Agriculture Lecture - 1
Agri Economy
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AGRICULTURE
Agri-Geography Agri-Environment
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Q. With reference to Milkweed fibre, consider the following
statements:
A) Milkweed fibre is primarily obtained from the seeds of the plant.
B) It is lightweight and has water-repellent properties.
C) Milkweed fibre is commonly used for oil spill cleanup and
insulation.
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
Milkweed fiber
● Milkweed fiber is a soft,
yellowish-white, lustrous fiber
that comes from the seeds of
the milkweed plant.
It's also known as vegetable
silk.
Properties
● Lightweight: Milkweed fibers are lightweight due
to their hollow structure.
● Insulation: Milkweed fibers have good insulation
properties.
● Oil absorbent: Milkweed fibers have a higher oil
sorption capacity than cotton, wool, and PP.
● Oily & Lignin Content: Contains lignin, a woody
plant substance, making it too brittle for spinning.
● Hydrophobic (water-repelling) properties.
Uses
● Upholstery padding: Milkweed fiber is used as
upholstery padding.
● Life jackets: Milkweed fiber is used in life jackets
and belts because it floats in water.
● Textiles: Milkweed fibers can be used to make
eco-friendly and non-allergenic textiles.
● Absorbent Material: Used in oil spill clean-ups due to
its high absorbency.
● Insulation Material: Used for thermal and acoustic
insulation in eco-friendly products.
Milkweed plant
● Milkweed is a perennial weed-like shrub that grows up
to 2.5–3 m height.
● Milkweed can grow in various regions around the globe
without requiring substantial irrigation like cotton.
● Native to North America, in India it is found as wild
plant in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Many indigenous tribes applied milkweed
sap for wart removal and chewed its roots to
treat dysentery.
It was also used in salves and infusions to
treat swelling, rashes, coughs, fevers and
asthma.
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Livelihood of 40 Lakh farm families directly or
indirectly depends on Jute Industry.
About 4 Lakh workers get direct employment in
Jute mills and trade in Jute.
Economic Survey
India is a leading producer of jute and ranks second
globally in cotton, silk, and man-made fibre production
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India is the sixth largest exporter of textiles and
apparel and has a share of about 4 per cent of the
global trade in this segment.
Jute
● Jute fiber collected from bast, the phloem of the
plant, sometimes called the "skin".
● Jute is also called the "golden
- fiber" for its color and
high cash value. Jute is included in the MSP regime of
India
● The majority of jute is used for sustainable
packaging, carpet, canvas, sacking, etc.
O
in-
Tyler
Xylem Phloem
Jute cultivation requirements:
● Climate: a warm and humid climate
● Temperature: Between 25-35°C
● Rainfall: Around 150-250 cm
● Soil Type: Well drained alluvial soil.
Jute Processing:
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1. Retting: The fibers are first extracted by retting.
The retting process consists of bundling jute stems
together and immersing them in slow running water
2. Stripping: Non-fibrous matter is scraped off and
then the workers dig in and grab the fibers from
within the jute stem
Jute production in India
● India is the world's largest producer of jute
● Production in India is concentrated mostly in West
Bengal accounting over 50 percent raw jute production.
● Other jute producing states include: Assam , Orissa ,
Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Tripura and Meghalaya
Global jute production
● Largest producers: India > Bangladesh
● China, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand are some
other producers of Jute
Jute Corporation of India -
Established in 1971, JCI's primary objective is to
strengthen the Indian jute sector by protecting the
interests of jute growers, who are mostly marginal
farmers.
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Ministry of Textile
JCI achieves this by:
• Price Support: Procuring raw jute/ mesta at a
minimum support price (MSP) declared by the
government each year. This protects farmers from
exploitation by middlemen.
• Market Stabilization: JCI acts as a buffer stock to
stabilize jute prices in the market.
Improved Cultivation and Advanced Retting
Exercise for Jute (Jute ICARE)
● Launched in 2015 by the National Jute Board
(NJB) in association with Central Research Institute
for Research in Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) &
Jute Corporation of India (JCI).
● Aim: mechanization in jute farming in a farmer-
friendly way and accelerated retting using microbial
consortium for improved income for jute farmers.
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National Jute Board
● It is under the Ministry of Textiles, governed by
National Jute Board Act-2008
● It acts as the apex body for the promotion of the
products in India and abroad.
● It engages in research & human resource &
development programme
● Head Office: Kolkata
● The Jute Manufactures Development Council was
constituted as a statutory body in 1984 and now has
been merged with the National Jute Board.
Jute SMART
● Jute Smart is an e-Governance initiative launched
by the Government of India to streamline the
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procurement and supply chain of jute.
● It provides an integrated platform for procurement
of sacking by Government agencies. ↑
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Mandatory Jute Bag Packaging
● 100% of the foodgrains and 20% of the sugar shall
be mandatorily packed in jute bags.
● Mandatory packaging norms are provided as per the
Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing
Commodities) Act, 1987, also known as the JPM Act.
Araku Valley : Andhra
Pradesh
It's located in the Eastern Ghats
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The Soliga Community & Coffee Cultivation
Indigenous community in B.R. Hills, Karnataka
Coffee Characteristics
• Darkly colored, bitter, and slightly acidic.
• Stimulating effect on humans primarily due to caffeine
content.
• Belongs to the Rubiaceae family.
• Evergreen shrub.
• Originated from Abyssinia Plateau, Ethiopia.
Important Coffee Varieties
More than 100 species exist, but only a few are
commercially grown.
Approximately three-fourths of India’s coffee production
consists of Arabica and Robusta beans.
Coffee Arabica Brazil
• Most commonly grown, 75-80% of global
production.
• Considered high quality, fetches higher prices.
Robusta Coffee
• Second most common, 20-25% of global production.
• Considered inferior to Arabica
• Easier to cultivate, higher caffeine content.
• Vietnam is a leading producer and exporter.
Global Coffee Production
Cultivated in over 70 countries, mainly in equatorial
regions of the Americas, Southeast Asia, the Indian
subcontinent, and Africa.
Mostly produced in poorer regions, but largely
consumed in developed economies.
Top producing countries: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia,
Indonesia.
Coffee Production in India
-Introduced in the 17th century by Baba Budan from
Arabia.
India is now the seventh-largest coffee producer globally
with exports reaching $1.29 billion in FY 2023-24
- Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer, contributing
about 40% of global production, followed by Vietnam.
Main producing states: Karnataka (70%), Kerala
(23%), Tamil Nadu (6%). Traditional coffee-
growing areas.
Non-traditional areas: Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and the
North East.
Varieties grown: Arabica (49% of area) and Robusta
(51% of area).
Coffee cultivation requirements:
Climate: Hot, humid tropics; dry period needed for
berry ripening.
Temperature: Between 15°C and 28°C.
Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm annually.
Soil: Well-drained, rich loams with humus, iron, and
calcium.
Laterite Soil
Origin of Name: Derived from the Latin word 'Later', meaning
Brick.
Distribution:Commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu,
Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Odisha and Assam.
Formation Conditions: Occurs in areas with high temperature and
high rainfall through intense leaching.
Composition: Rich in Iron and Aluminum.
Deficiencies:Lacks Nitrogen, Potash, Potassium, Lime, Humus.
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World Coffee Conference (WCC)
Global Gathering: A major international event that brings
together the entire coffee community, including coffee
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growers, traders, roasters, government representatives,
experts, and NGOs.
Host: Organized by the International Coffee Organization
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(ICO).
Frequency: Occurs every four years, with the 5th edition
held in Bengaluru, India, in September 2023.
What is the ICO?
Intergovernmental Body: The ICOis the primary
international organization dedicated to addressing the
challenges and opportunities facing the global coffee
sector.
Established: Founded in 1963 under the auspices of the
Or
United Nations.
Membership: Currently comprises 49 members, including
both coffee exporting and importing countries. Together,
these members represent 93% of world coffee production
and 63% of world consumption
Coffee Board of India
Government Organization: The Coffee Board is an
autonomous organization established in 1942 under
the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government
of India.
Headquarters: Located in Bangalore (Bengaluru),
Karnataka, India.
Key Functions & Roles
Research & Development:
Operates the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI)
in Balehonnur, Karnataka, with substations across
coffee-growing regions.
Conducts research on coffee varieties, cultivation
techniques, pest & disease management, and
sustainable practices.
Extension Services:
Provides training and technical guidance to coffee growers
on improved cultivation practices, quality control, and post-
harvest techniques.
Marketing & Promotion:
-Facilitates market access for Indian coffee, both
domestically and internationally.
-Organizes promotional events and participates in global
trade fairs.
