MGNREGA is synonymous with corruption: Chouhan, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan criticized the MGNREGA scheme, calling it synonymous with corruption.
• The government has allocated over ₹8.48 lakh crore to MGNREGA, compared to the ₹2 lakh crore spent by the UPA government.
• 184 high-yielding and climate-resilient seed varieties of 25 crops were unveiled to boost agricultural productivity.
• India's rice production has reached 150.18 million tonnes, surpassing China's 145.28 million tonnes.
• Since 2014, the government has approved 3,236 high-yielding varieties of seeds.

Detailed Insights:

• The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill is intended to be a better scheme than MGNREGA, which faced over 10,51,000 complaints under social audits.
• The new seed varieties developed by ICAR, universities, and private entities aim to help farmers increase productivity and reduce costs while coping with climate change.
• The new seeds include 122 cereals, 6 pulses, 13 oilseeds, 11 fodder crops, 6 sugarcane varieties, 24 cotton, and one each of jute and tobacco.
• ICAR is focusing on breeding programs tailored for acidic soils, organic farming, natural farming systems, and regenerative agriculture to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
• The National Seeds Corporation plays a crucial role in seed multiplication, ensuring the availability of high-quality seeds to farmers across the country.

Key Concepts Involved:

• MGNREGA: A flagship rural employment scheme guaranteeing 100 days of wage employment to rural households.
• ICAR: The apex body for coordinating, guiding, and managing agricultural research and education in India.
• Climate-resilient seeds: Seed varieties developed to withstand adverse effects of climate change like drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures.