Topic: Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country,
Q5. Pollination is both a biological service and an economic input. Explain how pollinator decline challenges sustainable agriculture. Analyse the potential and risks of scaling up managed pollination services. Suggest ways to incentivise farmers to adopt pollinator-supportive practices. (15 M)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Reference: DTE
Why the question:
Like many countries, India is in the middle of a pollinator crisis. In several states, farmers now rent honeybees to secure a decent harvest. In areas where agriculture is nearly impossible due to shortage of natural pollinators, people are manually carrying out nature’s most critical operation. This artificial substitution of pollinators raises new concerns.Key Demand of the question:
The question asks you to analyse the ecological and economic impact of pollinator decline, evaluate the pros and cons of managed pollination systems, and suggest realistic, incentivised approaches to restore natural pollination support in farming.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction
Mention how pollinators underpin both biodiversity and food production, and why their decline is a structural threat.Body
- Pollinator decline and sustainable agriculture: Show how reduced pollinators impact yield, costs, biodiversity, and nutrition.
- Potential and risks of managed pollination services: Write about increased productivity, rural livelihood potential, and risks like disease spread or smallholder exclusion.
- Incentives for pollinator-supportive practices: Suggest agroecological, financial, and institutional measures to promote pollinator habitats and farmer participation.
Conclusion
Suggest that solving the pollination crisis is essential for resilient agriculture, and needs an integrated ecological-economic policy push.
