Mother of Democracy Portal Launch
Ahead of the G20 leadership summit, the Ministry of Culture has unveiled the “Bharat: The Mother of Democracy” online portal, a comprehensive digital exhibition tracing India’s 7,000-year democratic history, from the Sindhu-Saraswati civilization to 2019.
Key Features of the “Bharat: The Mother of Democracy” Portal:
- Historical Exploration: Dive deep into India’s democratic history.
- Multilingual Accessibility: Available in 16 languages for a global audience.
- Structured Sections: Five main sections with 22 sub-sections each.
- Ancient Democracy (6000-2000 BCE): Explore early democratic ethos.
- Emergence of Republics (7-8 BCE): Discover the birth of republics.
- Vijaynagar Empire (14-16 century): Illuminate democratic practices.
- Akbar’s Reign (1556-1605): Highlight democratic elements during his rule.
- Constitution of India (1947): Covers the making of India’s constitution.
- Modern India Elections (1952 Onwards): Explore post-independence electoral processes.
- Curatorial Excellence: Meticulously curated by IGNCA for accuracy.
- Website Access: Visit www.motherofdemocracyg20.com for more.
African Swine Fever Outbreak in the Far North
Background:
– On September 11, 2023, the Swedish Board of Agriculture made the decision to euthanize all domestic pigs in the infected zone.
– Approximately 50 pigs are distributed across five farms.
– Sweden is now the 24th European country to report African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks.
African Swine Fever (ASF):
– First Detection: Originated in Africa during the 1920s.
– ASF is a highly contagious and deadly animal disease affecting domestic and wild pigs, leading to severe hemorrhagic fever.
– Mortality rate approaches 100%, and culling is the sole method to prevent its spread.
– It poses no threat to humans as it only transfers among animals.
– Historically, outbreaks occurred in Africa, parts of Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
– Since 2007, ASF has emerged in multiple countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe, affecting both domestic and wild pigs.
– ASF is a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) listed disease, mandating reporting to the OIE.
– No effective vaccine is currently available.
– The virus exhibits high environmental resistance, surviving on items like clothing, footwear, and vehicles.
– It can also persist in various pork products, including ham, sausages, and bacon.
Status of India’s Food Processing Sector:
– Definition: The food processing sector plays a pivotal role in the food supply chain, converting raw agricultural and livestock products into processed, value-added consumables, enhancing safety, convenience, and shelf life, as well as improving taste and nutrition.
– Economic Contribution: This sector contributes significantly to India’s economy, accounting for 13% of exports and 6% of industrial investment. It has attracted substantial foreign direct investments (FDI) of USD 4.18 billion from 2014 to 2020, demonstrating confidence in its future growth.
– Employment Opportunities: Expected to generate 9 million jobs by 2024, it’s set to be a major employment driver. By 2030, India aims to be the world’s fifth-largest consumer of food and food technology as household consumption quadruples, highlighting its enormous growth potential.
Government Initiatives for Food Processing:
– Priority Sector Lending: In April 2015, food & agro-based processing units and cold chain were included as agricultural activities under Priority Sector Lending (PSL) norms.
– Regulatory Ease: In 2016, a shift from product-specific approval to ingredient and additive-based approval by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) aimed at improving ease of doing business.
– FDI Approval: 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) approval under the automatic route was permitted for the food processing sector.
– Special Fund: The establishment of a Rs. 2000 crore Special Food Processing Fund with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
Other Government Initiatives:
– Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana
– Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises Scheme
– Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for the food processing industry
Challenges Faced by the Food Processing Sector:
– Cold Chain Insufficiency: Inadequate cold storage and transportation lead to substantial post-harvest losses of perishable goods, impacting both quality and farmer income.
– Fragmented Supply Chain: A highly fragmented supply chain leads to inefficiencies and increased costs, with inadequate road and rail infrastructure causing delays and losses during transportation.
– Complex Regulations: The sector faces a complex web of regulations, licences, and permits, challenging for businesses to navigate. Inconsistent enforcement can lead to unfair competition and quality issues.
– Food Safety Concerns: Ensuring food safety and quality standards across the supply chain remains a significant challenge. Contaminated or adulterated food products can harm public health and tarnish the sector’s reputation.
– Research and Development Gap: Limited investment in research and development inhibits innovation and the development of new, value-added products. India’s low R&D expenditure-GDP ratio of 0.7% lags behind major economies and the world average of 1.8%.
What further can be done for betterment of this sector
– Smart Food Processing Hubs: Establish smart food processing hubs utilizing advanced technologies like IoT, AI, and blockchain for end-to-end supply chain monitoring, ensuring quality, traceability, and efficiency.
– Nutraceutical Innovation: Develop functional and nutraceutical foods tailored to specific health needs, fortified with essential nutrients, probiotics, and bioactive compounds to address prevalent health concerns.
– Zero-Waste Processing: Implement zero-waste processing techniques, utilising every part of raw materials, such as converting food waste into biofuels or creating bioplastics and animal feed from byproducts.
– Community-Based Processing Centers: Establish community-based food processing centres in rural areas to process local produce, reducing post-harvest losses and generating rural employment opportunities.
