Very Short Answer Question s (VSA) 1 Mark

Question 1.
What type of country is India -“Agricultural or industrial? Why? Give one reason.
Answer:
India is an agricultural country because two-thirds of its population is engaged in agricultural activities. Agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the food for people.

Question 2.
What are agro-based industries? Name any two.
Answer:

1.     Agro-based industries are based on agricultural raw materials.

2.     The examples are cotton textile and jute.

Question 3.
What is other name of primitive subsistence farming?
Answer:
It is known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

Question 4.
State any one feature of primitive subsistence agriculture.
Answer:
Primitive subsistence agriculture is practiced on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks and family/community labour.

Question 5.
What are the different names of ‘slash and bum’ agriculture in different countries? Name any two.
Answer:

1.     Mexico – Milpa

2.     Venzuela – Conuco

3.     Brazil – Roca

4.     Central Africa -Masole

5.     Indonesia – Ladang

6.     Vietnam – Ray

Question 6.
State any two names of primitive subsistence farming in India.
Answer:
Bewar, Dahiya, Roman, Valre and Khil.

Question 7.
State any feature of Intensive Subsistence Farming.
Answer:
It is labour intensive farming, where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production.

Question 8.
What is the main characteristic of commercial farming?
Answer:
Use of higher doses of modern inputs i.e., HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity.

Question 9.
State any one example of a crop which may be commercial in one region and may provide subsistence in another region.
Answer:
Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but in Orissa, it is a subsistence crop.

Question 10.
Mention any two plantation crops in India.
Answer:
Tea, coffee and rubber.

Question 11.
What is a plantation crop?
Answer:
In plantation crop, a single crop is grown on a large area. Plantations cover large tracts of land, using capital intensive inputs, with the help of migrant labourers.

Question 12.
Mention India’s cropping seasons.
Answer:
India has three cropping seasons e.g., rabi, kharif and zaid.

Question 13.
Which crops are grown in rabi season?
Answer:
Some important crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.

Question 14.
In which states three crops of paddy are grown? Which are they?
Answer:

1.     In states like Assam, West Bengal and Orissa three crops of paddy are grown.

2.     Three crops are Aus, Aman and Boro.

Question 15.
Which are important kharif crops?
Answer:
Important kharif crops are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.

Question 16.
When does the zaid season fall?
Answer:
Zaid season falls in between the rabi and kharif seasons during summer months.

Question 17.
What is the position of rice production of India in the world?
Answer:
India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China.

Question 18.
In the areas of less rainfall how does rice grow?
Answer:
In the areas of less rainfall i.e., less than 100 cm, rice grows with the help of irrigation.

Question 19.
What type of crop is wheat?
Answer:
It is a cereal crop. It is the main food crop in north and north-western part of India

Question 20.
Which are important wheat-growing zones in India?
Answer:
There are two important wheat growing zones in the country – the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan.

Question 21.
Name important millets.
Answer:
Important millets are jowar, bajra and ragi.

Question 22.
Which state is the largest producer of jowar?
Answer:
Maharashtra is the largest producer of jowar.

Question 23.
What type of soil is required for the growth of bajra?
Answer:
Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil.

Question 24.
State one feature of ragi.
Answer:
Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.

Question 25.
State one of features of maize.
Answer:

1.     It is a crop which is used both as food and fodder.

2.     It is a kharif crop.

Question 26.
What is the position of India in the production of pulses in the world?
Answer:
India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses in the world.

Question 27.
Give one feature of sugarcane.
Answer:

1.     Sugarcane is a tropical as well as a subtropical crop.

2.     It grows well in hot and humid climate with a temperature of 21 °C to 27 °C and annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm.

Question 28.
Where does India stand in the production of oil seeds?
Answer:
India is the largest producer of oil seeds in the world.

Question 29.
Which state is the largest producer of groundnut in India?
Answer:
Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of groundnut in India.

Question 30.
Which crop is both a plantation crop as well as a beverage crop?
Answer:
Tea cultivation is a plantation agriculture. It is also an important beverage crop.

Question 31.
By whom tea was introduced in India?
Answer:
Tea was introduced in India initially by the British.

Question 32.
Which type of coffee is produced in India?
Answer:
The Arabica variety initially brought from Yemen is produced in India.

Question 33.
Where is coffee cultivated?
Answer:
Coffee cultivation is confined to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Question 34.
Which fruits of India are in great demand in the world market? Name any two.
Answer:

1.     Mangoes of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

2.     Bananas of Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Question 35.
Which are major fibre crops?
Answer:
Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India.

Question 36.
Which fibre is known as golden fibre?
Answer:
Jute.

Question 37.
What strategies were adopted by the government to improve the Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s?
Answer:
The Green Revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture.

Question 38.
Name any two schemes introduced by the government of India for the benefit of the farmers.
Answer:

1.     Kissan Credit Card.

2.     Personal Accident Insurance Scheme.

Question 39.
Who was declared by Mahatma Gandhi as his spiritual heir?
Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi declared Vinoba Bhave as his spiritual heir.

Question 40.
Who started Bhoodan ? What was its aim?
Answer:

1.     Vinoba Bhave.

2.     Its aim was to give land to landless villagers.

Question 41.
Why the agriculture is considered the backbone of Indian economy? Give any one reason.
Answer:
Agriculture is considered as the backbone of Indian economy because its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population was 63 per cent in 2001.

Question 42.
Write four points to stress the importance of agriculture in India.
Or, Why is India called an agriculturally important country? Write four supportive arguments.
Or, ‘Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian Economy’ Explain the statement by giving reason.
Answer:
India is an agricultural country because of the following reasons:

1.    Two-third of its population is engaged in agricultural activities which provide livelihood.

2.    Agriculture is a primary activity and produces most of the food and foodgrains that we consume.

3.    It produces raw materials for our various industries, e.g., cotton textile and sugar industry.

4.    Some agricultural products, like tea, coffee and spices, are exported and earn foreign exchange.

5.    The share of agriculture in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as 63% in 2001.

Question 43.
Why do farming practices vary in different regions? Give three major reasons.
Answer:
Three major reasons are:

1.    Physical environment, i.e., relief, soil and climate.

2.    Technological know-how.

3.    Socio-cultural practices.

Question 44.
Name some industries based on agricultural raw material.
Answer:
Cotton Textile Industry and Sugar Industry.

Question 45.
What factors does primitive subsistence farming depend on?
Answer:
Factors:

1.    Monsoons

2.    Natural fertility of the soil

3.    Suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.

Question 46.
Write main characteristics of ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
Or, Write main characteristics of Primitive Subsistence Farming.
Answer:

1.    This type of farming is practised in few pockets of India on small patches of land using primitive tools and family/community labour.

2.    Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families.

3.    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.

4.    Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.

Question 47.
Name some primitive tools used in ‘slash and bum’ agriculture.
Answer:
Tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks.

Question 48.
Compare ‘intensive subsistence farming’ with that of ‘commercial farming’ practiced in India.
Answer:

Question 49.
Write the main characteristics of intensive subsistence farming.
Answer:

1.    It is practised in areas of high population pressure on land.

2.    It is labour intensive farming.

3.    Yield per hectare is high because high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used.

4.    The size of the land-holdings is small and uneconomical.

5.    Farmers take maximum output from the limited land by raising 2-3 crops in a year from the same land, i.e., multiple cropping is practised.

Question 50.
What are the major differences between primitive subsistence farming and commercial farming?
Answer:

Question 51.
What is the most important characteristic of commercial farming?
Answer:
The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g., high yielding varieties seeds (HYVs), chemical fertilizers and pesticides to increase productivity.
The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another.

Question 52.
Give an example of a crop which is commercial in one region and provides subsistence in another.
Answer:
Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, while in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.

Question 53.
Name one type of agriculture which falls in the category of commercial agriculture. Write the main characteristics of this type of agriculture.
Or
Write six characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming.
Characteristics of plantation agriculture:

1.    A single type of crop is grown on a large area.

2.    Plantation is carried out on large estates using lot of capital intensive units.

3.    Lot of migrant labourers work on these estates.

4.    The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. All the produce is used as raw material in the respective industries.

5.    The production is mainly for the market, i.e., commercial agriculture.

6.    A well-developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas, processing industries and markets plays an important role in the development of plantations.

Question 54.
Name one horticultural plantation crop and two beverage plantation crops and two States each which specialise in their production respectively.
Answer:
Horticultural plantation crop is apples, mainly grown in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. Beverage crops:

1.    Tea which is mainly a plantation crop in Assam and North-West Bengal.

2.    Coffee which is grown in Karnataka.

Question 55.
Name some important plantation crops.
Answer:
Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and banana are examples of some important plantation crops.

Question 56.
Name three cropping seasons of India. Write their sowing and harvesting time and major crops of each season.
Answer:
Rabi, Kharif and Zaid are the three cropping seasons.

I. Rabi crops (Winter crops):
These are sown in winter from October to December.
Harvested in summer from April to June.
Important crops are wheat, barley, mustard, peas, gram etc.

II. Kharif crops (Crops of the rainy season):
These are sown with the onset of monsoon (June-July) and are harvested in September-October. Important crops are rice, maize, millets, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.

III. Zaid season: It is a short cropping season during summer months (mainly between March-April and June-July in different parts of the country).
Important crops are watermelon, musk melon, cucumber and fodder crops, etc.

Question 57.
Where are rabi crops mainly grown? Describe the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Answer:
Rabi crops such as wheat and other crops are grown mainly in states from the north and north-western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh. Climatic conditions: Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones help in successful growth.
The green revolution has also been an important factor in the growth of rabi crops.

Question 58.
Name some important rice growing regions of India.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal, Coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra etc.

Question 59.
Name three states which raise three paddy crops in a year. Name these crops also.
Answer:
Assam, West Bengal and Orissa grow three crops in a year. The crops are Aus, Aman and Boro.

Question 60.
(a) Which is the most important food crop of India? What is its position in world production?
Or, Name the food crop of Kharif season. What is India’s position in the world with regard to its production?
(b) Write the rainfall and temperature requirements for the growth of this crop.
(c) Name four major regions of rice cultivation.
(d) Name four states which produce irrigated rice.
Answer:
(a) Rice is the most important food crop (Kharif crop) of India. India holds second position in rice production after China.

(b) For rice cultivation, high temperature of 25°C and above and high humidity with annual rainfall of 100 cms is required.

(c) Four major regions of rice cultivation are:

1.    Plains of North India

2.    Plains of North-Eastern India

3.    Coastal areas

4.    Deltaic regions.

(d) Irrigated rice is produced in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Development of dense network of canals and tubewells has made it possible to grow rice in these states which receive less rainfall.

Question 61.
(a) Which is the second most important cereal crop of India? Write the geographical conditions
required for its growth.
(b) Name two major zones of wheat growth and name six major states of wheat production.
Answer:
(a) Wheat is the second most important cereal crop of India. It is the main food crop.
Geographical conditions:

1.    Cool and moist growing season.

2.    Bright sunshine at the time of ripening.

3.    Rainfall: 50 to 75 cm evenly distributed over the growing season.

4.    Loamy soil is best for its growth.

(b) Two important wheat growing zones in India are:

1.    The Ganga-Sutlej plains in the North-West and

2.    Black soil region of the Deccan.

The major wheat producing states are: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 62.
Which is the third most important food crop of India? Name the cropping season in which it is grown. Name four leading states of its production.
Answer:
Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It is mainly the crop of Kharif season. It is a rainfed crop grown in moist areas.
Leading states of production are: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 63.
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:

1.    Ragi —Leading producer is Karnataka, followed by Tamil Nadu. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Uttaranchal, Sikkim etc are other important regions.

2.    Jowar—Maharashtra is the leading producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh.

3.    Bajra—It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soils. Rajasthan is the largest producer followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

Question 64.
Write two geographical conditions required for the growth of Ragi and write its nutritional value.
Answer:
Geographical conditions:

1.    Ragi grows well in dry regions.

2.    It grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.

Nutritional value: Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, other micro-nutrients and roughage.

Question 65.
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.
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in .India:

1.    It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21° C to 27° C. It requires moderate rainfall between 50-100 cm.

2.    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:

1.    use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds;

2.    use of fertilisers; and

3.    use of irrigation facilities.

4.    major maize producing state: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 66.
(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.
Answer:
(a) Pulses of Rabi season: Tur (arhar), urad, moong.
Pulses of Kharif season: Masur, peas, gram.
Importance of pulses:

1.    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.

2.    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.

Question 67.
(a) What is India’s position in the world regarding sugarcane production? Write the geographical conditions required for its growth.
(b) Write the major states that produce sugarcane.
(c) Name four products obtained from sugarcane.
Answer:
(a) India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.
Geographical conditions: It is a tropical as well as subtropical crop.

1.    It grows well in hot and humid climate.

2.    Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.

3.    Annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cms. Irrigation is required in the regions of low rainfall.

4.    It can be grown on a variety of soils.

5.    It needs manual labour from sowing to harvesting.

(b) Six major states producing sugarcane are: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

(c) Sugarcane is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses.

Question 68.
(a) What percentage of the total cropped area of India is under oilseed production? What is India’s position in the world with regard to oilseed production?
(b) Name six oilseeds produced in India. What are their main uses?
(c) Which oilseed constitutes 50% of the oilseeds produced in the country? Name three major states producing this oilseed.
(d) Name three oilseeds of Kharif season and three of Rabi season.
Answer:
(a) India is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world. 12% of the total cropped area is under oilseed production

(b) Six major oilseeds produced in India are: Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor-seeds, linseed, sunflower and cotton-seeds.
Most of these oilseeds are edible and are used as cooking mediums.
Some are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.

(c) Groundnut is a Kharif crop and constitutes 50% share in the total oilseed production. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra are important producers of groundnut.

(d)

Question 69.
Write the geographical and labour conditions required for the growth of tea.
Answer:
Geographical conditions:

1.    It grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.

2.    It requires deep, fertile, well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.

3.    It requires warm and moist frost free climate round the year.

4.    Frequent showers evenly distributed through the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.

5.    Tea is a labour intensive industry. It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour.

6.    It is processed within tea gardens to restore its freshness.

Question 70.
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:

Question 71.
Which is the most important beverage crop of Southern India and what is its percentage share in the world? Where did its cultivation initially start in India? Name three major states of its production.
Answer:
Coffee is the most important beverage crop of Southern India. India produces about 4% of the world’s coffee production.
Three major states which produce coffee are: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, mainly in Nilgiri Hills. Initially its cultivation started in Baba Budan Hills.

Question 72.
Name a good variety of coffee which is produced in India and name the country from where it was initially brought. Why Indian coffee has great international demand?
Answer:
Arabica, the good variety of coffee was originally brought from Yemen.
Indian coffee is in great demand because this coffee is of a very good quality.

Question 73.
What is horticulture?
Answer:
Cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers is called horticulture.

Question 74.
What is India’s position in the world in the production of fruits and vegetables? Name the different Indian fruits which are in great demand world over and also name the states where each is produced.
Answer:
India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.
Mangoes grow in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
Bananas grow well in Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Oranges grow well in Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya).
Lichi and Guavas grow in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Grapes grow well in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Pineapple grows well in Meghalaya.
Apples, Pears, Apricots and Walnuts grow well in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Question 75.
Name four temperate fruits which are produced in India and name the states which grow them in abundance.
Answer:
Four temperate crops are: apples, pears, apricots and walnuts.
Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir are the leading producers of these temperate fruits.

Question 76.
Describe India’s position in vegetable production.
Answer:

1.    India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetables.

2.    It stands first in the production of peas and cauliflower.

3.    It stands second in the production of onions, cabbage, tomatoes and brinjal and stands fourth in the production of potatoes.

Question 77.
Name three non-food crops and write three major states of their production respectively.
Answer:
The three non-food crops are: rubber, cotton and jute.
Rubber is produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Cotton is mainly produced in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, Bihar and Assam.

Question 78.
Write the geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber. Name the item which consumes maximum share of rubber for its manufacture.
Answer:
Conditions:

1.    It requires hot and humid climate.

2.    Rainfall – 200 cms.

3.    Temperature – above 25°C.

Maximum rubber is consumed in the manufacture of auto tyres and tubes and cycle tyres and tubes. They together consume about 57.8% of the total rubber production.

Question 79.
Name four major fibre crops grown in India. What is ‘sericulture’?
Answer:
Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India. The first three are derived directly from the crops grown in the soil, but silk is obtained from the cocoons of silk worms fed on mulberry leaves.
Sericulture: Rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre is known as sericulture.

Question 80.
Give an account of fibre crop which is mainly grown in Deccan Plateau region under the following heads:
(i) Its position in the world production
(ii) geographical conditions and
(iii) major states of production.
Answer:
Cotton is the fibre crop which is mainly grown in the black soil of the Deccan Plateau region.
(i) Position. India is the 3rd largest producer of cotton in the world.
(ii) Geographical conditions. Cotton requires:

1.    high temperature.

2.    light rainfall or irrigation.

3.    210 frost-free days.

4.    bright sunshine for its growth.

5.    black cotton soil which is very good for its growth.

6.    It is a Kharif crop and requires 6-8 months to mature.

(iii) Major cotton producing states are. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Question 81.
Which fibre crop is called as the ‘Golden fibre’? Which is the most important region of its growth and why? Give one major reason why it is losing the market now.
Answer:
Jute is known as the golden fibre.
Jute is mainly grown in West Bengal, especially in the Hooghly Basin because there the geographical conditions favour its growth. These conditions are:

1.    High temperature required during the time of growth.

2.    Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres and other packing materials particularly to nylon.

Question 82.
Name the major jute producing states and list some items or products made out of jute.
Answer:
Jute producing states are: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya.
Jute products are: gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, yarns and other ornamental artefacts.

Technological And Institutional Reforms

Question 83.
Give the main reasons which have necessitated agricultural reforms.
Answer:
Reforms in agriculture are necessary because of the following reasons:

1.    Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of agricultural development.

2.    Most of the farmers still depend on monsoons because large parts of the country still do not have irrigation facilities.

3.    Farmers still depend on natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture, i.e., they lack material resources, e.g., fertilizers, etc.

4.    Ours is an agricultural economy and about 63% of people depend on agriculture for employment and livelihood, therefore reforms have to be implemented.

5.    For raising the agricultural production and productivity levels to produce sufficient food for the growing population.

6.    To overcome environmental, economic and social constraints, agricultural reforms have to be seriously implemented.

7.    The declining share in GDP is a matter of serious concern because decline and stagnation in agriculture will lead to decline in other spheres of economy.

Question 84.
What are ‘Institutional Reforms’? Enlist various institutional reforms taken by the Indian Government to bring about improvements in agriculture.
Answer:
Institutional reforms:
Steps taken by the government to bring about improvements in agriculture are termed as ‘Institutional Reforms’.
Some steps are:

1.    Collectivisation and consolidation of land holdings to make them economically viable.

2.    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.

3.    Cooperation with farmers and Abolition of Zamindari system.

4.    Provision of crop insurance to protect the farmers against losses caused by natural calamities, i.e. drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease.

5.    Establishment of ‘Grameen Banks’, Cooperative Societies and Banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.

6.    Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers.

7.    Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the Radio and TV.

8.    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.

Question 85.
Describe some concerted efforts made by the government to modernise Indian agriculture and improve its share in the GDP.
Answer:
The following measures have been taken by the government to modernise agriculture and improve its share in the GDP:

1.    Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

2.    Setting up of Agricultural Universities.

3.    Development of advanced Veterinary Services and Animal Breeding Centres.

4.    Development of horticulture.

5.    Research and Development in the field of meteorology and weather forecasts, etc.
Improving the rural infrastructure is essential for the same.

Question 86.
“The contribution of agriculture to national economy is on the decline.” Write five facts to support this statement.
Or, What is the contribution of agriculture to national economy, employment and output? Is it declining or encouraging?
Answer:
Contribution of agriculture is showing a declining trend:

1.    The share of agriculture in GDP has shown a declining trend since 1951.

2.    Yet its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population continued to be as high as 63% in 2001.

3.    Although GDP growth rate of the country is increasing, it is not generating sufficient employment opportunities in the country, especially in the field of agriculture.

4.    Farmers are dragging away their investment from agriculture because they have to face big challenges from international competition. This has resulted in further downfall in employment in agriculture.

5.    The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation.

Question 87.
What are the challenges being faced by Indian farmers? What has this resulted in?
Answer:
Challenges faced by Indian farmers:

1.    Reduction in public investment by government in the agricultural sector particularly in areas of irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.

2.    Subsidy on fertilizers has decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.

3.    Reduction in import duties on agricultural products has proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
All these factors have led to stiff international competition. Farmers are thus withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in agricultural employment.

Question 88.
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.

Question 89.
Write four drawbacks of green revolution.
Answer:

1.    Due to overuse of chemicals land degradation has taken place.

2.    Excessive irrigation caused drying of acquifers.

3.    It became a cause for vanishing biodiversity.

4.    It has widened the gap between poor and rich farmers because only agriculturally rich areas have benefitted from it and not the small farmers.

Question 90.
(a) Give four reasons why Indian farmers should switch over from cereals to high value crops’ cultivation.
(b) What will be the implication of this change? Name three countries which have successfully done this.
Answer:
(a) Indian farmers should switch from cereals to high value crops because of the following reasons:

1.    It will improve their income.

2.    It will reduce environmental degradation at the same time.

3.    Fruits, medicinal herbs, bio-diesel crops, flowers and vegetables need much less irrigation than rice or sugarcane.

4.    India’s wide variety of climates can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.

(b) Its implications are:

1.    India has to import food.

2.    If we import food while exporting high value crops, our economy will grow.

3.    Three countries which have such successful economies are: Chile, Israel and Italy, which export farm products (fruits, wine, olives, speciality seeds) and import food.

Question 91.
How is ‘slash and bum’ agriculture practiced? What are its main features? How is it known in different parts of the country?
Answer:
(1) The ‘slash and burn’ agriculture is practiced as mentioned below :

1.     Under this system, farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family.

2.     As the fertility of the soil decreases, the land is abandoned.

3.     The farmers move to new areas and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation.

4.      It is known as ‘shifting agriculture’.

5.     The shifting of farmers to new area allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.

6.     As farmers do not use fertilisers and high yielding variety of seeds, the land productivity is low.

(2) It is known in different parts of the country and the world as follows:

1.     Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland -Jhumming

2.     Manipur – Pamlou _

3.     Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands — Dipa

4.     Madhya Pradesh – Bewar or Dahiya

5.     Andhra Pradesh – Podu or Penda

6.     Orissa – Pama Dabi or Roman or Bringa

7.     Western Ghats – Kumari

8.     South-eastern Rajasthan — Valre or Walter

9.     Himalayan belt – Khil

10. harkhand – Kuruwa.

Question 92.
Distinguish between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming.
Answer:
Primitive subsistence farming

1.     This type of farming is still practiced in few pockets of India.

2.     It is practiced on small patches of land, with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks and family/ community labour.

3.     This type of farming depends upon monsoon.

4.     It depends on the natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown. The farmers do not use fertilisers or other modern inputs.

5.     There is no pressure on agricultural land.

Intensive subsistence farming

1.     This type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land.

2.      It is labour intensive farming, where high doses of bio-chemical inputs are used for obtaining higher production.

3.     Irrigation is used in this type of farming.

4.     It does not depend on the natural fertility of the soil instead bio-chemical inputs are used.

5.     There is enormous pressure on agricultural land because the farmers continue to take maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative source of livelihood.

Question 93.
What is the ‘right of inheritance’? What are its consequences?
Answer:
(1) Under the ‘right of inheritance’ the land is divided among successive generations.
(2) Its consequences are as mentioned below:

1.     Land-holding size becomes small and uneconomical.

2.     The farmers take maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative source of livelihood.

3.     There is enormous pressure on agricultural land.

Question 94.
What is commercial farming? Describe its main features.
Answer:
(1) In commercial farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market, that is for commercial purposes.
(2) Main features of commercial farming are as mentioned below:

1.     It is practiced on large patches of land.

2.     High yielding variety seeds, chemical fertiUsers, insecticides and pesticides are used to obtain higher productivity.

3.     Development of dense network of canal irrigation and tube wells have made possible to grow rice a commercial crop – in areas of less rainfall as Punjab and Haryana.

4.     Wheat, cotton, rice are grown on commercial basis.

5.     Plantation is also a type of commercial farming. In India tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana, etc. are plantation crops.

Question 95.
Why subsistence agriculture is still practiced in certain parts of the country? Give reasons.
Answer:
Subsistence agriculture is still practiced in certain parts of the country due to the reasons as mentioned below :

1.     Small pieces of land: In some parts of the country, the farmers have only small patches of land where they do farming with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks, and family labour.

2.     Poverty: Small farmers are poor. They cannot use fertilisers and high yielding variety of seeds.

3.     Lack of irrigation facilities: In some parts irrigation facilities are not available to the farmers. The farming still depends upon monsoon. In such situation they can produce only what they need.

4.     Fertility of the soil: At places where the soil is not fertile, only subsistence agriculture can be practiced. Thus the farmers are compelled to produce to sustain their family.

Question 96.
Describe the features of plantation agriculture.
Answer:

1.     Plantation is a type of commercial farming.

2.     It is known as bush or tree farming.

3.     It is a single crop farming because a single crop is grown on a large area.

4.     It is a capital intensive agriculture.

5.     The produce is used as raw material in respective industries.

6.     It needs good managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilisers, irrigation, transport facilities and communication network.

7.     Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana are important plantation crops.

8.     Some plantations like tea, coffee and rubber have a processing factory within the farm itself or close to it.

9.     Since the production is mainly for the market, a well-developed network of transport and communication is necessary to connect the plantation areas, processing industries and markets in the development of plantations.

10. Tea is an important plantation crop in Assam and North Bengal while coffee is grown in Karnataka.

Question 97.
What are rabi crops? In which period of the year are they sown and harvested in India? 
Answer:

1.     Rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.

2.     Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December. These are harvested in
summer from April to June.

Question 98.
In which season are rabi crops grown in India? What are necessary conditions for its growth? ,
Answer:
(1)

1.     Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December.

2.     Crops are harvested in summer from April June.

(2) Necessary conditions for growth of these crops are as mentioned below :

1.     Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclones help in the success of these crops.

2.     The success of the green revolution in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan has also been an important factor in the growth of rabi crops.

Question 99.
Which are important kharif crops? When are these crops grown and where?
Answer:

1.     Paddy (rice), maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean are important kharif crops.

2.     Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsson and harvested in September October.

3.     These crops are grown in different parts of the country in 80 per cent of net sown area.

4.     Some of the important rice-growing regions are Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

5.     At present, paddy has become an important crop of Punjab and Haryana.

6.     In states like Assam and West Bengal and Orissa, three crops of paddy are grown in a year. These are Aus, Aman and Boro.

Question 100.
What is the period of zaid season? Which crops are grown in this season?
Answer:

1.     The period of the zaid season is in between the rabi and the kharif seasons.

2.     It is a very short season.

3.     Crops produced during zaid season are watermelon, cucumber, vegetables and fodder crops.

4.     Sugarcane takes almost a year to grow.

Question 101.
State the geographical conditions required for the cultivation of rice in India. Name the regions where rice is grown.
Answer:
Geographical conditions for the cultivation of rice and regions where it is grown are given below :

1.     It is a Kharif crop.

2.     It requires high temperature (above 25 °C) and high humidity.

3.     It requires rainfall above 100 cm annually.

4.     In the areas of less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation.

5.     Rice is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.

6.     Development of dense network of canal irrigation and tube wells have made possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Haryana, Punjab and western UP and parts of Rajasthan.

Question 102.
Describe the geographical conditions required for the cultivation of wheat in India. Mention the regions where it is grown.
Answer:
The geographical conditions for the cultivation of wheat and the regions where it is grown are given below :

1.     Wheat is a Rabi crop.

2.     It requires a cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening.

3.     It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall.

4.     Rain must be evenly distributed over the growing season.

5.     Two important wheat growing zones in the country are the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan..

6.     Major wheat producing states are Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

7.     It is the main food crop in north and north-western part of the country.

Question 103.
Give a brief description of millets grown in India with their climatic conditions and producing states.
Answer:

1.     Millets grown in India are jowar, bajra and ragi.

2.     These are coarse grains but have great nutritional value e.g., ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micro-nutrients and roughage.

3.     Their climatic conditions and the states producing them are given below :

(1) Jowar :

1.     Jowar is a rain-fed crop mostly grown in the moist areas,

2.      It is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production,

3.     Maharashtra is the largest producer of jowar. It is also produced in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

(2) Bajra :

1.     Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil,

2.     Rajasthan is the largest producer of Bajra, followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

(3) Ragi:

1.     Ragi is grown in dry regions,

2.     It grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils,

3.     Its largest producer is Karnataka followed by Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh.

Question 104.
Mention any two geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crops in India. Describe any three factors which have contributed to increase the maize production. 
                                                                  Or
Give a brief description of the maize crop in India.
Answer:

1.     Maize is used both as food and fodder.

2.     It is a kharif crop.

3.      It requires temperature between 21 °C to 27 °C.

4.      It grows well in old alluvial soil.

5.     In Bihar, it is also grown in rabi season also.

6.     Use of HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, fertilisers and irrigation have increased its production.

7.     The maize producing states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question 105.
What is the importance of pulses in our economy? Why are pulses grown as a rotation crop?
Answer:

1.     India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses in the world.

2.     Pulses are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.

3.     Major pulses grown are tur (arhar), urad, moong, masur, peas and gram.

4.     Major pulses producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

5.     Pulses need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions. Thus, these are grown all over the country.

6.     Pulses are leguminous crops and therefore, help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air. These are, therefore, grown in rotation with other crops. In view of the above the importance of pulses in Indian agriculture is significant.

Question 106.
Describe any four geographical conditions required for the growth of sugarcane. 
                                                     Or
What are the uses of sugarcane? What is Ipdia’s position in the world?
                                                     Or
Name any two sugarcane producing states of north India. 
Answer:
(1) The following geographical conditions are required for the cultivation of sugarcane :

1.     It is a tropical as well as subtropical crop.

2.     It grows well in hot and humid climate with a temperature of 21 °C to 27 °C.

3.     It requires an annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm. In areas of less rainfall, it requires irrigation.

4.     It can be grown on a variety of soils.

5.     It needs manual labour from sowing to harvesting and is a long duration crop.

(2) The major sugarcane producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.
(3) It is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggary), khandsari and molasses.
(4) India is the second largest producer of sugarcane only after Brazil.

Question 107.
Which are the oil-seeds produced in India? What is India’s position in production of oil-seeds in the world? What are the uses of oil-seeds?
Answer:
(1) Oil-seeds produced in India are groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, sunflower, castor seeds, cotton seeds and linseed.
(2)

1.     India is the largest producer of oil-seeds in the world.

2.     Oil seeds are grown covering approximately 12 per cent of the total cropped area of the country.

(3) Uses:

1.     Most of the oil-seeds are edible and used as cooking mediums.

2.     Some are used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.

Question 108.
Distribute oil-seeds into Rabi and Kharif crops. Also mention their producing states.
Answer:
(1)

1.     Groundnut is a kharif crop and accounts for about half of the major oil-seeds produced in the country.

2.     Andhra Pradesh is the largest producer of groundnut followed by Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

(2) Linseed and mustard are rabi crops.
(3) Sesamum is a kharif crop in north and rabi crop in south India.
(4) Castor seed is grown both as rabi and kharif crop.

Question 109.
Give a brief description of coffee production in India.
Answer:

1.     India produces about four per cent of the total coffee produced in the world.

2.     The Arabica variety brought from Yemen is produced in our country.

3.     Indian coffee is known for its quality and, hence, is in much demand in the international market. It brings in a lot of foreign exchange.

4.     In the beginning, its cultivation was introduced on the Baba Budan Hills and is still confined to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Question 110.
Which are horticulture crops? Where are they produced? What is the position of India in the world regarding production of fruits and vegetables?
Answer:
(1) Horticulture crops consist of fruits and vegetables,

1.India is the largest producer in the world.
2.India is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.
3.It produces 13 per cent of world’s vegetables.

(2) The main fruits and vegetables produced in India are as given below:
1.
Fruits : Mangoes, oranges, bananas, lichi, guaVa, pineapples, grapes, apples, pears, apricots and walnuts.
Vegetables: Pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.

2. Fruits are produced in the following states:

1.     Mangoes : Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

2.     Oranges : Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya).

3.     Bananas : Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

4.     Lichi and guava : Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

5.     Pineapples: Meghalaya.

6.     Grapes : Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

7.     Apples, pears, apricots and walnuts : Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. These are in great demand the world over.

Question 111.
Explain rubber cultivation in India under the following heads:
(A) Importance
(B) Geographical conditions
(C) Any two rubber producing states.
                                                     Or
Describe the climate required for the growth of rubber. Where it grown and what is are its uses?
Answer:
(1) Importance :

1.     Rubber is an important industrial raw material.

2.     It is consumed for making various things as mentioned below :

1.     Auto tyres and tubes – 44.5%

2.     Cycle tyres and tubes – 13.3%

3.     Footwear – 11.2%

4.     Camel back – 6.0%

5.     Belts and hoses – 5.1%

6.     Latex foam – 6.1%

7.     Others -13.8%

(2) Geographical conditions required for the growth of rubber are as given below :

1.     Rubber is an equatorial crop but it is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

2.     It requires moist and humid climate.

3.     It needs rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25 °C.

(3)

1.     It is grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.

2.      India ranks fifth among the natural rubber producers in the world.

Question 112.
Name the four fibre crops grown in India. Which one of them is not obtained directly from the crops? What is the name given to the process involved in its production? What is sericulture?
Ans.

1.     Four fibre crops grown in India are cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk.

2.     The first three i.e., cotton, jute and hemp are derived from the crops grown in the soil. Natural silk is obtained from the cocoons of the silkworms fed of green leaves specially mulberry.

3.     Sericulture: Rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fiber is known as sericulture.

Question 113.
Describe geographical conditions for the growth of cotton. What are the uses of cotton? Which are cotton producing states? What is the position of India in cotton production in the world?
Answer:
(1) Geographical conditions for the growth-qf cotton are as mentioned below :

1.     It requires high temperature.

2.     It requires light rainfall or irrigation.

3.     It needs 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth.

4.     It is a kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

5.     It requires a lot of cheap and efficient labour at the time of plucking of cotton balls.

6.     Cotton grows well in drier parts of black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau.

(2) Uses of cotton: Cotton is one of the main raw materials for cotton textile industry.
(3)

1.     Major Cotton producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

2.     India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant. India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world.

Question 114.
Which crop is known as the golden fibre ? Explain any two geographical conditions essential for the cultivation of this crop. Mention any four uses of it.
Answer:

1.     Jute is known as the ‘golden fibre’.

2.     Geographical conditions essential for the cultivation of jute are as mentioned below :

1.     Soil: It requires well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year.

2.     Temperature: High temperature is needed during the time of growth.

3.     Jute producing states: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya.

4.     Uses of Jute: It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.

5.     However, due to its high cost it is losing market to synthetic fibres and packing materials, particularly the nylon.

Question 115.
How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry?
Answer:

1.     Jute is also known as the golden fibre,

2.     It grows well on well drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year,

3.     Jute requires high temperature duare ring the time of its growth,

4.     With the partition of the country, in 1947 three-fourth of the jute producing area as mentioned above went to Bangladesh (erstwhile east Pakistan). As a result of it, only one-fourth area was left in India. Although the mills were in India but jute industry was affected due to lack of raw material producing area.

Question 116.
Explain any three steps for agricultural reforms taken by the Government of India, after the independence.

                                                       Or
Describe any five technological and institutional reforms initiated to improve the standard of agricultural in India.

Answer:
See Textbook Question 2(3).

Question 117.
Describe the main features of Bhoodan-Gramdan.
Answer:
Main features of Bhoodan-Gramdan are as mentioned below :

1.     Mahatma Gandhi declared Vinoba Bhave as his spiritual heir.

2.     Vinoba Bhave was one of the votaries of Gandhi’s concept of gram swarajya,

3.     After Gandhi, he undertook padyatra to spread Gandhiji’s message in the country.

4.     During his padyatra in Andhra Pradesh, poor landless villagers demanded some land
for their economic well-being.

5.     He promised them to talk to the government but suddenly one Shri Ramchandra Reddy offered 80 acres of land to be distributed among 80 landless villagers.

6.     This was the beginning of ‘Bhoodan’.

7.     Thereafter, some zamindars owners of many villages offered to distribute some villages among the landless. Thus Bhoodan became Gramdan.

8.     It may be added that some land-owilfers chose to give some part of their land to the poor farmers due to the fear of land ceiling act.

9.     This Bhoodan-Gramdan movement is also known as Blood-less Revolution.

Question 118.
Why has the agriculture sector in India got a major set hack in sprite of increase in GDP growth rate ? Analyse the reasons.
Answer:

1.     Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy though its share in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has registered a declining trend from 1951 onwards.

2.     Its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population continues to be as high as 63 per cent in 2001.

3.     See the table given below :

From above table it is clear that though the GDP growth is increasing over the years, it is not generating sufficient employment opportunities.
Secondly the growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation. The reasons for this state of affairs are as mentioned below:

1.     Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.

2.     The government is reducing public investment in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.

3.     Subsidy on fertilisers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.

4.     Reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved harmful to agriculture.

5.     Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the
employment in agriculture.

Question 119.
Describe the steps taken by the government to control the declining share of agriculture in the GDP.
Answer:
The government took the following steps to improve the share of agriculture in the GDP :

1.     Efforts were made to modernise agriculture by establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities, veterinary services, animal breeding centers, horticulture development, research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast.

2.     Efforts were made for improving the rural infrastructure.

Question 120.
“Today Indian agriculture finds itself at the crossroads.” Explain and suggest steps that should be taken to improve the condition.
Answer:
After 1990, the farmers in India have faced new challenges. For example in spite of being an important producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute and spices, our agricultural products are not able to compete with the developed countries because of the highly subsidised agriculture in those countries.
Thus to make agriculture successful, the steps should be taken as mentioned below :

1.     Organic farming should be enocouraged.

2.     Farmers should diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high-value crops. This will increase incomes and reduce environmental degradation simultaneously because fruits, medicinal herbs, flowers, vegetables, biodiesel crops (jat ropha) need much less irrigation than rice or sugarcane.

3.     India’s diverse climate can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.

MAP QUESTIONS

Question 1.
On an outline map of India show the rice and wheat producing areas.
Answer:

(1) Rice producing areas are plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions. In Punjab, Haryana and western UP, it needs irrigation.

(2) Wheat producing areas are the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan i.e., the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
See map given below :

Question 2.
Four features with serial number 1 to 4 are marked in the given political outline map of India. Identify these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines marked in the map.
1. A major wheat producing state. 9. A major rice producing state.
3. A minor rice producing state. 4. Largest producer of Jowar.
Answer:
1. Punjab 2. Bihar 3. Haryana 4. Maharashtra.
See map given below :