Question

Rural Development
There is a greater need today to make rural areas more vibrant through diversification into dairying, poultry, fisheries, vegetables and fruits and linking up the rural production centres with the urban and foreign markets to realise higher returns on the investments in the products. Moreover, infrastructure elements like credit and marketing, farmer-friendly agricultural policies and a constant appraisal and dialogue between farmers' groups and state agricultural departments are essential to realise the full potential of the sector.

Today we cannot look at the environment and rural development as two distinct subjects. There is need to invent or procure alternate sets of eco-friendly technologies that lead to sustainable development in different circumstances such as organic farming. From these, each rural community can choose whatever will suit its purpose. We need to learn from, and also try out when found relevant, practices from the available set of 'best practice' illustrations to speed up this process of 'learning by doing'. A good example of such practice is creating a group and channelling their savings through micro credit whcih functions like mini banks for the development of agriculture.

The change in cropping pattern and the other relates to a shift of workforce from agriculture to other allied activities and a non-agricultural sector is called?

• A. Agro-processing Industries.
• B. Diversification.
• C. Subsistence Farming
• D. Organic Farming.

Hint:

Crop pattern change and workforce shift to allied or non-farm work together make up diversification.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Look at the key words
The question mentions a change in crop pattern and a shift of workers to other activities. Both are examples of spreading out into new activities.

Step 2: Use the passage
The passage opens by saying rural areas need to be more vibrant through diversification into dairying, poultry, fisheries and vegetables. The word diversification already links to these new activities.

Step 3: Test each option
Agro-processing is a single industry. Subsistence farming is a type of farming for self-use. Organic farming is a method of cultivation. None of these is a general name for the move into new crops and new jobs.

Step 4: Answer
Diversification is the term for both changes, which is option 2.

Step 5: Two parts of diversification
Part one is a shift in the crop mix, for example from only cereals to fruits and vegetables. Part two is a shift of people to dairy, poultry, fisheries and non-farm jobs. The question names both, so the single word that covers them is diversification.

Final Answer:
The term is diversification, option 2. \[ \boxed{\text{Option 2}} \]