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Q60 (IAS/2022) Environment & Ecology › Pollution & Conservation › Urban forestry initiatives Official Key

The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the :

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is Option 3.

The Miyawaki method is a unique technique pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki to build dense, native forests in a short span of time. It is particularly effective for urban afforestation, where land availability is limited.

Why Option 3 is correct:

  • Rapid Growth: Plants grow 10 times faster and the forest becomes 30 times denser than traditional plantations.
  • Biodiversity: It involves planting dozens of native species close together, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem within 2–3 years.
  • Urban Utility: These "mini forests" act as carbon sinks, lower local temperatures (mitigating urban heat islands), and reduce air and noise pollution.

Why other options are incorrect: Options 1, 2, and 4 are unrelated to this ecological technique. The Miyawaki method focuses on restoring natural vegetation using indigenous species rather than commercial farming, genetic modification, or renewable energy infrastructure.

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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. The "Miyawaki method" is well known for the : [A] Promotion of commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas [B] Development of garden…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a classic 'Term-in-News' sitter. It was explicitly covered in standard static books (Shankar IAS) and widely reported when Indian cities (Chennai, Delhi) adopted it. If you missed this, you are ignoring the 'Solutions to Urban Problems' theme in your current affairs.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Is the Miyawaki method used to promote commercial farming in arid and semi-arid areas?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 4/5
"for [planting in arid Mediterranean habitat](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11355-010-0117-0) where other forestry techniques have not been successful."
Why this source?
  • Specifically states Miyawaki has been used in arid Mediterranean habitat, showing application in arid areas.
  • Mentions success where other forestry techniques failed — indicates ecological/restoration use rather than commercial farming.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"farming too. He was able to replicate the model on select private plots across Kerala and also help them plant forests that focus on trees with medicinal values, herbs, native flowering plants etc."
Why this source?
  • Notes the method has been applied to 'farming too' and replicated on private plots with medicinal trees, herbs and native plants.
  • Shows small-scale/agroforestry or private-plot uses, but does not state promotion of commercial farming in arid/semi-arid zones.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"The Miyawaki Method is one of the most effective tree planting methods for creating forest cover quickly on degraded land that has been used for other purposes such as agriculture or construction."
Why this source?
  • Describes the Miyawaki Method as effective for creating forest cover quickly on degraded land previously used for agriculture or construction.
  • Emphasises restoration of degraded land rather than use as a tool to promote commercial farming.

NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 1: The Rise of Nationalism in Europe > LAND DEGRADATION AND CONSERVATION MEASURES > p. 8
Strength: 5/5
“There are many ways to solve the problems of land degradation. Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent. Planting of shelter belts of plants, control on over grazing, stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes are some of the methods to check land degradation in arid areas. Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in industrial and suburban areas.”
Why relevant

Lists afforestation, planting shelter belts and stabilising sand dunes as methods to check land degradation in arid areas.

How to extend

A student could compare the Miyawaki method (a rapid afforestation technique) with these listed practices to see if it could serve similar protective roles that might enable farming.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Desertification and Desert Development Programme > p. 47
Strength: 4/5
“Wind velocity at the lee side of the shelter belt is reduced and also the losses by about 76%.• 3. Soil and Water Conservation Measures: The wetter parts of the arid zone and the semi-arid areas are more prone to water erosion. The counter crusting of soil and its subsequent erosion, a number of practices have been suggested, like contour bunding (low rainfall area) and contour tillage and contour sowing in the agricultural fields. Moreover, mixing of crop residue and organic matter with light-textured soils helps to increase moisture and crop yield.• 4. Management of Pastures: Permanent pastures are most degraded, as they do not have any basal plant-cover.”
Why relevant

Describes shelter belts reducing wind velocity and soil/water conservation measures (contour bunding, mixing organic matter) to increase moisture and crop yield in semi-arid areas.

How to extend

One could assess whether Miyawaki-style dense planting can act as shelter belts and improve microclimate/moisture to support agricultural productivity.

Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > 5. Desert Soils > p. 11
Strength: 4/5
“Sprawling over about 15 million hectares, the desert soils account for over 4.42% of the total reporting area of the country. These soils are developed under the arid and semi-arid conditions and deposited mainly by wind action. The desert soils are sandy to gravelly in texture organic matter, but have low moisture content and low water retaining capacity. If irrigated, they give high agricultural returns. The availability of water from the Indira-Gandhi Canal has transformed the agricultural landscape of the desert soils of western Rajasthan.”
Why relevant

States desert soils are low in moisture and water-retention but give high agricultural returns if irrigated (can be transformed by irrigation projects).

How to extend

A student might test whether Miyawaki afforestation would reduce evaporation/erosion or require irrigation, and whether combined irrigation+afforestation could enable commercial crops.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 10: Locational Factors of Economic Activities > 1. Dry Farming > p. 19
Strength: 3/5
“Cultivation of crops in areas where average annual rainfall is less than 75 cm and crop failures due to prolonged dry spells during crop period are most common. Te variability of rainfall is more than 50%. Dry farming is practised in arid regions with the help of moisture conservation practices.”
Why relevant

Defines 'dry farming' as cultivation in low-rainfall/arid regions using moisture-conservation practices.

How to extend

Use this to evaluate whether Miyawaki planting provides moisture-conservation benefits comparable to accepted dry-farming measures that support cultivation.

NCERT. (2022). Contemporary India II: Textbook in Geography for Class X (Revised ed.). NCERT. > Chapter 4: The Age of Industrialisation > Commercial Farming > p. 80
Strength: 3/5
“The main characteristic of this type of farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity. The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Odisha, it is a subsistence crop. Can you give some more examples of crops which may be commercial in one region and may provide subsistence in another region? Plantation is also a type of commercial farming. In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area.”
Why relevant

Describes commercial farming involving high inputs and mentions plantations (single large-crop areas) as a form of commercial farming.

How to extend

A student could consider whether Miyawaki-style woody planting could be integrated with plantation crops or whether it conflicts with the land-use/inputs profile of commercial farming.

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Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

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