Current Affairs: Passage of the Day - 09 December 2024 | Current Affairs & General Knowledge - CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Drylands are critical for global population. It is home to one in every three of world's people, nearly half of the livestock and 44 per cent of food systems. But some 20-35 per cent of them are degraded.
Aiming to transform agriculture in some of the world’s most arid regions, CGIAR, a global leader in agricultural research, has launched its 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD).
The initiative, spearheaded by CGIAR centres International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), provides a roadmap to enhance food security, conserve biodiversity and build resilient livelihoods for the 2.7 billion people inhabiting drylands, particularly in Asia and Africa.
Unveiled at the 16th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh, the GSRD builds on five decades of research in dryland regions. Traditionally viewed as fragile ecosystems, these areas hold immense potential for climate-smart agricultural innovation that can be scaled globally, according to a joint media statement by the organisations.
[Excerpt from Down To Earth "CGIAR’s Strategy for Resilient Drylands 2030" Dated 09/12/24]

Q1: What percentage of the global population depends on drylands for their livelihoods?
(a) 10%
(b) 20%
(c) 30%
(d) 40%

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: Drylands support 2.7 billion people, about 30% of the global population.

Q2: Where was the 2030 Global Strategy for Resilient Drylands (GSRD) introduced?
(a) COP15 in Paris
(b) COP16 in Riyadh
(c) COP21 in Glasgow
(d) COP27 in Egypt

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The GSRD was introduced at COP16 in Riyadh.

Q3: Which regions are primarily targeted by the GSRD?
(a) Europe and North America
(b) Asia and Africa
(c) South America and Australia
(d) Antarctica

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: The GSRD primarily targets dryland regions in Asia and Africa.

Q4: Which of the following technologies is part of the innovative solutions proposed by the GSRD?
(a) Fossil fuel-powered irrigation
(b) Solar-powered agrivoltaics
(c) GMO monocropping
(d) Large-scale deforestation

View Answer  

Ans: (b)
Sol: Solar-powered agrivoltaics is a key technology included in the GSRD.

Q5: Which crops are considered essential under the GSRD's climate-resilient development?
(a) Rice and wheat
(b) Maize and soybeans
(c) Barley and chickpeas
(d) Sugarcane and cotton

View Answer  

Ans: (c)
Sol: Barley and chickpeas are part of the strategy for climate-resilient crops.