Question

Which of the following statements is true about agro-biodiversity?

• A. It is a product of integration among genetic resources, environment, management system and farmers practices.
• B. Agro-biodiversity is unaffected by abiotic stresses.
• C. The term agro-biodiversity excludes the underground soil biodiversity.
• D. Agro-diversity enhances only the production of food crops.

Hint:

Agro-biodiversity = Nature + Nurture (Farmers' wisdom). It is the subset of biodiversity that humans manage to sustain life.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the correct definition or attribute of agro-biodiversity (agricultural biodiversity).

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Agro-biodiversity includes all components of biological diversity relevant to food and agriculture: the variety and variability of animals, plants, and microorganisms.

• Statement (A) is the most comprehensive and accurate definition. It recognizes that agro-biodiversity is not just the presence of species, but the result of the complex interaction between the genes, the local environment, and the human management/cultural practices that have shaped them over millennia.

• Statement (B) is false; agro-biodiversity is highly affected by abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, and temperature changes.

• Statement (C) is false; agro-biodiversity explicitly includes soil organisms (fungi, bacteria, earthworms) which are crucial for nutrient cycling.

• Statement (D) is false; it enhances ecosystem services, pest control, pollination, and resilience, not just the volume of food crop production.

Step 3: Final Answer: The correct statement is that it is a product of integration among genetic resources, environment, management, and farmers' practices.