Daily Quiz – 26th Feb 2024

Exp) Option c is the correct answer.

Direct seeding of rice (DSR) is a method of planting rice seeds directly into the field, without growing them in a nursery first. Some advantages of DSR are:

Option 1 is correct: DSR reduces methane emission due to a shorter flooding period and decreased soil disturbance compared to transplanting rice seedlings. Various studies have showed that direct seeding resulted in a 16-54% reduction in methane emissions compared to that of transplanted rice seedlings.

Option 2 is correct: Water-use efficiency is the ratio of crop yield to water input. DSR improves water-use efficiency by requiring less irrigation than the conventional method of transplanting rice seedlings. DSR saves water by eliminating the need for nursery preparation, puddling, and continuous flooding. DSR also reduces water losses due to evaporation, percolation, and seepage.

Option 3 is correct: Crop maturity is the time taken by a crop to reach its harvestable stage. DSR shortens the crop duration by 7-10 days compared to transplanting, as the seeds are sown earlier and the plants do not suffer from transplanting shock. Early crop maturity allows for timely harvesting and planting of subsequent crops, which can increase the overall farm productivity and income.

Option 4 is incorrect: Lower seed demand is not an advantage of Direct Seeding of Rice (DSR), because DSR requires more seeds than transplanting. The seed rate for DSR is 8-10 kg/acre, while for transplanting it is 4-5 kg/acre. This is because DSR has lower seed germination and plant establishment rates than transplanting, and also faces more competition from weeds and pests.

India has three main crop seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. These seasons are based on the monsoon, temperature, and soil conditions of the country.

Statement I is correct: Rice and cotton are primarily sown in kharif season in India. Kharif crops are sown at the beginning of the first rains in June and July and harvested in September and October. Rice and cotton are among the major kharif crops in India, along with maize, bajra, jowar, and others. Rice is grown in rain-fed areas with hot and humid climates, especially in the eastern and southern parts of India. Cotton is grown in areas with black soil and moderate rainfall, such as

Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Both rice and cotton are important crops for India‟s food security and economy. Statement II is correct and correctly explains statement I: Rice and cotton require warm and wet weather at major period of their growth. Rice and cotton need a lot of water and heat to grow, which are available during the monsoon season.

1) Rice is a kharif crop which requires high temperature, (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.

2) Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth. It is a kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

The reason why rice and cotton are sown in kharif season in India is because they need warm and wet weather conditions, which are provided by the monsoon season.

The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) is a statutory body that promotes, plans, and organizes programs for the development of dairy and other agriculture and allied industries and biologicals. The NDDB was established on July 16, 1965, by Verghese Kurien.

Statement 1 is correct. The National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) was given statutory status under the National Dairy Development Board Act, 1987. It was established in 1965. Before this act in 1987, it was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. The 1987 Act formalized its status as a statutory body and declared it an institution of national importance.

Statement 2 is incorrect. The NDDB operates autonomously as a statutory body under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India. It functions independently to formulate policies and implement programs for the development of the dairy sector.

Statement 3 is incorrect. While the NDDB plays a significant role in promoting dairy cooperatives and supporting dairy farmers, it does not directly set milk procurement prices. Milk procurement prices are determined by dairy cooperatives and private dairy companies based on various factors such as market demand, production costs, and government policies.

Statement 4 is correct: Dairy processing & Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF) is established with NABARD. It aims to modernize the milk processing plants and machinery and to create additional infrastructure for processing more milk. It is implemented by the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC).

Sugarcane is grown throughout India, with the exception of cold hilly areas such as Kashmir Valley, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. The subtropical region accounts for approximately 55% of the total sugarcane area and 45% of total sugarcane production.

Statement 1: Sugarcane requires a significant amount of water throughout its growth cycle, making adequate and consistent water supply essential for optimal growth and yield. It generally requires 75-100 cm of rainfall. While sugarcane can tolerate periods of drought, irrigation is often necessary, especially during critical growth stages. Therefore, areas with access to irrigation or regions with sufficient rainfall are ideal for sugarcane cultivation.

Statement 2: Sugarcane is a tropical and subtropical crop that thrives in warm climates with temperatures ranging between 21°C to 27°C. Additionally, sugarcane requires adequate moisture, and dry climatic conditions may lead to water stress, affecting crop productivity.

Statement 3: Sugarcane grows best in well-drained soils with good fertility and aeration. While it can adapt to various soil types, including sandy loam, loamy, and clay soils, well-drained soils with good fertility are preferred for optimal growth and yield. Adequate soil fertility ensures that sugarcane plants have access to essential nutrients throughout their growth cycle, contributing to healthy growth and high-yielding crops.

Statement 4: Around 55 per cent of total cane area in the country is in the sub-tropics. U.P, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab comes under this region. Major Sugarcane Producing States

As per the latest available data, India's agricultural sector received institutional credit totaling Rs. 13.93 lakh crore, surpassing the Rs. 13.50 lakh crore target. This includes Rs. 8.25 lakh crore in shortterm credit and Rs. 5.68 lakh crore in long-term credit.

Option a is correct: The correct order of financial institutions in terms of their net credit flow to the agricultural sector are Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) > Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) > Cooperative Banks >Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).

As per the latest available reports of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), the Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) (Rs 1070036 crores) is the largest contributor to agricultural loans, followed by Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) (Rs 165326 crores), Cooperative banks (Rs 157367 crores) and other agencies including Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs).