Agriculture 2021 Paper I 50 marks Discuss

Q4

(a) What are the factors responsible for declining soil fertility? Discuss various measures adopted for improving soil productivity. (20 marks) (b) Define Integrated Farming System (IFS). How can IFS improve the income of different landholding groups? (20 marks) (c) Describe the major biological control methods of weeds. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) मृदा उर्वरता की गिरावट के लिए उत्तरदायी कारक कौन-से हैं? मृदा उत्पादकता के सुधार हेतु प्रयुक्त विभिन्न उपायों का वर्णन कीजिए। (20 अंक) (b) समन्वित कृषि पद्धति (आई० एफ० एस०) को परिभाषित कीजिए। समन्वित कृषि पद्धति विभिन्न भूमिधारक समूहों की आय कैसे सुधार सकती है? (20 अंक) (c) खरपतवारों की मुख्य जैविक नियंत्रण विधियों का वर्णन कीजिए। (10 अंक)

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'discuss' demands a comprehensive, analytical treatment with balanced coverage across all three sub-parts. Allocate approximately 40% effort to part (a) on soil fertility decline and improvement measures, 40% to part (b) on IFS definition and income enhancement across landholding categories, and 20% to part (c) on biological weed control methods. Structure with a brief introduction, detailed body addressing each sub-part sequentially with clear sub-headings, and a concluding synthesis on sustainable agriculture.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Natural factors (weathering, leaching, erosion) and anthropogenic factors (excessive tillage, monocropping, imbalanced fertilization, residue burning) causing fertility decline; improvement measures including organic amendments, green manuring, biofertilizers, precision nutrient management, and soil health card scheme
  • Part (a): Specific mention of secondary and micronutrient deficiencies emerging in intensive Indian agriculture (Zn, B, S) and corrective strategies
  • Part (b): Precise definition of IFS as holistic, synergistic combination of crop, livestock, fishery, and allied enterprises with nutrient and resource recycling
  • Part (b): Landholding-specific IFS models: marginal farmers (kitchen garden + goatry + poultry), small farmers (rice-fish-duck/azolla), medium/large farmers (dairy-biogas-vermicompost-crop integration) with income diversification and risk reduction mechanisms
  • Part (c): Classical biological control (importation of natural enemies like Puccinia chondrillina for skeleton weed), inundative control (bioherbicides like Phytophthora palmivora for milkweed), and competitive suppression (allelopathic cover crops, smother crops like sunn hemp)
  • Part (c): Successful Indian examples: Parthenium management through Zygogramma bicolorata, Lantana biocontrol, and integration with mycoherbicide research at NBAIR

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness25%12.5Demonstrates precise understanding of soil fertility dynamics (physical, chemical, biological components), accurate IFS definition emphasizing synergy and recycling, and correct classification of biological control agents with proper scientific nomenclatureCovers basic concepts adequately but confuses IFS with mixed farming, omits nutrient cycling in IFS definition, or conflates biological control with cultural methodsFundamental errors such as equating soil fertility with soil productivity, missing the integrated/synergistic aspect of IFS, or describing chemical herbicides as biological control
Quantitative reasoning15%7.5Incorporates relevant data on nutrient depletion rates (NPK removal vs. addition gaps), landholding size categories as per Census 2011, income enhancement percentages from IFS adoption (ICAR studies showing 50-100% income rise), and bioherbicide efficacy ratesMentions vague quantitative trends without specific figures or uses outdated/inaccurate statisticsNo quantitative dimension or completely fabricated data without agricultural basis
Indian context examples25%12.5Cites specific Indian examples: Punjab-Haryana fertility decline crisis, IFS success stories (KVK models, tribal integrated farming), and indigenous biocontrol (Zygogramma for Parthenium, Puccinia for Chromolaena); references Soil Health Card Scheme, National Mission on Sustainable AgricultureGeneric mention of Indian agriculture without specific regional examples or conflates global examples as IndianEntirely foreign examples or no Indian context despite explicit relevance
Diagram / process15%7.5Includes well-labelled diagram of nutrient flow in IFS (crop-animal-fish-microbial linkages) or schematic of biological control methods classification; illustrates soil fertility improvement through integrated nutrient management flowchartAttempts diagram but poorly labelled or only describes processes verbally without visual representationNo diagram where highly expected (IFS nutrient cycling) and purely descriptive treatment of processes
Policy / extension angle20%10Critically examines policy implementation: Soil Health Card Scheme effectiveness, PMKSY integration with IFS, challenges in biocontrol commercialization; suggests extension strategies like FFS for IFS adoption and participatory technology developmentLists policies without critical analysis or extension connection; mere mention of government schemes without implementation gapsNo policy or extension dimension; purely technical treatment ignoring institutional and outreach aspects

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