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High-Value Crop Selection Factors: UPSC Mains 2025 GS3 Q3

Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025 · GS Paper III · Question 3

Explain the factors influencing the decision of the farmers on the selection of high value crops in India.

10 marks · 150 wordsEconomy
Key Points & Approach to Answering
1. High-value crops like vegetables

High-value crops like vegetables, fruits, spices and flowers offer higher returns per unit of land than cereals.

2. Agro-climatic suitability — soil

Agro-climatic suitability — soil, rainfall, temperature and irrigation — determines which crops a farmer can grow.

3. Market access and price realization drive

Market access and price realization drive selection; proximity to urban mandis and export hubs favours perishables.

4. Irrigation availability enables riskier but lucrative

Irrigation availability enables riskier but lucrative horticulture, while rainfed areas lean toward hardy crops.

5. Farm size matters: smallholders diversify into

Farm size matters: smallholders diversify into high-value crops to maximize income from limited land.

6. Risk and price volatility deter small

Risk and price volatility deter small farmers without insurance, credit and assured procurement channels.

7. Government support — MSP

Government support — MSP, subsidies, e-NAM, FPOs and mission schemes — shapes crop-choice decisions.

8. Labour availability

Labour availability, technology and post-harvest infrastructure like cold chains influence feasibility.

9. Policy push toward crop diversification and

Policy push toward crop diversification and value chains can accelerate high-value cropping in India.

Source: UPSC Civil Services (Main) Examination, 2025 — GS Paper III, official question paper (upsc.gov.in). Full paper: UPSC CSM 2025 — GS Paper III (Full Question Paper).

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