Sustainable agriculture practices – UGC NET Question

Statements A, C and D are correct because they describe widely accepted principles and practices of sustainable agriculture. Diversification, conservation tillage, organic methods and a balance between environmental quality and farm income are central goals. Statement B is incorrect as excessive reliance on chemical inputs is characteristic of unsustainable, input-intensive agriculture. Therefore, the combination that includes A, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes A and C but omits D. While diversification and conservation tillage are valid aspects, leaving out the goal of maintaining soil fertility and environmental quality along with profitability makes the set incomplete. A comprehensive answer must recognise this objective.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it captures the full cluster of correct statements while excluding the misleading one. It reflects that sustainable agriculture integrates diversified systems, ecological practices and long-term soil and environmental health with economic viability. By omitting statement B, it avoids endorsing overuse of chemicals.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it adds statement B to an otherwise correct set. Statement B falsely portrays heavy use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides as a feature of sustainability, which contradicts concerns about soil degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. The presence of this false statement invalidates the option.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it claims that B, C and D are correct, again treating B as acceptable. Although C and D are right, including B, which promotes unsustainable input dependence, makes the combination inconsistent with the concept of sustainable agriculture.