Which among the following is/are the objective(s) of the Rainfed Area Development (RAD) initiative under the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)?
- Encouraging monoculture in rainfed areas
- Increasing rice cultivation in irrigated regions
- Enhancing productivity and minimising climatic risks through Integrated Farming Systems (IFS)
Select the answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Statement 1 — Incorrect.
RAD explicitly promotes Integrated Farming Systems (IFS), which combine multi-cropping, rotational cropping, horticulture, livestock, fishery, and agro-forestry. Monoculture is contrary to the scheme's philosophy.
Statement 2 — Incorrect.
RAD targets rainfed areas — regions without assured irrigation. Expanding rice cultivation in already-irrigated regions falls entirely outside its mandate.
Statement 3 — Correct.
The core objective of RAD is precisely to enhance productivity and build climate resilience through IFS, diversifying income sources to protect farmers from droughts, floods, and crop failure.
Key Point: RAD under NMSA is fundamentally about diversification and resilience in water-scarce, rain-dependent farming zones — the opposite of monoculture or irrigated expansion.
Question 1 of 6 Agricultural Reforms
Practice PYQ questions from this topic across all years
First question in this topic
Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?