Question

Why is floriculture essential for providing a sustainable livelihood for the farmers ?

Answer 1

Step 1: Read the question and the text:
We must give reasons why floriculture is essential for a sustainable livelihood of farmers.
A sustainable livelihood means steady and rising income and work that can continue year after year.

Step 2: Higher returns per unit area:
The text says commercial floriculture is lucrative and gives higher returns per unit area than many traditional field crops.
Flowers were more profitable than cereals, pulses, vegetables and oilseeds.
So the same plot of land gives the farmer a better income.

Step 3: Strong demand and export orientation:
The industry is called a sunrise industry with a 100 per cent export orientation.
There is a growing global demand for flowers. In FY24, India exported 19,678 metric tonnes and earned Rs. 717.83 crore.
A steady market abroad keeps the income of farmers regular.

Step 4: Support for small farmers and jobs:
Subsidy support and crop loan financing make it a promising venture for small and marginal holdings.
These holdings are more than 96 per cent of the total landholdings under floriculture.
Flower growing, picking, packing and transport also create better employment opportunities.

Step 5: Put the points together:
Better income per hectare, a reliable export market and more work together give farmers a stable livelihood.

Final Answer:
Floriculture provides a sustainable livelihood because it offers higher returns per unit area than cereals, pulses, vegetables and oilseeds. Growing global demand and the 100 per cent export orientation make it highly profitable and create better income and employment for farmers.

Answer 2

Step 1: Understand the question:
Small and marginal farmers have little land and little money. The question asks for any two ways the government can help them.
The case text points to subsidy support and crop loan financing, so we explain these two.

Step 2: Way 1: subsidies:
The government can give subsidies on seeds, fertilisers, plants and equipment.
A subsidy lowers the cost of cultivation. A small farmer can then afford to take up floriculture and other profitable crops.

Step 3: Way 2: crop loan financing at affordable rates:
The government can make crop loans available at low interest through banks and credit societies.
With such loans the farmer can invest in production and expand the area under cultivation.
He then need not borrow from moneylenders who charge very high interest.

Step 4: Check the number of points:
The question asks for any two ways, so two explained points are enough. Each point carries 1 and a half marks.

Final Answer:
Two ways to help small and marginal farmers are: (1) providing subsidies to reduce the cost of cultivation and encourage floriculture, and (2) extending crop loan financing at affordable rates so farmers can invest in production and expand cultivation.