• Cereals provide carbohydrates, which give us energy.
• Pulses are rich in proteins, which help in body building and repair.
• Fruits and vegetables supply vitamins, minerals, and roughage, which are essential for proper functioning of our body and digestion.

• Biotic factors like insects, pests, fungi, bacteria, and weeds reduce crop yield by damaging the plants or competing with them for nutrients.
• Abiotic factors such as temperature, rainfall, drought, salinity, and nutrients in the soil affect plant growth and development. Extreme or unfavourable abiotic conditions can reduce crop productivity.

• High yield and better quality.
• Shorter duration of growth for more cropping cycles.
• Resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.
• Suitability to mechanised farming and better response to fertilisers.
• Longer shelf life and better taste or nutritional value in case of food crops.

Macro-nutrients are nutrients required by plants in large quantities for their growth and development. They include elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.

They are called macro-nutrients because they are needed in greater amounts compared to micro-nutrients, which are required in trace amounts.

Plants absorb nutrients mainly from the soil through their roots. These nutrients are dissolved in water and taken up as mineral ions. Some nutrients also come from organic matter added to the soil, while a few like carbon dioxide are taken from the air during photosynthesis.

Option (c) will give the most benefits.

• High-quality seeds increase crop yield potential.
• Irrigation ensures water supply for proper plant growth.
• Fertilizers provide essential nutrients for healthy crops.
• Crop protection measures prevent damage from pests and diseases.

Combining all these practices gives the best output and helps in achieving higher and more reliable crop productivity.

• Preventive measures stop pests and diseases before they occur, saving crops from damage.
• Biological control methods use natural enemies of pests, which are eco-friendly and safe.
• These methods avoid the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on health and the environment.
• They also help maintain the natural balance in the ecosystem.

• Moisture in stored grains can lead to fungal or bacterial growth.
• Improper storage allows pests like rodents and insects to damage the grains.
• Temperature fluctuations can spoil grains and reduce their quality.
• Lack of proper cleaning, drying, and fumigation before storage also leads to losses.

Cross-breeding is the most commonly used method for improving cattle breeds.

• It involves mating of two different breeds to combine the desirable traits of both.
• For example, we cross an Indian breed (for high disease resistance) with a foreign breed (for high milk yield).
• This helps in producing cattle that are both strong and high-yielding.

This statement highlights that poultry can efficiently convert low-fiber food materials, which humans cannot digest, into high-quality protein such as eggs and meat.

• Poultry feeds on food waste and by-products, reducing food loss.
• This conversion helps provide nutritious animal protein to humans in a sustainable way.
• It supports food security by utilizing resources that would otherwise be wasted.
• This makes poultry farming an important and eco-friendly source of nutrition in India.

• Maintaining proper hygiene and cleanliness to prevent diseases.
• Providing balanced and nutritious feed and clean water regularly.
• Ensuring proper shelter to protect animals from extreme weather.
• Regular health check-ups and timely vaccination.
• Proper disposal of waste to maintain a healthy environment.

Fish are obtained by various methods such as fishing from natural water bodies like rivers, lakes, and seas. They are also obtained through fish farming or aquaculture, where fish are bred and raised in controlled environments like ponds, tanks, or cages.

• Different species of fish are cultured together, which utilize different feeding niches, leading to efficient use of natural food resources.
• Increases total fish production from the same water body.
• Reduces the risk of disease spread as different species have different susceptibilities.
• Provides a balanced diet for consumers by producing a variety of fish species.
• Ensures continuous availability of fish throughout the year due to varied breeding seasons.

• High honey-yielding capacity.
• Docile and non-aggressive nature for easy handling.
• Resistance to common diseases and pests.
• Ability to adapt to local environmental conditions.
• Efficient foraging behavior to collect nectar from various flowers.

Pasturage refers to the availability of flowering plants and trees in an area from which bees collect nectar and pollen. It is directly related to honey production because abundant and diverse pasturage ensures that bees have sufficient nectar sources, leading to higher quality and quantity of honey.

• Inter-cropping helps in better utilization of resources like sunlight, water, and nutrients by growing two or more crops together.
• It reduces the risk of pest and disease spread.
• Crop rotation improves soil fertility and breaks the cycle of pests and diseases by changing the type of crop grown in a field each season.
• Both methods increase overall productivity and sustainability of farming.

• Attack by insects, rodents, and fungi.
• Improper storage conditions like moisture and temperature.
• Poor handling during storage and transportation.

• Provides milk and milk products which are nutritious.
• Produces dung used as manure and fuel.
• Cattle also provide labor for plowing fields.
• Helps in maintaining soil fertility through dung addition.