Agriculture & Livestock

1. Which one of the following is a characteristic feature of Market Garde

Which one of the following is a characteristic feature of Market Gardening ?

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Farms are of very large size.
Netherlands is an example of Market Gardening.
It is well-developed in sparsely populated areas of North-West Europe.
This is practised in the areas where consumers of low income group are located.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2021
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The correct answer is Netherlands is an example of Market Gardening.
Market gardening is a form of commercial horticulture that involves intensive cultivation of high-value crops (vegetables, fruits, flowers) on relatively small parcels of land, usually close to urban centers or markets. Key characteristics include:
– Small to medium-sized farms.
– Intensive farming practices (high labour and capital inputs per unit area).
– Focus on perishable or high-value crops.
– Proximity to markets for quick transport of produce.
– Dependence on efficient transportation and communication networks.

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Let’s analyze the options:
A) Farms are typically small or medium-sized, not very large, to facilitate intensive cultivation and proximity to markets.
B) The Netherlands is renowned for its highly intensive and technologically advanced horticulture, including greenhouse production of vegetables, flowers, and plants, largely catering to both domestic and international markets. This is a classic example of market gardening (though often referred to more broadly as horticulture).
C) It is well-developed in areas near markets, which are typically densely populated urban centers, not sparsely populated areas.
D) Market gardening focuses on supplying consumers, typically in urban areas, who have the purchasing power to buy relatively higher-cost fresh produce. It’s not primarily targeted at low-income consumers.

Market gardening is often associated with truck farming in North America, where produce is transported by truck over relatively short distances to urban markets. Other regions known for significant market gardening include parts of Western Europe, coastal California, and areas surrounding major cities worldwide. The success of market gardening depends heavily on access to reliable transportation, labour, and capital, as well as market demand for fresh produce.

2. Viticulture is a type of cultivation, largely a speciality of

Viticulture is a type of cultivation, largely a speciality of

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Tropical areas.
Mediterranean region.
Sub-tropical areas.
Semi-arid areas.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
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The correct answer is Mediterranean region.
– Viticulture is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
– The Mediterranean climate, characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, is particularly well-suited for growing grapes, especially those used for wine production.
– Major wine-producing regions globally, such as those in Italy, France, Spain, California, Chile, South Africa, and parts of Australia, experience climates similar to the Mediterranean.
– While grapes can be grown in other climates, the specific conditions of the Mediterranean region contribute significantly to the quality and characteristics of wine grapes.

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3. Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest coc

Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world ?

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Algeria and Morocco
Botswana and Namibia
Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
Madagascar and Mozambique
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2024
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Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana are consistently the two largest cocoa-producing countries in the world, accounting for a significant majority of global cocoa bean production. They are both located in West Africa, which is the dominant region for cocoa cultivation.
Côte d’Ivoire is the largest producer, followed by Ghana. West Africa produces about two-thirds of the world’s cocoa.
Cocoa is the primary ingredient in chocolate. The economies of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are heavily reliant on cocoa exports.

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4. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I
(Name of Shifting
Cultivation)		 List II
(Country)
A. Milpa 1. Zaire
B. Ladang 2. Brazil
C. Rocca 3. Malaysia
D. Masole 4. Mexico

Code :

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4 3 2 1
4 2 3 1
1 2 3 4
1 3 2 4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
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The correct option is A.
The question asks to match different local names of shifting cultivation with the countries where they are practiced.
A. Milpa is a term for shifting cultivation used in Mexico and other parts of Central America. So, A matches 4.
B. Ladang is a term used for shifting cultivation, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia (Southeast Asia). So, B matches 3.
C. Rocca is the term for shifting cultivation in Brazil (South America). So, C matches 2.
D. Masole is a term used for shifting cultivation in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and other parts of Central Africa. So, D matches 1.
Shifting cultivation, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, is a form of agriculture in which a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period of time, then abandoned and allowed to revert to its natural vegetation while the cultivator moves to a new plot. It is practiced in tropical regions around the world and has various local names.

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5. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Plantation farming h

Consider the following statements:

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  • Statement-I: Plantation farming has mostly been practiced in humid tropics
  • Statement-II: The soil of humid tropics is highly fertile

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements and the code?

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Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is NOT the correct explanation of Statement I
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
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Statement I is true as plantation farming, requiring specific climate and soil conditions, is predominantly practiced in humid tropical regions where crops like tea, coffee, rubber, and sugarcane thrive. Statement II is false because the soils of humid tropics are often highly leached due to heavy rainfall and high temperatures, leading to low nutrient content and fertility. While biomass productivity is high, the soil itself is typically not inherently fertile; fertility is concentrated in the thin top layer of decomposing organic matter.
Plantation farming is common in humid tropics, but tropical soils are often infertile due to leaching.
Humid tropical soils like Oxisols or Ferralsols are characterized by intense weathering and leaching (desilication), resulting in a concentration of iron and aluminum oxides. Nutrients are rapidly cycled in the ecosystem, with minimal long-term storage in the soil matrix itself.

6. In which one of the following countries is intensive subsistence agric

In which one of the following countries is intensive subsistence agriculture not predominantly practised ?

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India
Japan
Canada
Indonesia
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2021
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Intensive subsistence agriculture is characterized by high labour input per unit of land, small farm sizes, cultivation primarily for self-consumption, and often multiple cropping in a year. This type of agriculture is predominantly practiced in densely populated regions with favourable climates, such as parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia. India, Japan, and Indonesia have historically significant areas where this is practiced, although mechanization and commercialization have increased, especially in Japan. Canada, in contrast, is a large country with a relatively low population density and its agriculture is predominantly extensive (large farms), highly mechanized, and commercial, focused on producing surpluses for domestic markets and export.
Intensive subsistence agriculture is typical in areas where land is scarce, population density is high, and the economy is largely agrarian. Farmers focus on maximizing yield from small plots using manual labour and simple tools.
Commercial agriculture, in contrast to subsistence agriculture, is practiced primarily for sale in the market. It often involves larger farms, specialized crops or livestock, high levels of mechanization and technology, and significant capital investment. Canada is a leading practitioner of various forms of commercial agriculture, such as extensive commercial grain farming and mixed farming.

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7. ‘Viticulture’ is a common feature of which one of the following Austra

‘Viticulture’ is a common feature of which one of the following Australian cities ?

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Adelaide
Darwin
Hobart
Brisbane
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
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Viticulture is a common feature of Adelaide.
Viticulture, the cultivation of grapevines, is strongly associated with Adelaide due to its proximity to some of Australia’s most famous wine regions. South Australia, with Adelaide as its capital, is a major wine-producing state in Australia and is home to world-renowned regions like Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills, all located relatively close to the city. While other parts of Australia also produce wine, Adelaide is arguably the major city most closely linked with significant and internationally recognized viticulture areas.
Darwin is in the tropical Northern Territory and is not known for viticulture. Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, is near some wine regions, but Tasmania is a smaller wine producer compared to South Australia. Brisbane, in Queensland, is also near some wine areas (like the Granite Belt), but again, Queensland’s wine industry is less prominent than South Australia’s. Therefore, Adelaide is the city most strongly associated with extensive viticulture among the given options.

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8. Directions : The following 05 (Five) items consist of two statements,

Directions : The following 05 (Five) items consist of two statements, Statement I and Statement II. Examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the code given below :
Code :

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  • Both the Statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
  • Both the Statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.
  • Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
  • Statement I is false but Statement II is true.

54.
Statement I: Plantation farming has mostly been practised in humid tropics.
Statement II: The soil of humid tropics is highly fertile.

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Both the Statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.
Both the Statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
Statement I is false but Statement II is true.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
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The correct answer is C) Statement I is true but Statement II is false.
Statement I is true. Plantation farming, focusing on commercial crops like tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, etc., is predominantly practiced in humid tropical and subtropical regions because these crops thrive in such climates (warm temperatures, high rainfall).
Statement II is false. The soils of humid tropics are generally *not* highly fertile. Due to high temperatures and heavy rainfall, organic matter decomposes rapidly, and soluble nutrients are heavily leached away through a process called laterization. This often leaves behind soils rich in iron and aluminum oxides (like Oxisols and Ultisols), which are typically low in fertility and require significant fertilization for sustained agriculture, especially for nutrient-demanding plantation crops.
Despite the low inherent soil fertility, tropical regions support dense forests because nutrients are quickly taken up and stored in the living biomass. When these forests are cleared for agriculture, the limited nutrients in the soil are quickly depleted. Plantation farming in these areas often relies on large inputs of fertilizers and careful management practices.

9. The area under millets cultivation is the highest in

The area under millets cultivation is the highest in

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Asia
Africa
America
Europe
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2023
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Africa is the continent with the highest area under millet cultivation.
Millets are drought-resistant crops vital for food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, with significant cultivation areas in both Africa and Asia.
According to various sources, including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), African countries like Nigeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso are major producers and have large cultivated areas of millets (including sorghum and pearl millet), contributing significantly to the global total area. While Asia (especially India) is a major producer by volume, the cultivated area is larger in Africa.

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10. Which one of the following countries is the top producer of cereals in

Which one of the following countries is the top producer of cereals in the world?

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USA
Russia
India
China
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
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China is the world’s largest producer of cereals overall. It is the leading producer of rice and wheat, two of the most widely consumed cereals globally. While countries like the USA (maize) and India (rice, wheat) are also major cereal producers, China’s combined production volume across various cereals ranks it as the top producer.
Cereals are staple food crops and include wheat, rice, maize (corn), barley, sorghum, oats, etc. Global agricultural production statistics are compiled by organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
The ranking of countries in cereal production can vary slightly year to year based on harvest outcomes, but China consistently remains at the top or among the top producers. The USA is the largest producer of maize, and India is a major producer of rice and wheat.

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