhra.
About the fruit train
- This is the first time in India that an entire train is being sent to the gateway port (JNPT) for export.
- This helps save both time and fuel as 150 trucks would have been required to send a consignment of this size by road to JNPT, which is over 900 km away, before the temperature-controlled containers are loaded on ships.
- The bananas are being exported under the brand name ‘Happy Bananas’.
- Farmers from Putlur region in Anantapur and Pulivendula in Kadapa district are exporting ‘Green Cavendish’ bananas to many international markets.
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