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UPSC Prelims 2021 · Agriculture · Farming Green
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- Permaculture Farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
- Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity, but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
- Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions, but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
- Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.
- (a) 1 and 3
- (b) 1, 2 and 4
- (c) 4 Only
- (d) 2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 4
Diversity, no salinity build-up and mulching are right; permaculture suits dry lands too.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Permaculture mixes many species; chemical farming is usually monoculture.
2. ✓ CORRECT Heavy chemical fertiliser and irrigation raise soil salinity; permaculture avoids that.
3. ✗ WRONG Permaculture works well in dry, semi-arid areas — water harvesting and mulching are its strengths.
4. ✓ CORRECT Mulching is central to permaculture.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Accepts that permaculture fails in semi-arid areas.
(c) Drops the monoculture and salinity differences.
(d) Accepts that permaculture fails in semi-arid areas.
The trap
Statement 3 sounds cautious and realistic, but permaculture was designed for tough, dry land.
🔒 Permaculture (Bill Mollison, Australia): perennial, diverse, mulched, closed-loop.