UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 : Questions on Drip irrigation and importance of planting palm trees in combating lightning strikes (Week 63)

QUESTION 2

Examine the importance of planting palm trees in combating lightning strikes.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: What is a drip irrigation system? Discuss the benefits of drip irrigation. What are the efforts taken by the Indian government in the view to promote drip irrigation?

Introduction:

— A drip irrigation system feeds water to the crop via a network of mainlines, sub-mains, and lateral lines, each having emission points spaced along its length.

— Each dripper/emitter and orifice delivers a precise, uniform administration of water, nutrients, and other necessary growth components directly into the plant’s root zone.

— Water and nutrients enter the soil through the emitters and move into the root zone of the plants by the combined forces of gravity and capillary. In this method, the plant’s loss of moisture and nutrients is almost immediately restored, guaranteeing that the plant never experiences water stress, hence improving quality, optimum growth, and high yield.

Body:

Benefits of drip irrigation

— It can increase the yield by almost double.

— It uses approximately 70 per cent less water than flood irrigation and thus more land can be cultivated by drip irrigation.

— Early maturity generates larger and faster returns on investment.

— Fertiliser costs, inter-culturing, and labour utilisation are reduced.

— The efficiency of fertilisers increases by around 30 per cent.

— Smooth rising terrains, saline, water-logged, sandy, and hilly areas can all be productively cultivated.

Government’s initiative

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

— The initiative will be implemented under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) starting in 2022-23. The PDMC project focuses on improving water use efficiency at the farm level via Micro Irrigation, specifically Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems.

— The project was developed with the goal of delivering “Har Khet Ko Paani” and end-to-end irrigation supply chain solutions, including water sources, distribution networks, and farm-based applications. It consists of four components:

(i) Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP),

(ii) Har Khet Ko Paani,

(iii) Watershed Development and

(iv) Per Drop More Crop.

Conclusion:

— According to the UN’s report on Sustainable Development Goal-6 (SDG-6) “Clean water and sanitation for all by 2030,” India accomplished only 56.6% of the target in 2019. This suggests that we must act significantly faster in order to fulfil the SDG target.

— India is classified as a water-stressed country, with per capita water availability dropping from 5,178 cubic meters (m3)/year in 1951 to 1,544 m3 in 2011 — this figure is expected to fall further to 1,140 cubic meters by 2050.

(Source: Make every drop of water count for sustainable agriculture by Ashok Gulati and Ritika Juneja, vikaspedia.in)

Points to Ponder

What is Per Drop More Crop?

PMKSY

What are the challenges in implementing drip irrigation?

Related Previous Year Questions

What is an Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022)

How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India’s water crisis? (2021)

What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilise the yield of the crops in the system? (2017)

QUESTION 2: Examine the importance of planting palm trees in combating lightning strikes.

Introduction:

— Lightning is an electrical discharge created by voltage imbalances between storm clouds and the ground, or inside the clouds themselves. Most lightning strikes within clouds.

— During a storm, colliding rain, ice, or snow particles inside storm clouds cause an imbalance between storm clouds and the ground, and the lower levels of storm clouds are frequently negatively charged. Objects on the ground, such as steeples, trees, and the Earth itself, become positively charged, resulting in an imbalance that nature attempts to correct by flowing current between the two charges.

— Lightning is incredibly hot—a single flash may scorch the air around it to temperatures five times higher than the sun’s surface.

Body:

Palm trees in combating lightning strikes

— The Odisha government has approved a proposal to plant 19 lakh palm palms to combat the incidence of lightning-related mortality.

— According to the Annual Lightning Report 2023-2024, released by the Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council (CROPC) and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), eastern and central India saw the most cloud-to-lightning (CG) strikes.

— The state of Odisha is particularly susceptible because of its “complex combination of climatic factors which influence the occurrence of lightning including pre-monsoon and monsoon period, cyclonic activities influenced by sea temperature and the convective energy of the atmosphere.”

— Palm trees are ideally suited to be lightning conductors due to their height in comparison to other trees. They have a high moisture and sap content, which allows them to absorb lightning and decrease its direct impact on ground.

Conclusion:

— Over 80% of Odisha’s population relies on agriculture and other related occupations, and they work long hours in open fields, rendering them vulnerable to lightning strikes.

— The Office of the Special Relief Commissioner has approved the planned application for Rs 7 crore. The state has forbidden the removal of existing palm trees, and 19 lakh palm trees would be planted initially along forest boundaries.

(Source: Why the Odisha government will plant palm trees to combat lightning strikes by Sujit Bisoyi, http://www.nationalgeographic.com)

Points to Ponder

Palm oil production

Benefits and challenges of palm production

Related Previous Year Question

Explain the causes and effects of coastal erosion in India. What are the available coastal management techniques for combating the hazard? (2022)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 61)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 62)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 61)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 61)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 62)

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