CURRENT AFFAIRS 2010

IMD unveils high-tech weather forecasting system A state-of-the-art Integrated Forecasting and Communication System was unveiled at the India Meteorology Department (IMD) today that is expected to provide more accurate weather data. Dynamic weather prediction models using super computers and very highly sophisticated software will start giving us more and more accurate data. Agriculture, like so many sectors of Indian economy, is highly dependent on weather and climate and it was good that the IMD was moving away from he conventional forms of weather forecast to an advanced one. "Increasing socio-economic benefits of meteorology in all fields, saving lives and protecting goods in a changing climate is the permanent mission of the India Meteorological Department." The governments took it as one of its priorities and a Rs 1,000 crore programme was sanctioned by Planning Commission in 2007 and crucial components including setting up of automatic weather stations, Doppler Radars, connecting them with most high speed digital inter-connecting systems and network as well as buying super computers for numerical weather prediction were completed.

INDIAN ECONOMY-OVERVIEW2010

Farm sector may achieve 3-3.5 pc growth in 11th plan

India's farm sector is likely to grow by 3-3.5 per cent annually during the 11th Five-Year Plan ending 2011-12, lower than the target of four per cent, the Planning Commission said.

"The rate of growth in agriculture in the Eleventh Plan is likely to be better than in the Tenth Plan. However, it may not reach the target of four per cent per year and instead range between 3 to 3.5 per cent per year," according to a Commission's note for discussion in the National Development Council meeting on July 24.

The Plan Panel, however, noted that agriculture production in 2010-11 would be better compared to last year, when the crop was severely hit by the worst drought in 32 years.

The agriculture sector, which contributes 17 per cent to GDP and employs 60 per cent of the population, grew by 0.2 per cent in 2009-10 fiscal. In the first three year of the current plan period, the average growth was 2.2 per cent.

The Planning Commission emphasised on undertaking steps to increase production so that the four per cent growth target is "at least achieved in the Twelfth Plan period".

"Food Security will continue to be an important concern and we need to plan for growth in foodgrain production of around 2 to 2.5 per cent per year," the note said.

The allied sectors (including dairy and fisheries) will have to grow at 6-7 per cent, it added. Highlighting important steps taken in the last few years, Plan Panel said that greater efforts were needed to achieve the targeted growth. The Commission noted that bio-technology holds great potential for expanding agri-productivity, but it also "raises concerns about safety in connection with the introduction of GM technology in foods".

The panel suggested that it was essential to establish a regulatory system that will ensure that safety is not compromised.

"The central government should expedite the establishment of statutory Bio-technology Regulatory Board, with appropriate scientific expertise as quickly as possible," the note said. The panel asked states to pay more attention to agriculture development by strengthening research, extension system, state agri-universities and encouraging private sector in seed development.

Describing extension service as the "weakest link", the panel said states should strengthen the extension system. "It is not an exaggeration to say that the extension service has collapsed in most states with large unfilled vacancies and also poor accountability of personnel where they exist," the note said.

INDIAN ECONOMY-OVERVIEW2010

Agri panel suggests steps to raise grain output

A task force, set up by the Agriculture Ministry, has recommended a slew of measures to increase India’s stagnating grain production.

The panel has advised adoption of new technologies, water conservation and more efficient water management, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh—known as ‘the food bowl of India’. The task force also suggests taking green revolution to the eastern region. It is hopeful that the measures would check the slowdown in the growth of grain production since the mid-nineties and help in increasing net sown area.

The task force, which was set up towards the end of last year, was headed by the agriculture secretary, and its members included representatives of ICAR, ministries of power and water resources, departments of animal husbandry, rural development and land resources, National Rainfed Area Authority and the Planning Commission. Its mandate was to “suggest short-term and medium-term recommendations on efficient management of water, power and other inputs to maximise agricultural production on a sustainable basis”.

The panel submitted its report in June this year while the action-taken report on its recommendations was finalised only late last month.

The report, after taking into account the food production graph over the years, displayed its disappointment over the declining trend in its growth rate. The mean food production during the last decade revolves around 209.68 million tonnes with a coefficient variation of 8%. After factoring in considerations such as changes in preferences, tastes, life-styles, occupational structure and growing urbanisation, it calculated that the demand for grain (including cereals and pulses) was expected to grow to 236 million tonnes by 2011 and 276 million tonnes by 2020-21.

“To meet the projected demand, production needs to increase each year by about 1.01% for rice, 1.10% for wheat, 2.55% for coarse cereals and 2.48% for pulses,” the report pointed out, adding: “These required growth rates are higher than the growth rates experienced during the last decade in case of pulses and coarse cereals.”

It was felt that the projected demand could be met only by raising production of grains, oilseeds and sugarcane. But this was easier said than done. Over the last 30 years, the panel noted that the net sown area had remained static at about 140 million hectares, and the prospects of raising it were extremely difficult because of the growing pressure on land for other purposes.

Moreover, the food bowl of India, it was felt, had reached its saturation point in terms of grain production. Also, there was a large gap between the productivity of rice and wheat in the eastern and western states. The ability of states such as Punjab, Haryana and western UP to contribute more to the food stocks had become suspect because of the “over-exploitation” of water resources and diminishing soil fertility. The practice of supplying electricity to farmers at subsidised rates in Punjab and Haryana had increased the debts, and the losses, of their state electricity boards.

Besides advocating extension of the green revolution to the eastern states, the task force listed a string of recommendations for a better, more efficient management of water, power and other inputs to optimise food production in the northwestern states.

“Sustainable groundwater development and management in the over-exploited northwest region needs to be taken up by incorporating artificial recharge of groundwater and rainwater harvesting, conjuctive use of surface water and ground water, management of poor and marginal quality groundwater, water conservation by increasing water use efficiency and regulation of groundwater development,” the task force suggested.

Besides, it stressed on the urgent need to take up schemes of artificial recharge of groundwater in the states of Haryana, Punjab, UP, Rajasthan and Gujarat. A case in the point was the Central Ground Water Board’s estimate that about 700 million cubic metre of surface runoff flows out of Haryana every year. “The states will have to be sensitised that surplus run-off could be channelled to micro-storages which can be developed using MGNREGA funds,” the report said.

In states such as Haryana and Punjab, which have been staring at declining water levels, the report said that there must be regular and accurate assessment of actual groundwater use in both rural and urban areas. A close scrutiny of further expansion programmes and separation of feeders for domestic and agricultural power and its timely, but well-controlled, supply is necessary, it said.

The task force also built a case for diversification of crops in these areas.

INDIAN ECONOMY-OVERVIEW2010

Indian economy grows by 8.8% in Q1(2010-11)

Indian Economy grew by an impressive 8.8 per cent during this quarter (April-June) on the back of robust manufacturing growth.

However, certain sectors like financial services restrained the growth in economy, which had recorded 6 per cent growth rate in April-June 2009-10.

Agriculture and allied activities grew by 2.8 per cent, higher than 1.9 per cent in the year-ago period, but it is nowhere between the target of four per cent pegged by the government in the medium term.

Manufacturing expanded by strong 12.4 per cent in April-June, 2010 against a mere 3.8 per cent growth rate in the same period last year.

Construction too grew by 7.5 per cent compared to 4.6 per cent.

Among services, financial, insurance and real estate services expanded by just 8 per cent, against a growth rate of 11.8 per cent in the year-ago quarter, while community social and personal services growth slowed down to 6.7 per cent, against 7.6 per cent a year ago.

However, trade, hotels and communication services rose by 12.2 per cent, against 5.5 per cent during April-June 2009.

The government expects economy to grow by 8.5 per cent this fiscal. Though the GDP numbers for the April-June quarter are higher than that of 8.6 per cent in the previous quarter, they lag expectations of 8.9-9.4 per cent forecast by various experts.

The last time the economy grew at a faster clip was in the last three months of 2007 when it expanded 9.7 percent.

Deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that India's economy could grow better than 8.5 percent in the fiscal year that ends in March 2011.

Agri export to double in 5 yrs: APEDA

India’s agri-export turnover is expected to double in the next 5 years. Agri-export turnover is set to rise from $9 billion to nearly $18 billion by 2014.

The country’s agri-exports have registered a 25% growth in 2008-09. Unlike the software and handicraft industry, agricultural products are not US dependent, hence, the country’s agri-export has been not affected. Experts in this field believe the worst of recession is already over. Infact, major economies such as the EU and the US are reporting significant growth and so going by global scenario, the agri-exports will not suffer.

On ‘farming for export’, a concept where farmers shift gear from livelihood farming to Market-oriented Agriculture and international trade. Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) supports ‘farming for export’ concept since it is the best option to ensure better quality of food across the globe. Food safety is a major cause of concern in Europe, Japan and the US market and this method will boost export.

As part of the farming for export programme, Apeda is working on horticulture. It is also financing R&D for pomegranate and working on it in clusters. For pomegranate, Apeda is tapping Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, for mango Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, banana in Julgoan and Surat and ginger in the Northeast.

On centre for perishable cargo, the Apeda has more than 15 centres across the country, the latest to start at Guwahati. When asked about taping the untouched market. Apeda plans to tap Russia for exporting grapes and the Middle East for pomegranate. In the financial year 2009-10, Apeda is betting high on export of dehydrated onions, mango pulp, egg powder and honey.

Seven payloads firmed up for Chandrayaan-2

CHANDRAYAAN-2 IN THE YEAR 2013

ISRO has finalised seven payloads that will go on the second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, sometime in 2013. At least two key instruments will probe further to confirm presence of water ice - which was indicated by the first lunar mission of 2008-09,

Chandrayaan-2 will have an Orbiter (satellite), a Lunar lander to be built by Russia, and an ISRO-built Rover that will explore the lunar landscape. Five payloads or scientific experiments will be placed on the orbiter and two on the rover. The Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft will weigh 2,650 kg when it is launched; the orbiter alone will weigh 1,400 kg and lander about 1,250 kg. The subsystems of the orbiter and the rover are being developed at the Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Ahmedabad centres.

Three of the orbiter payloads are new while two are improved versions of the payloads that went on the successful Chandrayaan-1 orbiter of 2008-09. On the Chandrayaan-1, a MIP or Moon Impact Probe was included close towards the launch. Nearly half of its 11 payloads were guest experiments from other countries.

The former ISRO Chairman, Dr U.R.Rao, heads the national committee of experts drawn from ISRO centres, academic institutions and R&D labs. Dr Rao also chairs the Advisory Committee on Space Sciences (ADCOS). Chandrayaan-2 is to be launched on the Indian rocket, the GSLV, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The orbiter is to carry a Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) from ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore and Solar X-ray Monitor (XSM) from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for mapping the major lunar elements.

An L- and S-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from SAC will probe the first few meters for the presence of water ice among others. The first lunar mission had indicated presence of water in the shadowed regions.

An Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS) from SAC will map the lunar surface and look for minerals, water molecules and hydroxyl.

A Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ChACE–2) from Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram, will make a detailed study of the lunar exosphere.

A Terrain Mapping Camera–2 (TMC–2) from SAC will be deployed to prepare a 3D map of Moon's minerals and geology.

The rover will carry a Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) from Laboratory for Electro Optic Systems (LEOS), Bangalore; and an Alpha Particle Induced X-ray Spectroscope (APIXS) from Physical Research Labs, Ahmedabad. Both the instruments will analyse the elements at the lunar landing site.