Q.Describe the objectives of 'National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) in the development of Indian agriculture.

Concept: Climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural growth under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

The NMSA aims to transform Indian agriculture into a climate-resilient system through four key objectives:

1. Enhance productivity and farm incomes by promoting location-specific, integrated farming systems that reduce dependence on external inputs.
2. Conserve natural resources — soil, water, and biodiversity — through practices like rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation, and organic soil management.
3. Reduce vulnerability to climate risks (droughts, floods, heat stress) by adopting climate-smart technologies, weather-based advisories, and crop diversification. …

The core problem NMSA addresses is this: Indian agriculture is highly vulnerable to climate change — erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, depleting groundwater, and degrading soil. Traditional high-input farming (excessive fertiliser, water, and pesticides) has boosted output in the short run but is now showing diminishing returns and environmental damage. NMSA shifts the focus from maximising yield at any cost to optimising productivity while conserving natural resources.

The mission works through three major thematic areas — soil health management, water management, and climate change adaptation — each with specific objectives.

1. Improve soil health and fertility

The first objective is to reverse the widespread degradation of agricultural soils. Decades of imbalanced fertiliser use (heavy on urea, light on micronutrients) have left many soils deficient in organic carbon, zinc, sulphur, and other essentials. NMSA promotes:

• Soil health cards — issued to every farmer, these cards give crop-specific recommendations for fertiliser and micronutrients based on actual soil testing.
• Organic farming — through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), the mission supports clusters of farmers transitioning to certified organic production.
• Integrated nutrient management — combining chemical fertilisers with organic sources like compost, green manure, and bio-fertilisers to maintain long-term fertility.

The goal is not just higher yields, but sustained productivity without exhausting the soil.

2. Enhance water use efficiency

Water scarcity is the single biggest threat to Indian agriculture — 80% of freshwater is used for farming, yet much of it is wasted through flood irrigation. NMSA’s second objective is to get more crop per drop. Key strategies include:

• Micro-irrigation (drip and sprinkler systems) — subsidised under the Per Drop More Crop component, these systems can cut water use by 30–70% while increasing yields.
• Rainwater harvesting and farm ponds — capturing monsoon runoff for supplementary irrigation during dry spells.
• Watershed development — treating entire catchments to improve groundwater recharge and reduce soil erosion.

The mission targets a measurable increase in irrigation efficiency, especially in rainfed areas where water is most scarce.

3. Build climate resilience and reduce risk

Indian farmers face increasing uncertainty — delayed monsoons, unseasonal rains, heatwaves, and pest outbreaks. NMSA’s third objective is to help farmers anticipate and adapt to these shocks. This is done through:

• Climate-smart villages — demonstration sites where a package of practices (stress-tolerant crop varieties, weather-based advisories, crop diversification) is tested and scaled.
• Weather forecasting and agro-advisories — the mission links the Indian Meteorological Department’s forecasts to farmers via mobile alerts, helping them decide when to sow, irrigate, or apply pesticides.
• Crop insurance integration — while not directly under NMSA, the mission’s data on climate risks feeds into the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana to make insurance more accurate and accessible.

The objective here is to stabilise farm incomes even when the climate turns hostile.

4. Promote integrated farming systems …