Agricultural Revolutions — Set 10

Correct Answer: B. Integrating all sector revolutions for complete dietary and nutritional security

The Rainbow Revolution represents the integrated development of all agricultural sectors — grains (Green), dairy (White), fisheries (Blue), oilseeds (Yellow), horticulture (Golden), eggs/poultry (Silver), and others — ensuring dietary diversity and nutritional completeness. Each 'color' represents a food group essential for balanced nutrition. The Rainbow Revolution concept recognizes that food security requires not just caloric sufficiency from cereals but complete nutritional adequacy from diverse sources.

Correct Answer: B. Green Revolution's tubewell-based rice cultivation in a water-scarce region

Punjab's severe groundwater crisis (water table declining 0.5-1 meter per year) is primarily a legacy of the Green Revolution's tubewell-based irrigation for paddy (rice) cultivation. Rice is a water-intensive crop not native to Punjab's climate, but its high MSP procurement incentivized large-scale cultivation. This combination of water-intensive crop and tubewell irrigation has created an unsustainable agricultural system. The government now incentivizes farmers to shift from paddy to less water-intensive crops.

Correct Answer: B. Chemical-free farming using cow-based inputs, linked to Andhra Pradesh zero budget model

Natural farming (Prakritik Kheti) is a chemical-free farming approach based on Subhash Palekar's Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) model, which uses cow dung/urine-based preparations (jeevamrit, bijamrit) as the primary inputs. The Indian government launched a National Mission on Natural Farming (2023) and promotes it as an alternative to chemical-intensive farming, particularly for reducing input costs for small farmers and improving soil health.

Correct Answer: B. About 16-17 million tonnes

India's wheat production crossed 16 million tonnes in 1968-69, nearly double the production of four years earlier, marking the breakthrough success of the Green Revolution. This dramatic increase was achieved through widespread adoption of Mexican semi-dwarf HYV seeds, increased fertilizer use, and expanded irrigation in Punjab and Haryana. PM Indira Gandhi released a 'Wheat Revolution' commemorative stamp marking this historic agricultural achievement.

Correct Answer: B. Beyond food security, focusing on environmental sustainability, farmer income, and nutritional diversity

The 'food-plus' approach recognizes that agricultural policy must go beyond mere food production quantity to address: environmental sustainability (soil, water, biodiversity conservation), farmer economic well-being (income, debt, dignity), nutritional diversity (micronutrients beyond calories), and rural development. This philosophy, associated with post-Swaminathan agricultural thinking, responds to the limitations of the production-focused first Green Revolution that created environmental and social problems while solving food quantity challenges.

Correct Answer: B. Precisely modifying specific genes without inserting foreign DNA, unlike traditional GMO approaches

Genome editing using CRISPR-Cas9 technology can precisely modify specific genes in crop plants without necessarily inserting genes from other species (unlike traditional GMO), potentially avoiding GMO regulatory frameworks. Applications include developing drought-resistant crops, improving yield, enhancing nutritional profiles, and increasing pest resistance. This technology is central to the Third Green Revolution and Second Green Revolution's advanced biotechnology phase, with regulatory debates ongoing in India.

Correct Answer: B. Cold chain infrastructure — cold storage, refrigerated transport

Cold chain infrastructure — cold storage units, refrigerated trucks, and pack-houses — has been critical for the Golden Revolution's success in horticulture. Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable; without proper cold chain, post-harvest losses can reach 30-40%. Government schemes like Agriculture Infrastructure Fund support cold chain development. States like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh have developed cold chain systems that enable export of mangoes, grapes, and apples to European and Middle Eastern markets.

Correct Answer: B. Promoting balanced, site-specific nutrition management combining organic and inorganic sources

The Evergreen Revolution does not advocate blanket banning of chemical fertilizers but calls for balanced, site-specific nutrition management combining organic matter (compost, green manure) with judicious chemical fertilizer use based on soil test recommendations. The approach promotes Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) that improves nutrient use efficiency, reduces environmental pollution from excess fertilizer use, and maintains soil health while ensuring crops receive adequate nutrition for high yields.

Correct Answer: B. Preserving genetic diversity of crop plants for future breeding and food security

Seed banks like NBPGR (National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources) preserve thousands of varieties of crop plants including traditional varieties, landraces, and wild relatives. This genetic diversity is the raw material for developing new varieties — drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, high-yielding — for future agricultural challenges including climate change. Without seed banks, genetic erosion caused by Green Revolution's focus on few HYV varieties would permanently lose irreplaceable genetic resources.

Correct Answer: B. Blue Revolution

India's aquaculture production growth — particularly shrimp farming, catfish, and carp culture — is a key indicator of the Blue Revolution's success. India is one of the world's top aquaculture producers, exporting significant quantities of shrimp to the USA, EU, and Japan. States like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal lead in aquaculture. PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) further accelerates this growth through targeted investment.