11. Judicial Directive on Agricultural Diversification and Pulse Cultivation

• Supreme Court Intervention: A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant has directed the Union Government to revisit its policy framework to incentivize farmers to shift from conventional water-intensive crops (wheat and paddy) to pulses. The court emphasized that agricultural diversification is a strategic necessity, particularly in North India. • Core Issues Identified: The judiciary highlighted three critical gaps: the absence of an incentivized Minimum Support Price (MSP) that adequately covers the production costs of small and medium farmers, the lack of guaranteed timely procurement, and the unregulated price fixation of imported yellow peas. • Impact of Imports: The court was responding to a petition by Kisan Mahapanchayat seeking curbs on yellow pea imports. It noted that cheap imports often depress the market price of home-grown pulses, discouraging local farmers from continuing pulse cultivation. • Declining Production Trends: Government data revealed a steep decline in pulse production from 273 lakh tonnes in 2021-22 to 242 lakh tonnes in 2023-24. While the government cited crop diseases as a cause, the court pointed toward the lack of price security as the primary structural deterrent. • Multi-Ministerial Coordination: The Bench ordered a stakeholder meeting involving the Ministries of Agriculture, Commerce, and Consumer Affairs. It recommended constituting a committee of groundlevel experts who understand the \'psyche and compelling circumstances\' of the farming community to mould a more worthwhile framework. • Environmental and Export Logic: The court questioned the over-production of paddy, suggesting that while it serves export purposes, land must be diverted to pulses to ensure soil health, water conservation, and nutritional security. Key Definitions • Agricultural Diversification: The shift from regional dominance of one crop to a regional production of a number of crops, or from low-value agriculture to highvalue agriculture, to reduce risk and improve ecological balance. • MSP (Minimum Support Price): A form of market intervention by the Government of India to insure agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. It is announced at the beginning of the sowing season for certain crops on the recommendations of the CACP. • Yellow Peas: A specific variety of pulses often imported by India to meet the domestic demand-supply gap; they are frequently used as a cheaper substitute for Desi Chana. Constitutional and Legal Provisions • Article 21: The Supreme Court often links agricultural livelihoods and food security to the \'Right to Life.\' Ensuring a fair price for farmers is essential for their dignified survival. • Article 38 (DPSP): Mandates the State to promote the welfare of the people by securing a social order in which justice—social, economic, and political—shall inform all institutions of national life, including economic justice for farmers. • Article 48: Directs the State to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines. Diversification from monoculture (paddy-wheat cycle) is a step toward scientific agriculture. • Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Used by the government to regulate the supply and distribution of pulses to control inflation, though the court suggests this should not happen at the cost of domestic producers. Additional Key Points for Examination • The Paddy-Wheat Cycle: Predominant in Punjab and Haryana, this cycle has led to drastic depletion of the water table. Pulse cultivation (leguminous crops) helps in natural nitrogen fixation, improving soil fertility. • CACP Recommendations: The Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) recommends MSP for 23 crops, including 5 pulses (Gram, Tur, Moong, Urad, Lentil). However, the court’s observation suggests that \'market price\' often stays below MSP or procurement is insufficient. • Nutritional Security: Pulses are the primary source of protein for a large section of the Indian population; hence, self-sufficiency in pulses is a pillar of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Conclusion The Supreme Court’s directive marks a shift from \'consumer-centric\' to \'producer-resilient\' agricultural policy. By questioning the uncontrolled import of yellow peas and advocating for a \'guaranteed\' MSP for pulses, the judiciary is pushing for a structural transition that balances trade economics with farmer welfare. True diversification will remain elusive unless the government bridge the gap between \'announcing\' prices and \'guaranteeing\' procurement at the farm gate. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II: Judiciary’s role in policy-making; Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors. • GS Paper III: Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and MSP; Cropping patterns in various parts of the country; Food security and agricultural diversification. • Prelims: Mandated crops under MSP; Nitrogen fixation properties of pulses; Major pulse-producing states (Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan).