Agriculture

Margin Questions

Q1. Can you name some industries based on agricultural raw material?

Answer:

Industries based on agricultural raw material include: cotton textile industry (raw cotton), jute industry (raw jute), sugar industry (sugarcane), tea processing industry (tea leaves), coffee processing industry (coffee beans), rubber industry (natural rubber), oil industry (oilseeds), and food processing industries (fruits, vegetables, grains).

Q2. Can you name some such types of farmings?

Answer:

Different types of primitive subsistence farming (slash and burn agriculture) are known by different names in different parts of India: Jhumming in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland; Pamlou in Manipur; Dipa in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh; and similar practices in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is also called Bewar or Dahiya in Madhya Pradesh, Podu or Penda in Andhra Pradesh, Pama Dabi or Koman in Odisha, Kumari in Western Ghats, Valre or Waltre in south-eastern Rajasthan, Khil in the Himalayan belt, and Kuruwa in Jharkhand.

Q3. Can you name the type of farming Rinjha's family is engaged in?

Answer:

Rinjha's family is engaged in primitive subsistence farming (slash and burn agriculture or jhumming). This is evident from the description of clearing, slashing and burning a patch of land for cultivation, using bamboo canals for irrigation, and the family's search for a fresh patch of land when soil fertility declines.

Q4. Can you enlist some crops which are grown in such farming?

Answer:

In primitive subsistence farming, farmers grow cereals and other food crops to sustain their family. These typically include crops like rice, maize, millets, pulses, and vegetables. The specific crops depend on the region, climate, and local conditions.

Q5. Can you name some of the states of India where such farming is practised?

Answer:

Intensive subsistence farming is practised in areas of high population pressure on land. Some of the states where this type of farming is practised include: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. These regions have high population density and limited land, requiring intensive use of biochemical inputs and irrigation for higher production.

Q6. Can you give some more examples of crops which may be commercial in one region and may provide subsistence in another region?

Answer:

Examples of crops that are commercial in one region and subsistence in another include: rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but a subsistence crop in Odisha; sugarcane is commercial in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra but subsistence in some parts of Bihar; wheat is commercial in Punjab and Haryana but subsistence in some parts of Madhya Pradesh; cotton is commercial in Gujarat and Maharashtra but subsistence in some tribal areas; and tea is commercial in Assam and West Bengal but subsistence in some hilly areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Q7. Can you distinguish which of these pulses are grown in the kharif season and which are grown in the rabi season?

Answer:

Kharif pulses include tur (arhar), urad, and moong which are sown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in September-October. Rabi pulses include gram (chickpea), masur (lentil), and peas which are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June).

Q8. List the items which are made of rubber and are used by us.

Answer:

Q9. Collect information about agriculture, horticulture, agricultural schemes, etc. from Farmers' Portal website https://farmer.gov.in/FarmerHome.aspx. Discuss about the benefits of the information available on the portal.

Answer:

This is a web-based activity. The Farmers' Portal provides information on various agricultural schemes, horticulture, crop prices, weather updates, and government initiatives. Benefits include: access to real-time information on crop prices and market trends, awareness of government schemes and subsidies, advice on farming techniques, weather forecasts for better planning, and connectivity with experts for solving farming problems. Students should explore the portal and share their findings in class.

Exercises

Q1. Multiple choice questions. (i) Which one of the following describes a system of agriculture where a single crop is grown on a large area? (a) Shifting Agriculture (b) Plantation Agriculture (c) Horticulture (d) Intensive Agriculture

Answer:

Answer: (b) Plantation Agriculture

Explanation: Plantation agriculture involves growing a single crop on a large area with capital-intensive inputs and migrant labourers. The produce is used as raw material in industries. Examples include tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana plantations.

Q2. (ii) Which one of the following is a rabi crop? (a) Rice (b) Gram (c) Millets (d) Cotton

Answer:

Answer: (b) Gram

Explanation: Gram (chickpea) is a rabi crop sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June). Rice and millets are kharif crops grown with the onset of monsoon, while cotton is also a kharif crop.

Q3. (iii) Which one of the following is a leguminous crop? (a) Pulses (b) Jawar (c) Millets (d) Sesamum

Answer:

Answer: (a) Pulses

Explanation: Pulses are leguminous crops that have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air, helping to restore soil fertility. Examples include tur (arhar), moong, urad, masur, peas, and gram. Jawar and millets are cereals, while sesamum is an oilseed.

Q4. Answer the following questions in 30 words. (i) Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its growth.

Answer:

Tea is an important beverage crop. It requires tropical/sub-tropical climate, deep and fertile well-drained soil rich in humus, warm and moist frost-free climate throughout the year, and frequent showers evenly distributed. It needs abundant cheap and skilled labour.

Q5. (ii) Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.

Answer:

Rice is a staple food crop of India. It is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and deltaic regions. Major producing states include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.

Q6. (iii) Enlist the various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government in the interest of farmers.

Answer:

Institutional reforms introduced by the government include: collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation, abolition of zamindari, land reforms in First Five Year Plan, establishment of Grameen banks and cooperative societies, provision of crop insurance, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS), minimum support price for crops, and agricultural programmes on radio and television.

Q7. Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Suggest the initiative taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural production.

Answer:

The government has taken several initiatives to increase agricultural production. The Green Revolution, based on use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, and irrigation, was introduced in the 1960s and 1970s to boost production. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) was initiated to improve dairy production. Land reform programmes focusing on consolidation of holdings and abolition of zamindari were implemented after Independence.

In the 1980s and 1990s, comprehensive land development programmes were initiated with both institutional and technical reforms. The government provides crop insurance against natural calamities, establishes Grameen banks and cooperative societies for providing loans at lower interest rates, and has introduced Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers are broadcast on radio and television. The government also announces minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices to protect farmers from exploitation by speculators and middlemen.

Q8. (ii) Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice.

Answer:

Rice is a staple food crop and a kharif crop requiring specific geographical conditions. It requires high temperature, above 25°C, and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm. In areas with less rainfall, rice can be grown with the help of irrigation. It grows well in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and deltaic regions. The development of canal irrigation and tubewells has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. Rice requires well-drained fertile alluvial soil with high water retention capacity. It needs standing water in the fields during the growing season. India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China.

Project Work

Q1. Group discussion on the necessity of literacy among farmers.

Answer:

This is a group activity. Literacy among farmers is essential for: understanding modern farming techniques and technologies; accessing information about government schemes, subsidies and loans; using weather forecasts and agricultural bulletins effectively; adopting scientific methods of cultivation and pest management; interpreting market prices and making informed decisions; and avoiding exploitation by middlemen. Literacy empowers farmers to improve their productivity, income, and quality of life. Students should discuss these points and share their views in groups.

Q2. On an outline map of India show wheat producing areas.

Answer:

This is a map-based activity. Students should use an outline map of India to mark the major wheat-producing states. The main wheat-producing areas are: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. The Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and the black soil region of the Deccan are the two important wheat-growing zones in India. Students should shade or label these regions on the map accurately.

Activity

Q1. Solve the puzzle by following your search horizontally and vertically to find the hidden answers. 1. The two staple food crops of India. 2. This is the summer cropping season of India. 3. Pulses like arhar, moong, gram, urad contain… 4. It is a coarse grain. 5. The two important beverages in India are… 6. One of the four major fibers grown on black soils.

Answer:

Answers to the puzzle:

1. Rice and Wheat - The two staple food crops of India.
2. Zaid - The summer cropping season between rabi and kharif.
3. Protein - Pulses are rich in protein and are a major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
4. Jowar - A coarse grain grown as a rain-fed crop in moist areas.
5. Tea and Coffee - The two important beverage crops in India.
6. Cotton - One of the four major fibre crops grown on black cotton soil in the Deccan plateau.

Students should locate these words in the given grid.