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. Growing enough food for future generations will be a challenge. 2. Corporate farming is a viable option for food security in poor countries. 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 states that staple crop productivity has reached a plateau and suitable unfarmed land is scarce, implying that meeting future food demands will be difficult.

• It further notes that rising global temperatures may render some areas unsuitable for farming, reinforcing the challenge of growing enough food for future generations.

• Therefore, Assumption 1 is valid as it logically follows from the constraints on yield and land availability described in the text.

• The passage explicitly advocates for extending best practices to smallholders and subsistence farmers, not for corporate farming.

• Since the text focuses on adapting technology for small-scale farmers rather than promoting corporate models, Assumption 2 is not supported.

• Consequently, only Assumption 1 is valid, making option (a) the correct answer.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) 2 only: The passage does not suggest corporate farming is a viable option; instead, it emphasizes adapting techniques for smallholders and subsistence farmers.
(c) Both 1 and 2: Assumption 2 is invalid because the passage focuses on smallholder adaptation rather than corporate farming, so both assumptions cannot be valid.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2: Assumption 1 is valid because the passage highlights plateauing yields and climate risks, making the challenge of future food security a logical inference.

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.