Agriculture 2022 Paper I 50 marks Discuss

Q8

(a) Discuss the various parameters of quality of irrigation water. Write irrigation scheduling for pulses cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. (20 marks) (b) Discuss the relevance of Integrated Nutrient Management in sustainable agriculture. Describe various types of biofertilizers. (20 marks) (c) Describe the importance of crop insurance for small and marginal farmers in India. Write the role of insurance companies for crop insurance. (10 marks)

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) सिंचाई जल गुणवत्ता के विभिन्न मापदंडों की विवेचना करें । शुष्क एवं अर्धशुष्क क्षेत्रों में दलहनी फसलों की खेती हेतु सिंचाई नियोजन को लिखें । (20 अंक) (b) टिकाऊ खेती में एकीकृत पोषण प्रबंधन की प्रासंगिकता की विवेचना करें । विभिन्न प्रकार के जैव उर्वरकों का वर्णन करें । (20 अंक) (c) भारत में लघु एवं सीमांत किसानों के लिए फसल बीमा के महत्व का वर्णन करें । फसल बीमा के लिए बीमा कंपनियों की भूमिका को लिखें । (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 arguments. Allocate approximately 40% effort to part (a) given its 20 marks and technical depth, 35% to part (b) for its conceptual breadth, and 25% to part (c) for its policy focus. Structure: brief introduction on water-nutrient-risk nexus in Indian agriculture; body addressing each part sequentially with sub-headings; conclusion synthesizing how quality water, INM and crop insurance together build climate-resilient farming.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Irrigation water quality parameters—EC, SAR, RSC, pH, boron, chloride toxicity thresholds; classification (excellent to unsuitable) per Ayers-Westcott or Richards' criteria; irrigation scheduling for pulses in arid/semi-arid regions—critical growth stages, IW/CPE ratios, deficit irrigation strategies, mulching, drip/sprinkler adoption for moong/urd/arhar
  • Part (b): INM relevance—nutrient use efficiency, soil health restoration, reduction of fertilizer subsidy burden, carbon sequestration, breaking yield plateaus; biofertilizer types—Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Azospirillum, PSB (Bacillus/Pseudomonas), KMB, VAM, Azolla, BGA; their mode of action and crop specificity
  • Part (c): Importance for small/marginal farmers—income stabilization, risk mitigation, credit access, investment confidence, suicide prevention; insurance companies' role—PMFBY implementation, yield estimation, weather data integration, grievance redressal, awareness campaigns, public-private partnership models
  • Cross-cutting: Integration of water quality with INM (salinity-nutrient interaction) and crop insurance (parametric triggers for drought)
  • Indian examples: Rajasthan/ Gujarat for arid pulse irrigation; ICAR-IISS Bhopal for INM; PMFBY/NAIS/MNAIS evolution; AIC and private insurers like HDFC ERGO

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness22%11Precisely defines SAR, RSC, EC with correct formulas and threshold values; accurately distinguishes biofertilizer types by their nitrogen fixation vs. solubilization mechanisms; correctly identifies PMFBY as current flagship scheme with 5-10% farmer premium shareLists water quality parameters without clear thresholds; mixes biofertilizer functions; mentions crop insurance schemes but confuses NAIS with PMFBY featuresFundamental errors like equating pH alone with water quality, calling all microbial inoculants 'biofertilizers' interchangeably, or describing insurance as only post-disaster relief
Quantitative reasoning18%9Provides specific values: EC <0.25 dS/m (excellent), 0.25-0.75 (good), >2.25 (unsuitable); SAR <10 safe; RSC <1.25 meq/L safe; IW/CPE ratio 0.6-0.8 for pulses; PMFBY coverage 30% of gross cropped area; premium subsidy 50-75%Mentions ranges without precision or units; vague 'high EC is bad' without numbers; general statement on insurance penetration without dataNo quantitative data; incorrect units (EC in ppm instead of dS/m); confuses percentages with absolute values
Indian context examples20%10Cites specific arid zone pulse cultivation: moong in Rajasthan (Barmer, Jodhpur), arhar in Gujarat; ICAR-CAZRI, IISS Bhopal for INM validation; PMFBY implementation in Maharashtra/ Karnataka; AIC's Weather Based Crop Insurance; mentions 86% small/marginal farmers in IndiaGeneric 'western India' references; mentions biofertilizer use without regional specificity; standard PMFBY description without state-level implementation nuancesEntirely generic examples or foreign case studies; no Indian institutional names; ignores small farmer context completely
Diagram / process18%9Includes US Salinity Laboratory diagram (EC-SAR classification); irrigation scheduling calendar/flowchart for pulses; biofertilizer application protocol diagram; PMFBY operational flow from registration to claim settlement; neat, labeled sketchesMentions diagrams without drawing; describes processes in prose only; incomplete or unlabeled sketchesNo visual elements; no process description; text-heavy answer without structural organization
Policy / extension angle22%11Links water quality to Soil Health Card Scheme; connects INM to NPK use ratio improvement (4:2:1 target) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana; critiques PMFBY—delayed claims, area vs. individual assessment, suggests PMFBY 2.0 reforms; recommends Farmer Producer Organizations for insurance awarenessLists schemes without critical analysis; mentions extension role generically; no policy critique or reform suggestionsNo policy context; ignores government schemes; purely academic treatment without application to Indian farming systems

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