Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. Development of agricultural technology is confined to developed countries. 2. Agricultural technology is not adapted in developing countries. Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Passage

In some places in the world, the productivity of staples such as rice and wheat has reached a plateau. Neither new strains nor fancy agrochemicals are raising the yields. Nor is there much unfarmed land left that is suitable to be brought under the plough. If global temperature continues to rise, some places will become unsuitable for farming. Application of technology can help overcome these problems. Agricultural technology is changing fast. Much of this change is brought about by affluent farmers in the West/Americas. Techniques developed in the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive. Technology is of little use if it is not adapted. In the developing world, that applies as much to existing farming techniques as it does to the latest advances in genetic modification. Extending to the smallholders and subsistence farmers of Africa and Asia the best of today's agricultural practices, in such simple matters as how much fertilizers to apply and when, would lead to a greatly increased availability of food for humanity. So would things like better roads and storage facilities, to allow for the carriage of surpluses to markets and reduce wastage.

QUESTION

CSAT

Medium

Comprehension

Prelims 2022

Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:

Development of agricultural technology is confined to developed countries.
Agricultural technology is not adapted in developing countries.

Which of the above assumptions is/are valid?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Assumption 1 is incorrect: The passage mentions that much of the change in agricultural technology is brought about by affluent farmers in the West, but it does not state that agricultural technology development is confined to developed countries. In fact, it implies that techniques developed in the West are being adapted elsewhere, including developing countries. Thus, this assumption is not valid.

Assumption 2 is incorrect: The passage explicitly states that techniques from the West are being adapted in some places to make tropical crops more productive. It also emphasizes that technology must be adapted to local conditions to be useful. This indicates that adaptation of technology does occur in developing countries. Therefore, this assumption is also not valid.