2023 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2023 · GS Paper I

Question 26: Economy and Social Development

Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?

aResettlement 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
bMany marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
cMany 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
dA 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

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

'Small Farmer Large Field' is an approach in which marginal farmers of an area organise into groups and synchronise and harmonise selected operations such as sowing, spraying and harvesting across their adjoining plots. This gives scale benefits in buying inputs, using machinery and marketing, without pooling or surrendering land. Option (a) describes collective resettlement of refugees, (c) is land leasing to a corporate body, and (d) is contract farming.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) This describes collective resettlement of displaced people, not farmer groups.
  • (b) Correct: farmers keep their land but synchronise selected operations as groups.
  • (c) This is corporate leasing, where farmers surrender land for a payment.
  • (d) This is contract farming by a company.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

Practise this paper timedPrevious questionNext question

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2023, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.