Question

Which one of the following is the best strategy for environment-friendly, sustainable development in Indian agriculture?

• A. Mixed cropping, organic manures, nitrogen-fixing plants and pest-resistant crop varieties
• B. Wider popularisation of high yieliding crop varieties, better and more frequent irrigation and increased frequency of aerial sprays of inorganic fertilisers and pesticides
• C. Expansion of cultivable land increased use of superphosphate, urea and effective biocides
• D. Improved farm implements and machinery, use of potent insecticides to minimise post-harvest grain losses and monoculture cropping practices

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Mixed cropping, organic manures, nitrogen-fixing plants and pest-resistant crop varieties

Eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture methods are employed to obtain a long term crop production, with least adverse effects on the environment. So, there are many practices that help in maintaining sustainable agriculture in India.

Its main goals include maintaining the health and nutritive value of the soil, judicious use of water and minimum air, water, and land pollution. Mixed cropping, like planting a variety of crops helps to improve soil fertility and health. Use of organic manures leads to a great reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, bringing about a revolutionary decrease in the level of pollution. Nitrogen fixing plants also improve the fertility of the soil by inculcating nitrogen in its absorbable forms from the atmosphere. Pest-resistant crop varieties also help to minimize the use of pesticides, thus reducing the level of pollution caused by them.

So, keeping all these points in mind, option A is the correct answer.