How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help… · toppers’ answers, UPSC 2015

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “What is digital agriculture? How it can contribute towards increasing farmer's income and improving efficiency of the agriculture sector in India. Write down the initiatives taken by the government to promote digital agriculture in India. Why is there a lack of participation of women in the field of science and technology? How can India facilitate increased participation of women in Science Technology Engineering and Medicine (STEM)?”

Shreyansh SuranaAIR 413 · CSE 2022 · 397 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Digital Agriculture is the application of ICT tools to augment the agri-process and improve the outcomes.

Body · points

Diagram

[Computer] -> [Block chain land records] [Smartphone] -> [SMS Advisory] [Satellite] -> [Weather forecasting] [Tower] [Digital Genome Sequencing] -> [Farm] [Sensors] -> [Sensor based irrigation]

Contribution towards increasing farmer's Income

(1) Quantum Computing Based weather prediction → know when to sow seeds.

(2) Better Price discovery of products using data → Better price realisation.

(3) e-NAM: to provide wider market and get best deal.

(4) E-commerce Apps like- Ninjakart: Helping reduce farm waste → procure from farm gate. Direct- Benefit Transfer → prevent leakages in Income (e-transfers).

Improving efficiency

(1) Precision farming: use of AI to measure moisture level and turn on sprinklers. (2) Agro-extension service like Kisan-Sathi App for timely information. (3) GIS based mapping and survey: micro-climate based advisory. (4) Use of Drone technology for fertilizer use efficiency. (5) Nano-sensors to monitor water use efficiency.

Initiatives of Government:

(1) e-NAM for online agro market. (2) Land record digitisation under Swamitva Scheme. (3) GIS survey under PM-Fasal Bima Yojana. (4) Launched Ri-SAT to monitor water levels for irrigation requirement. (5) Agri-stack: end to end service across value-chain. (6) Kisan call centers, Soil Health Card, etc.

Need is to create integrated digital infrastructure which is Affordable, Accessible and Available to farmers.

Enrolment Ratio of women in Higher education is only ~26% and participation proportion in STEM is merely 14%.

Why lack of participation?

I. Structural Issues: (1) Poor women friendly infrastructure. (2) Lack of transportation facility in case of late night working. (3) Pay gap: gender pay gap is ~6%. (4) Poor budgetery allocation towards women participation.

II. Attitudinal Issues: (1) Dual Burden: Home Responsibilities / professional life. (2) patriarchy → Low social mobility. (3) Lack of opportunities at all places (concentrated mostly in urban areas).

III. Workplace Issues: (1) Stereotyping roles: giving peripheral assistive role to women. (2) Sexual harassment at workplace. (3) Discrimination in promotional and leadership opportunities.

How can India facilitate increased participation

(1) Women friendly infrastructure like- washrooms, creche facility. (2) Incentivising through schemes like AGNii, Atal Innovation Mission, etc. (3) Improving greater enrollment ratio at higher education: ↳ Reserved Seats ↳ fees concession. (4) Role modelling effect like - Mrs. Swati incharge of perseverance mission (NASA). (5) Flexible work timings and gender neutral pay. (6) Better implementation of schemes like KIRAN, GATI, Vigyan Jyoti. (7) Gender sensitisation at societal level to change perception.

Close · a way forward

To tap the demographic dividend and the road to "Viksit Bharat" improving women participation in STEM is sin-quo-non.

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

How can the ‘Digital India’ programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income ? What steps has the Government taken in this regard ?

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers’ answers to other close questions