Correct Answer:
(A)
Agriculture
Genetic industries are engaged in re-production and multiplication of certain species of plant and animals with the objective to sale. The main aim is to earn profit from such sale. Examples of genetic industries includes nurseries (where plants are grown for the sale), poultry farm (where birds are raised for meat and eggs), animal husbandry, pisciculture (for growing fish in ponds, canals and rivers), orchard (to harvest different kind of fruits) and agriculture or farming for growing crops. Examples are Bt cotton, Bt corn, rice, tomato, potato, and soybean etc.
Ques:
2
Which of the following factors / policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past?
Minimum Support Price
Government's trading
Government's stockpiling
Consumer subsidies
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer:
(D)
1, 2, 3 and 4
All of the given factors/policies were affecting the price of rice in India in the recent past. Minimum support price impacts the price of rice in India as it is directed at providing insurance to agricultural producers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The government typically buys more than one-third of the country's rice output at a fixed price, which also has a direct impact on prices paid by traders. In the recent years, sale of wheat and rice is undertaken through Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) so as to check inflationary trend in prices of foodgrains. Prices of rice (and wheat) remained stable in recent past due to adequate supply and also due to maintenance of adequate buffer stock of rice (and wheat) by the FCI. The impact of consumer subsidies is to lower prices for the consumers, e.g. the National Food Security Act provides rice at Rs. 3 per kg to the poor families.
Ques:
3
In India, which of the followings can be considered as public investment in agriculture?
Fixing Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce of all crops.
Computerization of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies.
Social Capital development.
Free electricity supply to farmers.
Waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system.
Setting up of cold storage facilities by the governments.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer:
(C)
2, 3 and 6 only
Public investment means investment in creation of physical infrastructure, such as, setting up cold storage facilities, construction of canals and rural roads, computerization of primary credit societies, social capital formation with education and training, research and development etc. Hence, statement (2), (3) and (6) are correct. Investment is a term associated with the capital part of the budget. Subsidy is a revenue part and it is not included in public investment. Thus, subsidies and loan waivers are not investment. Free electricity supply to farmers and waiver of agricultural loans by the banking system are parts of the government's subsidy policy. Public investment in agriculture constitutes investment made by government to create capital or social assets to improve agricultural productivity. Fixing MSP gives farmers the remunerative price without creating any durable infrastructure. Hence, statement (1), (4) and (5) are incorrect.
Ques:
4
What is meant by a Bullock Capitalist?
Correct Answer:
(C)
Farmers who have some resources but are not rich
The self-employed and self-funded producers with holdings large enough to support pair of bullocks are defined as ‘Bullock Capitalists’ by Lloyd and Susanne Rudolph (1987), while denoting the crucial role of public subsidies in preserving this faction of informal agrarian capitalism. They are small to medium-sized, self-employed agricultural producers who have some resources but are not rich.
Ques:
5
Which one of the followings is not a part of land reforms in India?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Multiple-cropping scheme
India had such an agricultural system at the time of independence in which the ownership of lands was centred in few hands. Therefore, land reforms were considered very imperative for the prosperity of the country and for this the eradication of the Zamindari system, ceiling on land holdings and tenancy reforms were adopted.