Question

“Information Technology plays a very significant role in achieving sustainable development and food security.” Justify the given statement with valid arguments.

Hint:

IT helps the government predict areas of food insecurity and gives farmers news of new technology, prices, weather and soil. This improves food supply and careful use of resources.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the statement:
Sustainable development means growing today without harming the needs of future generations. Food security means that every person gets enough food at all times.
Information Technology (IT) means computers, software and communication tools that collect, store and pass on information.
We have to show how IT helps both goals. Four arguments are given below for the 4 marks.

Step 2: Argument 1: IT predicts food insecurity:
Government can use suitable information and software tools to find areas that may face food shortage.
Such areas are called vulnerable areas. Once they are known in advance, grain stocks and help can be sent there in time.
So hunger is prevented, which is the core aim of food security.

Step 3: Argument 2: IT spreads knowledge of new technology:
IT carries news of emerging farm technologies and their use to farmers, even in far away villages.
Better seeds, better methods and less waste raise output without damaging the land.
This supports both higher food supply and careful use of resources.

Step 4: Argument 3: IT gives price information:
Farmers can know the current prices of different crops through mobile phones, websites and kiosks.
With this knowledge they can choose the right market and the right crop, and are cheated less by middlemen.
Steady farm income keeps farming alive and food supply stable.

Step 5: Argument 4: IT gives weather and soil information:
IT passes on weather forecasts and details of soil conditions for growing different crops.
A farmer can then pick the crop that suits the soil and the season, and avoid loss from rain or drought.
Using land and water as per their capacity keeps the environment healthy for the future, so this is sustainable development.

Final Answer:
The statement is justified. IT predicts areas of food insecurity, spreads information on new technologies, prices, weather and soil conditions, and so helps reach food security and sustainable development together.