India 2018

Agriculture 51
Crop Insurance Programme (NCIP) with component schemes of Modified
National Agricultural Scheme (MNAIS), Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme
(WBCIS) and Coconut Palm Insurance Scheme (CPIS). In addition, National
Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) which was withdrawn after
implementation of NCIP from rabi 2013-14 and was extended further upto 2015-
16. A new scheme "Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) was
implemented from kharif 2016 along with restructured pilot Unified Package
Insurance Scheme (UPIS) and Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (WBCIS).
Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices
Commission for 'Agricultural Costs and Prices' (CACP), set up with a view to
evolve a balanced and integrated price structure, is mandated to advice on the
price policy (MSP) of 23 crops. These include seven cereal crops (paddy, wheat,
jowar, bajra, maize, ragi and barley), five pulse crops (gram, tur, moong, urad
and lentil), seven oilseeds (groundnut, sunflower seed, soyabean,
rapeseedmustard, safflower, nigerseed and seasmum), copra (dried coconut),
cotton, raw jute and sugarcane. CACP submits its recommendations in the form
of Price Policy Reports every year, separately for five groups of commodities
namely kharif crops, rabi crops, sugarcane, raw jute and copra.
Determinants of MSP
Cost of production (CoP) is one of the important factors in the determination of
MSP of mandated crops. Besides cost, the Commission considers other important
factors such as demand and supply, price trend in the domestic and international
markets, inter-crop price parity, terms of trade between agricultural and
nonagricultural sectors and the likely impact of MSPs on consumers, in addition
to ensuring rational utilization of natural resources like land and water. Thus,
pricing policy is rooted not in 'cost plus' approach, though cost is an important
determinant of MSP.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been contributing to the growth
and development of the country by enabling food security. This year new records
of highest ever food grain production are in the making as the kharif 2016-17
production is estimated at 135 million tonnes, which is 9 per cent higher than
that a year before. Further, to address the present day challenges of malnutrition
and climate change, the council is pursuing focussed research in the areas of
biofortification, health foods and climate resilience in agriculture. The ICAR
observed the year 2016 as the International Year of Pulses as declared by the
United Nations. To this effect, 150 seed hubs for pulses was established to help
increase the availability of quality seeds.
Soil and Water Productivity
Landform maps, soil survey and soil map preparation were completed for 55
blocks comprising the southern region (17), western regions (5), central region
(5), eastern region (17), northern region (6 blocks), and north-eastern region (5).
Ecological niche modelling (ENM) of Ceropegia bulbosa, an endemic threatened