On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Synthetic pesticides should never be used in modern agriculture. 2. One of the aims of sustainable agriculture is to ensure minimal ecological imbalance. 3. Botanical pesticides are more effective as compared to synthetic pesticides. Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

Passage

Many farmers use synthetic pesticides to kill infesting insects. The consumption of pesticides in some of the developed countries is touching 3000 grams/hectare. Unfortunately, there are reports that these compounds possess inherent toxicities that endanger the health of the farm operators, consumers, and the environment. Synthetic pesticides are generally persistent in the environment. Entering the food chain, they destroy microbial diversity and cause ecological imbalance. Their indiscriminate use has resulted in the development of resistance among insects to insecticides, upsetting the balance in nature and resurgence of treated populations. Natural pest control using botanical pesticides is safer to the user and the environment because they break down into harmless compounds within hours or days in the presence of sunlight. Plants with pesticidal properties have been in nature for millions of years without any ill or adverse effects on the ecosystem. They are easily decomposed by many microbes common in most soils. They help in the maintenance of biological diversity of predators and the reduction of environmental contamination and human health hazards. Botanical pesticides formulated from plants are biodegradable and their use in crop protection is a practical sustainable alternative.

QUESTION

CSAT

Easy

Comprehension

Prelims 2017

On the basis of the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Synthetic pesticides should never be used in modern agriculture.
One of the aims of sustainable agriculture is to ensure minimal ecological imbalance.
Botanical pesticides are more effective as compared to synthetic pesticides.

Which of the assumptions given above is/are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect. The passage criticizes synthetic pesticides for their toxicity, persistence, and ecological harm but does not explicitly state that they should "never" be used. It highlights risks but doesn't entirely rule out their use.

Statement 2 is correct. The passage emphasizes that botanical pesticides reduce environmental contamination and maintain ecological balance. This supports the idea that sustainable agriculture aims to minimize ecological imbalance.

Statement 3 is incorrect. The passage mentions that botanical pesticides are safer, biodegradable, and better for the environment but does not explicitly claim they are "more effective" than synthetic pesticides in terms of pest control.