Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part

Total Questions: 55

1. According to the report of CAG published in the year 2000 on PDS, the government subsidy on foodgrains increased from 1992-93 to 1998-99 by : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2001, 2003*, U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2002]

(a) more than two times
(b) more than three times
(c) more than four times
(d) more than five times

Correct Answer: (b) more than three times

Solution:In the year 1992-93, the total subsidy on foodgrains was Rs. 2800 crore which increased to Rs. 8700 crore in 1998-99. Thus, in this period the subsidy given on foodgrains has registered an increase of 3.1 times, Allocation to food subsidy is estimated at Rs. 205250 crore in 2024-25 (Interim Budget Estimate). In 2023-24 budget, Rs. 197350 crore was allocated to food subsidy, but the revised estimate is almost 7.59% higher than the budgeted estimate at Rs. 212332 crore.

2. Which of the following is the largest vegetable producing country in the worlds ? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) China
(b) U.S.A
(c) India
(d) Brazil

Correct Answer: (a) China

Solution:China is the largest producer of vegetables and fruits in the world. India is the world's second-largest producer of vegetable and fruits, next to China only. As per Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer/ Welfare, India is the largest producer of ginger and okra amongst vegetables and ranks second in production of potatoes, onions, cauliflowers, brinjals, cabbages, etc. Amongst fruits, India ranks first in the production of bananas, mangoes (including mangosteens and guavas) and papayas.

3. The amount of onion exported from India in 2015-16 was about : [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

(a) 7 lakh tonnes
(b) 9 lakh tonnes
(c) 10 lakh tonnes
(d) 12 lakh tonnes

Correct Answer: (d) 12 lakh tonnes

Solution:According to the data of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in the year 2015-16 India exported a total of 12,01,245.29 metric tonnes of onions, the total value of which was Rs. 2747.41 crore. The country has exported 25,25,258.38 metric tonnes of fresh onion to the world for the worth of Rs. 561.37 million US dollar during the year 2022-23. India cultivates various onion varieties, with the most common ones being red onions and white onions. There are certain varieties of yellow onion which are suitable for export in European countries.
Cultivation Practices

Onions are primarily grown through seeds, although bulb-to-bulb planting is also practiced.
The crop requires well-drained soil and is often cultivated in sandy or loamy soils.
Adequate irrigation is essential, and farmers may use drip irrigation systems to conserve water.
Onion producing states
The Major Onion producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Telangana.
Maharashtra ranks first in Onion production.

4. 'Kashi Lalima' is the variety of which of the following crops ? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

(a) Carrot
(b) Okra/Lady finger
(c) Onion
(d) Tomato

Correct Answer: (b) Okra/Lady finger

Solution:'Kashi Lalima' is a variety of okra/lady's fingers. It has reddish purple fruits tolerant to YVMV and OLCV, medium tall and short internodes with fruit yield of 14-15 t/ha. It is rich in anthocyanins and phenolics. It is suitable for both summer and Kharif season and is recommended for cultivation in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Institute of Vegetable Research has finally succeeded in developing a new species of ladyfinger 'Kashi Lalima' after 23 years of hard work. This red lady finger is rich in other nutrients including anti oxidant, iron and calcium. Indian Vegetable Research Institute based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh has called this success special. The red ladyfinger has been in circulation in western countries till now and has been imported into India. The price of its various varieties ranges from 100 to 500 rupees per kg.
The production of this bhindi full of nutrients will not only benefit Indian farmers, but the common people will also get a better option of nutritional supply. Work on the red lady finger was started in 1995-96 under the leadership of Dr. Bijendra, former director of the institute. It was a success after 23 years. The okra is purple-red in color, 11-14 cm in length and 1.5-1.6 cm in diameter

5. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below : [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

List -I	List - II
(Fruit)	(Largest Producer)
A. Mango	1. Jammu & Kashmir
B. Litchi	2. Kerala
C. Coconut	3. Bihar
D. Apple	4. Uttar Pradesh

Code :

	A	B	C	D
(a)	4	3	1	2
(b)	1	2	3	4
(c)	4	3	2	1
(d)	1	2	4	3

Correct Answer: (c)

Solution:The correctly matched lists are as follows :

List -I	List - II
(Fruit)	(Largest Producer)
A. Mango	Uttar Pradesh
B. Litchi	Bihar
C. Coconut	Kerala
D. Apple	Jammu & Kashmir

6. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2021]

(Crop)	(Country)
(a) Rubber	Thailand
(b) Coffee	Mongolia
(c) Olive	Spain
(d) Sugarcane	Brazil

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:Mongolia is not known for production of coffee. The largest coffee (green) producing countries (in 2022) are Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia, while the European Union and the United States of America are the larges consuming and importing markets globally. Hence, option (b) is not correctly matched, while pairs of other options are correctly matched.

7. Arrange the following coffee producing countries in descending order of their coffee production (2016, quantity) and select the correct answer from the codes given below : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018]

A. Colombia

B. Vietnam

C. Brazil

D. Indonesia

Codes :

(a) D, C, B, A
(b) C, B, A, D
(c) B, D, C, A
(d) C, A, B, D

Correct Answer: (b) C, B, A, D

Solution:As per the data of FAQ, top 4 coffee producing countries (quantity-wise) in 2016 were as follows : 1. Brazil, 2. Vietnam, 3. Colombia, 4. Indonesia. As per the FAQ data of 2022, top 5 coffee (green) producing countries are as follows : 1. Brazil, 2.Vietnam, 3. Indonesia, 4. Colombia, 5. Ethiopia. The vast majority of the world's coffee comprises two species - Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta). Coffee, especially Arabica, is considered a sensitive crop, vulnerable to climate variability and change.
Climatic conditions required for coffee production

It requires a hot and humid climate for its growth.
Temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28 °C
Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm.
Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil containing a good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium are ideal for coffee cultivation.
It is generally grown under shady trees.
Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.
It is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.

In India coffee is largely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, among which, Karnataka produces the most with over 70% of the total output.

8. Which State ensures the maximum production of Coffee in India ? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2005*]

(a) Maharashtra
(b) Karnataka
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Kerala

Correct Answer: (b) Karnataka

Solution:The State of Karnataka is the largest producer of coffee in India. Karnataka contributed about 70% of the total coffee production in India during 2022-23 with 248020 MT coffee production. Karnataka is followed by Kerala (72425 MT) and Tamil Nadu (18700 MT) in coffee production in 2022-23.

The vast majority of the world's coffee comprises two species - Coffea Arabica (Arabica) and Coffea Canephora (Robusta). Coffee, especially Arabica, is considered a sensitive crop, vulnerable to climate variability and change.
Climatic conditions required for coffee production

It requires a hot and humid climate for its growth.
Temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28 °C
Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm.
Soil: Well-drained, loamy soil containing a good deal of humus and minerals like iron and calcium are ideal for coffee cultivation.
It is generally grown under shady trees.
Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.
It is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level.

In India coffee is largely cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, among which, Karnataka produces the most with over 70% of the total output.

9. The category/ categories of agricultural commodities exported from India is/are : [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2017]

(a) Traditional export item
(b) Non-traditional item with uncertainty
(c) Non-traditional item with good prospects
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer: (d) All of the above

Solution:The agricultural commodities exported from India fall broadly in three categories:

(i) Traditional export items - These products are cashew nuts/shelled, coffee, tea, fruits, spices, castor oil, raw cotton, sugar and tobacco-unmanufactured.

(ii) Non-traditional items with uncertainty - These items are raw wood, raw jute, gums, resins and lac, essential and non-essential vegetable oils (excluding castor oil).

(iii) Non-traditional items with good prospects - These items are meat and meat preparations, floriculture products, processed fruits and juices, processed vegetables, wheat, rice, HPS groundnut, shellac, oil meals, sesame and niger seeds.

10. Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years ? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Spices
(b) Fresh fruits
(c) Pulses
(d) Vegetable oils

Correct Answer: (d) Vegetable oils

Solution:Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, vegetable oils account for the highest imports in term of value in the last five years. See the table given below :

Value in Rs. crore
Imported Agri. Com.	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21	2021-22
Vegetable	74996	69024	68558	82123	141531.78
Oils
Pulses	18749	8035	10221	11938	16627.58
Fresh Fruits	12525	13932	14137	15765	18342.09
Spices	6385	7933	10187	8071	9684.74

Source : Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2022

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Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part – II)