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Subject: Farming Techniques

  • Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization (SMAM)

    Why in News?

    The government highlighted the achievements of SMAM, including wider access to farm machinery, Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), and drone-based precision farming.

    Key Facts

    • Launched in 2014-15 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana).
    • Promotes mechanization among small & marginal farmers, women, SC/STs, FPOs, SHGs, and rural entrepreneurs.
    • Supports:
      • Subsidies for farm machinery
      • Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs)
      • Farm Machinery Banks (FMBs)
      • Hi-Tech Hubs
      • Training, testing, and demonstrations
      • Drone-based agriculture

    Financial Assistance

    • 40% subsidy for general farmers.
    • 50% subsidy for SC/STs, small & marginal farmers, and North Eastern States.
    • Funding pattern: 60:40 (Centre:State) for most states, 90:10 for NE & Himalayan states, and 100% Central funding for UTs

    Achievements (2014-15 to 2025-26)

    • ₹9,404.47 crore central assistance.
    • 21.61 lakh farm machines distributed.
    • 27,554 CHCs established.
    • 25,608 Farm Machinery Banks created.
    • 646 Hi-Tech Hubs established.

    Drone Promotion

    • ₹52.5 crore allocated.
    • 40,928 drone demonstrations over 40,918 hectares (2023-24 to 2025-26).
    • ICAR institutes, KVKs, and SAUs receive 100% support (up to ₹10 lakh per drone).
    • FPOs receive 75% grant.

    Special Features

    • 30% of total funds earmarked for women farmers.
    • Special incentives for North Eastern States, including up to 100% subsidy for small machinery.

    Significance

    • Enhances farm productivity and efficiency.
    • Reduces labour dependence and cost of cultivation.
    • Promotes precision farming and post-harvest mechanization.
    • Improves access to modern machinery for small farmers.

    [2023] Which one of the following best describes the concept of ‘Small Farmer Large Field’?

    [A] Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by giving them a large cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce

    [B] Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations

    [C] Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes a payment of agreed amount to the farmers

    [D] A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production

  • Consider the following statements

    Consider the following statements :
    1. Sweet orange plant is propagated by grafting technique
    2. Jasmine plant is propagated by layering technique.
    Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

  • Consider the following activities

    Consider the following activities:
    1. Spreading finely ground basalt rock on farmlands extensively
    2. Increasing the alkalinity of oceans by adding lime
    3. Capturing carbon dioxide released by various industries and pumping it into abandoned subterranean mines in the form of carbonated waters
    How many of the above activities are often considered and discussed for carbon capture and sequestration?

  • BIS Releases IS 20201:2026 for Community Seed Bank Management

    Why in the news?

    The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) under the Department of Consumer Affairs has released IS 20201:2026 – Community Seed Bank Management: Requirements, providing the first standardised framework for the management of Community Seed Banks (CSBs) in India.

    What is IS 20201:2026?

    • Title: IS 20201:2026 Community Seed Bank Management – Requirements
    • Released by: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
    • Parent Ministry: Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
    • Developed by: Biodiversity Sectional Committee (EED 06) Under BIS’s Environment and Ecology Department (EED).

    Objective

    The standard seeks to:

    • Conserve indigenous seed varieties.
    • Protect agricultural biodiversity.
    • Promote community-led seed conservation.
    • Enhance climate resilience in agriculture.
    • Ensure long-term food and nutritional security.
    • Empower farmers through decentralised seed systems.

    What are Community Seed Banks (CSBs)?

    Community Seed Banks are Decentralised, community-managed repositories that collect, conserve, multiply, store, and exchange locally adapted seeds.

    Functions

    • Preservation of traditional crop varieties.
    • Seed exchange among farmers.
    • Maintenance of seed diversity.
    • Supply of quality seeds during climatic shocks.
    • Protection of farmers’ knowledge.

    [2017] Consider the following statements:

    1. The Standard Mark of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.

    2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    A 1 only

    B 2 only

    C Both 1 and 2

    D Neither 1 nor 2

  • With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced. 2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming. 3. In some areas of farming, receding of the groundwater table can be checked.

    With reference to micro-irrigation, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Fertilizer/nutrient loss can be reduced. 2. It is the only means of irrigation in dry land farming. 3. In some areas of farming, receding of the groundwater table can be checked.

  • Consider the following agricultural practices

    Consider the following agricultural practices:
    1. Contour bunding
    2. Relay cropping
    3. Zero tillage
    In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?

  • Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’

    Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’?

  • Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants

    Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding vegetative propagation of plants?
    1. Vegetative propagation produces clonal population.
    2. Vegetative propagation helps in eliminating the virus.
    3. Vegetative propagation can be practiced most of the year.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture

    What can be the impact of excessive/inappropriate use of nitrogenous fertilizers in agriculture?
    (1) Proliferation of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms is soil can occur.
    (2) Increase in the acidity of soil can take palce.
    (3) Leaching of nitrate to the ground-water can occur.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  • Which one of the following best describes the main objective of Seed Village Concept

    Which one of the following best describes the main objective of Seed Village Concept?