Agriculture - Current Affairs for November, 2016

The 1st International Agro-Biodiversity Congress was held in New Delhi from Nov 6 - Nov 9 2016.

• It concluded with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration on Agro-biodiversity Management.
• Event saw the participation of 900 people from 60 nations.
• During the Congress, the delegates of all countries discussed various aspects of access, conservation and use of agro-biodiversity in 16 technical sessions, 4 satellite sessions,a gene bank roundtable, public forum, farmer’s forum and poster sessions.
• Based on these deliberations, the delegates adopted the Preamble and following declaration at the concluding session of Nov 9, 2016.
• Participating nations called to accord top priority to agro-biodiversity conservation and their sustainable use towards attaining targets of SDGs relating to poverty alleviation, nutritional security and food, good health, gender equity and partnership.
• They recognised the vital aspects of traditional knowledge to the agro-biodiversity conservation and their sustainable use towards attaining SDG targets pertaining to poverty alleviation and much more.
• Policy makers were asked to strengthen strategies and researchers to employ modern technologies for the purpose of ensuring science for all and promotion of agro-biodiversity.
• India was chosen to host the Congress on account of its diverse nature.
• It takes up only 2.4 percent of the world’s land area, harbouring 7-8 percent of all recorded species.
• According to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2014, species that live in India include 45,000 species of plants and 91,000 species of animals according to CBD 2014.

NITI Aayog on 31st Oct 2016 launched the first ever Agricultural Marketing & Farm Friendly Reforms Index.

• The index was led by Maharashtra.
• Maharashtra has implemented most of the marketing reforms and offers an amazing environment for agribusiness among states and UTs.
• Maharashtra topped the index with a score of 81.7 out of 100.
• Gujarat ranks second with a score of 71.5.
• Rajasthan stood third with a score of 70.0 and MP scored 69.5.
• Almost 75% of the states could not reach the halfway mark of reforms score.
• Major states such as UP, Punjab, WB, Assam, Jharkhand, TN and J&K are in this group.
• Some states and UTs either did not adopt the APMC Act or revoke it– these include Kerala, Bihar, Daman & Diu, Manipur, Dadra and Nagra Haveli and Andaman and Nicobar.
• They were therefore not included in this ranking.
• NITI Aayog launched an index to rank states and UTs based on implementation of seven provisions under the model APMC Act, joining the eNAM initiative, special treatment to fruits and vegetables for marketing and level of tax in mandis.
• The second area of reforms included in the index is relaxation in restrictions related to leasing in and out agricultural land and change in law to recognise tenant and safeguard land owners liberalisation.
• The third area included in the index represents freedom to farmers for felling and transit of trees grown on private land- this indicates an opportunity to diversify farm business.

• Ease of doing agribusiness as well as opportunities for farmers to benefit from modern trade and commerce and have a wider option for sale of his/her produce.
• Efficiency, competitiveness and transparency in agri markets.
• Index has a score which can have minimum value zero implying no reforms and maximum value 100 implying complete reforms within the selected areas.
• States and the UTs have been ranked in terms of the score of the index.