The “Miyawaki method” is well known for the :

(a) Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas
(b) Development of gardens using genetically modified flora
(c) Creation of mini forests in urban areas ✓ UPSC's answer
(d) Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces

Why the answer is (c)

• The Miyawaki method, devised by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, creates dense, fast-growing 'mini forests' on small plots by planting many native species close together in enriched soil.

• Such forests grow up to ten times faster and thirty times denser than conventional plantations and become self-sustaining in about three years.

• It has been adopted widely in Indian cities — Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai — to create urban green lungs on vacant plots, as in option (c).

• It is unrelated to arid farming, genetically modified gardens or offshore wind energy.

• Hence option (c).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas: The method is about forests, not arid commercial farming.
(b) Development of gardens using genetically modified flora: It uses native species, not genetically modified plants.
(d) Harvesting wind energy on coastal areas and on sea surfaces: It has nothing to do with wind energy.

Asked in the GS Paper I 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.