A landscape-scale approach to land use can encourage greater biodiversity outside protected areas. During hurricane ‘Mitch’ in 1998, farms using ecoagricultural practices suffered 58 percent, 70 percent and 99 percent less damage in Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala, respectively, than farms using conventional techniques. In Costa Rica, vegetative windbreaks and fencerows boosted farmers’ income from pasture and coffee while also increasing bird diversity. Bee pollination is more effective when agricultural fields are closer to natural or seminatural habitat, a finding that matters because 87 percent of the world’s 107 leading crops depend on animal pollinators. In Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Colombia silvopastoral systems that integrate trees with pastureland are improving the sustainability of cattle production, and diversifying and increasing farmers’ income.

Correct Option (A)

The passage provides multiple instances demonstrating that agricultural practices which integrate ecological principles offer significant benefits. These practices enhance biodiversity, as evidenced by increased bird diversity through vegetative windbreaks and improved bee pollination effectiveness near natural habitats. Furthermore, they contribute to increased farm output and income, such as boosted farmer income from pasture and coffee in Costa Rica, and diversified income from silvopastoral systems. Crucially, these methods reduce vulnerability to disasters, as illustrated by farms using ecoagricultural practices suffering significantly less damage during Hurricane Mitch compared to conventional farms.

Incorrect Options:

• Option (B) is incorrect. The passage explicitly highlights the advantages of ecoagriculture and its positive impacts, contrasting them with conventional techniques. It does not advocate for replacing ecoagriculture with conventional agriculture; rather, it implies the opposite.
• Option (C) is incorrect. The passage focuses on the benefits of landscape-scale approaches to land use and ecoagricultural practices primarily outside protected areas, within agricultural landscapes. It does not discuss the implementation or permissibility of ecoagriculture within protected areas.
• Option (D) is incorrect. While the passage suggests that ecoagricultural practices can lead to improved sustainability, increased income, and better pollination (which can positively impact yields), it does not make a definitive claim that crop yields "will be very high." The emphasis is more on resilience, sustainability, and diversification rather than a guarantee of exceptionally high yields.