QUESTION 14
GS3
15 marks
What are the present challenges before crop diversification? How do emerging technologies provide an opportunity for crop diversification?
WRITE IN
11 min
250 words
What the examiner wants
Discuss the barriers to crop diversification in India and how new technologies can help.
DiscussExplain the different sides of the issue, use evidence, and finish with a balanced view.
Demand-wise check
- 1Challenges: MSP and procurement bias towards rice and wheat, assured markets, free power and water, small holdings, risk aversion, poor storage≈50 words
- 2Technologies: precision farming, drones, remote sensing for crop planning, micro-irrigation, digital markets (eNAM), climate-resilient seeds, cold chains≈50 words
- 3Examples: Punjab's diversification push, millets mission≈50 words
- 4Policy support: price deficiency payments, FPOs≈50 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
Why diversifyChallengesTechnologiesExamplesConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Technology list without linking to diversification
- Missing MSP-procurement bias
Draw this
- Table: barrier → technology solution
Value addition
- DataRice and wheat take about 60% of India's gross cropped area under cereals; Punjab draws groundwater in most blocks beyond recharge.Directorate of Economics and Statistics / CGWB
- SchemeIndia's 2023 International Year of Millets push and the Shree Anna initiative aim to diversify towards nutri-cereals.Ministry of Agriculture
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 7 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aniket Ranjan · AIR 48 · Page 29 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 9 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 11 minutes, then get it checked.