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The FAO accords the status of 'Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS)' to traditional agricultural systems. What is the overall goal of this initiative? 1. To provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities of identified GIAHS so as to greatly enhance their agricultural productivity 2. To identify and safeguard eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and knowledge systems of the local communities 3. To provide Geographical Indication status to all the varieties of agricultural produce in such identified GIAHS Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
The correct answer is option B (statement 2 only). The goal of the GIAHS initiative is to identify and safeguard Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and their associated[2] elements. GIAHS are outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty that combine agricultural biodiversity, resilient[3] ecosystems and traditional practices. The purpose of GIAHS is to recognize "Remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from the co-adaptation of a community with its environment and its needs and aspirations for sustainable development".[4]
Statement 1 is incorrect because GIAHS focuses on preserving traditional agricultural practices rather than replacing them with modern technology and methods. Statement 3 is also incorrect as providing Geographical Indication status is not part of the GIAHS initiative's goals—GI status is a separate legal mechanism unrelated to this FAO program. The initiative is fundamentally about conservation of traditional wisdom and ecological practices, not modernization or legal trademark protection.
Sources- [1] http://www.ideassonline.org/public/pdf/GIAHS-NewSites2018-ENG.pdf
- [2] http://www.ideassonline.org/public/pdf/GIAHS-NewSites2018-ENG.pdf
- [3] https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/0ef0c947-d959-4be0-9a4a-1c2633262b2e/content
- [4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > 28.2 I. GLOBALLY IMPORTANT AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE SYSTEMS > p. 410
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Guest previewThis question tests the 'soul' of an initiative rather than rote facts. The trap lies in conflating 'Heritage' conservation with 'Modernization' (Statement 1) or 'Intellectual Property Rights' (Statement 3). If you understood that GIAHS is about preserving 'living museums' of agriculture, the extreme modernization and legal IP claims in the other options become obvious eliminations.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is providing modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to local communities to greatly enhance agricultural productivity an overall goal of the FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative?
- Statement 2: Is identifying and safeguarding eco-friendly traditional farm practices and their associated landscapes, agricultural biodiversity and local knowledge systems an overall goal of the FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative?
- Statement 3: Is providing Geographical Indication (GI) status to all varieties of agricultural produce in identified GIAHS an overall goal of the FAO's Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) initiative?
- States the goal of the GIAHS initiative as identifying and safeguarding heritage systems and associated values.
- Focus on conservation and adaptive management suggests preservation of traditional systems rather than explicitly promoting modern technology, training or financial acceleration of productivity.
- Defines GIAHS as landscapes combining agricultural biodiversity and resilient systems, emphasizing heritage and resilience.
- Emphasis on biodiversity and resilience indicates conservation-oriented aims rather than a primary goal of introducing modern inputs to greatly boost productivity.
- Mentions combining traditional wisdom and science and providing policy guidance and technical support to safeguard heritage sites.
- Indicates support and technical assistance, but does not explicitly state the overall goal is to provide modern technology, training in modern farming methods and financial support to greatly enhance productivity.
States that conservation agriculture needs material, human and financial resources and well‑trained extension staff to ensure farmers receive effective support.
A student could infer that initiatives aiming to sustain or improve traditional systems would plausibly include training and financial/resource support as part of their implementation and then check GIAHS documents for these components.
Lists development programme components for increasing agricultural production, including provision of modern inputs and educating farmers in new techniques.
One could extend this general rule to expect that a global programme targeting important agricultural systems might similarly prioritise technology, training and inputs to boost productivity.
Explains that modern farming tools/technology and mechanisation are imperative for successful cultivation and raising cropping intensity.
Using the map of GIAHS sites or knowledge of their productivity challenges, a student could test whether introducing such technologies is part of the initiative's stated goals or interventions.
Describes policy measures (outreach, ICT, popularisation of modern technologies, capacity building) to promote mechanisation and access to inputs.
A student might reasonably expect programmes focused on heritage/agricultural systems to include similar outreach/training/technology promotion, then verify against FAO GIAHS policy texts.
Connects research and industry efforts in developing farm machinery and lists technological inputs that enhance regional agricultural productivity.
A reader could use this pattern to hypothesise that an initiative aiming to enhance productivity would support technology diffusion to local communities, and then look for GIAHS references to such support.
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