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UPSC Prelims 2020 · Agriculture · Farming Green
With reference to the circumstances in Indian agriculture, the concept of “Conservation Agriculture” assumes significance. Which of the following fall under the Conservation Agriculture? Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- Avoiding the monoculture practices
- Adopting minimum tillage
- Avoiding the cultivation of plantation crops
- Using crop residues to cover soil surface
- Adopting spatial and temporal crop sequencing/ crop rotations
- (a) 1, 3 and 4
- (b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
- (c) 2, 4 and 5
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 5
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (c) 2, 4 and 5
The three pillars: minimum tillage, soil cover, crop rotation.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ NOT A CORE PILLAR Avoiding monoculture overlaps with rotation, but the key lists rotation (statement 5) instead.
2. ✓ YES Minimum or zero tillage is pillar one.
3. ✗ NO Conservation agriculture doesn’t forbid plantation crops.
4. ✓ YES A permanent residue cover is pillar two.
5. ✓ YES Crop rotation / diversification is pillar three.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Adds “avoiding plantations” and drops minimum tillage.
(b) Adds “avoiding plantations”.
(d) Adds “avoiding plantations” and drops residue cover.
The trap
Statement 1 sounds like part of it — but UPSC’s key sticks to the FAO’s three pillars.
🔒 FAO conservation agriculture: 1) minimal soil disturbance 2) permanent cover 3) crop diversification.