UPSC Prelims 2016 Question:

With reference to ‘Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion’, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. This initiative aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies, and to demonstrate value addition techniques, in an integrated manner, with cluster approach. 
2. Poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers have a larger stake in this scheme. 
3. An important objective of the scheme is to encourage farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment.
   
   

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Explanation: 

• Scheme on Initiative for Nutrition Security through Intensive Millets Promotion has been formulated under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana for promotion of millets as Nutri-cereals.
  
  

• The scheme aims to demonstrate the improved production and post-harvest technologies in an integrated manner with visible impact to catalyze increased production of millets in the country. Besides increasing production of millets, the Scheme through processing and value addition techniques is expected to generate consumer demand for millet based food products. So, statement 1 is correct.
  
  
• Millets have the ability to grow on harshest of soils and have capacity to flourish under low rainfall conditions, hence, they can survive drought. Thus, poor, small, marginal and tribal farmers, who cannot afford costly irrigation practices, are being encouraged to benefit from the scheme. So, statement 2 is correct.
  
  
• The provision for encouragement of farmers of commercial crops to shift to millet cultivation by offering them free kits of critical inputs of nutrients and micro irrigation equipment is not covered under this scheme. So, statement 3 is not correct.
  
  

Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.

Subject: Economics | Agriculture and Food Management