Why in news?

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has begun the process of formulating a National Agriculture Code (NAC), on the lines of the existing National Building Code and National Electrical Code.

What’s in today’s article?

• Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
• National Agriculture Code
• Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) 

• About
  • BIS is the national standards body of India that sets standards for products and services, and certifies products. 
  • The BIS is a statutory organization that operates under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
    • It was established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
• HQ – New Delhi
• Objectives
  • Harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods
  • To provide thrust to standardization and quality control for growth and development of industry on one hand and to meet the needs of consumers on the other.
• Activities: The activities of BIS can be broadly grouped under the following heads:
  • Standards formulation - formulates Indian Standards in line with the national priorities for various sectors
  • International activities – India, through BIS, is represented at various international institutions such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International Electro-technical Commission (IEC) etc.
    • It is also actively involved in the Regional and Bi-lateral Co-operation Programmes pertaining to standardization, testing, certification, training etc.
    • World Trade Organisation – Technical Barriers to Trade (WTO-TBT) Matters -BIS is the National Enquiry Point for WTO -TBT.
  • Product Certification - Presence of BIS standard mark (popularly known as ISI mark) on a product indicates conformity to the relevant Indian Standard.
  • Hallmarking - Hallmarking of Gold Jewellery was started by BIS in April 2000 to provide third party assurance to consumers on the purity of gold jewellery or its fineness.
  • Laboratory services
  • Training services - National Institute of Training for Standardisation
  • Consumer Affairs and Publicity

National Agriculture Code (NAC)

• Background
  • The BIS sets standards for products across economic sectors, including agricultural machinery and inputs like fertilizers and pesticides.
  • However, significant areas like agricultural practices, micro-irrigation, and water use remain uncovered by BIS standards.
  • Policymakers have long felt the need for a comprehensive standards framework, which is now being developed by the BIS.
• About
  • NAC will cover the entire agriculture cycle and provide guidance for future standardization. It will be divided into two parts:
    • general principles for all crops and
    • crop-specific standards for paddy, wheat, oilseeds, and pulses.
  • The NAC aims to guide farmers, agricultural universities, and officials.
• Objective of NAC
  • To develop a national code for agricultural practices that considers agroclimatic zones, crop types, socio-economic diversity, and the entire agri-food value chain.
  • To promote a quality culture in Indian agriculture by providing a reference for policymakers, agricultural departments, and regulators to incorporate NAC provisions into their schemes, policies, or regulations.
  • To serve as a comprehensive guide for farmers for informed decision-making in agricultural practices.
  • To integrate relevant Indian Standards with agricultural recommendations.
  • To address broader aspects such as SMART farming, sustainability, traceability, and documentation.
  • To support capacity-building programs organized by agricultural extension services and civil society organizations.
• Coverage under NAC
  • NAC will extend beyond agriculture machinery standards to encompass all agricultural processes and post-harvest operations, including crop selection, land preparation, sowing, irrigation, soil and plant health management, harvesting, processing, and record-keeping.
  • It will also set standards for input management like the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and weedicides, as well as for crop storage and traceability.
  • Importantly, the NAC will address emerging areas such as natural and organic farming, and the use of Internet-of-Things (IoT) in agriculture.
• Proposed timeline
  • The BIS has developed a strategy to standardize agricultural practices by forming working panels, consisting of university professors and R&D organizations, to draft the National Agricultural Code (NAC) across 12-14 identified areas.
  • The tentative deadline for completing the NAC is October 2025. Afterward, the BIS plans to train farmers on the NAC and its standards.
  • Universities have been requested to organize these training programs, with the BIS offering financial assistance for their implementation.

Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms

• The BIS is setting up 'Standardized Agriculture Demonstration Farms' (SADF) at select agricultural institutes to test and implement agricultural practices and technologies based on Indian Standards.
• To develop these farms, the BIS plans to sign MoUs with 10 prominent agricultural institutes, two of which have already been signed, including one with Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT).
• The BIS will provide financial assistance for the farms, which will serve as learning sites for officials, farmers, and industry representatives.
• China has already successfully implemented similar SADFs.