Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made: 1. To implement the Sustainable Development Goals and to achieve zero-hunger goal, monoculture agriculture practices are inevitable even if they do not address malnutrition. 2. Dependence on a few crops has negative consequences for human health and the ecosystem. 3. Government policies regarding food planning need to incorporate nutritional security. 4. For the present monoculture agriculture practices, farmers receive subsidies in various ways and government offers remunerative prices for grains and therefore they do not tend to consider crop diversity. Which of the above assumptions are valid?

1. A. 1, 2 and 4 only
2. B. 2 and 3 only
3. C. 3 and 4 only
4. D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: B

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect; the passage criticizes monoculture, stating it ‘can perpetuate the food and nutrition security problem,’ implying it is detrimental, not inevitable or desirable for achieving goals like zero-hunger. Statement 2 is correct; the passage explicitly links the focus on staples to ‘lower production and consumption of indigenous traditional crops… impacting food and nutrition security’ and mentions monoculture degrading land/water quality, showing negative consequences. Statement 3 is correct; the passage highlights that increased food production hasn’t addressed malnutrition and that current practices impact nutrition security, strongly implying a need for government policies to prioritize nutritional aspects. Statement 4 is outside the scope of the passage; it does not discuss subsidies or remunerative prices as reasons for monoculture.