Describe the various Technology Missions initiated in Indian agriculture and examine their role in food security. (Answer in 150 words)
10 marks · answer in 150 words · directive: Describe
The core of a good answer
From the Technology Mission on Oilseeds (1986) and the Technology Mission on Cotton (2000) to today's missions on edible oils, pulses, horticulture and digital agriculture, India has used time-bound, multi-agency missions that join research, inputs, extension and markets; they have raised output of specific crops and reduced import dependence, but food security still depends on yields in rainfed areas, nutrition and price support.
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What the question asks
The question has a descriptive part (which missions, when, what they do) and an evaluative part ('examine' their role in food security in terms of availability, access and stability). A good answer names missions with dates and gives evidence of results and gaps.
Answer outline
Introduction
A technology mission is a time-bound, mission-mode programme that brings research, inputs, extension, processing and marketing for a crop or sector under one plan, with several agencies working to common targets.
Early technology missions
- Technology Mission on Oilseeds: launched in May 1986; pulses added in 1990; oilseed production rose from 108.30 lakh tonnes (1985-86) to 247.50 lakh tonnes (1998-99).
- TMOP was discontinued from 2003-04 and replaced by the Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil palm and Maize (ISOPOM) from 1 April 2004.
- Technology Mission on Cotton: launched in February 2000 with four mini-missions: research (ICAR), technology transfer and inputs (Department of Agriculture and Cooperation), market yards and ginning modernisation (Ministry of Textiles).
Later missions
- National Food Security Mission (2007-08): rice, wheat and pulses, with targets of 10, 8 and 2 million tonnes of additional production by 2011-12.
- Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (from 2014-15), which subsumed the National Horticulture Mission and the Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States.
- National Mission on Edible Oils: Oil Palm (2021, Rs 11,040 crore) and Oilseeds (2024-25 to 2030-31, Rs 10,103 crore; target 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31 from 39 million tonnes in 2022-23).
- Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses (2025-26 to 2030-31, Rs 11,440 crore; about 350 lakh tonnes by 2030-31) and the Digital Agriculture Mission (approved 2 September 2024, Rs 2,817 crore; AgriStack and Krishi Decision Support System).
Role in food security
- Availability: higher production of oilseeds, pulses and cereals; edible oil imports still meet about 57% of domestic demand, which the new missions aim to cut.
- Access and stability: assured procurement (NAFED and NCCF may procure 100% of tur, urad and masur for four years, 2025-26 to 2028-29, under the pulses mission) and better seed systems reduce price and supply shocks.
- Nutrition: pulses, oilseeds and horticulture diversify diets beyond cereals.
- Limits: rainfed farming, small holdings and weak extension limit yields; missions often overlap and depend on state delivery.
Conclusion
Technology missions have been effective tools for crop-specific self-reliance; their contribution to food and nutrition security will last only if yield gains are backed by stable trade policy, procurement, irrigation and extension.
Examples and data to cite
- Technology Mission on Oilseeds, May 1986 (Lok Sabha answer data on oilseed output 1985-86 to 2005-06)
- Technology Mission on Cotton, February 2000, with four mini-missions
- NMEO-Oilseeds approved October 2024, Rs 10,103 crore, 2024-25 to 2030-31
- Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses, Rs 11,440 crore, launched 11 October 2025
- Digital Agriculture Mission approved 2 September 2024, Rs 2,817 crore
Facts to remember
- TMO was launched in 1986 and pulses were added in 1990.
- ISOPOM replaced TMOP from 1 April 2004.
- NFSM was launched in 2007-08 for rice, wheat and pulses.
- MIDH has been implemented from 2014-15.
- Imports meet about 57% of India's edible oil demand (PIB, October 2024).
Where it sits in the syllabus
- GS3: Crops, irrigation, farm marketing
Major crops, cropping patterns in various parts of the country, different types of irrigation and irrigation systems, storage, transport and marketing of agricultural produce and issues and related constraints; e-technology in the aid of farmers.
- GS3: Farm subsidies, MSP, PDS, food security
Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System: objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.
- GS3: Indian achievements, indigenisation
Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.