UPSC Prelims 2014 · Question 61 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2014 question on Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative

What are the significance of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?

1. Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

2. Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.

3. There is no application of chemical/inorganic fertilizers at all in this.

4. The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 1, 2 and 4 only
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer

Answer: B. 1, 2 and 4 only

Verdict

The answer is 1, 2 and 4 only. The Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative lowers seed cost, suits drip irrigation and widens intercropping scope, but it does not ban chemical fertilisers.

Analysis

Statement 1 is CORRECT. Raising single budded chips in a nursery and transplanting young seedlings uses far less seed cane than planting setts directly, so seed cost falls sharply. Statement 2 is CORRECT. The wide spacing between transplanted seedlings makes drip lines easy to lay and highly efficient. Statement 4 is CORRECT. That same wide spacing leaves room for a short duration intercrop in the early months. Statement 3 is INCORRECT. The method encourages organic manure to enrich the soil and to optimise chemical fertiliser use, but it does not eliminate inorganic fertiliser altogether.

Source

Tamil Nadu Agricultural University expert system material on the Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative.

How to crack it

Statement 3 contains at all, an absolute, and a single exception destroys it. Beyond that, notice that three of the four statements follow from one design feature, wide spacing of transplanted seedlings, which is the same logic as the System of Rice Intensification. Learning one resource efficient method well lets you reason your way through its siblings, since SRI, SSI and similar approaches share the reduced seed, wider spacing and controlled water triad.

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