Q. Sourcing food from non-agricultural lands (uncultivated systems such as forests, wetlands, pastures, etc) in addition to agricultural lands enables a systemic approach to food consumption.
It allows rural and tribal communities to sustain themselves for the whole year and steer clear of natural disasters and season-induced shortfalls of agricultural food. Since the productivity of trees is often more resilient to adverse weather conditions than annual crops, forest foods often provide a safety net during periods of food shortages caused by crop failure; forest foods also make important contributions during seasonal crop production gaps.
Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical and rational message conveyed by the author of the passage?
(a) Food yielding trees should replace other trees in rural and tribal areas and community owned lands.
(b) Food security cannot be ensured in India with the present practice of conventional agriculture.
(c) Wastelands and degraded areas in India should be converted into agroforestry systems to help the poor.
(d) Agroecosystems should be developed in addition to or along with conventional agriculture.
Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT
Model Answer:
Q1: Correct Answer – (d) Agroecosystems should be developed in addition to or along with conventional agriculture.
Explanation –
The passage emphasizes the importance of sourcing food from non-agricultural lands such as forests, wetlands, pastures, etc. This approach is deemed beneficial for rural and tribal communities as it provides a safety net during periods of food shortages and contributes during seasonal crop production gaps. Therefore, the statement that best reflects the author’s message is that agroecosystems should be developed in addition to or along with conventional agriculture. This would allow for a more resilient and sustainable food source.