Passage

Directions for the following 3 (three) items : Read the following passage and answer the items that follow the passage. Your answers to these items should be based on the passage only. Passage In some places in the world, the productivity of staples such as rice and wheat has reached a plateau. Neither new strains nor fancy agrochemicals are raising the yields. Nor is there much unfarmed land left that is suitable to be brought under the plough. If global temperature continues to rise, some places will become unsuitable for farming. Application of technology can help overcome these problems. Agricultural technology is changing fast. Much of this change is brought about by affluent farmers in the West/Americas. Techniques developed in the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive. Technology is of little use if it is not adapted. In the developing world, that applies as much to existing farming techniques as it does to the latest advances in genetic modification. Extending to the smallholders and subsistence farmers of Africa and Asia the best of today's agricultural practices, in such simple matters as how much fertilizers to apply and when, would lead to a greatly increased availability of food for humanity. So would things like better roads and storage facilities, to allow for the carriage of surpluses to markets and reduce wastage.

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made : 1. Poor countries need to bring about change in their existing farming techniques. 2. Developed countries have better infrastructure and they waste less food. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

(a) 1 only ✓ UPSC's answer
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage explicitly states that in the developing world, adaptation applies to 'existing farming techniques' as much as to new genetic advances, supporting Assumption 1.

• It further notes that extending best practices to smallholders in Africa and Asia would increase food availability, implying that current techniques in these poor countries are suboptimal and need change.

• Assumption 2 claims developed countries have better infrastructure and waste less food, but the passage only mentions that better roads and storage facilities (infrastructure) are needed to reduce wastage in the developing world.

• The passage does not provide any data or statement comparing the infrastructure quality or food wastage levels of developed countries versus developing countries.

• Therefore, only Assumption 1 is valid based on the text, making option (a) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2 only: Assumption 2 is invalid because the passage does not compare infrastructure or wastage levels between developed and developing countries.
(c) Both 1 and 2: Assumption 2 is not supported by the passage, which only discusses the need for infrastructure improvements in the developing world without referencing developed countries' status.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2: Assumption 1 is valid as the passage explicitly calls for adapting existing farming techniques in the developing world.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2022, held on 5 June 2022. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.