Test: Agriculture - 1 - UPSC MCQ

Kurukshetra February 2018 Issue on Agriculture, page 43 has given three key features of conservation agriculture viz:
i. minimum soil disturbance by adopting no-tillage or minimum tillage and reduced traffic for agricultural operations. So, #2 is right. This eliminates Option-(a)
ii. maximum soil cover by leaving crop residues on the soil surface. So, #4 is right. This eliminates Option-(d)
iii. adopt spatial and temporal crop sequencing/crop rotation. So, #5 is verbatim right. Hence final answer (c)

"Molecular Basis of Inheritance": It explains the benefits of human genome sequencing that- "It is the sequence of bases in DNA that determines the genetic information of a given organism. So, learning about the DNA sequences can lead to an understanding of their natural capabilities that can be applied toward solving challenges in health care, agriculture, energy production, environmental remediation."
So on that logic, statement 1 and 3 should be possible, and if 1 and 3 are possible then statement 2 ought to be possible as well! So answer D- all three statements are correct. Searching academic papers on Google Scholar engineer confirms that D is the answer.

According to the Kurukshetra Magazine November 2017 special issue on irrigation: Tillage exposes the soil to drying, conversely, reductions in tillage help conserve soil water. So #1 is right. The retention of crop residues helps in reducing water loss from the soil to the air and cools the soil. So, #3 is right. According to some random research papers & Google books even gypsum application helps in water conservation so experts ware divided between Option C or D. But in the official answer key UPSC has kept C as the correct answer.

Both statements are correct as per Government notification.

A soil health card provides information about 12 soil parameters, so farmer can use appropriate fertilizers. hence only 3 is the correct statement. Statement 1 and 2 are irrelevant.

(i) This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. The scheme, through processing and value addition techniques, is expected to generate consumer demand for millet based food products. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have larger stake in this scheme.
(ii) 1st and 2nd statements are right. Policy aims to give free kits but “wanting to shift commercial crop farmers to millet” doesn’t fit logic. There is no such mention in the scheme, nor any talk about giving micro-irrigation equipment. Hence 3rd statement wrong.

(i) In order to safeguard and support the world’s agricultural heritage systems, in 2002 FAO started an initiative for the dynamic conservation of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). The GIAHS Initiative promotes public under-standing, awareness, national and international recognition of Agricultural Heritage systems. It aims to identify and ensure global recognition of the importance of unique traditional agricultural systems for food security and sustainable development. The GIAHS initiative explicitly recognises that change in “traditional” political, social and economic processes is inevitable; they cannot be frozen or recreated
(ii) There is no provision to give Geographical indication to “ALL” varieties. Hence statement 3 is wrong. By elimination method, we are left with answer B- only 2.

'Agreement on Agriculture', 'Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures' and 'Peace Clause' are related to World Trade Organisation.

Agricultural Produce Market Committee Act of respective states are responsible for markets in agricultural products.

Excessive/ inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers increase the acidity of soil and Leaching of nitrate to the ground water.

Seed village concept is to promote the quality seed production of foundation and certified seed classes. The area which is suitable for raising a particular crop will be selected, and raised with single variety of a kind. Suitable area for seed production will be identified by the Scientists.
The foundation/ certified seeds or University labelled seeds will be supplied by the University through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and Research Stations at 50% subsidy cost to the identified farmers in the area. The farmers will use these quality seeds and take up their own seed production in a small area (1 acre) for their own use. The crops are Rice, Pulses and Oilseeds.

Capital-augmenting technological progress results in the more productive use of existing capital goods; for example, the substitution of steel from wooden ploughs in agricultural production.

Vegetative reproduction is a form of a sexual reproduction in plants. It is a process by which new organisms arise without production of seeds .It helps in development of clones. Vegetative propagation involves only mitosis, this ensures that the genetic information in DNA of vegetative progeny (child) is same as in the mother plant and can be practiced throughout the year.
However it does not helps in elimination of viruses.
Plant once systematically infected with a virus, usually remains infected for its lifetime. Thus any vegetative parts taken for propagation remains infected.

Guar gum is used in hydraulic fracturing technology during shale gas extraction.

Integrated Watershed Man agement Programme (IWMP) was launched during 2009-10. It aims at Prevention of soil runoff, Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table and Regeneration of natural vegetation.

The draught prone area programme is by ministry of Rural development to minimise the adverse effects of drought on production of crops and livestock and productivity of land, water and human resources. The desert development programme is also by ministry of Rural development to minimise the adverse effect of drought and control desertification. National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas is by ministry of agriculture.

NPK (fertilizers) can be applied at the rate of 112 kg, 25 kg and 48 kg per acre, respectively through inorganic or organic methods. Hence statement #3 is wrong, this eliminates (a), (c) and (d). therefore, answer (b) 1,2,4 only.

All three statements are correct as Maize can be used for the production of starch. Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel. Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

Cytoplasmic male sterility and gene silencing are used for creation of transgenic crops. Grafting and budding in fruit plants are not used for transgenic crop production but used during regular horticulture practices.

Kinnaur (Himachal) is famous for apples. Areca nut mostly confined to Karnataka, Kerala and Assam. Mewat in haryana is not famous for mango. UP is famous for mango. Similarly, coromandel coast is not famous for soya beans. Top two producers of soya are Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra which are outside coromandel coast.