1Which of the following best defines a 'Livelihood' in the context of Agricultural Livelihood Systems?
A.The mere possession of agricultural land
B.The capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living
C.The total profit generated from a cash crop
D.The availability of government subsidies for farming
Correct Answer: The capabilities, assets, and activities required for a means of living
Explanation:According to Chambers and Conway (1992), a livelihood comprises the capabilities, assets (stores, resources, claims, and access), and activities required for a means of living.
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2In the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), what are the five core assets often represented as a pentagon?
Explanation:The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework identifies five types of capital (assets) upon which people build their livelihoods: Human, Social, Natural, Physical, and Financial capital.
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3Which of the following constitutes 'Natural Capital' in an agricultural livelihood system?
A.Farm machinery and irrigation pumps
B.Membership in a cooperative society
C.Land, water, biodiversity, and environmental resources
D.Cash savings and gold jewellery
Correct Answer: Land, water, biodiversity, and environmental resources
Explanation:Natural capital refers to the natural resource stocks (soil, water, air, genetic resources, etc.) and environmental services from which resource flows and services useful for livelihoods are derived.
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4The 'Vulnerability Context' in livelihood frameworks refers to:
A.The external environment over which people have limited control
B.The internal weakness of the farm management
C.The lack of physical infrastructure on the farm
D.The inability to sell produce at market rates
Correct Answer: The external environment over which people have limited control
Explanation:The Vulnerability Context refers to shocks (e.g., floods, conflicts), trends (e.g., population growth), and seasonality (e.g., price fluctuations) that are external to the household but impact their livelihood.
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5What is the primary difference between a 'Farming System' and a 'Cropping System'?
A.They are synonymous terms
B.Cropping systems include livestock, while farming systems do not
C.Farming systems represent a resource management strategy involving all enterprises (crops, livestock, etc.), whereas cropping systems refer only to crop patterns
D.Farming systems apply only to large commercial farms
Correct Answer: Farming systems represent a resource management strategy involving all enterprises (crops, livestock, etc.), whereas cropping systems refer only to crop patterns
Explanation:A Farming System is a decision-making unit comprising the farm household, cropping, and livestock systems, which transforms land, capital, and labor into products. A cropping system is a sub-system dealing only with crop sequences and management.
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6In the context of ALS, what does 'Social Capital' refer to?
A.The total social status of a farmer
B.Networks, membership of groups, relationships of trust, and access to wider institutions
C.The government schemes available for society
D.The labor force available within the family
Correct Answer: Networks, membership of groups, relationships of trust, and access to wider institutions
Explanation:Social capital refers to the social resources upon which people draw in pursuit of their livelihood objectives, such as networks, membership in groups (like Self Help Groups), and relationships of trust.
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7Which approach was popularized by DFID (Department for International Development) to analyze poverty and livelihoods?
A.The Green Revolution Framework
B.The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA)
C.The Industrial Agriculture Model
D.The Top-Down Extension Approach
Correct Answer: The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA)
Explanation:The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) was developed and popularized by the UK's DFID in the late 1990s as a way to understand and address poverty.
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8A livelihood is considered 'sustainable' when it can:
A.Generate maximum profit in the short term
B.Cope with and recover from stresses and shocks while maintaining or enhancing its capabilities and assets
C.Rely entirely on external aid
D.Focus exclusively on monoculture farming
Correct Answer: Cope with and recover from stresses and shocks while maintaining or enhancing its capabilities and assets
Explanation:According to the standard definition, a livelihood is sustainable when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks, maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets, and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for the next generation.
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9Within the livelihood framework, 'Physical Capital' includes:
A.Health and nutrition status
B.Infrastructure like roads, shelter, water supply, and energy, as well as production equipment
C.Liquid cash and bank deposits
D.Rainfall and forest cover
Correct Answer: Infrastructure like roads, shelter, water supply, and energy, as well as production equipment
Explanation:Physical capital comprises the basic infrastructure and producer goods needed to support livelihoods, such as transport, shelter, water management structures, energy, and tools.
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10Which of the following is an example of a 'Shock' in the Vulnerability Context?
A.Gradual decline in soil fertility
B.Seasonal fluctuation in crop prices
C.Sudden outbreak of a livestock epidemic
D.Long-term population growth
Correct Answer: Sudden outbreak of a livestock epidemic
Explanation:Shocks are sudden, unpredictable events such as natural disasters, epidemics, or civil conflict. Trends are gradual, and seasonality is predictable.
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11Mixed farming is defined as:
A.Growing two or more crops simultaneously in rows
B.A system combining crop production with livestock rearing on the same farm
C.Farming without the use of chemicals
D.Farming done on mixed soil types
Correct Answer: A system combining crop production with livestock rearing on the same farm
Explanation:Mixed farming involves the integration of crops and livestock, where the by-products of one enterprise (e.g., crop residues) serve as inputs for the other (e.g., fodder), and vice versa (manure).
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12What is the significance of 'Livelihood Diversification' in farming systems?
A.It increases the risk of total failure
B.It reduces vulnerability by spreading risk across multiple activities
C.It reduces the labor requirement of the household
D.It strictly focuses on high-yield variety seeds
Correct Answer: It reduces vulnerability by spreading risk across multiple activities
Explanation:Diversification involves constructing a diverse portfolio of activities and social support capabilities to survive and improve standards of living, primarily to reduce the risk associated with relying on a single source of income.
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13In the context of farming systems, what does the term 'synergy' imply?
A.Competition between crops for nutrients
B.The interaction of two or more components producing a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects
C.The continuous cultivation of the same crop
D.The degradation of soil due to overuse
Correct Answer: The interaction of two or more components producing a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects
Explanation:Synergy in farming systems (e.g., Integrated Farming Systems) refers to the positive interaction where the output of the combined system is higher than the sum of individual components (e.g., Fish + Rice).
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14Which of the following is a prevalent farming system in the Indo-Gangetic plains of India?
A.Jhum Cultivation
B.Rice-Wheat System
C.Plantation Agriculture
D.Nomadic Herding
Correct Answer: Rice-Wheat System
Explanation:The Rice-Wheat cropping system is the most prevalent and intensive farming system in the Indo-Gangetic plains (Punjab, Haryana, UP), contributing significantly to India's food security.
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15The 'Transforming Structures and Processes' in the DFID framework refer to:
A.The biological transformation of crops
B.The institutions, organizations, policies, and legislation that shape livelihoods
C.The processing of raw agricultural goods into finished products
D.The construction of physical farm structures
Correct Answer: The institutions, organizations, policies, and legislation that shape livelihoods
Explanation:Transforming Structures (government, private sector) and Processes (laws, policies, culture) determine access to assets and the terms of exchange between different types of capital.
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16What is 'Human Capital' in the context of ALS?
A.The number of people in a village
B.The skills, knowledge, ability to labor, and good health that enable people to pursue livelihood strategies
C.The biological yield of a human-managed farm
D.The wages paid to hired labor
Correct Answer: The skills, knowledge, ability to labor, and good health that enable people to pursue livelihood strategies
Explanation:Human capital represents the quality of labor resources available to households, including education, skills, health, and nutrition levels.
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17Which farming system is characterized by the rotation of fields rather than crops, involving slash and burn?
A.Terrace Farming
B.Jhum (Shifting) Cultivation
C.Hydroponics
D.Precision Farming
Correct Answer: Jhum (Shifting) Cultivation
Explanation:Jhum or Shifting Cultivation involves clearing a piece of forest land by slashing and burning, cultivating it for a few years, and then abandoning it for regeneration while moving to a new plot. It is prevalent in Northeast India.
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18The integration of trees with crops and/or livestock on the same unit of land is known as:
A.Monoculture
B.Agroforestry
C.Truck Farming
D.Ley Farming
Correct Answer: Agroforestry
Explanation:Agroforestry is a land-use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland, offering diverse products and ecosystem services.
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19In a 'Subsistence Farming' livelihood system, the primary goal is:
A.Export to international markets
B.Maximizing profit margins
C.Production for household consumption with little surplus for trade
D.Producing raw material for industry
Correct Answer: Production for household consumption with little surplus for trade
Explanation:Subsistence farming is self-sufficiency farming in which the farmers focus on growing enough food to feed themselves and their families.
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20Financial Capital in the livelihood framework includes:
A.Skills and knowledge
B.Savings, credit, remittances, and pensions
C.Tools and machinery
D.Social networks
Correct Answer: Savings, credit, remittances, and pensions
Explanation:Financial capital denotes the financial resources that people use to achieve their livelihood objectives, including available stocks (savings) and regular inflows of money (pensions, remittances).
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21Which of the following is NOT a component of the Integrated Farming System (IFS)?
A.Crop production
B.Livestock rearing
C.Bio-gas production
D.Complete dependence on external chemical inputs
Correct Answer: Complete dependence on external chemical inputs
Explanation:IFS aims to minimize dependence on external inputs by recycling waste and by-products within the system (e.g., using manure for crops, crop residue for feed). Complete dependence on chemicals contradicts the IFS philosophy.
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22What is the primary role of livestock in the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers in India?
A.Solely for recreational purposes
B.As a status symbol only
C.As an insurance against crop failure and a source of regular cash flow
D.To compete with large industrial farms
Correct Answer: As an insurance against crop failure and a source of regular cash flow
Explanation:For smallholders, livestock acts as a 'living bank' or insurance against crop failure, provides draught power, manure, and daily income (e.g., milk), reducing vulnerability.
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23The 'Rice-Fish' farming system is most prevalent in which region of India?
A.Arid regions of Rajasthan
B.Coastal and high-rainfall areas like Kerala and West Bengal
C.Cold deserts of Ladakh
D.Cotton belts of Maharashtra
Correct Answer: Coastal and high-rainfall areas like Kerala and West Bengal
Explanation:Rice-Fish farming requires standing water, making it suitable for high-rainfall and coastal areas or river deltas found in states like Kerala, West Bengal, and parts of the Northeast.
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24What defines 'Specialized Farming'?
A.Income from a single enterprise constitutes less than 50% of total farm income
B.Income from a single enterprise constitutes 50% or more of the total farm income
C.Farming involving at least 5 different crops
D.Farming done exclusively by machines
Correct Answer: Income from a single enterprise constitutes 50% or more of the total farm income
Explanation:Specialized farming is defined when 50% or more of the total income is derived from a single source or enterprise (e.g., a tea estate or a specialized dairy farm).
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25The diagram representing the relationships between different assets in the Sustainable Livelihood Framework is shaped as a:
A.Triangle
B.Square
C.Pentagon
D.Circle
Correct Answer: Pentagon
Explanation:The 'Asset Pentagon' is the visual representation of the five types of capital (Human, Social, Natural, Physical, Financial) in the DFID framework.
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26Which mathematical concept is often used to optimize resource allocation in farming systems?
A.Calculus of variations
B.Linear Programming
C.Riemann Hypothesis
D.Chaos Theory
Correct Answer: Linear Programming
Explanation:Linear Programming (LP) is a widely used mathematical technique in farm management to determine the optimal combination of farm enterprises to maximize profit or minimize cost subject to resource constraints.
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27In the context of ALS, what does 'Seasonality' imply regarding vulnerability?
A.The permanent loss of assets
B.Predictable cyclical changes in prices, production, and employment opportunities
C.The impact of government policy changes
D.The long-term degradation of soil
Correct Answer: Predictable cyclical changes in prices, production, and employment opportunities
Explanation:Seasonality refers to predictable shifts across the year, such as the 'lean season' before harvest when food stocks are low and prices are high, or seasonal demand for agricultural labor.
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28Which of the following represents a 'Silvopastoral' system?
A.Trees + Crops
B.Trees + Animals (Pasture)
C.Trees + Crops + Animals
D.Crops + Fish
Correct Answer: Trees + Animals (Pasture)
Explanation:Silvopastoral systems involve the integration of trees (woody perennials) with pasture and livestock.
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29The concept of 'Livelihood Outcomes' includes:
A.Only monetary profit
B.More income, increased well-being, reduced vulnerability, and improved food security
C.The number of crops planted
D.The amount of fertilizer used
Correct Answer: More income, increased well-being, reduced vulnerability, and improved food security
Explanation:Outcomes are the achievements of livelihood strategies. They include higher income, improved well-being (health, self-esteem), reduced vulnerability, improved food security, and sustainable use of natural resources.
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30Which prevalent Indian farming system is typically found in regions with less than 750mm rainfall?
A.Wetland Farming
B.Dryland Farming
C.Aquaculture
D.Hydroponics
Correct Answer: Dryland Farming
Explanation:Dryland farming is practiced in regions with low rainfall (typically less than 750mm) and no assured irrigation, relying heavily on moisture conservation techniques.
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31Which of the following is a 'Transforming Process' in the livelihood framework?
A.Soil erosion
B.Culture and power relations
C.Building a barn
D.Harvesting wheat
Correct Answer: Culture and power relations
Explanation:Processes include the 'rules of the game', such as laws, regulations, culture, and power relations that determine how structures (organizations) operate and interact with people.
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32A farming system approach focuses on:
A.Individual crop technology
B.The whole farm as a system and the interrelationships between its components
C.Maximizing the yield of the dominant crop only
D.Export-oriented marketing only
Correct Answer: The whole farm as a system and the interrelationships between its components
Explanation:The Farming Systems Approach views the farm as a holistic unit, analyzing the interdependencies between farm household, crops, livestock, and off-farm activities to solve problems.
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33In the context of ALS, what is 'Diversified Farming'?
A.Farming where 50% income comes from one source
B.Farming with several enterprises where no single source contributes more than 50% of total income
C.Farming limited to one season
D.Farming using diverse chemicals
Correct Answer: Farming with several enterprises where no single source contributes more than 50% of total income
Explanation:Diversified farming involves multiple enterprises (crops, livestock, dairy, etc.) where no single enterprise dominates the income stream (contributing less than 50%), thereby reducing risk.
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34The 'Carrying Capacity' of a farming system refers to:
A.The weight a tractor can pull
B.The maximum number of individuals or species that the environment can sustainably support
C.The storage capacity of a grain silo
D.The financial debt a farmer can handle
Correct Answer: The maximum number of individuals or species that the environment can sustainably support
Explanation:Ecologically, carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species (including humans/livestock) that the environment can sustain indefinitely, given the food, habitat, water, and other necessities available.
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35Which of the following is a key feature of 'Peri-urban Agriculture'?
A.It occurs in remote rural areas
B.It focuses on low-value staple crops like wheat
C.It occurs around cities and focuses on high-value perishables like vegetables, milk, and flowers
D.It relies solely on rain-fed irrigation
Correct Answer: It occurs around cities and focuses on high-value perishables like vegetables, milk, and flowers
Explanation:Peri-urban agriculture takes place on the fringes of urban areas, capitalizing on the proximity to markets to produce high-value, perishable items like vegetables, poultry, and dairy.
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36The 'Agrosilvopastoral' system includes:
A.Crops + Trees
B.Trees + Pasture
C.Crops + Trees + Animals/Pasture
D.Fish + Crops
Correct Answer: Crops + Trees + Animals/Pasture
Explanation:Agrosilvopastoral systems combine all three major components: Agricultural crops, Forest trees (Silvi), and Pasture/Animals.
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37Why is the 'Farming System Approach' considered demand-driven?
A.It is driven by the demand of seed companies
B.It is based on the needs and problems identified by the farm families themselves
C.It is driven by export demands only
D.It is dictated by government quotas
Correct Answer: It is based on the needs and problems identified by the farm families themselves
Explanation:The Farming Systems Approach is participatory and demand-driven because it starts by understanding the farmers' priorities, constraints, and needs rather than imposing top-down technologies.
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38Which of the following best describes 'Scope of Farming Systems'?
A.It is limited to tillage operations
B.It encompasses production, protection, processing, storage, and marketing across varying enterprises
C.It refers only to the geographical boundary of the farm
D.It defines the legal ownership of the land
Correct Answer: It encompasses production, protection, processing, storage, and marketing across varying enterprises
Explanation:The scope represents the extent of activities, covering the integration of multiple enterprises (crop, livestock, poultry, fishery, sericulture, etc.) and the entire value chain from production to marketing.
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39In the DFID framework, 'Trends' (part of Vulnerability Context) include:
A.Earthquakes and floods
B.Population trends, resource trends (degradation), and economic trends (governance)
C.Daily weather changes
D.The layout of the farm house
Correct Answer: Population trends, resource trends (degradation), and economic trends (governance)
Explanation:Trends are long-term patterns that affect livelihoods, such as demographic changes, technological trends, or the gradual depletion of natural resources.
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40Which farming system is most associated with the 'Green Revolution' in India?
A.Organic Farming
B.Intensive Monocropping (e.g., Rice-Wheat) with high inputs
C.Shifting Cultivation
D.Pastoral Nomadism
Correct Answer: Intensive Monocropping (e.g., Rice-Wheat) with high inputs
Explanation:The Green Revolution was characterized by the introduction of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs), irrigation, and chemical fertilizers, promoting intensive systems like Rice-Wheat, particularly in North India.
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41Access to information, such as market prices or weather forecasts, is often categorized under which asset?
A.Natural Capital
B.Social Capital (sometimes Information is treated as distinct or part of Social/Human)
C.It is not considered an asset
D.Physical Capital
Correct Answer: Social Capital (sometimes Information is treated as distinct or part of Social/Human)
Explanation:While frameworks vary, information flows through social networks (Social Capital) or enhances knowledge (Human Capital). In some extended frameworks, it's a distinct capital, but standard DFID models link it to Social/Human capital.
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42Which factor is a biological determinant of a farming system?
A.Market prices
B.Topography
C.Pest and disease complexes
D.Labor availability
Correct Answer: Pest and disease complexes
Explanation:Biological determinants include crops, livestock, weeds, pests, and diseases. Topography is physical, while markets and labor are socio-economic.
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43What is the main limitation of the Rice-Wheat cropping system in Punjab/Haryana impacting livelihoods?
A.Lack of market demand
B.Groundwater depletion and soil health deterioration
C.Lack of machinery
D.Excessive rainfall
Correct Answer: Groundwater depletion and soil health deterioration
Explanation:The intensive Rice-Wheat system has led to severe ecological consequences, primarily the over-extraction of groundwater and decline in soil organic carbon, threatening the long-term sustainability of livelihoods.
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44In Coastal Farming Systems, a common livelihood strategy involving water management is:
A.Desertification control
B.Rainwater harvesting in farm ponds for integrated aquaculture and irrigation
C.Deep borewell drilling
D.Shift to cactus farming
Correct Answer: Rainwater harvesting in farm ponds for integrated aquaculture and irrigation
Explanation:In coastal areas prone to salinity or waterlogging, digging farm ponds to harvest rainwater allows for freshwater aquaculture and provides irrigation for vegetables on the bunds (dikes).
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45The term 'Farming Systems Research (FSR)' emphasizes:
A.Laboratory-based experiments
B.On-farm research with farmer participation
C.Theoretical modeling only
D.Genetic engineering
Correct Answer: On-farm research with farmer participation
Explanation:FSR is diagnostic and problem-solving research conducted on farmers' fields with their active participation to develop appropriate technologies.
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46Which of the following is a 'Physical Capital' constraint in many Indian villages?
A.Lack of community trust
B.Poor road connectivity and lack of electricity
C.Low soil fertility
D.Illiteracy
Correct Answer: Poor road connectivity and lack of electricity
Explanation:Roads, electricity, and water supply infrastructure are classified as Physical Capital. Their absence limits market access and production efficiency.
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47What is 'Value Addition' in the context of agricultural livelihoods?
A.Adding more fertilizer to the soil
B.Buying more land
C.Processing or packaging raw produce to increase its market price
D.Counting the total inventory
Correct Answer: Processing or packaging raw produce to increase its market price
Explanation:Value addition involves changing the form of the raw product (e.g., wheat to flour, milk to cheese) or packaging it to fetch a higher price in the market, thereby enhancing income.
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48Which system involves the rotation of a legume crop with a cereal crop to improve soil fertility?
A.Monoculture
B.Crop Rotation
C.Aquaponics
D.Sericulture
Correct Answer: Crop Rotation
Explanation:Crop rotation involves growing different crops in succession on the same land. Legumes (pulses) fix atmospheric nitrogen, benefiting the subsequent cereal crop.
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49The 'Pentagon of Assets' is used to visualize:
A.The total land area of the farm
B.The inter-relationships and balance between different types of capital available to a household
C.The five seasons of agriculture
D.The five stages of crop growth
Correct Answer: The inter-relationships and balance between different types of capital available to a household
Explanation:The shape of the pentagon shows the access profile of a household to different assets. A distorted pentagon indicates inequality in asset access (e.g., high social capital but low financial capital).
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50Sustainability in farming-based livelihood systems implies identifying trade-offs between:
A.Buying and selling
B.Economic efficiency, social equity, and ecological integrity
C.Crops and weeds
D.Tractors and bullocks
Correct Answer: Economic efficiency, social equity, and ecological integrity
Explanation:Sustainable systems must balance economic profitability (efficiency) with social benefits (equity) and environmental preservation (ecological integrity).
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