General Studies Paper-3 Context: In the wake of evolving consumer preferences, Hydroponic Farming has emerged as, at the forefront of an agricultural transformation. Hydroponic Farming The Hydroponic System is a system of growing crops without soil, often called soilless farming. In this system, the plant roots grow in a liquid nutrient solution or inside the moist inert materials like Rockwool and Vermiculite. The liquid nutrient solution is a mixture of essential plant nutrients in the water. The plant roots are suspended either in the static liquid solution or in a continuously flowing nutrient mixture. Suitable Regions for Hydroponic Farming Areas with Limited....Read More

General Studies Paper-3 Context: The article discusses the growing opportunities in the horticultural sector, especially F&V sector in India. It also highlights the steps that should be taken to improve it. What are the growing opportunities in the horticultural sector, especially F&V? Scope of Agri Exports: There is a huge opportunity in horticultural exports. Changes in Dietary Habits: The focus of the Indian diet is shifting from mere calorie security to a nutrition-secure mindset, leading to an increase in per capita consumption of F&V. Technological Advancements: Digital and technology advancements and increased focus on bio-based and sustainable solutions can solve....Read More

General Studies Paper – 3 Context: With climate change threatening global food productivity, Odisha’s efforts in climate-proofing its agricultural system have resulted in a unique development model. Introduction As the world’s leaders are in a huddle for COP28, or the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (November 30 to December 12, 2023), in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the worsening impact of the climate crisis paints a grim picture for the planet, peace and prosperity. As the world witnesses a worsening global food crisis precipitated by the mounting climate crisis, spiralling conflicts and distressed livelihoods, Odisha’s transformational journey is increasingly....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 Context: India is one of the largest consumers of vegetable oils in the world, with a rapidly growing population and increasing demand for edible oils. However, the country's domestic production of oilseeds has not kept pace with this demand, leading to a heavy dependence on imports. India imports vegetable oil worth more than USD 14 billion to meet chronic domestic shortages, but it intends to boost domestic production and reduce reliance on imports by increasing domestic production. In the near future, it is necessary for the country to develop significant self-sufficiency, but for the time being, imports are....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 Context: The  agriculture sector  in India has experienced buoyant growth in the past two years. India’s agricultural exports are poised to scale a new peak in the financial year ending March 31, 2023. But so are imports, bringing down the overall farm trade surplus. What are the Agri-Stats? The value of farm exports in April-December 2022 was 7.9% higher(USD 39 Billion) than the USD 36.2 bn for the corresponding period of the previous year. However,imports have grown 15.4% (USD 27.8 bn) in Apr-Dec 2022, over the USD 24.1 bn for Apr-Dec 2021. As a result, there has been a further....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 The agriculture sector plays a significant role in carbon trading because it has the potential to both emit and sequester carbon the process of storing carbon in vegetation and soil).Agricultural activities such as tilling, fertilizer use, and livestock production can release greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. On the other hand, practices such as agroforestry, conservation tillage, and soil carbon sequestration can remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. India updated its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in August 2022. The updated NDC includes....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 Context According to Solvent Extractor’s Association (SEA) of India, a sharp rise in the import of refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD) palm oil is hurting the domestic oil refining industry. Reasons for the rise in imports of RBD palm oil Import duty difference of only 7.5% between CPO (crude palm oil) and refined oil, encouraging the import of refined oil as compared to the CPO. Cutthroat competition: Malaysian and Indonesian exporters of RBD palm oil enjoy advantage (taxes) of $60 over CPO and hence they discount palmolein benefiting their refiners. Consequences of the rise in imports of....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 Under the Honey Mission, 1 lakh and 75 thousand bee boxes have been distributed so far by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) after providing beekeeping training to 17 thousand 500 beneficiaries across the country. As per the National Horticulture Board (NHB), Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Bihar, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka were the top ten honey-producing states in 2021-22. What is Honey Mission? It was launched in 2017 in line with the ‘Sweet Revolution’. Under the mission, the KVIC under Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises provides the farmers or beekeepers – Practical training about the examination....Read More

General Studies Paper 3 Why in News? India has shared the vision to make International Year of Millets 2023 a ‘People’s Movement’ alongside positioning India as the ‘Global Hub for Millets’. What is International Year of Millets? About: India's proposal to observe an International Year of Millets in 2023 was approved by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)in 2018 and the United Nations General Assembly has declared the year 2023 as the International Year of Millets. This was adopted by a United Nations Resolution for which India took the lead and was supported by over 70 nations. Objectives: Awareness of the contribution of millet to....Read More

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3 Why in News? Farmers in Madhya Pradesh who follow regenerative farming methods find that they reduce the need for frequent irrigation, which conserves water and energy. What is Regenerative Agriculture? Background: The Green Revolution of the 1960s pulled India from the brink of starvation, but the revolution also made India the world’s biggest extractor of groundwater. According to the UN’s World Water Development Report, 2022, India extracts 251 cubic km or more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year; 90 % of this water is used for agriculture. Currently, there is severe and widespread deficiency of....Read More