AGRICULTURE
1.What term is used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones?
Answer:
The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidation
of land holdings
2.What is White Revolution related to?
Answer:
White Revolution is related to the production of milk. It is also called Operation Flood
3. Name the crop of which India is the largest producer and consumer.
Answer:
India is the largest producer and consumer of the pulses in the world.
4. Mention the sowing period of rabi crops.
Answer:
Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December.
3 marks questions
1.Explain rubber cultivation in India under the following heads.
(a) Importance
(b) Geographical conditions
(c) Any two rubber-producing states
Answer:
-Importance: Rubber is an important industrial raw material.
- Geographical conditions: It is an equitable crop, which is grown in tropical and subtropical areas. It requires moist and humid climate with temperature above 25°C and rainfall above 200 cm.
-Two rubber-producing states: It is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Garo hills of Meghalaya.
2.Explain rice cultivation in India under the following heads.
(a) Temperature (b) Rainfall
(c) Agricultural season
Answer:
-Temperature: Rice requires a high temperature of above 25°C.
-Rainfall: It requires high humidity with an annual rainfall above 100 cm. In the areas of less rainfall, irrigation is essential.
-Agricultural season: It is a kharif crop, which is grown with the onset of monsoon and is harvested in September-October
3.Explain any three steps taken by the central and state governments to improve
India agriculture after independence.
Answer:
Various initiatives taken by the central and state governments to ensure the increase in agricultural production after independence are as follows.
-Collectivism, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc. were given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
- Land reforms were the main focus of the First Five Year Plan.
The Green Revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated to improve Indian agriculture.
-Minimum Support Price Policy, provisions for crop insaurance, subsidy on agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilisers, Grameen banks, Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are some of the reforms brought by the government.
Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, horticulture development and weather forecast etc. were given priority for improving Indian agriculture.
(any three)
3.Describe any two conditions required for the cultivation of tea. Name two major tea-producing states of India.
Answer:
Tea is an important beverage crop. The following are the conditions required for its cultivation.
-The tea plant grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions, which have deep, fertile and well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
-Tea bushes require warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
-Tea bushes require frequent showers throughout the year to ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. It needs abundant, cheap and skilled labour. (Any two)
Two major tea-producing states are Assam and West Bengal.
4.Define plantation agriculture. Explain any two characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area. The following are the four characteristics of plantation.
-Plantations have very large areas.
-Capital-intensive inputs are used.
-Migr-ant labourers are used.
-All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries.
-The development of plantations is the result of a well-developed network of transport and communication, connecting plantations to markets
(Any 2 points)
5.Explain any three characteristics of commercial farming in India.
Answer:
The following are the five characteristics of commercial farming in India.
-The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of high doses of modern inputs, like HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides, in order to obtain higher productivity.
-The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another, for example rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.
-Plantation is also a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area.
-Plantations cover large areas using capital intensive inputs with the help of migrant labourers.
-In India tea, coffee, rubber, sugar cane and banana are important plantation crops.
( Any three)
Long Answer Type Questions [5 Marks]
1.Name the two most important staple food crops in India. Mention the geographical conditions required for their growth.
Answer:
The two most important staple food crops in India are rice and wheat.
*The geographical conditions required for the growth of rice are as follows.
-It requires high temperature—above 25°C.
- It requires high humidity for its growth.
-It requires annual rainfall above 100 cm.
*The geographical conditions required for the growth of wheat arenas follows.
- It is a rabi crop and needs cool growing season.
-It requires bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
-It also requires 50 to 70 cm of annual rainfall, well distributed over the growing season.
2.) Describe the impact of globalisation on Indian agriculture.
Answee
The impact of globalisation on Indian agriculture has been felt since the time of colonisation.
-In the nineteenth century, Indian spices were exported to different countries of the world and farmers of south India were encouraged to grow these crops.
-In 1917, Indian farmers revolted in Champaran because they were forced to grow indigo on their land to supply dye to Britain's flourishing textile industry. They were unable to grow food grains to sustain their families.
-Post liberalisation, Indian farmers have been exposed to new challenges in the form of competition from highly subsidised agriculture of developed nations.
- Despite being an important producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute and spices, our agricultural products are not able to compete with those countries.
-To make the Indian agriculture successful and profitable, proper thrust should be given to the improvement of the condition of marginal and small farmers
HOTS
1.How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry?
Answer
Partition of the country in 1947 affected the jute industry as the jute growing areas were in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and jute mills were in India. India has to import raw jute from Bangladesh to run the jute mills. There has been gradual decline in the jute industry due to the following reasons :
(i) Decline in demand for jute products.
(ii) Old and outdated machinery.
(iii) High cost of production and stiff international competition from Bangladesh and Brazil.
(iv) Emergence of synthetic substitutes.
(v) Non-availability of labour.
2.Suggest any five measures to enhance the agricultural production in India
Answer:
Agricultural is an important economic activity in our country. I would like to suggest the following measures to enhance the agricultural production in India.
-Each district and block can be made self-sufficient in agricultural production if the government provides proper agricultural infrastructure, irrigation facilities, electricity, etc.
-Loans can be provided at lower interest rates to cultivator.
-The use of latest techniques can be encouraged.
-Instead of concentrating only on rice or wheat, the food crop with a better growth potential in that particular area must be encouraged.
- attracting foreign investment in agriculture and also free trade in grains will not only increase agricultural production, but will also create massive employment and reduce poverty in rural areas.
-Farmers should diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high-value crops.
VALUE BASED QUESTIONS
1.The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day. Can you imagine its consequences?
Answer
India shall no longer be self-sufficient in its requirements of food grains.
Landless labourers will outweigh the ranks of unskilled – unemployed workers in India.
More farmers will switch over to cultivation of high value crops.
