The agricultural production in different parts of India is very much affected by varying intensities of floods and droughts. Which one of the following measures would not be sustainable in this respect ? >

Sustainable agriculture aims to build resilience against climatic extremes like floods and droughts. Sustainable measures include changing the crop calendar to align with weather patterns [t5], selecting crop varieties specifically suited to flood or drought conditions [t6], and providing extensive irrigation to reduce dependency on erratic rainfall [c4][c5]. In India, areas with over 30% irrigation are often excluded from drought-prone categories, highlighting irrigation's role in stability [c4]. However, 'avoidance of flood and drought-prone areas for agriculture' is not a sustainable or feasible measure. Given India's vast geography, many regions are inherently prone to these risks; for instance, low rainfall areas often experience occasional flash floods [c5]. Abandoning these lands would severely compromise food security and livelihoods. Instead, the focus is on adaptation through climate-smart practices and improved water management rather than total avoidance [t2][t8].

Sources

1. [1] INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Natural Hazards and Disasters > Types of Droughts > p. 64
2. [2] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Dependence on Erratic Monsoon > p. 37
3. [3] https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/global-drought-outlook_d492583a-en/full-report/adapting-to-drought-risk-for-long-term-resilience_55e0232a.html
4. [4] https://www.nature.com/articles/s44264-025-00108-7