Read the passage below carefully and answer the question that follows:
In the arid scrublands of northern Jigawa State, smallholder collectors of acacia gum have traditionally relied on natural exudation, waiting for wild acacia trees to bleed resin following seasonal bark damage. While this passive gathering produced high-grade gum arabic, yields fluctuated wildly depending on erratic weather patterns and insect activity, leaving harvesters financially vulnerable during drought years. Recently, agricultural extension agents introduced controlled tapping—making precise, shallow incisions on mature branches during the dry season. This systematic wounding stimulates the tree's natural defense mechanism, promoting consistent gum production without compromising the host plant's long-term health. Although initial implementation met resistance from elders who feared the artificial cuts would wither the ancestral groves, participating households recorded a forty percent increase in seasonal output during the first harvest cycle. Consequently, young harvesters who previously migrated to urban centers during the dry season are now remaining in their communities to manage family groves.
Based on the passage, what can be inferred about the traditional method of gathering gum arabic?
- It relied primarily on unpredictable environmental factors rather than planned human intervention.Answer
- BIt caused permanent structural damage to the host trees over extended harvest cycles.
- CIt provided collectors with a stable and predictable source of household income.
- DIt successfully discouraged young harvesters from seeking seasonal work in urban centers.