The global food system is facing immense challenges in the 21st century with climate change, population growth and malnutrition. Recognising the potential of millets in addressing current global challenges, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets. This global campaign is designed to raise awareness about the benefits of millet and encourage actions to increase their production, consumption, and utilisation.

Source: International Journal of Plant & Soil Science- Volume 35, Issue 18, Page 1860-1871, 2023.

State two ways in which the cultivation of millets can help promote sustainable agriculture.

“A small sugarcane farmer in western Uttar Pradesh, Shri Raghuvir Singh, is getting on with age and is thinking of selling his land and moving out of farming. He has two sons, both graduates and working in Gurgaon. He did not make his sons farmers because farming is hard work and is non-profitable. This is the story of most farmers in India. Wealth and security of the country comes from its land, and hence, what is needed is sustainable and high productivity agriculture.”

Source: Chaudhuri, Sriroop, et al. "Land degradation–desertification in relation to farming practices in India: An overview of current practices and agro-policy perspectives." Sustainability 15.8 (2023)

(a) High productivity in agriculture will help boost our country's industrial sector. Explain.

(b) Enumerate two major problems encountered by a majority of India’s farming community.

How do manganese and copper differ in nature, even though both are metallic minerals?

Manganese is roughly similar to iron's physical and chemical properties but is harder and more brittle.

Based on the properties of manganese mentioned in the above statement:

(a) In which industry is this mineral widely used?
(b) What is its role in that industry?