Context:
Over half of global crop production dependent on just 9 crops: FAO
Key findings:
- 9 crops dominating global production – Sugarcane, maize, rice, wheat, potatoes, soybeans, oil palm, sugar beet, and cassava.
- Reduction in Plant Diversity – Diversity at species and variety levels is declining.
- Agricultural markets emphasize uniformity to meet high-input production needs, industrial processing demands, and strict market standards.
- Loss of Farmer Varieties & Landraces (FV/LR) – Farmer varieties and landraces are increasingly being replaced by commercial and standardized crop varieties.
- Geographical Threat Levels –
- Highest genetic erosion: Southern Africa, Caribbean, Western Asia.
- Lowest genetic erosion: Southern Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.
- Recommendations to Enhance Crop Diversity:
- Seed Policy – Development of national seed policies promoting diverse cropping systems.
- Funding – Increased public and private sector investment in Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA).
- Data Sharing – Enhanced standardization and sharing of data for efficient research outcomes.
- Modern Biotechnologies – Leverage advanced crop breeding technologies for improved resilience and productivity.
Source: DTE
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Only Statement 2 is correct: China’s irrigation cover is 41% of cultivated area, and India’s is 48%. Hence, India has high proportion of irrigated area.