Agriculture 2021 Paper II 50 marks Describe

Q7

(a) What do you mean by "Economic Injury Level" (EIL) and "Economic Threshold Level" (ETL) ? Describe their roles in classifying the pests in relevance to Integrated Pest Management (IPM). 15 (b) Describe the importance of fruit cultivation in India. Discuss the role of horticulture with respect to poverty alleviation and nutritional security. 15 (c) What is protected cultivation ? What are its problems and prospects in comparison to open cultivation ? 20

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) "आर्थिक क्षति स्तर" (ई.आई.एल.) तथा "आर्थिक सीमा स्तर" (ई.टी.एल.) से आप क्या समझते हैं ? समेकित पीड़क प्रबंधन (आई.पी.एम.) के संदर्भ में पीड़क वर्गीकरण में इनकी भूमिकाओं का वर्णन कीजिए । 15 (b) भारत में फलों की खेती के महत्व का वर्णन कीजिए । गरीबी उन्मूलन तथा पोषण सुरक्षा के संबंध में बागवानी की भूमिका की चर्चा कीजिए । 15 (c) संरक्षित खेती क्या है ? बाह्य (खुली) खेती की तुलना में संरक्षित खेती की समस्याएं तथा संभावनाएं क्या हैं ? 20

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. 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 'describe' demands detailed, structured exposition of concepts, importance and comparative analysis across all three parts. Allocate approximately 25-30% time/words to part (a) on EIL/ETL with clear definitions and IPM linkages; 30% to part (b) on fruit cultivation importance with poverty-nutrition nexus; and 40-45% to part (c) on protected cultivation as it carries highest marks, ensuring balanced treatment of problems and prospects with open cultivation comparison. Structure with brief introductions for each part, systematic body addressing all sub-components, and integrated conclusion highlighting convergence across horticulture, IPM and protected cultivation for sustainable agriculture.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Precise definitions of EIL (lowest pest density causing economic loss) and ETL (pest density at which control action should be initiated to prevent reaching EIL); distinction between EIL and ETL with ETL always below EIL; role in IPM for pest classification (key pests, occasional pests, potential pests, non-pests) and decision-making for pesticide application timing
  • Part (b): Importance of fruit cultivation in India covering area, production, export earnings (e.g., mango, banana, citrus), employment generation, foreign exchange; horticulture's role in poverty alleviation through smallholder suitability, higher income per unit area, women participation, value addition; nutritional security through micronutrient-rich produce, dietary diversification, malnutrition reduction
  • Part (c): Definition of protected cultivation (controlled environment agriculture: greenhouses, polyhouses, shade nets, insect-proof nets); problems including high initial capital investment, technical skill requirements, energy costs, pest/disease buildup in closed environment, limited indigenous technology; prospects including year-round production, water use efficiency, pesticide reduction, export-quality produce, climate resilience; systematic comparison with open cultivation on yield stability, resource efficiency, economics and market access

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness22%11For (a), accurately distinguishes EIL (damage-based, static) from ETL (action-based, dynamic, incorporates time lag); for (c), correctly identifies protected cultivation types (polyhouse, greenhouse, nethouse) and explains controlled environment parameters; no conceptual conflation between EIL/ETL or protected/open cultivation systemsDefines EIL and ETL generally but blurs distinction or omits dynamic nature of ETL; describes protected cultivation superficially without environment control specifics; minor errors in pest classification or cultivation type identificationConfuses EIL with ETL or defines incorrectly; misidentifies protected cultivation as simply 'indoor farming'; fundamental errors in IPM pest classification or cultivation comparisons
Quantitative reasoning14%7Presents EIL/ETL relationship formulaically (ETL = EIL - damage during lag period); cites specific data for part (b) such as horticulture share in GDP (~6.5%), area under fruits (~6.5 million ha), productivity comparisons; for (c), provides yield enhancement multiples (3-5x), water use efficiency figures, cost-benefit ratios for protected vs open cultivationMentions general trends without specific figures; vague statements like 'higher yield' or 'more income' without quantification; limited numerical data across partsNo quantitative data or grossly incorrect figures; ignores numerical dimension entirely where explicitly demanded by economic and comparative analysis
Indian context examples20%10For (a), cites Indian IPM success stories (cotton in Punjab, rice in Kerala); for (b), references specific states (Maharashtra grapes, Andhra mango, Karnataka pomegranate), Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH), National Horticulture Mission; for (c), mentions Indo-Israeli projects, polyhouse clusters in Maharashtra/Punjab/Himachal, floriculture exports from BangaloreGeneric mention of India without state-specific or scheme-specific examples; limited integration of government programs; examples not contemporary or relevantNo Indian examples or inappropriate foreign-centric illustrations; ignores domestic policy context entirely across all three parts
Diagram / process18%9For (a), draws EIL-ETL relationship curve showing pest density over time with control action window; for (c), sketches protected cultivation structure (polyhouse cross-section) or flowchart comparing open vs protected systems; integrates diagrams with textual explanation effectivelyDescribes diagrams in text without actual drawing; attempts simple table for comparison in (c) but lacks visual clarity; diagrams mentioned but not well-integratedNo diagrams, tables or flowcharts where clearly beneficial; purely narrative response missing visual communication tools for complex relationships
Policy / extension angle26%13For (a), links EIL/ETL to pesticide regulation, FAO IPM guidelines, sustainable agriculture; for (b), connects to NFSA, POSHAN Abhiyaan, doubling farmers' income, APMC reforms for horticulture; for (c), discusses Sub-Mission on Plant Protection and Integrated Pest Management, subsidies for protected cultivation, skill development through ATMA, export promotion through APEDA; suggests policy improvements for technology adoptionMentions government schemes superficially without integration; limited analysis of policy gaps or extension challenges; descriptive rather than analytical treatmentNo policy or extension references; ignores institutional support systems, subsidy structures, or implementation challenges critical to IPM, horticulture development and protected cultivation adoption

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