Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Mixed cropping and growing different crops in consecutive years on the same land have helped farmers in controlling pests.
Reason (R): Improper crop rotation is one of the practices that help to prevent land degradation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A) is true but (R) is false.
Assertion (A): Mixed cropping and growing different crops in consecutive years on the same land have helped farmers in controlling pests. — True. Along with neem-based pesticides, these practices are part of biopest control.
Reason (R): Improper crop rotation is one of the practices that help to prevent land degradation. — False. Improper crop rotation is one of the factors responsible for land degradation. It harms the land.
NCERT (2026-27): “7.5 Strategies for Sustainable Development … Biopest Control: … To meet this challenge, efforts are on to bring in better methods of pest control. One such step is the use of pesticides based on plant products. Neem trees are proving to be quite useful. Several types of pest controlling chemicals have been isolated from neem and these are being used. Mixed cropping and growing different crops in consecutive years on the same land have also helped farmers.” “7.3 State of India’s Environment … Some of the factors responsible for land degradation are (i) loss of vegetation occuring due to deforestation (ii) unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction (iii) shifting cultivation (iv) encroachment into forest lands (v) forest fires and over grazing (vi) non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures (vii) improper crop rotation (viii) indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides …” |