Le 4agriculture
Le 4agriculture
AGRICULTURE
1. What is agriculture?
Ans. The cultivation of soil, raising crops and rearing livestock including animal husbandry,
forestry, pisiculture, etc. is called agriculture.
OR
Agriculture is an economic activity related to cultivation of crops, rearing of livestock
including animal husbandry, pisiculture, apiculture, etc.
11. What is slash and burn agriculture or shifting cultivation or jhum cultivation? Mention
any four characteristics of shifting agriculture? Why is it being discouraged?
Ans. It is a type of agriculture in which farmers clear a patch of land and use it for growing
crops for two or three years. When the soil looses its fertility, the farmer shifts to a new land.
The crops commonly grown in this type of farming are paddy, maize, millets and vegetables
and the yield per hectare is very low.
Characteristics:-
1. Patch of land is cleared by cutting and burning the trees (slash and burn). This is called
jhumming.
2. Farmers depend on monsoon and natural fertility of the soil.
3. Yield per hectare is very low because no fertilizers manure and modern inputs are used.
4. After two to three years, the clearing is abandoned as the yield decreases due to the loss of
soil fertility.
It is being discouraged because it leads to deforestation and soil erosion.
13. Name the plantation crops grown in Assam, Karnataka and North Bengal.
Ans. The major plantation crop of Karnataka is coffee. The major plantation crop of Assam
and North Bengal is tea.
15. Mention the factors which play an important role in the development of plantation?
Ans. Well developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation
areas, processing industries and market plays an important role in the development of
plantation.
16. Name some plantation crops.
Ans. Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cardamom, Sugarcane, Banana, etc.
17. Name the agricultural seasons or cropping seasons of India and main crops of each
season.
Ans. The agricultural seasons of India are
1. Kharif season
2. Rabi season
3. Zaid season
Kharif Season: The crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the
country and are harvested in September-October.
Crops: Rice, Maize, Millets, Cotton, Ground nut, etc.
Rabi season: The crops are sown in winter from October - December and are harvested in
summer from April to June.
Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Oil seeds, etc.
Zaid Season: It is a short season between Rabi and Kharif during the summer months.
Crops: Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, fodder, etc.
20. Name the two important factors which help in the growth of Rabi crop?
Ans.1. Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate
cyclones and
2. The Success of Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of
Rajasthan are the important factors which help in the growth of Rabi crop.
25. Name the two important wheat growing zones in the country.
Ans. The Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan.
26. What are millets? Why are they an important food crop in India?
Ans. Millets are coarse grain crops with high nutritional value. Millet is a Kharif and rain fed
crop. India is the largest producer of millets in the world with the share of 33% in the total
production. They are also known as poor people’s main cereal crop.
28. State the geographical conditions required for the growth of millets?
Ans.1. Jowar is a rain fed crop mostly grown in the moist areas which hardly needs
irrigation.
2. Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil.
3. Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black
soils.
29. State the geographical requirement for maize cultivation. Mention the main producers
in India.
Ans. 1. Maize is used both as food and fodder.
2. It is a Kharif crop
3. It requires temperature between 210C – 270C
4. It grows well in old alluvial soil
5. Major maize producing states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh.
6. It is grown in rabi season in some states like Bihar etc.
30. What has led to the increase in production of agricultural crops in India?
Ans. The use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilizers and irrigation have contributed
to the increase in the production of agricultural crops in India.
31. Name some pulses grown in India?
Ans. The major pulses grown in India are Urad, moong, masur, peas and gram. They are the
major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
35. Name the oil seeds produced in India. What is their economic importance?
Ans. Main oil seeds produced in India are groundnuts, mustard, coconut, sesamum, soya
bean, castor, cotton, linseed and sunflower. India was the second largest producer of
groundnut in the world after China.
Economic importance:
1. Oilseeds cover approximately 12 percent of the total cropped area.
2. Most of the oil seeds are edible and used in cooking.
3. Some of these are also used as raw material in the production of soaps, cosmetics and oil
paints.
4. Oil cake which is a byproduct is an excellent cattle feed and is also used as fertilizers.
Note:
1. Two oil seeds grown as Kharif crops are groundnut and sesamum
2. Kharif crop in north and rabi crop in south – sesamum
3. Grown both as Rabi and Kharif crop – castor seed
4. Oil seeds which accounts for about half of the major oilseeds produced in the country-
Groundnut-Leading producer- Gujarat followed by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
5. Linseed and mustard are rabi crops.
36. Name two beverage crops of India.
Ans. Coffee and Tea.
37. Compare the geographical requirements for the growth of Tea and Coffee.
Ans.
Tea Coffee
1. It grows well in tropical and sub-tropical 1. It requires tropical climate with
climates endowed with deep and fertile temperature between 150C - 280C.
well-drained soil. 2. It requires well drained loamy soil with
2. It requires moist and frost-free climate humus.
through the year
3. It requires frequent showers evenly 3. It requires well distributed rainfall.
distributed over the year to ensure
continuous growth of tender leaves. 4. Leading producers: Karnataka, Kerala,
4. Leading producers: Assam and West Tamil Nadu
Bengal
38. Name the factors which ensure the continuous growth of tender tea leaves.
Ans.Frequent showers ensure the continuous growth of tender tea leaves
39. Explain the main features of tea cultivation?
Ans.1. India is the third largest producer of tea in the world after China and Turkey.
2. Tea cultivation is a labour intensive industry
3. It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour
40. Why is tea processed within the tea garden?
Ans. Tea is processed within the tea garden to restore its freshness.
41. Write a note on coffee variety produced in our country.
Ans. India produced 3.2 % of the world coffee production.
Indian coffee is known in the world for its good quality.
The Arabic variety initially brought from Yemen is produced in the country.
This variety is in great demand all over the world.
Initially its cultivation was introduced on the Baba Budan Hills.
Today its cultivation is confined to the Nilgiris.
42. What is horticulture? State its importance.
Ans.1. Horticulture refers to the specialized cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers on a
large scale.
2. These are exported and they bring a lot of foreign exchange.
3.India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetables.
4. It is an important producer of pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.
Fruit Leading producer
1. Mango Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
West Bengal
2. Orange Nagpur, Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya)
3. Banana Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
4. Lichi and Guava Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
5. Pine apple Meghalaya
6. Grapes Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra
7. Apples, Pears, Apricots, Walnuts Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh
43. Explain the geographical requirements for the growth of Rubber?
Ans.1. Rubber is an equatorial crop but under special conditions it is also grown in tropical
and sub-tropical areas.
2. Rubber requires constant temperature above 250C
3. The plant needs heavy and well distributed rain fall more than 200 cm throughout the year
4. It grows well in deep alluvial soil with good drainage
5. Kerala is the leading producer of rubber. It accounts for 91% of total area under rubber
cultivation
6.The other producers are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo
hills of Meghalaya.
44. What is the importance of Rubber for Indian economy?
Ans. 1. India ranks fourth among the world’s natural rubber producers
2. Rubber is an important industrial raw material.
3. It is used in auto tyres and tubes industry.
4. It is a major input for footwear industry.
5. India earns foreign exchange by exporting rubber and rubber products.
45. Name the four major fibre crops grown in India.
Ans. Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the major fibre crops grown in India.
46. What is sericulture?
Ans. Rearing of silk worms for producing silk fibre is called sericulture.
47. Compare the geographical requirements for the growth of cotton and jute?
Ans.
Cotton Jute
1.Cotton requires more than 210 C of 1. Jute requires a temperature of 300 C.
temperature.
2. 50 – 100 cm of rainfall is required for the 2. About 150cm of rainfall is required for the
growth of cotton growth of jute
3. Frost free days are must during the 3. Hot and humid climate is required.
picking season.
4. Deep dumat and black soil is required
4.Well drained alluvial soils found in flood
plains
5. Maharashtra and Gujarat are the two 5.WestBengal and Assam are the leading
leading producers of cotton producers
50. How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry?
Ans. As the result of the partition of the country in 1947, the jute growing areas went to East
Pakistan (Bangladesh) and the jute mills were in India. India had to import raw jute from
Bangladesh. There was a gradual decline in jute industry mainly due to following reasons
1. Decline in demand for jute products
2. Old and outdated machineries
3. Non availability of labour
4. High cost of production
5. Stiff international competition
6. Emergence of synthetic fibre particularly Nylon.
51. Enlist the various programmes introduced by the government to improve agriculture
immediately after independence.
Ans. Institutional reforms
1. Collectivisation
2. Cooperation and abolition of Zamindari system
3. Consolidation of land holdings
4. Land reform
Technological reforms
1. Green Revolution
2. White Revolution (Operation Flood)
Comprehensive land development programme
1. Provision of crop insurance against drought , flood, cyclone, fire and disease
2. Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing loan
facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest
3. Introduction of crop insurance
4. Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme
5. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on radio and television.
6. Improving the rural infrastructure
7. Announcement of minimum support price, remunerative and procurement price for
important crops to check the exploitation by speculators and middlemen.
52. How is government helping the Indian farmers in increasing the agricultural
production
OR
Suggest initiatives taken by government to ensure increase in agricultural production
Ans.1. Land reforms:-
The government abolished the Zamindari system and consolidated the fields and granted
them to the landless farmers
2. Construction of irrigation projects:-
Many multipurpose river valley projects have been established to provide power and
irrigation facilities to the farmers
3. Subsidies:-
The government is providing huge subsidies on the agricultural inputs. At present the
maximum subsidies is given on fertilizers
4. High Yielding Varieties (HYV) of seeds and agricultural universities:-
In order to increase the production the government is providing HYV seeds to the farmers.
Many agricultural universities have been established and special seminars are also being held
to educate the farmers about the modern methods of agriculture. Special weather bulletins
and agricultural programmes for farmers are introduced on radio and television.
5. Crop insurance and agricultural finance:-
Many banks and cooperative societies have been established to provide loans to the farmers
at lower rates of interest. Schemes like Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance
Schemes ( PAIS ) were introduced for farmers.
6. Public Procurement system and Agriculture Price Commission
Agriculture Price Commission has been set up which declares the prices of agricultural
products in advance so that the farmers may know what they are going to get for their
agricultural products. The Food Corporation of India purchases the agricultural products for
the farmers. The government announces minimum support price, remunerative and
procurement prices for important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by the
middlemen.
53. What were the steps taken by the Indian Government to improve agriculture in the
1960s and 1970s and in 1980s and 1990s?
Ans. The laws of land reforms were enacted after independence but the laws of
implementation was lacking. So, the government of India introduced agricultural reforms to
improve Indian agriculture
1. In 1960’s and 1970’s the Green Revolution based on the use of package of technology and
the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated to improve the
Indian agriculture. But this led to the concentration of development in few select areas.
2. Therefore n the 1980s and 1990’s a comprehensive land development programme was
initiated which included Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclones, fire
and disease, Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing
loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest, Introduction of Kisan Credit Card
(KCC), personal accident insurance scheme and minimum support price by the Government
of India for the benefit of farmers.
57. The land under cultivation has reduced day by day. Give its consequences.
Ans.1. Food shortage
2. Import of food grains
3. Poverty
4. Greatest strain on our financial resources
5. Less contribution to the economy
6. Greater pressure of population on land
60. How has climate made our land more valuable from the agricultural point of view?
Ans. Climate has made our land more valuable for agriculture because
1. We have a long growing season as there is ample sunshine.
2. Climate variations enable us to grow variety of crops in the year.
61. What is Operation Flood or White Revolution? What is the contribution of white
revolution in the integrated rural development?
Ans. Operation Flood or White Revolution is a package programme introduced to increase
the production of milk and milk products. It has provided additional income to the farmers
through the selling of milk. People of rural areas have got employment. The production of
milk has raised and even the standard of living of people in rural areas.
62. It is said that India produces almost every crop. Explain this statement.
Ans. India is a unique country from the agricultural point of view. It has extensive low lands,
fertile soil, abundant water and sunshine, long growing season, cheap labour and diverse
climate to grow different types of crops.
63. Distinguish between dry land farming and wet land farming?
Ans.
Dry Land Farming Wet Land Farming
1. It is practiced in the areas of low rainfall
1. It is practiced in the areas of high rainfall
2. Irrigation facilities are inadequate 2. Irrigation facilities are adequate
3. It is practiced in the desert areas of 3. It is practiced in Punjab, Haryana, West
Rajasthan Bengal, Kerala, etc.
4. More than one crop is grown in a year
4. Crops which require less moisture like (Kharif – rice; Rabi - Wheat)
gram, pulses, jowar, bajra, etc. are 5. Yield is high
grown in this type of farming
5. Yield is low
Note:
Blue Revolution: Fish and fish products
Yellow Revolution: Oil and oil seed products
Ans. Kerala , Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.
4. What is the rank of India among the world’s natural rubber producers?
Ans. India ranked fourth among the world’s natural rubber producers in 2010-11
66. Study the given data carefully and answer the following questions
1. What was the growth rate of India’s GDP in 11th Five Year Plan?
2. What was the growth rate in agriculture in the 11th Plan i.e. 2007-2012?
3. Mention the factors responsible for the low growth rate of percent in agriculture sector.
Ans. a. The government has reduced the public investment in agriculture sector particularly
irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanization.