18 Mar

Important Food Crops & Plantation Crops

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Contents

• Tea
• Coffee
• Pulses
• Millets

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1) TEA

• Introduction
  » Tea is the dried leaf of a bush. It contains theine (caffeine) and when added to boiling water along with sugar and milk, gives a stimulating drink. It is the most important beverage crop of India.
• Institutional Arrangements
  » Tea Board of India
  • The Tea Board of India is a state agency of GoI established to promote cultivation, processing, and domestic trade as well as export of tea from India. It was established by the enactment of the Tea Act, 1953 with its headquarters in Kolkata.
  • Functions
    • Responsible for assignment of certification numbers to exports of certain tea
    merchants. This certification is intended to ensure the teas origin, which in turn
    would reduce the amount of fraudulent labelling of rare tea such as ones
    harvested in Darjeeling.
    • Endorsement of diverse production and productivity of Tea
    • Financial support to research organizations
    • Monitoring of advances in Tea packaging as it relates to health beneficial aspects
    • Ensuring technical support for tea trade in global industry by coordinating with research institutes, tea trade and government bodies.
• Tea Cultivation
  • Requirements for Tea Cultivation
    • Climate:
      • Tropical and subtropical climate endowed with deep and fertile well drained soil, rich in humus an organic matter.
        • A moderately hot and humid climate, which is preferred for better yield, crop distribution and quality.
      • Frequent showers evenly distributed over the years ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.
    • Temperature: An ambient temperature within 13 degree Celsius and 28-32 degree C is conducive for growth of tea. Maximum ambient temperature above 32 degree C is unfavorable for optimum photosynthesis. Heat is synergically disastrous for the crop if it
      is accompanied by low humidity.
    • Winter Dormancy: At temperature below 12 degree C, there is hardly any growth during this period. Flushing in the tea plant starts from March, with the rise in temperature.
    • Soil
      » Acidic soil with around 4.5-5.5 pH. Suitable soil for tea cultivation is well drained, deep, friable loamy soil. The best soil for tea cultivation is forest soils rich in humus and iron content.
    • Other Requirements
      • Cheap and efficient labour as tea is almost exclusively hand picked.
      • Tea grows better when planted along the shady tree.
• India’s major Tea producing areas
  • The main tea growing regions are in Northeast India (including Assam) and in North Bengal (Darjeeling district and the Dooar region). Tea is also grown on large scale in Nilgiris in South India.
  • Assam: Darrang, Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Nowgong, Sibsagar, Cachar, Karbi Anlong, North Cachar.
  • West Bengal: Darjeeling, Terai (west Dinajpur), Doors (cooch bihar)
  • Tamil Nadu: Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nilgiris.
  • Kerala: Cannanore, Palghat, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Trichur, Trivandrum, Quilon, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Wayanad.
  • Karnataka: Chikkamagaluru, Coorg, Hassan.
  • Himachal, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura are also tea producing states in the country.
• Tea Consumption in the country
  • India is also one of the largest tea consumers in the world, without about 3/4th of the total production consumed in the country itself.
• Exports
  • India exports CTC (crush-tear-curl) grade mainly to Egypt, Pakistan and the UK, and the orthodox variety to Iraq, Iran and Russia.
• Key problems faced by the Organized Tea Industry in the country
  • Scarcity of labor and its cost (65% of the cost) in the organized industry
  • Prices have not increased in tandem with inflation.
  • Emergence of the small tea growers as a dominant force in the industry
    • Lately, the organized sector’s production has shown a declining trend and small tea growers now have a larger share of the pie.
    • Deteriorating quality due to aging tea bushes in this centuries-old industry. Till Sep 2019, around 3,325.7 hectares have been uprooted and replanted during the government’s medium term framework (MTF-2017-20)

2) COFFEE

• Introduction
  » Coffee is a tropical plantation crop. Its seeds are roasted, ground and are used for preparing beverage. In India, it is the second most important beverage crop, next only to tea.
  » It is indigenous to Ethiopia. In India, Coffee plantations started in 18th century. Over the years, we have earned a distinct identity for our coffee. India is the only country in the world where coffees are grown under a ‘well-defined two-tier shade canopy‘ of evergreen leguminous trees.
  » There are three varieties of coffee i.e. arabica, Robusta and liberica. India mostly grows the superior quality coffee, arabica, which is also in great demand in the international market.
  » India is one of the top 10 coffee producers in the world (generally ranked 5th or 6th) -> After Brazil, Vietnam, Columbia and Indonesia. We produce around 5% of the world coffee.
• Total Production and Exports
  » India’s coffee production is estimated in 2022-23 at 393,400 tonnes.
  » India exports 80% of its production to more than 40 countries.
  • The exports reversed a COVID-induced slide to record a 42% year on year jump in 2021-22, exceed the $1 billion mark for the first time.
• State wise production.
  » Coffee plant was grown for the first time on Baba Budan Hills (Karnataka) in India.
  » The three southern states account for almost all of the coffee production in the country with Karnataka (71%) being the largest producer followed by Kerala (21%) and Tamil Nadu (5%).
  » In Karnataka, the Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru district account for over 80% of the state’s total output.
• Climatic Condition Requirements
  » Since coffee is a tropical plantation, it requires hot and humid climate with temperature varying between 15 degrees Celsius to 28 degree Celsius and a rainfall between 150-250 cm.
  » It grows on the hilly slopes at the height of 900-1800 m. These conditions are prevalent in the hill areas of Nilgiris where the coffee plantations are mostly confined.
  » Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.
  » It doesn’t tolerate frost, snowfall, high temperature above 30 degree Celsius and strong sun shine and is generally grown under shady trees.
  » Cheap and skilled labor force is another requirement for coffee cultivation which is required in sowing, transplanting, pruning, drying, grading and packing of coffee.

3) PULSES

• Intro
  » Pulses are the important source of proteins, vitamins and minerals and are popularly known as “Poor man’s meat”.
• Advantages Positives about Pulses
  » Nutritional Security
  » Suitable for Marginal Environment
  » Increase fertility of Land
  » Low food wastage footprint
• Various pulses and production in India.
  • India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world.
  • They account for 20% of India’s total area under cultivation and provide 7-10% of the total food grains in the country.
• The overall pulse production in India has gone up from 8.4 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 27 million tonnes in 2022-23.
  » In fact, in the last decade, India’s production has increased by 50% (from 18 million tonnes to 27 million tonnes)
  » But pulse production has not increased in step with the population growth, per capita availability of pulses have declined from 22.1 kg per person in 1951 to 16.4 kg per person in 2022.
  » Though there is surplus production of Chana, the imperfect substitution among pulses and limited international availability put pressure on the prices of some pulses.
• Main Crops:
  » Bengal Gram (Desi Chick Pea/ Desi Channa), Pigeon Peas (Arhar/ Toor/ Red Gram), Green Beans (Moong Beans), Chick Peas (Kabuli Chana), Black Matpe (Urad / Mah / Black Gram), Red Kidney Beans (Rajma), Black eyed Peas (Lobiya), Lentils (Masoor), White Peas (Matar) are major pulses grown and consumed in India.
  » Rabi Crops (60% Production Share): Gram, Peas, lentil (masur), and black gram
  » Kharif Crops (40% Production Share): Arhar(tur), Moong and Urad etc.
  » Gram (with 50% share) is the most dominant pulse produced and consumed in India. it is followed by Tur/Arhar (15-20%) and Urad & Moong (8-10%).
  • Note: Experts say that Tur’s consumption in meals as dal is much more than that of Chana. Chana is used more on account of its use in packaged food.
    » Gram is the crop of subtropical areas. It is a rainfed crop.
  • Major Pulse Producing States:
    • Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, and Karnataka.
• Primary reasons for domestic shortage of pulses and reduction in per capita availability of Pulses in India are:
  A. The increase in area under cultivation, production and productivity of pulses has been extremely slow.
  B. Low Yield, increased irrigation facilities and Blue Bulls trouble
  C. Open ended procurement of wheat and rice under MSP -> Lack of assured price for pulse
  D. Very less R&D on pulses globally (due to very less consumption in advanced western countries)
• Steps which have been taken to increase pulse production.
  A. Measures to incentivize Pulse Production under National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Minimum Support Price Programs and by Increase production.
  • For e.g. PM AASHA’s prize support scheme specifically focused on increasing the procurement of pulses on MSP.

B. Crop Diversification Program (a sub scheme of RKVY) is being implemented in original green revolution states viz. Punjab, Haryana, and in Western Uttar Pradesh to diversify paddy areas towards less water requiring crops like oil seeds, pulses, coarse cereals, agro forestry etc.

4) MILLETS

• International Year of Millet (IYM): The United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 ‘International Year of Millets’. It will help in creating
  awareness throughout the world about the significant role of millets in sustainable agriculture and its benefits
  as a smart food and superfood.
• IYM 2023 aims to contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly SDG 2 (Zero
  Hunger), SDG 3 (Good health and well-being), SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land)

– Definitions:

• Millets include Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, little millets including Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni and Cheena.

– Cropping:

• They are generally cultivated in low-fertile land, mountains, tribal and rain-fed areas.
  • These areas include Andhra, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, MP, Rajasthan, MHA, KAR, UP, TN and Telangana.
• India is the largest producer and second largest exporter of millet and in 2022 India produced around 50.9 million tonnes. This accounts for 80% of Asia’s and 20% of global production. India is followed by African countries like Nigeria and Niger in production.

– Decreased Production over the years:

• In pre green revolution era (1965-66), millets were cultivated in 36.90 million hectares of the country. In 2016-17, the area reduced to 14.72 million hectares.
  • Why?
    • Green Revolution increased the productivity of wheat and rice.
    • Expansion in irrigation.
    • MSP Policy
    • Changes in consumption pattern, dietary habits etc: Socio-economic dynamics resulting from the hardy nature of the crop, relegated them to be the grain of the poor.

– But recent studies have highlighted various significance of millets for healthy life and sustainable economic development:

• Agri-Sustainability:
  • Climate Resilience: Millets are tolerant to droughts, intensive to excess sunlight etc.
  • Water Efficient: Millets can survive in less water conditions and can solve the problem of over-extraction of water resources.
    • A new study published in the journal Nature Water in Oct 2023 highlights that shifting to millets increases groundwater recharge more than drip irrigation in India’s northern plains.
• Better Health:
  • Food Security: In arid areas, millets are often the only crops that can be harvested in the dry regions and are a crucial part of household food basket.
  • Nutrition: Millets are smart food which are rich in nutrients like protein, vitamin-A, iron, calcium, iodine etc.
    • For e.g., just 100 gm of daily cereals (rice) intake with finger millets (ragi) will increase the daily iron intake by 50% and calcium by 350%.

– Government Initiatives to promote Nutri-Cereals:

• Union Budget for FY24 announced an initiative focused on ‘Making India a Global Hub for Millets‘ (Shree Anna).
  • The Indian Institute of Millet Research, Hyderabad, will be supported as the Centre of Excellence for sharing the best practices, research and technologies at the international level.
• MAHARISHI Initiative i.e. Millets and OtHer Ancient Grains International ReSearcH initiative. This international initiative will focus on research and awareness via agro-biodiversity, food security and nutrition aligning with the International Year of Millets.
• India had declared year 2018 as the Year of Millets:
  • Spreading awareness about nutritional benefits of nutrients which will help in increasing the demand resulting in remunerative prices for poor and marginal farmers.
• Under the Sub Mission on National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – Nutri Cereals is creating awareness among farmers for Nutri Cereals (Millets).
  • NFSM – Coarse Cereals are divided into two components
    • NFSM (Makka and Jau)
    • Sub Mission on Nutri-Cereals covering Jowar, Bajra, Ragi and little millets like Kutki, Kodo, Sawa, Kangni and Cheena