Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?

(a) Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by giving them a large cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce
(b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes a payment of agreed amount to the farmers
(d) A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production

Why the answer is (b)

• 'Small Farmer Large Field' (SFLF) is a model in which neighbouring smallholders keep their own land but organise into groups and synchronise operations — sowing, variety choice, irrigation, pest control and harvest — so that many small plots function like one large field — option (b).

• This gives them economies of scale in inputs, machinery and marketing without any transfer of land.

• Hence option (b).

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by…: This describes collective resettlement of refugees, not SFLF.
(c) Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and…: Surrendering land to a corporate body is leasing, not SFLF.
(d) A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small…: This describes contract farming, not SFLF.

Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.