Daily News Analysis 23/09/2020

As per available information, there are 8186 number of cold storages with capacity of 374.25 Lakh MT is available in the country for storing perishable horticulture produce like fruits and vegetables. State/UT wise details of cold storage is at Annexure – I.

The information regarding capacity utilization, real time data regarding availability, cost etc on cold storage facilities for farmers and traders etc. is not centrally maintained by the Ministry. There is no real-time monitoring System.

A study on All India Cold-chain Infrastructure Capacity (AICIC-2015) carried out by NABARD Consultancy Service (NABCONS) assessed requirement of 350 lakh MT capacity of cold storage for perishable fruits and vegetables. Currently, there is 374.25 Lakh MT capacity of cold storages is available in the country.

Government is implementing following schemes under which financial assistance is provided for setting up of cold storages throughout the country to bridge the gap between availability and required cold storage capacity: Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):

Department of Agriculture Cooperation & Farmers Welfare is implementing Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) under which financial assistance is provided for various horticulture activities including setting up of cold storages.

The component is demand/entrepreneur driven for which Government assistance in the form of credit linked back ended subsidy is available at the rate of 35% (for general areas) and 50% (for hilly and scheduled areas) of eligible capital cost of the project for both public and private sector enterprises.

Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY): Ministry of Food Processing Industries is implementing the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure as one of the component of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) with the objective of reducing post-harvest losses of horticulture & non-horticulture produce and providing remunerative price to farmers for their produce.

Under the scheme, Ministry provides financial assistance in the form of grant-in-aid at the rate 35% for general areas and 50% for North East States, Himalayan States, ITDP areas and Islands for storage and transport infrastructure and at the rate of 50% and 75% respectively for value addition and processing infrastructure subject to a maximum of Rs.10 crore per project for setting up Integrated Cold Chain projects including Irradiation facility. Standalone cold storages are not covered under the Scheme.

As per the Land Use Statistics, the state wise details of net irrigated area in the country from 2013-14 to 2015-16 (latest available), is at Annexure-I.

Programmes pertaining to irrigation of agricultural land are planned, funded, executed and maintained by the State Governments themselves as per their own resources and priorities. To supplement their efforts and to encourage sustainable development and efficient management of water resources, the Central Government provides technical and financial assistance to State Governments through various schemes and programmes.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) was launched during 2015-16, by Central Government with an overarching vision to ensure access to some means of protective irrigation for all agricultural farms in the country, and to produce ‘Per Drop More Crop’, thus bringing much desired rural prosperity.

Four components of PMKSY are Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP), Per Drop More Crop and Watershed Development. PMKSY not only focuses on creating sources for assured irrigation, but also creating protective irrigation by harnessing rain water at micro level through ‘Jal Sanchay’ and ‘Jal Sinchan’. PMKSY adopts State level planning and projectised execution that allows States to

draw up their own irrigation development based on District Irrigation Plans and State Irrigation Plans. During 2016-17, ninety-nine (99) on-going Major/Medium irrigation projects under PMKSY-AIBP, having ultimate irrigation potential of 76.03 lakh hectares and balance estimated cost of Rs.77,595 cr. (Central Assistance:Rs.31,342.50 cr.) were prioritized in consultation with States, for completion in phases up to December, 2019 along with their Command Area Development & Water Management (CADWM) works. Funding arrangement for both the Central & State share has been approved through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Fund.

Under AIBP, total Central assistance amounting to Rs. 12224.23 crore has been released for the 99 prioritized projects from 2016-17 to till date. Further Ultimate Irrigation Potential (UIP) of these projects is 76.03 lakh hectares.

Irrigation Potential of 41.39 lakh hectares had been created upto 03/16. During 2016-20, Additional Irrigation Potential of 21.33 lakh hectares has been reported to be created through these prioritized projects. Out of the 99 projects, in respect of 8 projects, the States have indicated that either the CAD works are already completed or not envisaged under the present programme. Of the balance 91 projects, 88 projects have been included while for 3 projects Detailed Project Reports are yet to be submitted by States for inclusion.

The targeted Culturable Command Area (CCA) of included projects is 45.08 lakh hectares and estimated central assistance is Rs 8300.00 crore. Total central assistance amounting to Rs. 2652.912 crore was released under CADWM for the 99 prioritized projects from 2016-17 to June 2020 with total reported progress of 14.18 lakh hectares CCA developed.

Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme and Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies are also being implemented under PMKSY-Har Khet Ko Paniprogramme. Under SMI, total central assistance amounting to Rs. 2487.95 cr has been released from 2016-17 to till date with total potential achieved 2.32 lakh hectares. Under RRR Scheme, total Central assistance amounting to Rs. 203.77 cr has been released from 2016-17 to till date with total potential achieved 0.83 lakh hectares.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements Per Drop More Crop (PDMC) component of PMKSY which focuses on water use efficiency at farm level through precision/micro irrigation. Besides promoting precision irrigation (Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation System) and better on-farm water management practices to optimize the use of available water resources, this component also supports micro level water storage or water conservation/management activities to supplement Micro Irrigation.

Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) has launched a new component called “Innovation and Agri-Entrepreneurship Development” under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY-RAFTAAR) in 2018-19 with objective to promote innovation and agripreneurship by providing financial support and nurturing the incubation ecosystem. Start-ups are being encouraged in order to contribute directly and indirectly to enhancing the income of farmers by providing opportunities to them and to provide employment to youth.

In this connection, five Knowledge Partners (KPs) and twenty four Agribusiness Incubators (R-ABIs) have been appointed by DAC &FW to advise on smooth and efficient execution of this programme in various States. List of these KPs and R-ABIs is enclosed (Annexure).

Under this programme, for idea/pre-seed stage, a selected startup shall be eligible for a maximum financial assistance of Rs. five lakh. For seed stage, a selected startup shall be eligible for a maximum financial assistance of Rs. Twenty five lakh.

346 startups in the agriculture and allied sectors are selected for funding for a sum of Rs. 36.72 crore in installments and Rs.16.01 crore has been released as 1st installment. These start-ups were trained for two months at various agribusiness incubation centres (i.e KPs & RABIs) spread across the country.

Export Promotion Councils (EPCs) are organizations of exporters, set up under the Societies Registration Act/ Companies Act, with the objective of promoting Indian exports.

The councils are responsible for promotion of a particular group of products/ projects/services as given in Appendix 2T of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2015-2020. The list of 14 such EPCs affiliated to the Department of Commerce is at Annexure.

Regular joint meetings with the councils to facilitate interactions with exporters and assess performance of the councils are held. The accounts of the councils are subject to mandatory audit. The review reports of performance of the councils are laid in the Parliament along with Annual Report each year.

Government has integrated Industrial Information System (IIS) portal with the GIS System of six States in first phase to provide updates on land availability and plot level information to investors anywhere in the world on real time basis and help them make informed decisions.

For the development of National Land Bank, Government intends to solicit the details of industrial land with plot level information, connectivity thereto, basic facilities, other facilities available and contact details of authorities/developer of the park.

Government agencies are provided with unique User ID and password to upload the land details. However, the other investors can go to https://iis.ncog.gov.in/parks and simply register on the portal by creating a username and password and login to see the information available on the portal.

Jharkhand is one of the eight states in the second phase of integration of state land bank/GIS systems with the IIS portal. The state has uploaded land data manually on the portal in the past. The state is yet to align its portal as per the Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) of integration of the two systems. The technical teams of State of Jharkhand are in touch with MeitY team who are providing technical support to develop the GIS Based National Land Bank under IIS.

Bhartiya Poshan Krishi Kosh (B.P.K.K.), a web portal having information of India’s crop diversity across all districts – for both current and historical crops has been developed.

It aims to provide data informed agro ecological contexts required to produce traditional and locally available nutrition-rich crops.

The B.P.K.K. is designed to indicate the nutritional value of all major food crops, vegetables and fruits grown in all states and UTs of India down up to a district level. The information is aimed to be useful for all age groups.

There is a special focus on dietary charts for pregnant women based on regional preferences. Necessary data has been collected in consultation with nodal ministries/departments.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has developed a web portal “TrackChild” to track the missing and found children.

The TrackChild Portal is implemented with the help of various stakeholders including Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Railways, State Governments/UT Administrations, Child Welfare Committees, Juvenile Justice Boards, National Legal Services Authority, etc.

National Informatics Centre organises regular training programmes on Trackchild portal as per the requirement of the States/UTs.

Government has taken several measures aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among women in the country. These include:

1. Initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE): To encourage women entrepreneurship within the Country, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) implements the project named‘Economic Empowerment of Women Entrepreneurs and Startups by Women’.The project pilots incubation and acceleration programmes for women micro entrepreneurs to start new businesses and scale up existing enterprises.

2. Initiatives of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME): Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP): a majorcredit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.Any individual above 18 years of age is eligible to avail benefits of the program.

For beneficiaries belonging to special categories such as women/ scheduled caste/scheduled tribe/OBC /minorities, ex-serviceman, physically handicapped, North Eastern Region(NER), Hill and Border areas etc. the margin money subsidy is 35% in rural areas and 25% in urban areas. Special provision of 3 per cent procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises owned by women.

NITI Aayog’s initiative: The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) was launched on 8 March, 2018 on the occasion of the International Women’s Day as NITI Aayog’s flagship initiative. WEP has pan India coverage and does not have state specific programme/s. Registration on the portal and all subsequent services are provided free of cost for WEP users. WEP caters to both aspiring and well established women in the space of entrepreneurship.

Ministry of Rural Development is implementing the following: Skill development through Rural Self Employment and Training Institutes (RSETIs),is a Bank-led initiative, enabling a trainee to take bank credit and start his/her own micro-enterprise.

RSETI program is currently implemented through 585 RSETIs by 23 Leading Banks (both Public Sector and Private Sector as well as few Gramin Banks) in 33 States/UTs covering 566 districts in the country.

Training in RSETI is being imparted for 61 courses aligned with National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). Out of 61 courses as many as 38 following courses are exclusively suitable for women candidates for taking up-self employment ventures after being trained in these courses.

The price of raw jute has mostly been ruling over the Minimum Support Price, therefore, price of jute and demand by the jute mills may not be a factor in the decline in cultivated area of jute.

The slight decline in the cultivation area has been compensated by the increased productivity with the use of modern agronomic practices introduced by Government. Also, Jute Corporation of India has been mandated to purchase raw jute from the farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP) whenever the price of raw jute goes below the MSP.

MSP for raw jute is fixed by Government every year to protect the interest of the jute farmers. The MSP of raw jute in year 2012-13 was Rs. 2200 per quintal which has now increased to Rs. 4225 in year 2020-21.

The opening and closing of jute mills is a cyclical process which depends on various factors of production such as productivity, trade unionism, raw material supply etc. The jute mills are in private control.

The Government is however ensuring that there is sufficient demand of jute bags by mandating 100% reservation for packaging of foodgrains in jute bags thereby creating a conducive environment for opening up of new jute mills in the country.

Several jute manufacturing units including one composite jute mill have come up in different parts of the country as a result of the conducive environment being provided by the Government.

With the provision of 100% mandatory packaging of foodgrains in jute bags, there is no dearth in the demand of jute bags. In fact, the demand of jute bags is more than the capacity of jute mills due to which the Government has to resort to dilution in the provision of 100% mandatory reservation of jute bags for packaging of foodgrains.

To modernise the jute mills, the Government is already implementing the Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant & Machinery (ISAPM). Under the scheme, efforts are being made to increase the productivity of the jute mills by providing capital subsidy to replace the old machines with new and technologically advanced machines.

During 2014-15 to 2018-19, capital subsidy amounting to Rs. 49.71 crores has been released to modernise jute mills and JDP units.

The Government of India implements various schemes for promotion and development of handicraft sector and artisans through National Handicraft Development Programme[NHDP] and Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme [CHCDS] to emphasize integrated approach for upliftment of handicraft sector in a holistic manner.

The NHDP and CHCDS have following components:

National Handicrafts Development Programme [NHDP]: Base Line Survey & Mobilization of Artisans under Ambedkar Hastshilp Vikas Yojana Design & Technology Up-gradation Human Resource Development Direct Benefit to Artisans

Infrastructure and Technology Support Marketing Support & Services Research and Development

Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme [CHCDS]: Mega Cluster Integrated Development and Promotion of Handicrafts Projects (Special Projects)

DEPWD, M/O Social Justice& Empowerment Posted On: 23 SEP 2020 6:49PM by PIB Delhi

‘International Sign Languages Day’ was celebrated at a virtual function organized by the Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), an autonomous body under DEPwD, M/o Social Justice and Empowermenthere today.

United Nations has declared 23rd September as International Sign Language Day.

The theme of this year is ‘Sign Languages are for everyone’ with a view to enhancing awareness about Sign language and expanding its reach to everyone.