Relevance: GS III (Agriculture & Environment) | Source: The Hindu / Live Law

1. What is the News?

• The Supreme Court (SC) has asked the government to find ways to encourage farmers to stop growing only wheat and rice (paddy) and start growing pulses.
• The Reason: Growing too much paddy is drying up the groundwater in North India. Pulses are a great alternative because they need very little water.

2. Why are Farmers Hesitant?

• The “MSP” Safety Net: Farmers grow wheat and paddy because the government definitely buys them at a fixed price (Minimum Support Price).
• The Risk in Pulses: Farmers feel pulses are “risky” because there isn’t always a guaranteed buyer or price.
• The Problem with Imports: The SC noticed that the government allows cheap imports of pulses (like yellow peas). This makes the price of Indian-grown pulses crash, causing losses to our local farmers.

3. Court’s Advice to the Government

• Incentives: Give farmers a solid reason (like a better price or guaranteed sale) to switch to pulses.
• Expert Committee: Form a group of people who actually work with farmers on the ground to understand their real problems.
• Control Imports: Don’t let cheap foreign pulses destroy the market for Indian farmers.

4. Why Pulses are Good for the Earth?

• Natural Fertilizer: Pulse plants have tiny bumps on their roots (root nodules). These bumps take nitrogen from the air and put it back into the soil, making it fertile naturally.
• Water Savers: They are “water-efficient” crops, meaning they can grow with very little rain or irrigation compared to paddy.

The “UPSC Trap”

• The “Ban” Trap: The SC did not ban the import of pulses. It only asked the government to “rethink” the policy so that local farmers don’t suffer.
• The “Compulsory” Trap: Growing pulses is not mandatory. The court is only pushing for diversification (growing different types of crops instead of just one).

UPSC Value Box

With reference to pulse cultivation in India, consider the following statements:

1. The Supreme Court recently suggested that a guaranteed price and sale platform is necessary to move farmers away from the wheat-paddy cycle.
2. Unlike paddy, pulses are leguminous crops that help in naturally restoring soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
3. Pulse cultivation is discouraged in India because it requires significantly more water than rice and wheat.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (a)