Dhangars moving from plateau to Konkan clarifies which relation between farming and pastoralism?

Correct answer: Complementarity instead of only competition

The movement of Dhangars between the plateau and Konkan shows that pastoralism and farming could support each other. Dhangar shepherds moved with their flocks according to seasonal conditions. Their sheep and goats supplied manure, which improved the fertility of cultivated fields. In return, farms and surrounding areas provided crop residues, grazing opportunities, and fodder for the animals. This exchange linked mobile pastoral groups with settled cultivators and created mutual economic value rather than showing only conflict.

Option A is correct because it highlights complementarity and interdependence. The movement was not evidence of naval expansion, permanent urbanisation, or mineral trade. A useful answer should mention both sides of the exchange: animals benefited agriculture through manure, while agricultural regions helped sustain livestock through fodder and grazing. This example shows that pastoralism was part of the wider rural economy.