Q.1 What factors does primitive subsistence farming depend on?
Answer:
Factors:
- Monsoons
- Natural fertility of the soil
- Suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.
Q.2
Write main characteristics of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
Or, Write main characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming.
Answer:
- This type of farming is practised in few pockets of India on small patches of land using primitive tools and family/community labour.
- Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families.
- When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.
- Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.
Q.3Compare ‘intensive subsistence farming’ with that of ‘commercial farming’ practiced in India.
Answer:
Intensive Subsistence Farming | Commercial Farming |
(i) In this type of farming, production is mainly for self consumption. | (i) In this, crops are mainly grown for commercial purposes. |
(ii) It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land. | (ii) It is practiced on large pieces of land on scientific and commercial lines. |
(iii) It is labour intensive farming. | (iii) In this type of agriculture, machines and modem technology are used. |
(iv) In this, high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production. | (iv) There is higher use of modern agricultural inputs, for example, High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to obtain higher yields and production. |
Q.4 What are the major differences between primitive subsistence farming and commercial farming? (2013)
Answer:
Primitive Subsistence Farming | Commercial Farming |
1. In this mainly cereals and other food crops are grown by farmers to sustain themselves. | 1. In this, crops are mainly grown for commercial purposes. |
2. It is generally done on small land holdings which are economically not viable. | 2. It is practiced on large pieces of land on scientific and commercial lines. |
3. Primitive tools and animals are used for carrying out agricultural activities. | 3. In this type of agriculture, machines and modern technology are used. |
4. In this, modern agricultural inputs, e.g., fertilisers and irrigation are not widely used. | 4. There is higher use of modern agricultural inputs, e.g., HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, etc. are used to obtain higher yields and production. |
5. Subsistence Agriculture is called Jhumming in Assam, Mizoram; Kuruwa in Jharkhand.E.g., Slash and Burn. | 5. The degree of commercialization varies from one region to another. Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab, while in Orissa it is subsistence crop. E.g., Plantation agriculture. |
Q.5 Mention two geographical conditions required for the growth of Maize crop in India. Describe three factors which have contributed to increase maize production. Write four major maize producing states. (2012)
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in .India:
- It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21° C to 27° C. It requires moderate rainfall between 50-100 cm.
- It grows well in old alluvial soils.
Maize is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. In some states like Bihar, maize is grown in rabi season also. Maize production in India has increased due to factors like:- use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds;
- use of fertilisers; and
- use of irrigation facilities.
- major maize producing state: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
Q.6 (a) Name three pulses each of Rabi and Kharif season. Write their importance for human beings and for agriculture.
(b) What is India’s position in the world with regard to the production of pulses? Name five leading states producing pulses. (2015)
Answer:
(a) Pulses of Rabi season: Tur (arhar), urad, moong.
Pulses of Kharif season: Masur, peas, gram.
Importance of pulses:
- For agriculture. Being leguminous crops, they help in restoring soil fertility by utilising nitrogen from the air (nitrogen fixation). Therefore, these are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
- They need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.
(b) India is the largest producer of pulses in the world.
Major pulse producing states are: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Q.7 What is India’s position in the world regarding tea production? Name three states each which produce tea in:
(i) North-Eastern India
(ii) Himalayan states/parts of the states
(iii) Peninsular States.
Answer:
India is the leading producer and exporter of tea in the world.
Three states producing tea in each of the following:
North-Eastern States | Himalayan Regions/States | Peninsular States |
1. Assam | 1. Hills of West Bengal | 1. Tamil Nadu |
2. Meghalaya | (Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri Districts) | 2. Kerala |
3. Tripura | 2. Himachal Pradesh | 3. Andhra Pradesh |
3. Uttaranchal |
Q.8 What are ‘Institutional Reforms’? Enlist various institutional reforms taken by the Indian Government to bring about improvements in agriculture. (2015)
Answer:
Institutional reforms:
Steps taken by the government to bring about improvements in agriculture are termed as ‘Institutional Reforms’.
Some steps are:
- Collectivisation and consolidation of land holdings to make them economically viable.
- The green revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution to increase milk production are important strategies which were initiated to improve agriculture.
- Cooperation with farmers and Abolition of Zamindari system.
- Provision of crop insurance to protect the farmers against losses caused by natural calamities, i.e. drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease.
- Establishment of ‘Grameen Banks’, Cooperative Societies and Banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.
- Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers.
- Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the Radio and TV.
- Announcement of minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices for crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen and removing the elements of uncertainty.
Q.9 Define each of the following:
(a) Green Revolution
(b) White Revolution
(c) Yellow Revolution
(d) Blue Revolution
(e) Gene Revolution.
Answer:
(a) Green Revolution. Agricultural Revolution which resulted in increased production of foodgrains because of the use of HYV (High Yielding Varieties) seeds, fertilizers, proper irrigation and other modem inputs.
(b) White Revolution. Revolutionary increase in the production of milk which was spearheaded by Operation Flood.
(c) Yellow Revolution. Increase in the output of oilseeds is termed as Yellow Revolution.
(d) Blue Revolution refers to increased output of fish and fish products.
(e) Gene Revolution refers to the development of genetically modified seeds for increasing the yield per hectare. These seeds are environmentally sustainable.
Q.10 What are coarse grains? Why are they important in India? Name the crops which are included in this category and name three leading states producing each of these crops.
Answer:
Millets are called coarse grains. They are important because they have high nutritional value and make an important part of the diet for poor people.
Most important millets are as follows:
- Ragi —Leading producer is Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Sikkim etc are other important regions.
- Jowar—Maharashtra is the leading producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.
- Bajra—It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soils. Rajasthan is the largest producer followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
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