SSC CGL (Prelims) General: Agriculture questions with solutions

Q1. Which scheme focuses on improving soil fertility through balanced nutrient use?

1. PMFBY
2. PKVY
3. Soil Health Card Scheme
4. PMKSY

Answer: Soil Health Card Scheme

The Soil Health Card Scheme aims to improve soil fertility by promoting balanced use of nutrients based on soil testing. The other schemes relate to crop insurance, organic farming, and irrigation.

Q2. Which of the following crops is correctly matched with its cropping season and sowing condition in India?

1. Wheat – Kharif crop – Sown with onset of monsoon
2. Mustard – Zaid crop – Sown in summer
3. Maize – Kharif crop – Requires high temperature and rainfall
4. Barley – Rabi crop – Requires heavy rainfall

Answer: Maize – Kharif crop – Requires high temperature and rainfall

Maize is a kharif crop and is typically grown in warm weather with adequate rainfall. Wheat and barley are rabi crops, while mustard is also generally a rabi crop, not a zaid crop.

Q3. The Green Revolution in India mainly focused on:

1. Pulses
2. Oilseeds
3. Wheat and rice
4. Cotton

Answer: Wheat and rice

The Green Revolution in India primarily aimed at increasing the production of food grains, especially wheat and rice. These crops benefited most from high-yielding varieties, fertilizers, and irrigation.

Q4. The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana primarily aims to:

1. Provide health insurance
2. Protect farmers against crop loss
3. Subsidize fertilizers
4. Promote exports

Answer: Protect farmers against crop loss

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is the crop insurance scheme of the Government of India. It provides financial support to farmers when crops suffer losses due to natural calamities, pests, or diseases.

Q5. The concept of “agroforestry” primarily refers to:

1. Cultivation of crops only in forest areas
2. Integration of trees with crops and livestock systems
3. Plantation of ornamental plants in cities
4. Intensive irrigation practices in deserts

Answer: Integration of trees with crops and livestock systems

Agroforestry is a land-use system in which trees are deliberately grown together with crops and/or livestock. It aims to improve productivity, sustainability, and ecological balance.

Q6. One major reason for the uneven benefits of the Green Revolution in India was:

1. Absence of agricultural universities
2. Limited irrigation and infrastructure in some regions
3. Ban on fertilizer usage
4. Decline in global wheat demand

Answer: Limited irrigation and infrastructure in some regions

The Green Revolution benefited regions with irrigation, credit, and infrastructure more than others. Areas lacking these facilities could not fully use high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and mechanization.