Assertion: Agricultural output increased several times after introduct...
DDT or dichloro-diphenyl trichloroethane was the first important synthetic pesticide (organo chlorine) discovered in 1939 by a Swiss chemist Paul Muller. It was toxic to wide range of insect pests ("broad spectrum") yet appeared to have low toxicity to mammals. It was persistent and didn’t break down rapidly in the environment, so that it didn’t have to be reapplied often. DDT was so effective at killing pests and thus boosting crop yields and was so inexpensive to make that its use quickly spread over the globe. Farmers used more and more DDT throughout the 1950s and 1960s to get an increased yield of crop,
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Assertion: Agricultural output increased several times after introduct...
Assertion: Agricultural output increased several times after the introduction of DDT.
Reason: DDT was the first insecticide used on a wide scale.
The correct answer is option 'D', which states that both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
Assertion: Agricultural output increased several times after the introduction of DDT.
The assertion is true. The introduction of DDT in agriculture had a significant impact on increasing agricultural output. DDT, also known as dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane, is an insecticide that was widely used in the mid-20th century. It was highly effective in controlling a wide range of pests, including insects that damage crops. By eliminating or reducing the damage caused by pests, DDT helped to increase crop yields and overall agricultural output.
Reason: DDT was the first insecticide used on a wide scale.
The reason is also true. DDT was indeed the first insecticide to be used on a wide scale. Prior to the introduction of DDT, agricultural pest control primarily relied on traditional methods such as crop rotation, manual labor, and the use of natural pesticides derived from plants. However, these methods were often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and not as effective as DDT in controlling pests.
When DDT was first introduced in the 1940s, it revolutionized pest control in agriculture. It was highly effective against a wide range of insects, including mosquitoes, flies, beetles, and caterpillars. DDT was relatively inexpensive to produce, easy to apply, and had a long-lasting effect, making it a popular choice among farmers. Its broad-spectrum activity and effectiveness in controlling pests led to significant improvements in crop yields and agricultural productivity.
In conclusion, the assertion that agricultural output increased several times after the introduction of DDT is true. The reason that DDT was the first insecticide used on a wide scale is also true and provides a correct explanation for the increase in agricultural output. DDT's effectiveness and widespread use played a crucial role in boosting agricultural productivity during that time.