"Agriculture and industry move hand-in-hand." Justify the statement with suitable arguments.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:05 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Agriculture and industry are interdependent and complement each other:
- Industry modernises agriculture: Agro-industries supply irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and PVC pipes, machines and tools to farmers, raising agricultural productivity.
- Agriculture supplies raw materials to industry: Industries like sugar, cotton textiles, and jute depend on agriculture for their raw materials.
- Industry reduces dependence on agriculture: Manufacturing provides jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors, reducing over-dependence on agricultural income.
- Efficiency in production: Development and competitiveness of manufacturing has made agricultural production processes more efficient.
- Mutual growth: The fertilizer industry, expanded after the Green Revolution, directly supports agriculture, while agriculture's output feeds agro-based industries.
Thus, both sectors are not exclusive of each other — they move hand in hand for overall economic development.
Source: Manufacturing Industries, Chapter 6
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Explanation
- This is a justify/argument-based question, so use clear numbered points — examiners award marks per valid point.
- The key phrase from the textbook is "Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other" — quoting or paraphrasing it shows textbook awareness.
- Focus on two-way dependency: industry helps agriculture AND agriculture feeds industry.
- Avoid writing a general essay — 5 focused points with brief elaboration is ideal for 5 marks.