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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.
Web source
Presence: 2/5
"The goal of the GIAHS initiative is to identify and safeguard Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and their associated"
Why this source?
- 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.
Web source
Presence: 2/5
"“Globally Important Agricultural. Heritage Systems” (GIAHS) are outstanding landscapes of aesthetic beauty that combine agricultural biodiversity, resilient ..."
Why this source?
- 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.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"Combining traditional wisdom and science, safeguarding the legacy of the past for the future. ... dedicated to providing policy guidance and technical support"
Why this source?
- 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 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.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 11: Agriculture - Part II > Challenges in adopting conservation agriculture: > p. 353
Strength: 4/5
“• Development, standardization and adoption of farm technology/machinery for seeding with minimum soil disturbance, developing crop harvesting and management systems• Lack of knowledge about the potential of CA to agricultural leaders, extension agents and farmers• CA has to be mainstreamed in relevant ministries, departments or institutions and supported by adequate provision of material, human and financial resources to ensure that farmers receive effective and timely support from well trained and motivated extension staff. A paradigm shift has become a necessity in view of widespread problems of resource degradation, which accompanied the past strategies to enhance production with little concern for resource integrity.”
Why relevant
States that conservation agriculture needs material, human and financial resources and well‑trained extension staff to ensure farmers receive effective support.
How to extend
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.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Strategies for Development > p. 41
Strength: 4/5
“The following steps can go a long way in achieving the developmental goals at the micro, meso, and macro levels:
1. Problem of Agricultural Development: Developmental programmes aimed at increasing agricultural production and productivity should include: (i) development of irrigation facilities, (ii) schemes of soil conservation, (iii) provisions of modern agricultural inputs at reasonable prices, (iv) making the size of farm holding economic, (v) improving agricultural marketing facilities, and (vi) educating tribal farmers in new agricultural techniques.”
Why relevant
Lists development programme components for increasing agricultural production, including provision of modern inputs and educating farmers in new techniques.
How to extend
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.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > 5. Mechanisation > p. 49
Strength: 4/5
“Modern farming tools and technology like tractors, leveller, seeder, planter, threshers, harvesters, winnower and sprayers are also imperative for the successful cultivation of the High Yielding Varieties. These varieties require adequate arrangements of controlled irrigation. Raising of two or three crops from the same field is possible only if the modern technology is available to the farmer. The indigenous plough and bullock/buffalo carts are less efficient to complete the agricultural operations on time. Machinery like tractors, threshers, sprayers, tillers, chaff cutters, leveller, pumping sets, etc., are required for the timely operations of sowing, weeding, spraying, and harvesting. The mechanisation of agriculture also helps in the judicious utilisation of complementary inputs like chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides.”
Why relevant
Explains that modern farming tools/technology and mechanisation are imperative for successful cultivation and raising cropping intensity.
How to extend
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.
Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 10: Agriculture - Part I > What are 'Custom Hiring Centres (CHC)'? > p. 310
Strength: 4/5
“This is envisaged to be achieved by a judicious mix of extensive physical outreach & interactive methods of information dissemination, use of ICT, popularisation of modern and appropriate technologies, capacity building and institution strengthening to promote mechanisation, availability of quality seeds, plant protection etc. and encourage the aggregation of farmers into Interest Groups to form Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs). As per Economic Survey 2019-20, farm mechanization in India is only about 40 per cent as compared to about 60 per cent in China and around 75 per cent in Brazil.”
Why relevant
Describes policy measures (outreach, ICT, popularisation of modern technologies, capacity building) to promote mechanisation and access to inputs.
How to extend
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.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Salient Features: > p. 42
Strength: 3/5
“The research institutions and industries together have helped the farmers in developing suitable farm machinery to mechanised field operations. The farm mechanisation increases cropping intensity, timely operations increases crop productivity and profitability. Technological factors include HYVs, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides tractors and other agricultural machinery. Like combine harvester, sugarcane harvester, potato combine, paddy transplanter, laser guided land leveller etc. The use and availability of these inputs also enhance the agricultural productivity of a region. Examples of recent innovations are as under:”
Why relevant
Connects research and industry efforts in developing farm machinery and lists technological inputs that enhance regional agricultural productivity.
How to extend
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.
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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