How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant. 2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. 3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions. 4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 3
- (b) 1, 2 and 4 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 4 only
- (d) 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• Permaculture designs farms as self-sustaining ecosystems: polycultures, perennials, mulching, water harvesting and no synthetic inputs.
• Statement 1 is correct: permaculture discourages monoculture, whereas chemical farming typically relies on it.
• Statement 2 is correct: heavy chemical fertiliser use and irrigation raise soil salinity; permaculture's organic matter and mulching avoid this.
• Statement 4 is correct: mulching (covering soil to retain moisture and build humus) is central to permaculture but optional in chemical farming.
• Statement 3 is wrong: permaculture, with its swales, mulching and drought-adapted species, is well suited to semi-arid regions.
• Hence 1, 2 and 4, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong: permaculture works well in semi-arid regions.
- (c) 4 only
- Statements 1 and 2 are also correct.
- (d) 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong; statements 1 and 4 are correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.