Read the given passage carefully and answer the following questions.
On the basis of the main source of moisture for crops, the farming can be classified as irrigated and rainfed (barani). There is a difference in the nature of irrigated farming, as well as based on the objective of irrigation, i.e., protective or productive. The objective of protective irrigation is to protect the crops from adverse effects of soil moisture deficiency, which often means that irrigation acts as a supplementary source of water over and above the rainfall. The strategy of this kind of irrigation is to provide soil moisture to the maximum possible area. Productive irrigation is meant to provide sufficient soil moisture in the cropping season to achieve high productivity. In such irrigation, the water input per unit area of cultivated land is higher than protective irrigation. Rainfed farming is further classified on the basis of adequacy of soil moisture during the cropping season into dry-land and wetland farming. In India, dry-land farming is largely confined to the regions having annual rainfall less than 75 cm. These regions grow hardy and drought resistant crops such as ragi, bajra, moong, gram and guar (fodder crops) and practise various measures of soil moisture conservation and rain water harvesting. In wetland farming, the rainfall is in excess of the soil moisture requirement of plants during the rainy season. Such regions may face flood and soil erosion hazards. These areas grow various water intensive crops such as rice, jute and sugarcane and practise aquaculture in the fresh water bodies.
Identify the correct statement.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Drought resistant crops and rain water harvesting play important role in dryland farming regions.
The passage states: “These regions grow hardy and drought resistant crops such as ragi, bajra, moong, gram and guar (fodder crops) and practise various measures of soil moisture conservation and rain water harvesting.”
Option (1) Wetland farming is characterized by the cultivation of less water intensive crops. — Incorrect. Wetland regions get more rain than the plants need, so they grow water intensive crops such as rice, jute and sugarcane.
Option (2) Dryland farming is characterized by the cultivation of water intensive crops. — Incorrect. Dryland regions get less than 75 cm of rain. They grow hardy crops that need little water, not water intensive ones.
Option (3) The aim of productive irrigation is to provide soil moisture to the maximum possible area. — Incorrect. Spreading water over the maximum possible area is the strategy of protective irrigation. Productive irrigation gives enough moisture in the cropping season to get high productivity, so it puts more water on each unit of land.
Option (4) Drought resistant crops and rain water harvesting play important role in dryland farming regions. — Correct. Hardy crops survive the dry months, and rain water harvesting and soil moisture conservation make the little rain go further.