Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part

Total Questions: 50

11. Who among the following did not approve the idea of co-operative farming in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]

(a) Jawahar Lal Nehru
(b) Lal Bahadur Sashtri
(c) Charan Singh
(d) Abul Kalam Azad

Correct Answer: (c) Charan Singh

Solution:Former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh opposed the Nehruvian soviet style of economic development Chaudhary Charan Singh was of the thought that cooperative farming could not be successful in India. Hence Charan Singh is not considered as a supporter of cooperative farming in India.` Cooperative farming refers to agricultural practices that are conducted by individuals on their holdings and resources jointly with other farmers and agencies. The agencies on behalf of the farmers form a collection in order to purchase agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, farming equipment and others. Besides, these agencies are known as cooperative societies also assist the farmers in the sale of their agricultural production. The incorporation of public agencies for cooperative societies helps to improve the poor condition of farmers, especially in developing countries like India. This farming practice allows small farms to conduct practices that large farms do such as increasing production volume to open new markets, buying farm inputs at bulk rates and others.
Cooperative farming processes can also assist individual farmers to reduce the per-use cost of their farm equipment, reducing the overall cost of farming for individual farmers involved in the cooperation. It can be stated in this context that farmers and producers can together access the required farm services, lower production costs and generate higher income by implementing cooperative farming.

12. Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Larger Field'? [U.P.S.C (Pre) 2023]

(a) Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by giving them a large cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce
(b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
(c) Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes a payment of agreed amount to the farmers
(d) A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production

Correct Answer: (b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations

Solution:'Small Farmers Large Field (SFLF)' is a collective action model to overcome the disadvantages faced by millions of small and marginal farmers due to diseconomies of scale and lack of bargaining power in the supply chain. This model is participatory and flexible and allows small and marginal farmers to benefit from achieving economies of scale by organizing themselves into groups and synchronizing and harmonizing selected agricultural operations. SFLF introduce scale efficiency by developing a model of community farming which pools small and marginal farmers together; enabling them with efficient, cost-effective input use, technical knowledge and infrastructural facilities that will help overcome the constraints faced by small farmers in accessing inputs, formal credit system, extension, and marketing.
Through systematic, planned and synchronized agricultural practices, farmers can utilize united-scale to procure inputs at a lower price, and gain more bargaining power for their produce. International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in support of its ongoing projects like Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA) and Stress-Tolerant Rice for Africa and South Asia (STRASA) piloted SFLF customized model at Taraboisasan and Khanijpur village in Odisha.

13. What is meant by a Bullock Capitalist ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

(a) Farmers who are poor
(b) Farmers who are rich
(c) Farmers who have some resources but are not rich
(d) Farmers who are big Zamindars

Correct Answer: (c) Farmers who have some resources but are not rich

Solution:The self-employed and self-funded producers with holdings large enough to support pair of bullocks are defined as 'Bul- lock Capitalists' by Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph (1987), while denoting the crucial role of public subsidies in preserving this faction of informal agrarian capitalism. They are small to medium-sized, self-employed agricultural producers who have some resources but are not rich. Since postcolonial India had greater part of its populace reliant on agribusiness, there were a few measures acquainted through Green transformation with make India independent in nourishment generation. At the point when land changes of 1960 annulled Zamindari framework where zamindars gone about as mediators amongst state and cultivators for gathering revenue, this position left empty by zamindars were possessed by two type of people. One are the proprietors with differently measured land possessions who leased land to inhabitants or utilized work. Other is little to medium measured independently employed free agrarian makers. These free makers were simply the important recipients of proprietor abolition. They are independently employed and self subsidized and since their property possessions are sufficiently huge to bolster the utilization of a couple of bullocks, they came to be known as bullock capitalists. Since bullock industrialists are self financed, any benefit sought after or earned out of surplus would be utilized for their own particular prosperity.

14. Which one of the following is not a part of land reforms in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2015]

(a) Abolition of Zamindari system
(b) Ceiling on land holdings
(c) Tenancy reforms
(d) Multiple-cropping scheme

Correct Answer: (d) Multiple-cropping scheme

Solution:India had such an agricultural system at the time of independence in which the ownership of lands was centred in few hands. Therefore land reforms were considered very imperative for the prosperity of the country and for this the eradication of the Zamindari system, ceiling on land holdings and tenancy reforms were adopted. Land reforms in India were initiated to address the deep-rooted inequalities in land ownership and promote social justice. Post-independence, these measures focused on abolishing exploitative systems like zamindari, redistributing surplus land to the landless, and providing secure tenancy rights to cultivators. By empowering marginalized communities and ensuring equitable access to agricultural resources, the reforms aimed to create a more inclusive agrarian economy and reduce rural poverty.
However, the success of land reforms has been uneven due to challenges such as ineffective implementation, resistance from landlords, and inadequate land record management. While these reforms transformed many rural areas, persistent inequalities and inefficiencies highlight the need for continuous efforts to ensure equitable land distribution.

15. Which of the following measures have been taken to make the agrarian structure conducive to agriculture growth ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Abolition of Intermediaries
(b) Tenancy reforms
(c) Ceiling on land holdings
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above

Solution:Abolition of intermediaries, tenancy reforms and ceiling on land holdings- all these measures have been taken in India to make the agrarian structure conducive to agricultural growth. The land reforms in India had a significant impact on transforming the agrarian structure by breaking the power of intermediaries and promoting direct land ownership among cultivators. As a result, these reforms led to the following outcomes, shaping the agricultural and social landscape of rural India.
Increased Productivity: Security of tenure and distribution of land has resulted in the occupants of the land taking an interest in its development and increasing its productivity.
Protected Tenancy Status: It has been strengthened by making provisions in the law regarding termination of tenancy, Green Revolution eviction of tenants, surrender by tenants, and purchase of tenanted land by the tenants.
Land Possession: Land provides not only economic benefits but also social prestige. Land reforms made it necessary to keep records of holdings, which had previously been optional.
Financial Burden on Landowners: Landowners, particularly absentee landlords, have had to incur substantial expenses and seek the assistance of legal professionals and bureaucracy to circumvent the ceiling laws.

16. With reference to the measures of tenancy reforms in India, which of the statements is/are correct ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

1. Regulation of rent

2. Security of tenure

3. Conferment of ownership on tenants

Select the correct answer using codes given below :

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:Land reforms in general and tenancy reforms in particular aim at redistributing ownership holding from the view point of social justice, and reorganizing operational holdings from the view point of optimum utilization of land. The scope of land reforms therefore entails abolition of intermediaries and tenancy reforms, i.e. regulation of rent, security of tenure for tenants and conferment of ownership on them. The entire concept aims at the abolition of intermediaries and bringing actual cultivator in direct con- tact with the State. The provisions of security of tenancy and rent regulation provide a congenial atmosphere in which the agriculturist feels sure of reaping the fruits of his labour.

17. The size of marginal landholding in India is : [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2017, Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

(a) more than 5 hectares
(b) 2 hectares to 4 hectares
(c) 1 hectare to 2 hectares
(d) less than 1 hectore
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

Correct Answer: (d) less than 1 hectore

Solution:In Indian Agriculture Census, the operational holdings are categorized in five size classes :

Classes	Area
1. Marginal	Below 1 hectare
2. Small	1 to 2 hectares
3. Semi-Medium	2 to 4 hectares
4. Medium	4 to 10 hectares
5. Large	10 hectare and above

18. A farmer, which has land holding between 1 to 2 hectare is known as : [U.P.R.O./ A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Marginal Farmer
(b) Big Farmer
(c) Medium Farmer
(d) Small Farmer

Correct Answer: (d) Small Farmer

Solution:In Indian Agriculture Census, the operational holdings are categorized in five size classes :

Classes	Area
1. Marginal	Below 1 hectare
2. Small	1 to 2 hectares
3. Semi-Medium	2 to 4 hectares
4. Medium	4 to 10 hectares
5. Large	10 hectare and above

19. The average size of landholdings in Bihar in comparison with other States is : [B.P.S.C (Pre) 2017]

(a) lowest
(b) second lowest
(c) highest
(d) second highest
(e) None of the above / More than one of the above

Correct Answer: (b) second lowest

Solution:As per the latest Agriculture Census 2015-16, the average size of landholdings in Bihar is 0.39 hectare which is second lowest (after Kerala 0,18 hectare) in comparison with other States of India. The implementation of ceiling laws varied across states, and most of the laws were included in the Ninth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, providing immunity against legal challenges. Despite the revisions, certain categories of land remained exempt from the ceiling, creating opportunities for evasion through the transfer of lands to these exempted categories. Jurisdiction of Civil Courts was barred in respect of land reform cases because of their inclusion in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution in 1990.

20. Which of the following is the effective reason of slow agricultural development in India ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

(a) Rural Poverty
(b) Urban Poverty
(c) Skilled Labour
(d) Migration from cities to villages

Correct Answer: (a) Rural Poverty

Solution:Among the given options, rural poverty is the effective reason of slow agricultural development in India. Rural poverty discourages farmers from investment in the advance agricultural technology. Most Indians who are involved in agriculture do live in villages instead of cities. Therefore the impact of urban poverty on agricultural development is quite less or insignificant. Skilled labour and migration from cities to villages are not the causes of slow agricultural development. Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.

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Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part – I)