Agriculture

Total Questions: 43

1. Assertion (A): Green Revolution Technology played a crucial role in gradually transforming traditional agriculture into a modern scientific one. [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2014]

Reason (R) : It did not involve much of social and environmental cost Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

Code:

Correct Answer: (b) Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Solution:Green Revolution Technology played a crucial role in gradually transforming traditional agriculture into modern scientific agriculture with the use of irrigation, specialized seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and machinery. So, Assertion (A) is true.

Green Revolution does not involve social and environmental cost. Its success was due to a combination of high rates of investment in crop research, infrastructure, etc.

The environmental cost is widely recognized as a potential threat for long term sustainability. Thus, (R) is also true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

2. Which of the following is not the reason for low productivity in Indian agriculture? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

Correct Answer: (c) Cooperative farming
Solution:The pressure of the population on the land, disguised unemployment and small land holding are the reasons for low productivity in Indian agriculture whereas, cooperative farming is one of the means of the development of agriculture.

Cooperative farming is farming where each member farmer is the owner of his land, but farming is done jointly and profit is distributed among member farmers.

3. The average size of operational holdings in India is the largest in- [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A.(Pre) 2010]

Correct Answer: (d) Rajasthan
Solution:The average size of operational holdings (Agriculture Census, 2015-16) in India is largest in Rajasthan followed by Maharashtra & Uttar Pradesh. An operational holding is land used for agricultural production, operated as a single unit by one person or more.

The declining size of land holdings has implications for farm incomes, productivity, and investments in agriculture. The government has taken steps to help small holdings by promoting modern farming practices and technologies.

  • In 1970-71, the average size was 3.20 hectares.
  • In 1980-81, the average size was 1.84 hectares.
  • In 1995-96, the average size was 1.41 hectares.
  • In 2010-11, the average size was 1.55 hectares.
  • In 2015-16, the average size was 1.08 hectares.

4. Agriculture in India is considered as: [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (MAINS) 2004]

Correct Answer: (a) A means of livelihood
Solution:Agriculture in India is considered as a means of livelihood. According to official, maximum man power of India is engaged in agriculture and related areas but contribute only fewer to total GDP.

5. With reference to Indian agriculture, which one of the following statements is correct? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (a) About 90 percent of the area under pulses in India is rainfed
Solution:At the time of this question, only 12.7% (in 2011-12 it was 16.1%) area under Pulses agriculture had facilities of irrigation. Rest of the area under pulses cultivation is rainfed. So, statement (1) is almost correct.

If we look at the agriculture of two decades in 1990-91 the area under pulses agriculture was 246.62 Lakh hectare whereas it is reduced to 227.6 Lakh hectare in 2004-05 (28.3 Million Hectare in 2019-20 4th advance Estimates). So statement (2) is not correct.

Which says that share of pulses in the gross cropped area has doubled in the last two decades. India accounts for about 29% of the total area under Rice cultivation in the world. So statement (3) is also wrong.

Rice occupies about 23.7% (22.33% in 2011-12) of the gross cropped area of India, not 34%. Thus, statement (4) is also wrong.

About 35.81% of the gross area of food grain in India [2019-20 (P)] is under rice cultivation.

6. The two largest consumers of chemical fertilizers in India are [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2009]

Correct Answer: (d) Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh
Solution:According to data for year 2013-14, the fertilizer consumption of the given States are-
StateTotal fertilizer consumption

(Thousand tons)

Uttar Pradesh3842.04
Andhra Pradesh3119.43

At present 2020-21, the Three largest consumers of chemical fertilizers are as follows-

Uttar Pradesh: 5628.99 (thousand tonnes) and Maharashtra (3413.60 thousand tonnes) & Madhya Pradesh (2893.51 thousand tonnes0).

7. Which of the following green manure crops contains highest amount of nitrogen? [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) Cow pea
Solution:Cow pea contains the highest amount of Nitrogen (0.49%) in the given green manures. Sunhemp (0.43%), Dhaincha (0.42%) and Guar has (0.34%), nitrogen content.

8. In newly improved arid land the crop suitable for the green manure is- [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2008]

Correct Answer: (a) Lobia
Solution:In newly improved arid land Lobia is a suitable crop for the green manure. Lobia can thrive in drier conditions, making it well-suited for arid lands. As a legume, Lobia has the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria in its roots, enriching the soil with nitrogen.

Lobia is a fast-growing crop, allowing for rapid green biomass production for green manuring. Apart from green manure, Lobia can also be used as a vegetable crop, providing edible pods and seeds.

9. Balanced fertilizers are used to- [U.P.P.C.S.(MAINS) 2008]

Correct Answer: (d) All of these
Solution:Balanced fertilizers are used to increase the production, improve quality of food grains and maintain the productivity of the soil. Balanced fertilisation emphasises supplying these essential nutrients in the correct ratios based on several factors.

Different soil types have varying levels of inherent nutrients. Testing the soil reveals its nutrient profile, guiding fertiliser selection and application rates. Different crops have specific nutrient needs at different stages of growth.

For example, legumes might require more nitrogen for nitrogen fixation, while fruits might benefit from additional potassium for better quality.

10. In southern India, the area of high agriculture productivity is found in- [U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (MAINS) 2004]

Correct Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu coast
Solution:The high agriculture productivity areas in southern India are coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Area of Surat in Gujarat and areas of Satara and Kolhapur of Maharashtra Thus answer (b) is correct.