CBSE-Class-10-Social-Science-Question-bank-Geography-Chapter-4-Agriculture

Class 10^th Social Science- Agriculture

AGRICULTURE

NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS

Q.1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below :

(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

Ans. (b)

(ii) Which of the following is a rabi crop?

(a) Rice (b) Gram (c) Millets (d) Cotton

Ans. (b)

(iii) Which of the following is a leguminous crop?

(a) Pulses (b) Jowar (c) Millets (d) Sesamum

Ans. (b)

(iv) Which one of the following is announced by the government in support of a crop?

(a) Maximum support price (b) Minimum support price

Ans. (b)

Q.2. The land under cultivation is getting reduced day-by-day. Can you imagine its consequences?

Ans. Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy and provides employment and

livelihood to about two-thirds of its population.

Taking into consideration the importance of agriculture, the reduction of land under cultivation

has serious consequences. Diversion of land for non-agricultural use like housing, industries,

etc., has resulted in reduction of net sown area and a declining trend in productivity. As such

foodgrain as well as commerical crop production is declining. This will lead to :

(a) Food shortage for the rising population.

(b) Rise in price unaffordable for poor people.

(d) Shortage of supply of raw material for agro-industries.

(e) Adverse effect on export trade as agricultural products comprise a major section of

international trade.

(f) Strain on foreign exchange reserves as more agricultural goods will have to be imported.

Q.3. Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for

its growth. Name the areas of its production.

Explain the favourable temperature, rainfall and soil conditions required for the growth

of tea. Name the leading tea-producing states.

Ans. Tea is an important beverage crop of India. India is the leading producer as well as exporter

of tea in the world. Favourable geographical conditions for growth of tea are as follows :

(i) Climate : The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical climate. Tea bushes require

warm (temperature between 20°C to 30°C), moist (annual rainfall of 150 – 250 cm) and

frost-free climate throughout the year. Frequent showers evenly distributed throughout the

year ensure continuous supply of tender leaves.

(ii) Soil : Deep fertile, well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter are ideal for its

growth. Hence, rolling topography is favourable for its cultivation.

Tea is grown in big plantations originally introduced by the British. The major teaproducing

areas are in Assam and hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri district in West

Bengal. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala in the south, Himachal Pradesh,

Uttarakhand, Meghalaya and Tripura are other tea-producing states.

Q.4. What was the impact of partition on the jute industry in India? What has led to decline

in Jute production in recent times?

How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry ? What factors have

resulted in decline of jute production in recent years?

Ans. The partition of the country in 1947 caused serious problems for the jute industry. The

industrial units for jute production remained in India while the raw jute producing areas went

to Bangladesh. Hence, initially there was a serious shortage of raw material for the jute

industry, and it suffered considerably. Gradually, the floodplains of Ganga, especially the

Hooghly basin, Mahanadi and Brahmaputra basin were brought under jute cultivation to

provide raw material for jute textile industry.

In recent years high cost of jute as compared to synthetic fibres has led to decline in jute

production. Due to this, jute is losing market to synthetic fibres and packing materials,

particularly the nylon. In face of competition, from substitutes and from other countries like

Bangladesh and Thailand, jute is losing demand and hence, its production is declining.

Q.5. Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced. Describe the

geographical conditions required for its growth.

Which is the staple crop for majority of the people in India? What are the geographical

conditions required for its growth. Name the major areas of its production.

Describe the temperature, rainfall and soil conditions for the growth of rice. Name the

major areas of rice production.

Ans. Rice is the staple foodcrop of a majority of the people in India. It is their main cereal and is

a part of their everyday diet. India is the second largest producer of rice after China. It is grown

on the plains of north and northeastern India, coastal areas and deltaic regions. West Bengal,

Assam, Orissa, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and

some parts of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and eastern Madhya Pradesh are the major areas of rice

production. In Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, rice is grown

as commercial crop with the help of irrigation.

The geographical conditions required for growth of rice are as follows :

(i) It is a kharif crop and requires hot and humid climate for cultivation. Temperature above

25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm are favorable for growth

of rice.

(ii) Rich alluvial soils of the floodplains and deltaic areas which are renewed every years are

ideal for rice cultivation.

(iii) Rice requires abundant rainfall or good water supply through irrigation and flooded fields

during the earlier part of its growing season in June-July.

(iv) Plenty of cheap labour as most of the farming involves manual labour.

Q.6. After Independence what steps were taken by government to increase agricultural

production. What is Green Revolution? What programmes were launched in 1980s and

1990s for improvement of agriculture?

Suggest the initiative taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural

production.

Ans. The government has taken various steps since independence to increase agricultural production

to meet the needs of its growing population.

Collectivization, consolidation of holding, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc, were

given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence. Land

reform is the collective term for these institutional reforms introduced to make farming

economic and was the main focus of our First Five Years Plan.

The Government embarked upon introducing agricultural reforms to improve Indian

agriculture in 1960s. Green Revolution involving use of package technology was introduced

in 1960s and 1970s with this initiative. Use of modern inputs like High Yielding Variety

(HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides along with use of farm

machineries and irrigation, were initiated to increase yield per acre. It led to significant

improvement in agricultural production. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) was another

strategy adopted along with it to increase milk production.

Concentration of development in few selected areas due to Green Revolution and other

problems associated with it led to launching of Comprehensive Land Development

Programmes in 1980s and 1990s. It included both institutional and technical reforms aimed at

improving agriculture. Some important steps included in the programme are :

(a) Provision of crop insurance against flood, drought, cyclone, fire, diseases.

(b) Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing loan

facilities to farmers at lower rates.

Special weather bulletin and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the radio

and television. Establishment of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),

agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, horticulture

development, research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast and

improvement of rural infrastructure etc, were given priority for improving Indian agriculture

and raising its productivity.

Q.7. What is the importance of using high yielding variety of seeds, machines and other

technological advancements in increasing the agricultural production? Enlist the various

institutional reform programmes introduced by the government in the interest of

farmers.

Ans. High Yielding Variety of seeds and machines form the basis of modernisation of agriculture.

The Government of India has opened agricultural universities, agricultural research institutes,

agricultural farms and demonstration farms. There, the seeds are improved and demonstration

is given to the farmers for use of fertilisers and improved seeds. They are trained to adopt new

farm machineries to increase agricultural production.

Farmers get these inputs on subsidized rates and on loan basis. This helps them to adopt these

modern inputs to increase agricultural productivity.

Various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government in interest of the

farmers are :

(i) Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and diseases.

(ii) Establishment of Grameen Banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing loan

facilities to farmers at lower interest rates.

(iii) Kisan Credit Card, Personal Accident Insurance Scheme.

(iv) Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on television and radio.

(v) Announcement of minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices for

important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Which of the following is the most important occupation of the people of India?

(a) Food gathering (b) Agriculture (c) Manufacturing (d) Services

Ans. (b)

Q.2. Which of the following types of economic activity is agriculture?

(a) Primary activity (b) Secondary activity

Ans. (a)

Q.3. What is Primitive Subsistence Farming known as in north-eastern states like Assam,

Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland?

(a) Horticulture (b) Penda (c) Jhumming (d) Milpa

Ans. (c)

Q.4. Which of the following types of farming is practised in areas with high population

pressure on land?

(a) Primitive Subsistence Farming (b) Intensive Subsistence Farming

Ans. (b)

Q.5. Which of the following is the principal crop grown in areas of Intensive Subsistence

Farming?

(a) Yams and Sweet Potato (b) Wheat

Ans. (c)

Q.6. Rice is a subsistence crop in Orissa. In which of the following states, is rice a commercial

crop?

(a) West Bengal and Bihar (b) Jammu and Kashmir

Ans. (c)

Q.7. Which of the following is a kharif crop?

(a) Barley (b) Peas (c) Bajra (d) Mustard

Ans. (c)

Q.8. Which of the following crops is produced during zaid cropping season?

(a) Sugarcane (b) Muskmelon (c) Groundnut (d) Moong

Ans. (b)

Q.9. How many crops of paddy are grown in a year in the states like Assam, West Bengal and

Orissa and they are termed as which of the following?

(a) Once-Arabica (b) Two-Rabi and Zaid

Ans. (c)

Q.10. Which of the following is an annual crop?

(a) Sugarcane (b) Cotton (c) Jute (d) Cucumber

Ans. (a)

Q.11. Which of the following are known as coarse grains?

(a) Wheat and Rice (b) Millets—Jowar, bajra and ragi

Ans. (b)

Q.12. Which of the following crops is used both as a food and as a fodder?

(a) Jowar (b) Wheat (c) Maize (d) Tea

Ans. (c)

Q.13. India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of which of the following crops?

(a) Rice (b) Millets (c) Pulses (d) Oilseeds

Ans. (c)

Q.14. Which of the following crops is the main source of jaggary, khandsari and molasses?

(a) Arhar (b) Coconut (c) Linseed (d) Sugarcane

Ans. (d)

Q.15. Which of the following countries is the largest producer of oilseeds?

(a) China (b) Brazil (c) India (d) Yemen

Ans. (c)

Q.16. Which of the following is a kharif crop and accounts for about half of the major oilseeds

produced in the country?

(a) Mustard (b) Coconut (c) Groundnut (d) Soybean

Ans. (c)

Q.17. Which of the following group of crops are known as beverage crops?

(a) Castor seed and Sunflower (b) Peas and Gram

Ans. (d)

Q.18. Tea cultivation is an example of which of the following types of agriculture?

(a) Horticulture (b) Plantation

Ans. (b)

Q.19. Which of the following are known as horticulture crops?

(a) Tea and coffee (b) Cotton and Jute

Ans. (d)

Q.20. India is believed to be the original home of which of the following fiber crops?

(a) Cotton (b) Jute (c) Hemp (d) Silk

Ans. (a)

Q.21. White Revolution involves improvement in the production of which of the following

products?

(a) Cotton (b) Wheat (c) Maize or corn (d) Milk

Ans. (d)

Q.22. Which of the following is the primary objective of India’s food security policy?

(a) To ensure availability of food grains to the common people at an affordable price.

(b) To diversify crop production to increase income of the farmers.

(d) To shift from food grain production to commercial crops.

Ans. (a)

PREVIOUS YEARS’ QUESTIONS

Q.1. Which one is an important rabi crop?

(a) Paddy (b) Watermelon (c) Wheat (d) Maize

Ans. (c)

Q.2. Which among the following is a fibre crop?

(a) Rubber (b) Jute (c) Tomato (d) Coffee

Ans. (b)

Q.3. Of which one of the following beverage crops, India is the leading producer as well as

exporter in the world?

(a) Coffee (b) Pulses (c) Tea (d) Curd

Ans. (c)

Q.4. Which one of the following is the feature of plantation agriculture?

(a) Single crop (b) Large area

Ans. (d)

Q.5. Which of the following crops is not a millet?

(a) Jowar (b) Maize (c) Ragi (d) Bajra

Ans. (b)

Q.6. What is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk called?

(a) Horticulture (b) Pisciculture (c) Sericulture (d) Agriculture

Ans. (c)

Q.7. Which one of the following crops is the example of plantation farming?

(a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Rubber (d) None of these

Ans. (c)

Q.8. In which of the following states of India rice is considered a commercial crop?

(a) West Bengal (b) Orissa (c) Bihar (d) Punjab

Ans. (d)

Q.9. Which of the following crops are grown with the onset of monsoons and are harvested

in the month of September and October?

(a) Rabi (b) Kharif (c) Zadi (d) None of the above

Ans. (b)

Q.10. In which type of soil does maize grow well?

(a) Black (b) Light domat (c) Old alluvial (d) None of these

Ans. (d)

Q.11. Cultivation of coffee is confined to which of the following hills?

(a) Nilgiri (b) Aravali (c) Shivalik (d) None of these

Ans. (a)

Q.12. Which of the following crops grows well in the Black soil ?

(a) Jute (b) Rice (c) Cotton (d) Wheat

Ans. (c)

Q.13. Which country is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world ?

(a) China (b) India (c) USA (d) Pakistan

Ans. (b)

Q.14. Which one of the following is the example of plantation agriculture?

(a) Jute (b) Wheat (c) Tea (d) Oilseeds

Ans. (c)

Q.15. Which country is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world?

(a) Canada (b) USA (c) Pakistan (d) India

Ans. (d)

Q.16. Arabica variety of coffee was initially brought to India from which of the following

countries?

(a) Yemen (b) Vietnam (c) Japan (d) Korea

Ans. (a)

Q.17. Which one of the following is not a fibre crop?

(a) Cotton (b) Rubber (c) Jute (d) Hemp

Ans. (b)

Q.18. Which one of the following crops is known as ‘Golden Fibre?

(a) Wheat (b) Rice (c) Groundnut (d) Jute

Ans. (d)

Q.19. Which one of the following crops is a beverage crop?

(a) Tea (b) Cotton (c) Wheat (d) Bajra

Ans. (a)

Q.20. Which one of the following is not a cropping season?

(a) Winter (b) Kharif (c) Rabi (d) Zaid

Ans. (a)

Q.21. Which of the following is the example of kharif crops?

(a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Gram (d) Peas

Ans. (a)

Q.22. Cultivation of fruits and vegetables is called:

(A) Floriculture (B) Sericulture (C) Horticulture (D) Agriculture

Ans. (c)

Q.23. India is the leading producer and exporter of

(a) Rubber (b) Sugarcane (c) Rice in the world (d) Tea

Ans. (c)

Q.24. Which one of the following is a Rabi crop?

(a) Rice (b) Wheat (c) Millets (d) Cotton

Ans. (b)

Q.25. ‘Slash and burn agriculture’ is a

(a) shifting agriculture (b) intensive agriculture

Ans. (a)

Q.26. Which of the following is a leguminous crop?

(a) Pulses (b) Cotton (c) Jowar (d) Maize

Ans. (a)

Q.27. Which of the following describes a system of agriculture, where a single crop is grown

on a large area?

(a) Shifting agriculture (b) Plantation agriculture

Ans. (b)

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Define agriculture. Why have cultivation methods changed significantly over years?

Ans. Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil and raising crops and animal stock.

It fulfills man’s primary needs of food and clothing. It is the oldest, settled primary activity

of man. It also produces raw materials for industries and products for export.

Over the years, cultivation methods have changed significantly depending upon the

characteristics of physical environment, technological know-how and socio-cultural practices.

With progress of time, man has improved and modernized the methods of cultivation.

Depending upon the climate, environment, needs of the people and the agricultural tools and

equipment’s they possess, different cultivation methods prevail in different parts of India and

the world. They range from subsistence to commercial types. They are as rudimentary as

shifting cultivation to as sophisticated as plantations and horticulture.

Q.2. What is plantation farming? What are its main characteristics? Name some plantation

crops.

Ans. Plantation farming is a type of commercial agriculture in which a single crop is grown on a

large scale and processed for the purpose of sale. This type of farming is mainly prevalent in

the tropical and sub-tropical areas. In India plantation farming was introduced by the British.

The main characteristics of Plantation farming are as follows :

(i) A single crop is grown on a large area covering large tracts of land.

(ii) Capital intensive inputs are used.

(iii) Use of managerial staff and technical know-how

(iv) Cheap, local and migrant labourers are employed.

(v) Require well-developed transport network

(vi) Produces special market-oriented products.

In India, tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana, etc., are the main plantation crops.

Q.3. What are millets? Why are millets very important food crops in India?

Write a short note on the important millets grown in India.

Ans. Jowar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown in India. They can grow in harsh climatic

conditions with low rainfall and poor soils. Due to greater roughage content among the

nutrients present they are called coarse grains.

They are important food crops after rice and wheat. Inspite of being coarse grains they have

very high nutritional value and are known as the poor man’s cereal.

Jowar is the third most important food crop of India with respect to area and production. It is

a rain-fed kharif crop, mostly grown in the moist areas which hardly need irrigation.

Maharashtra is the largest producer of jowar, followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and

Madhya Pradesh.

Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Rajasthan is the largest producer,

followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium and other micro-nutrients and roughage. It grows in dry

regions in areas of red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soil. Karnataka is the largest

producer, followed by Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal

Pradesh and Jharkhand.

Q.4. Why are some pulses known as leguminous crops? Why are they grown in rotation with

other crops? Name the major pulses grown in India and the states leading in their

production.

Ans. Pulses are leguminous crops. In these plants the seeds are found inside pods and the root

nodules have the capacity of nitrogen fixation in the soil.

As pulses are leguminous crops, and all of these except tur or arhar help in restoring soil

fertility by fixing and using nitrogen from the air in the soil. Therefore, pulses are grown in

rotation with other crops.

Urad, moong, masur, peas, gram and tur (arhar) are the major pulses grown in India. Madhya

Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka are the major pulse-producing

states of India.

Q.5. Define sericulture and horticulture. What is India’s position in production of horticulture

crops?

Ans. Silk farming, i.e. rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre, is known as sericulture.

Mulberry trees are planted and silk worms are fed on their green leaves. Silk fibre is obtained

from the cocoons of the silkworms.

Horticulture is a branch of agriculture concerned with the cultivation of garden plants –

generally fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants which are used for landscaping.

India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India is a producer of tropical

as well as temperate fruits. Tropical fruits like mangoes, oranges, bananas, lichi, guava,

pineapples, grapes and temperate fruits like apples, pears, apricots, grow in various parts of the

country and are in great demand all over the world.

About 13 percent of the world’s vegetables are produced by India. India is an important

producer of pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.

LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1. Distinguish between Intensive Subsistence Farming and Commercial Farming.

Ans. The main points of distinction between the two main types of farming – Intensive Subsistence

Farming and Commercial farming prevalent in various parts of India and the world are as

follows :

Intensive Subsistence Farming

(i) This type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land.

(ii) Farmers and his family produce mainly cereal crops for subsistence of the family and for local market.

(iii) It is a labour intensive agriculture.

(iv) Farms sizes are small and uneconomical due to fragmentation of land holding on account of ‘right of inheritance’.

(v) Farmers try to take maximum output from the limited land in absence of alternative source of livelihood.

(vi) Farmers use high dose of biochemical inputs and irrigation to increase productivity.

(vii) Cereals like rice, wheat, millets are mainly grown.

(viii) It is practised in most parts of India, mainly

in east and south even today.

Commercial Farming

(i) This type of farming is practiced in areas of low population density.

(ii) Crops are grown in large scale for commercial purposes, and for export to other countries.

(iii) It is capital intensive requiring high application of modern inputs.

(iv) Farm sizes are large for use of modern machineries and for large scale production.

(v) Farmers earn huge profits from commercial agriculture due to sale of crops.

(vi) Modern inputs like high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides are used to

obtain higher productivity.

(vii) Wheat, cotton, sugarcane, oilseeds, tea and coffee are grown.

(viii) This type of farming is mainly practised in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Western Uttar Pradesh

Q.2. Describe the geographical conditions for growth of cotton. Name the major areas of its

production. Why is West Bengal the leading producer of Jute, the second important fibre

crop of India?

Which are the important fibre crops of India? Mention the major producing areas of

each crop. Write about the geographical conditions required for the growth of the most

important fibre crop.

Ans. Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the major fibre crops of India. The geographical conditions

required for the growth of cotton, the most important fibre crop of India are as follows :

Cotton is a kharif crop and requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost free

days and bright sunshine for its growth. Rainfall at the time of bursting of the cotton balls is

harmful as it spoils the cotton balls.

Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black soil area of the Deccan plateau. Black soil is also

known as black cotton soil due to the fact that it is ideal for growth of cotton.

The major cotton-producing states of India are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Jute is the second most important fibre crop of India. West Bengal, especially the Hooghly

basin of the state, is the leading jute-producing area of the country on account of the welldrained

fertile soil of the floodplain which are renewed every year. Also the climatic condition

with high temperature during time of growth and sufficient availibility of water have favoured

jute cultivation in the Hooghly basin of West Bengal. Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya are

the other jute-producing states.

Q.3. What are the main cropping seasons of India? Distinguish between them.

Ans. There are three cropping seasons in India–rabi, kharif and zaid.

Rabi

(i) Winter cropping season is known as Rabi.

(ii) Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December.

(iii)The crops are harvested in summer from April to June.

(iv)Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western disturbances helps in the success of these crops.

(v) Wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard are examples of crops growing in Rabi season.

Kharif

(i) Wet summer cropping season is known as Kharif.

(ii) Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in June.

(iii)The crops are harvested in September-October.

(iv)These crops have high water requirement either from monsoon rain or by irrigation.

(v) Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar) moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean are examples.

Zaid.

(i) Dry summer cropping season is known as Zaid.

(ii) Zaid is a short intervening cropping season in between rabi and kharif season

(iii)The crops are grown in summer months (March to May).

(iv)They are irrigated crops.

(v) Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables and fodder crops are examples of crops growing in Zaid season.

Q.4. Look at the picture carefully and answer the questions that follow :

(i) Name the crop shown in the picture.

(ii) State the climatic conditions required for cultivation of this crop.

(iii) Name the two major regions growing this crop.

Ans. (i) The crop shown in the picture is sugarcane.

(ii) The climatic conditions required for its growth : Sugarcane is a crop of tropical and

sub-tropical climate. It grows well in hot and humid climate with temperature of 21°C to

27°C and an annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm.

Frost is injurious for the plant. Heavy rainfall before ripening decreases sucrose content.

Hence, frost-free weather, short, cool, dry winter during ripening and harvesting is favourable.

(iii) Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are two major producing states of sugarcane.

Q.5. Compare the geographical conditions, required of the two major cereal crops in India,

rice and wheat. Give one major area where they are grown.

Ans. Two major cereal crops of India are – Rice and wheat

Geographical condition for growing Rice:-

Temperature — high temperature above 25° C- and high humidity.

Rainfall — Above 100 cm annually or assured irrigation

Soil — Alluvial types of soil is good

Region — Coastal region Haryana and Punjab, Bihar, W. Bengal, Orissa

Wheat :-

Temperature — It requires cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.

Between 15°C To 30°C

Rainfall — 50 to 75 cm annual rainfall

Soil — Alluvial soil

Region — U.P., Haryana, Punjab

Q.6. State any four geographical conditions required for tea cultivation.

Ans. Geographical requirement for growing tea :-

(i) Temperature –Tea bushes requires warm and moist frost free climate all through the year.

(ii) Soil – It requires deep and fertile, well-drained soil rich in humus and organic matter.

(iii) Rainfall – Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year.

Q.7. What geographical conditions are required for the cultivation of sugarcane? Name two

largest producing states of sugarcane.

Ans. Geographical requirement for sugarcane :-

(a) Climate :- It is a tropical crop and it grows well in hot and humid climate with a

temperatures of 21°C to 27°C.

(b) Rainfall :- Annual rainfall should be between 75 cm and 100 cm, irrigation needed where

low rainfall takes place.

Region :- Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are the two largest producers of sugarcane.

Q.8. Describe any four features of Agriculture in India.

Ans. Four features of Indian agriculture :-

(i) Indian agriculture is the backbone of indian economy. Its share in overall employment job

is more than 60%

(ii) Most of agriculture fields are small and scattered.

(iii) Indian agriculture is largely dependent on Monsoons. A good Monsoon ensures

(iv) Most of the agriculture is subsistence type. Large plantation farming is absent.

Q.9. State the geographical conditions required for growing rice and cotton.

Ans. For rice, see Q. No.5.

Geographical requirement for cotton :–

(i) Temperature — It requires high temperature

(ii) Rainfall — Light rainfall, or irrigation

(iii) Soil — Black soil is most suitable

(iv) Region — Gujarat, Maharashtra etc

Q.10. 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?

Ans. Four fibre crops are :-

(i) Jute (ii) Cotton (iii) Hemp (iv) Natural silk

Natural silk fibre is not obtained directly from the crop.

It is called sericulture. In this silk is obtained from cocoons of the silkworm fed on green

leaves specially mulberry.

Q.11. Why has Indian agriculture started a declining trend in food production? Explain any

four reason.

Ans. Due to the following reasons food production is declining :—

(i) There has been a gradual shift from cultivation of food crops to cultivation of cash crops,

fruits vegetable, etc.

(ii) Area under food crop has reduced due to rapid urbanisation.

(iii) More areas are being demanded for housing, setting up industries. etc.

(iv) The productivity of land is also declining due to heavy use of chemical fertilizers and

pesticides. The Green Revolution has outlived its utility.

(v) Natural calamities like drought and flood have become frequent. Monsoon is still vital for

food production.

Q.12. Mention the geographical conditions for the growth of wheat. Name the major areas of

wheat production.

Which is the staple crop in the northern and north-western part of India? Describe the

temperature, rainfall and soil conditions required for its growth. Name the major areas

of its production.

Ans. Wheat is the main food crop in north and north-western part of the country.

The geographical conditions favourable for growth of wheat are as follows :

(1) Temperature : Wheat is a rabi crop and requires a cool growing season. Average

temperature should be between 10°C to 15°C at the time of sowing, but higher

temperatures and bright sunshine is required at the time of harvesting for proper ripening

of grains.

(2) Rainfall : Wheat requires moderate rainfall of 50 to 75 cm annually, evenly distributed

over the growing season. A little winter rain before ripening helps in increasing the yield.

(3) Soil. Deep alluvial clayey soils of Northern Plains and even black soil of Deccan are

suited for growth of wheat.

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. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,

Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh are the major wheat growing states.

Q.13. Write four geographical requirements each for the growth of tea and sugarcane.

Ans. Tea is the main beverage crop of India. Four geographical requirements for its growth are :

(a) The tea plant grows best in tropical and sub-tropical climate.

(b) Tea bushes require warm and moist and frost free climate with temperature between 20°C

to 30°C and annual rainfall of 150 to 250 cm.

leaves.

(d) Deep, fertile, well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter are ideal for its growth.

Hence, gently rolling topography in uplands is favourable for its cultivation.

Four geographical conditions required for growth of sugarcane are :

(a) Sugarcane grows best in tropical and sub-tropical climate. It is an annual crop requiring

a year for maturing.

(b) It grows well in hot and humid climate with temperature of 21°C to 27°C and an annual

rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm.

Hence, frost free weather short, cool, dry winter during ripening and harvesting is

favourable.

(d) It can grow on a variety of soil, but clayey alluvial soil of Northern Plains and black soil

in south are ideal for its growth.

Q.14. State any four characteristies of commerical farming in India.

Ans. Four characteristics of commerical farming in India are as follows.

(i) Crops are grown on a large scale in large farms or plantations for commerical purposes

and for export to other countries.

(ii) It is capital intensive farming requiring high application of modern inputs.

(iii) Modern inputs like high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides

and pesticides are used to obtain higher productivity. Irrigation is applied to meet water

requirement.

(iv) Commerical farming is mainly practised in states with less population pressure like.

Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra and western Uttar Pradesh. Wheat, cotton,

sugarcane, oilseeds, tea and coffee are grown under commercial farming.

Q.16. Explain rubber cultivation in India under the following heads.

(a) Importance (b) Geographical conditions (c) Any two rubber producing states

Ans. (a) Rubber is an important industrial raw material. Tyres, tubes of vehicles and other rubber

products are made from natural rubber.

(b) It is an equatorial crop but grown under special conditions. It is also grown in tropical and

sub-tropical areas. It requires moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm

and temperature above 25°C.

Q.17. Explain rice cultivation in India under the following heads.

(i) Temperature (ii) Rainfall (iii) Season (iv) Main producing areas

Ans. (i) Rice is a Kharif crop requiring high temperature (above 25°C).

(ii) Rice requires high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm. In the regions of less

rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation.

(iii) Rice is sown/planted with the onset of monsoon and harvested in November-December.

(iv) It is mainly grown in Bihar, Bengal, Orissa, eastern U.P., Assam, Tamil Nadu.

Q.18. Explain any four features of primitive subsistence agriculture in India.

Ans. (i) This type of farming is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools

like hoe, dao and digging sticks and family labour.

(ii) This type of farming depends upon Monsoons, natural fertility of soil and environmental

suitability.

(iii) It is a ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. Farmers clear a patch of land and produce crops for

their sustenance.

(iv) When the soil fertility decreases, farmers shift to new area, clear forest by burning and

again sow crops.

Agriculture

Class 10th Social Science- Agriculture

Class 10^th Social Science- Agriculture